before. Still he is dissatisfied with Bouquet's plans, —and urged that they should advance by Braddock's road, in which wish he was overruled. Still, they succeeded. After almost endless delays,—which seemed to him unnecessary, he has the satisfaction of writing to Fauquier, who now holds the place of Governor, "that Fort Duquesne, or the ground rather on which it stood, was possessed by His Majesty's troops on the 25th of November.

"The enemy, after letting us get within a day's march of the place, burned the fort and ran away by the light of it at night, going down the Ohio by water, to the number of about five hundred men, according to our best information. This possession of the fort has been matter of surprise to the whole army, and we cannot attribute it to more probable causes than the weakness of the enemy, want of provisions, and the defection of their Indians. Of these circumstances we were luckily informed by three prisoners, who providentially fell into our hands at Loyal Hanna, when we despaired of proceeding farther. A council of war had determined that it was not advisable to advance this season beyond that place; but the above information caused us to march on without tents or bag. gage, and with only a light train of artillery. We have thus happily succeeded. It would be tedious, and I think unnecessary, to relate every trivial circumstance that has happened since my last. To do this, if needful, shall be the employment of a leisure hour, when I shall have the pleasure to pay my respects to your Honor."1

1 Letter in Sparks, vol. ii., p. 320.

Washington's Love of Home-His Marriage-Visit to WilliamsburgMount Vernon-Administration of the Property of His Wife and Her Children-Correspondence with His English Agents-His Tobacco and Flour Excellent-Severe Illness-Purchases for Master John and Miss Patty Custis-His Indignation at Neglect of Duty-Agricultural Experiments-Fondness for Riding-Routine of a Country Day-Interest in Military Affairs-Love of Sport-Constant Interest in Public Business-Tour to Ohio Valley-John Custis's Education-Patty's DeathJohn's Marriage.

ASHINGTON had a real love of home.

WAS
Win the midst of his campaigns, this peeps

ters.

In

out sometimes in a curious way, as one reads his letAnd this year of peace meant for him marriage to the beautiful woman who had engaged herself to him when he was in the very thick of war. He returned to the civilized parts of Virginia in time to be married to Mrs. Custis at her own house, the White House on the Pamunkey River, on the 6th of January, 1759. The wedding was celebrated with all the solemnities and elegancies of a liberal hospitality, with a large and joyful assemblage of friends.

He lived at the White House, which gave its name to that region, a name still remembered, for the first three months after his marriage. He was a member of the House of Burgesses from Fairfax, his own county, and soon after the wedding he went to Williamsburg to take his seat. It had been determined in the House that he should be met by fit recognition of his distinguished services. The Speaker, Robinson, addressed him in eloquent language, and thanked him on behalf of the colony for the success of his military administration. Washington was taken unawares. He rose to reply, blushed, stammered, trembled, and could not speak. It was then that the Speaker made the remark which has become almost proverbial: “Sit down, Mr. Washington; your modesty is equal to your valor, and that surpasses the power of any language that I possess." From this time Washington attended the meetings of the colonial legislature for fifteen different sessions. His experience in that body was of great importance to him. He certainly overcame the diffidence of the beginning, and soon became an easy speaker. His acquaintance with men and with affairs grew as he met the delegates from all parts of the colony, and he learned here, or somewhere else, that tolerance for ignorant and foolish people, which is a very interesting characteristic of his later habits of dealing with men. So soon as the session ended, he led his bride back to

Mount Vernon, which was to be their home. The title to this property had come to him, as has been said, on the death of his niece, to whom it had passed after the death of Lawrence Washington.

There are few more beautiful situations in America. Whoever selected the site as a place for a residence, chose well. At the time when Washington took his bride there, the house was a handsome one for the Virginia of the day; but it was by no means so large as the house now known to many Americans as the home of Washington. His means, however, were ample, and he soon began a series of improvements, which continued from that time almost to his death. Apart from his own property, he had the administration of the estate of his wife. Her first husband, Mr. Custis, had left large landed property and forty-five thousand pounds sterling in money. One third of this

fell to his widow on his death; two thirds were shared by her two children, a boy of six and a girl of four years of age. By a special vote of the General Court of Virginia, Washington was entrusted with the care of this property. His discharge of that trust made one of the special duties of his life. And we shall find again and again, in the letters, either to these young people themselves or to others, allusion to their estate as different from his Soon after his marriage, it is evident that he had had an intention or wish to visit England. But

own.