Treason of Arnold-Capture of Andre-Patriotism of Paulding, Williams and Van Wart-Escape of Arnold-Execution of Andre-Battle of the Cowpens-Symptoms of Sedition-Skirmishing in Virginia.................. Feigned design to attack New York-Clinton deceived thereby-Expedition of the allied Forces against Cornwallis- Arnold invades Connecticut- Storms Fort Griswold-Siege of Yorktown-Surrender of Cornwallis- Prospects of Peace-Departure of the French Forces-Washington prepares for another Campaign-Sir Guy Carleton appointed Commander-in-Chief of the British Forces-Empowered to negotiate a reconciliation-Commis- sioners appointed for that purpose-Recognition of the Independence of the United States Washington dismisses the Troops from service...... 129 New York finally evacuated by the British-An affecting Scene-Washing. ton resigns his Command-He retires to Mount Vernon-Devotes himself to Agriculture-Generosity of the Virginia Legislature-Disinterestedness chosen President-His progress from Mount Vernon to New York-En- Administration of Washington-Indian Difficulties-Negotiations with Spain —With England-With Morocco-Troubles with France-Imprisonment of Lafayette-Efforts of Washington to procure his release—Unsuccessful attempt at escape-Washington's Farewell Address-Good advice... 164 Retirement of Washington-His personal appearance-Athletic Exercises- Portraits of Washington-Anecdotes-Habits worthy of imitation.. 181 LIFE OF GEORGE WASHINGTON. CHAPTER I. EORGE WASHINGTON was born in the parish of Washington, Westmoreland County, Virginia, on the 22d of February, 1732. He was descended from a family which first became known about the middle of the 13th century. It was then a custom in England for gentlemen to take the name of their estates, and from William de Hertburn, owner of the manor of Washington, in Durham, descended the various branches of the Washington family in England and in this country. In 1538, Lawrence Washington, Esquire, was proprietor of the manor of Sulgrave, in Northamptonshire. One of his sons was a baronet, and married to a sister of the Duke of Buck ingham. Two others, John and Lawrence, emigrated to Virginia, where they became successful planters. John was the grandfather of George Washington, whose father, Lawrence Washington, at the time of his birth, resided near the banks of the Potomac, but soon after removed to an estate near Fredericksburg, where he died, after a sudden illness, on the 12th of April, 1743, at the age of forty-nine. Mrs. Washington, on whom the education of her children now devolved, was a remarkable woman. She had much good sense, tenderness and assiduity. She had been very beautiful, and a great belle in the northern part of Virginia. Her manners, however, were unaffected, and she possessed all those domestic habits which confer value on her sex. She lived until her son reached the highest pinnacle of glory, and it is related of her, that being at a ball given to him, at this period, she said to him when nine o'clock came, with perfect simplicity, "Come, George, it is time to go home." Her fears, combined with her affection, in his youth, prevented a measure, which, if persevered in, would have given a direction to the talents and views of her son, very different from that which laid the foundation of his fame. Young Washington, when only fifteen years old, solicited and obtained the place of a midshipman in the Brit ish navy; but his ardent zeal to serve his country, then at war with France and Spain, was, on the interference of his mother, for the present suspended, and for ever diverted from the sea service. She lived to see him acquire higher honours than he ever could have obtained as a naval officer; nor did she depart this life till he was elevated to the first offices, both civil and military, in the gift of his country. She was, nevertheless, from the influence of long established habits, so far from being partial to the American revolution, that she often regretted the side her son had taken in the controversy between her king and her country. The means of education, one hundred years ago, were in this country very inferior to those which my young readers enjoy. There were no common schools, and the richest inhabitants did not, in most cases, attempt to give their children more instruction than was necessary to fit them for the discharge of ordinary business. George Washington's first teacher was a tenant of his father, named Hobby, who lived to see his pupil commander of the American armies; and he used to boast that he had "laid the foundation of his greatness." He afterwards went to the school of a Mr. Williams, where he maintained that standing among boys which he was |