diff options
Diffstat (limited to 'old/11926.txt')
| -rw-r--r-- | old/11926.txt | 1705 |
1 files changed, 1705 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/old/11926.txt b/old/11926.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6b565da --- /dev/null +++ b/old/11926.txt @@ -0,0 +1,1705 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Washington in Domestic Life, by Richard Rush + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Washington in Domestic Life + +Author: Richard Rush + +Release Date: April 6, 2004 [EBook #11926] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WASHINGTON IN DOMESTIC LIFE *** + + + + +Produced by Garrett Alley and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team. + + + + +WASHINGTON IN DOMESTIC LIFE. + +From Original Letters and Manuscripts. By Richard Rush. + +1857. + + + + +GENTLEMEN:-- + +In confiding to your house the publication of this brief paper on some +points in the character of Washington, I beg leave to say, that for any +deficiency in the cost of publishing, after all your charges in having +it fitly done are defrayed, I will be responsible. + +And in the very remote probability of the sale of a production so +limited as this, in the face of a thousand better things on Washington's +character already before the world, ever yielding anything in the way of +profit after your proper expenditures are all satisfied, it will go, +however small, to the Washington Monument Fund, existing in the +metropolis of our country. + + I am, gentlemen, + + Your very faithful + + And obedient servant, + + RICHARD RUSH. + + +SYDENHAM, NEAR PHILADELPHIA, February 28, 1857. + + +To MESSRS. + +J.B. LIPPINCOTT AND CO., + +PUBLISHERS, + +PHILADELPHIA. + + + + +TO + +CHARLES J. INGERSOLL. + + * * * * * + +This literary trifle is hardly worth a dedication; yet it has dared to +touch, though with incompetent hands, a high subject, and, trifle as it +is, I dedicate it to you. At an agreeable little dinner at your table +lately, where we had the new Vice-President, Mr. Breckenridge, whose +maternal stock, the Stanhope Smiths and Witherspoons, so rich in +intellect, we knew at Princeton, you said we had been friends for +upwards of sixty years. You were right, for we were merry boys together +in Philadelphia before our college days at Princeton; and I may here +add, that our friendship never has been interrupted. + +RICHARD RUSH. + + + + +INTRODUCTORY EXPLANATION. + +The manuscript or paper here published was prepared from a collection of +original letters from General Washington on matters, for the most part, +purely domestic and personal, addressed to Colonel Tobias Lear, his +private Secretary for a part of the time he was President; and then, and +during periods much longer, his confidential friend. They came into my +hands through the voluntary kindness of Mrs. Lear, of the city of +Washington, the estimable relict of Colonel Lear, and niece of Mrs. +Washington, whose friendship it was my good lot and that of my family to +enjoy; as we did that of Colonel Lear while he lived. The latter died in +Washington in 1816. Mrs. Lear first informed me of these letters ten or +twelve years ago when in Washington, and offered them to my perusal and +examination, telling me to take them home and retain them as long as I +chose, and use them as I thought best, for she knew I would not abuse +this privilege. I brought them home as requested, being then too much +engaged in the business of the Smithsonian Institution as one of the +Regents on its first organization, to examine them while in Washington. +She afterwards read, approved, and for some time had in her hands the +paper I drew up from them. + +It consisted of notices of, and extracts from these original letters, +the matter being abridged, connecting links used, and omissions made +where the great author himself marked them private or from parts +otherwise not necessary to go before the world. So guarded and prepared, +and with a commentary interwoven, Mrs. Lear left its publication to my +discretion. I returned the original letters, in number more than thirty, +in the state I received them from her. I never allowed any one of them +to be copied; but gave one away, or two, for I am not at this day +certain which, to Mr. Polk while he was President of the United States, +having first asked and obtained Mrs. Lear's consent for that purpose. +She also gave me two of them not very long before her decease, which I +prize the more as her gift. I have other original letters from the same +immortal source, the valued donation in 1830, of the son of Colonel +Lear, Lincoln Lear, Esquire. + +This excellent lady, who long honored me with her friendship and +confidence in the above and other ways, after surviving Colonel Lear +forty years, died last December in Washington. There she had continued +to live as his widow; being all this time in possession of, and as I +supposed owning, these original letters. There she lived, beloved as a +pattern of the Christian virtues, and enjoying the esteem of the circle +around her as an interesting relict of days becoming historical; but +ever elevating in the associations they recall. Now that she is gone, I +am induced to give to the public the paper in question. In doing so I +have the best grounds for believing that I perform an act that would +have been grateful to her were she living. She was fully informed of my +intention to publish it and could not but be sensible that the long +respect and affectionate attachment of General Washington which her +husband enjoyed, as so indelibly stamped upon these letters, is a record +of his probity, capacity, and sterling worth, than which none could ever +be more precious, or be likely to endure longer. This consideration it +might be thought affects only the descendants of Colonel Lear or others +devoted to his memory; but I have ventured to think that the publication +may not be wholly unacceptable on broader grounds. Nothing, indeed, in +authentic connection with Washington's great name can ever be unwelcome +to the American people; and although it may have happened that some few +of these letters have heretofore found their way into print in whole or +in part, the number, as far as was known to Mrs. Lear, is believed to be +very small. Hence the publication need not be forborne on that account; +more especially if it should be found to carry with it the slightest +general interest in the form now presented. + +In regard to the narrative of Arnold's treason as given by the great +Chief at his table at Mount Vernon and afterwards written down by +Colonel Lear, which I have appended to the synopsis of the letters, it +was not within Mrs. Lear's knowledge, nor is it within mine at present, +that it has ever been in print before. + +RICHARD RUSH. + +SYDENHAM, NEAR PHILADELPHIA, February, 1857. + + + + +WASHINGTON IN DOMESTIC LIFE. + + +When first I opened and cursorily read the original letters from General +Washington, mentioned in the foregoing introductory explanation, and +noticed the domestic topics which ran so largely through them, they +struck me as possessing peculiar interest. They were of value as coming +from that venerated source, and doubly so, considering how little is +known, through his own correspondence, of his domestic life; scarcely, +in fact, any of its details. Reading the letters again, I found the +matter to be somewhat more varied than my first eager inspection of +them, as hastily unfolded, had led me to suppose; but they were +desultory, and much broken as to dates. The occasional mixture of other +matter, especially public matter, with the domestic topics, did not +diminish the interest of the letters, but the contrary. In this +publication I follow the order of the dates. Where wide chasms occur, I +have merely supplied a link in the chain by an explanatory remark here +and there, in aid of the reader, not hazarding other remarks until all +the letters are mentioned. Thus much as to the plan. I proceed to speak +of the letters themselves. + +The first in date is of the fifth of September, 1790. It is written in +Philadelphia, where Washington had just then arrived from New York, Mr. +Lear, as may be inferred from it, being in New York. He states that he +would proceed onward to Mount Vernon on the day following if Mrs. +Washington's health would permit, as she had been indisposed since their +arrival in Philadelphia; that before he arrived, the city corporation +had taken the house of Mr. Robert Morris for his residence, but that it +would not be sufficiently commodious without additions. + + [This house was in Market Street on the south side near + Sixth Street. The market house buildings then stopped at + Fourth Street; the town in this street extended westward + scarcely as far as Ninth Street; good private dwellings were + seen above Fifth Street; Mr. Morris's was perhaps the best; + the garden was well inclosed by a wall.] + +He describes the house, remarking that even with the proposed additions +the gentlemen of his family would have to go into the third story, where +also Mr. Lear and Mrs. Lear would have to go; and that there would be no +place for his own study and dressing-room but in the back building; +there are good stables, and the coach-house would hold his carriages; +but his coachmen and postilions would have to sleep over the stable +where there was no fireplace, though the room might be warmed by a +stove. The other servants could sleep in the house, he adds, if, in +addition to the present accommodations, a servants' hall were built with +one or two lodging-rooms over it. These are samples of the particularity +with which he writes. He tells Mr. Lear that he had left his coach and +harness with the coachmaker, Mr. Clarke, in Philadelphia, for repairs, +and requests him to see that they are well done and at the time +appointed. The residue of the letter relates to the bringing on of his +servants from New York. It begins "Dear Sir," and after saying that Mrs. +Washington joins with him in best wishes to Mrs. Lear, concludes, "I am +sincerely and affectionately yours, Geo. Washington." The letter fills +the four pages of a sheet of letter paper in his compact but bold and +legible hand, with a few interlineations made very distinctly. + +The next letter is dated Mount Vernon, September 20, 1790. After saying +a few words about Mr. Morris's house, he reverts to the subject of +bringing his servants from New York to Philadelphia, naming several of +them, but doubting the expediency of bringing all by sea, especially the +upper servants. The steward and his wife are mentioned as perhaps best +not to be brought at all; he has no wish to part with them: first, +because he does not like to be changing; and secondly, because he did +not know how to supply their places, but was much mistaken if the +expenses of the second table, where the steward presided, had not +greatly exceeded the proper mark; he suspected there was nothing brought +to his own table of liquors, fruit, or other things, that had not been +used as profusely at the steward's; that if his suspicions were +unfounded he should be sorry for having entertained them; and if not, it +was at least questionable whether any successor of ****** might not do +the same thing, in which case there might be a change without a benefit. +He leaves it with Mr. Lear whether to retain him or not, provided he +thought him honest, of which he would be better able to judge on +comparing his accounts with those of his former steward, which he (the +General) had not done. He concludes, "with sincere regard and affection, +I am yours, Geo. Washington." + + [At this epoch, the seat of government had just been removed + from New York to Philadelphia, making it necessary for + General Washington to establish himself in the latter city, + which leads him into the details given and to follow.] + +The third letter is from Mount Vernon, September 27, 1790. It begins by +saying that since his last, the date of which is not recollected, as he +kept no copies of these letters, two had been received from Mr. Lear, of +which he gives the dates. He approves of his mode of removing the +furniture, and asks, "How have you disposed of the Pagoda? It is a +delicate piece of stuff, and will require to be handled tenderly." + +Alluding to the house in which he had lived in New York, the lease of +which was unexpired, he says that he expected ***** would endeavor to +impose his own terms when he found he could not get it off his hands; we +are in his power and he must do what he pleases with us. As the "Lustre" +is paid for and securely packed up, and may suit the largest +drawing-room at Mr. Morris's house in Philadelphia, he does not incline +to part with it; there is a mangle in the kitchen, which Mrs. Morris +proposes to leave, taking his mangle instead; [a mangle was a machine +for washing or pressing, then in use, and a fixture, I think;] he would +not object provided his was as good, but not if he would be the gainer +by exchanging. He concludes, Mrs. Washington and all the family joining +in best wishes to Mrs. Lear and himself, "I am your sincere friend and +affectionate servant," signing his name as before. + +The next is dated Mount Vernon, October 3, 1790. In this letter he +refers to the declaration of the ministers of Britain and Spain as +published in the newspapers,[A] and requests Mr. Lear to give him the +earliest information of these or any other interesting matters, beyond +what the newspapers say; remarking that Mr. Jefferson's absence from New +York [Mr. Jefferson was then Secretary of State] might be the means of +delaying the receipt of official advices to him longer than usual. He +requests Mr. Lear to use his endeavors for ascertaining the best schools +in Philadelphia with a view to placing Washington Custis, Mrs. +Washington's grandson, at the best. If the college is under good +regulations, and they have proper tutors to prepare boys of his standing +for the higher branches of education, he makes a quaere if it would not +be better to put him there at once, the presumption being that a system +may prevail there by which the gradations are better connected than in +schools which have no correspondence with each other. Adverting again to +his servants, he reminds Mr. Lear that no mention had been made of +John's wife, and asks what he understands to be her plans. He incloses a +letter from John to her, and another from James to his "del Toboso." +[These were four of his black servants.] He requests him when able to +get at Count d'Estaing's letters to send him a transcript of what he +says of a bust he had sent him of Neckar, together with a number of +prints of Neckar, and of the Marquis la Fayette; and concludes in the +same cordial and affectionate style as before. + +Mount Vernon, October 10, 1790. This is next in date. The early parts of +this letter have reference to the steps for removing his furniture and +servants from New York; to the getting rid of the house still upon his +hands there, and to the proper care and instruction of his niece, Miss +Harriet Washington, when he should be established in Philadelphia. +Referring again to Washington Custis's education, whom he had adopted as +a son and in whom he appears to have taken great interest,[B] he wishes +inquiry to be made as to the higher branches taught at the college with +a view to placing his nephews, George and Lawrence Washington, at that +Institution in Philadelphia. He speaks very kindly of these nephews, and +of their desire for improvement. Having left the languages, they are +engaged, he adds, under Mr. Harrow, in Alexandria, in the study of the +mathematics and learning French. Concludes as usual. + +Next comes one from Mount Vernon of October 27, 1790. He tells Mr. Lear +that on his return from a twelve days' excursion up the Potomac, he +finds three letters from him, which he acknowledges under their dates, +and is very glad to learn that he had arrived in Philadelphia, and that +the servants and furniture had got safely there. It is equally agreeable +to him that the steward and his wife had come. He leaves to Mr. L. the +arrangement of the furniture, with remarks of his own as to its +disposition in some of the rooms; and wishes the rent of Mr. Morris's +house to be fixed before the day of his going into it. He desired to pay +a just value; more he had no idea would be asked; but intimates his +fears that the committee [of the city councils of Philadelphia is +probably meant] were holding back under an intention that the rent +should be paid by the public, to which he would not consent. It would be +best, he thinks, if all the servants could be accommodated without using +the loft over the stable, as no orders he could give them would prevent +their carrying lights there, if they were to use it as lodgers. By +return of the hand that takes this and other letters from him to the +Alexandria post-office, he hopes to receive later dates from Mr. Lear, +and, possibly, something more indicative of peace or war between Spain +and England; and concludes, "I am your affectionate friend, Geo. +Washington." + +Mount Vernon, October 31, 1790, is the next date. After expressing +concern lest his house in Philadelphia should not be ready in time, and +pointing out arrangements for his journey to Philadelphia, he speaks +again of his carriage at the coachmaker's in Philadelphia. He thinks +that a wreath round the crests on the panels would be more correspondent +with the Seasons [allegorical paintings probably in medallion], which +were to remain there, than the motto; and that the motto might be put on +the plates of the harness, but leaves it to Mr. Lear and the coachmaker +to adopt which they thought best when the whole was looked at, as he +could not himself see it as a whole. He speaks of the boarding schools +in Philadelphia, and is anxious that full and careful inquiry be made +with a view to securing proper advantages in the education of his +niece, but to be made in a way not to give any expectation of a +preference between rival seminaries, as he had come to no decision in +regard to his niece. As his family on removing to Philadelphia will have +new connections to form with tradespeople, he requests Mr. Lear to find +out those in each branch who stand highest for skill and fair dealing, +saying it is better to be slow in choosing than be under any necessity +of changing. Concludes "with affectionate regards I am your sincere +friend, G.W." + +Mount Vernon, November 7, 1790. A letter full of minute details. It sets +out with expressing his renewed anxiety respecting the education of his +adopted son Washington Custis, remarking that if the _schools_ in the +college are under good masters, and are as fit for boys of his age [he +was probably about eight at this time, for we were schoolmates in +Philadelphia at the dates of the earliest of these letters] as a private +school would be, he is still of opinion he had better be placed there +in the first instance; but the propriety of the step will depend: 1. +Upon the character and ability of the masters; 2. Upon the police and +discipline of the school; and thirdly, upon the number of the pupils. If +there be too many pupils, justice cannot be done to them whatever the +ability of the masters, adding that what ought to be the due proportion +is in some measure matter of opinion, but that an extreme must be +obvious to all. He leaves it with Mr. Lear to decide that point if +nothing else should be finally resolved upon by himself before he +reaches Philadelphia. He next incloses a letter from Mr. Gouverneur +Morris, then in Paris [but not our minister at the French court at that +time] with the bill of charges for certain articles which he had +requested him to send from Paris. The plated ware far exceeds in price +the utmost bounds of his calculation; but as he is persuaded Mr. Morris +had only done what he thought right, he requests Mr. Lear to make +immediate payment in manner as he points out. Among the articles of +this plated ware, were wine coolers, for holding four decanters of cut +glass, also sent by Mr. Morris; and he seems as little satisfied with +the size and fashion of these coolers, from the description he has +received of them, as with their unexpected cost. He thinks more +appropriate ones of real silver might be made, the pattern being +different and work lighter, giving his own ideas of a pattern, and a +little draft of it, and requesting Mr. Lear to talk to a silversmith on +the matter, remarking that perhaps those sent by Mr. Morris might give +hints for the pattern; which, if not found too heavy, as he had not yet +seen them, might after all answer. He approves of the Pagoda's standing +in the smallest drawing-room where Mr. Lear had placed it. Whether the +_green_ curtain or a new _yellow_ one is to be used for the staircase +window in the hall, may depend on his getting an exact match in color +for the former; in things of this sort one would not regard a small +additional expense, to save the eye from bad contrasts. He expresses +the hope that his study will be in readiness by the time he arrives, and +that the rubbish and other litter made by those "men of mortar and the +carpenters," will be removed so that the yard may be made and kept as +clean as the parlor. This, he says, is essential, as, by the alterations +made in the house, the back rooms had become the best and there was an +uninterrupted view from them into the yard, especially from the +dining-room. He concludes by saying that as Mrs. Washington writes to +Mrs. Lear, he would only add his best wishes for her and affectionate +regards for himself, "being your sincere friend, G.W." + +Mount Vernon, November 12, 1790. This letter is a duplicate written to +inform Mr. Lear that he depended upon P****'s coach, horses, and driver, +for taking on the children to Philadelphia. His reasons for writing the +duplicate was, that Giles (one of his servants), who was sent on +Wednesday to Alexandria with his first letter with directions that if +the stage had gone to pursue it to Georgetown so as to overtake the +mail, had put the letter into the hands of a passenger, who "all but +forced it from him," so anxious was this passenger to do an obliging +thing, as he "knew General Washington." This passenger told his name, +but it was "so comical," he could not recollect it. This was Giles's +story; and the General adds that as he knew what little dependence was +to be placed on the punctual conveyance of letters by a private hand, he +writes this duplicate by post to repeat his request that Mr. Lear will +inform him, by return of post, what he has to expect with _certainty_ as +to the coach hired for taking on a part of his family to Philadelphia. +His house is full of company, he adds, and concludes as usual. + +Mount Vernon, November 14, 1790. This letter manifests his concern about +the house in Philadelphia; for, besides that it is still unfinished, the +rent, he says, has not yet been fixed, though he has long since wished +it; he is at a loss to understand it all. He hopes that the additions +and alterations made on his account whilst neat, have not been in an +extravagant style. The latter would not only be contrary to his wishes +but repugnant to his interest and convenience, as it would be the means +of keeping him from the use and comforts of the house until a later day; +and because the furniture and everything else must then be in accordance +with its expensive finish, which would not agree with his present +furniture, and he had no wish to be taxed to suit the taste of others. +The letter is of more length than usual and marked "private;" being, +with one other, the only ones in the collection so marked. I will, +therefore, notice its contents no further than barely to add, that in a +part where he alludes to the still possible intention of making the +public in Philadelphia pay his rent, his terms of dissent become very +emphatic. In reference to his coach, he would rather have heard that, as +repaired, it was "_plain_ and elegant" than "_rich_ and elegant." +Conclusion as usual. + +Mount Vernon, Nov. 17, 1790. This, he says, is a very bad day. He is +just setting off for Alexandria to a dinner given to him by the citizens +of that place. The caps (jockey caps) of Giles and Paris (two of his +postilions) being so much worn that they will be unfit for use by the +time he has completed his journey to Philadelphia, he requests that new +ones may be made, the tassels to be of better quality than the old ones; +and that a new set of harness may be made for the leaders, with a +postilion saddle; the saddle-cloth of which to be like the hammer-cloth, +that all may be of a piece when necessary to use six horses. [This he +sometimes did in travelling.] The letter concludes as usual. + +"Spurriers," November 23, 1790. + + [He is now on his journey to Philadelphia in his own + travelling carriage with Mrs. Washington; the children, and + the servants in attendance on the children, being in the + stage-coach hired for the occasion.] + +He dates from this tavern twelve or fourteen miles south of Baltimore. +The roads, he says, are in-famous--no hope of reaching Baltimore that +night, as they had not yet gone to dinner but were waiting for it. The +letter is only of a few lines, and evidently written in haste, though he +never makes apologies on that account. + +Georgetown, March 28, 1791. + + [The General and family arrived in Philadelphia and took + possession of Mr. Morris's house. The session of Congress + passed over. It was the short session. He was now on his + return to Mount Vernon, having reached the above town on the + Maryland side of the Potomac, from which he dates.] + +This letter is on his private affairs. He expresses dissatisfaction at +the conduct of ****** one of his agents in the State of----, in letting +out his property and receiving his rents; he is too well acquainted, he +says, with facts that bear upon the case to be imposed upon by the tale +he tells; and even his own letter proves him to be what he would not +call him. + +Mount Vernon, April 3, 1791. This letter is also in part on his private +affairs. It contains further complaints of this agent. In the closing +parts of it [there being at this time growing apprehensions of trouble +with the Indians] he makes the remark, that until we could restrain the +turbulence and disorderly conduct of our own borderers, it would be in +vain he feared to expect peace with the Indians; or that they would +govern their own people better than we did ours. + + [It was in the following autumn that General St. Clair's + army was defeated by them in the neighborhood of the Miami + Villages.] + +Mount Vernon, April 6, 1791. A short letter. It mentions his intention +of continuing his journey southward the next day; his horses being well +recruited, he hopes they will go on better than they have come from +Philadelphia. He incloses Mr. Lear, who remains in Philadelphia, some +letters to be put on file, and requests him to pay a man who had been +working in the garden. + + [The journey southward next day was the commencement of his + tour to the Southern States, having made one into the + Northern States before he became President. Having completed + his tour, he passed several days in Georgetown to execute + the powers vested in him for fixing on a place for the + permanent seat of government for the United States under the + new constitution.] + +Richmond, April 12, 1791. This is a letter of four closely written +pages, mainly, though not exclusively, about his servants and the +difficulties with them under the non-slavery laws of Philadelphia; but +as he requests that the knowledge of its contents and the sentiments he +expresses may be confined to Mrs. Lear and Mrs. Washington, I notice no +more of it. + +Savannah, May 13, 1791. He here says that the continual hurry into which +he was thrown by entertainments, visits, and ceremonies in the course of +his southern tour, left him scarcely a moment he could call his own. He +gives directions as to where his letters are to be sent that they may +strike him at the proper points whilst travelling; his horses are much +worn down, he says, by the bad roads, especially the two he bought just +before leaving Philadelphia, "and my old white horse." + +Fredericksburg, Virginia, June 12, 1791. He informs Mr. Lear that he had +reached this place the day preceding, and expected to get back to Mount +Vernon the day following. He would remain there until the 27th, which +was the day appointed for him to meet the commissioners at Georgetown to +fix on the spot for the public buildings to be erected in the new +Federal City, and writes to give Mr. Lear this foreknowledge of his +movements. + +Mount Vernon, June 15, 1791. The early part of this letter relates to +certain blank commissions signed and left with Mr. Lear to be filled up +under the direction and advice of the Secretary of the Treasury. He next +adverts to a vacancy in one of the United States judgeships--that of the +district of Pennsylvania--by the death of the late incumbent. Some have +applied, he says, for the appointment, and others will. In reference to +this and other offices that will be vacant (naming them), he wishes Mr. +Lear to get the best information he can as to those who it is thought +would fill them "with the greatest ability and integrity." Several +meritorious persons, he adds, have already been brought to his view. + +He is glad to hear that the affairs of his household in Philadelphia go +on so well, and tells Mr. Lear it might not be improper for him to hint +how foolish it would be in the servants left there to enter into any +combinations for supplanting those in authority [meaning the upper +servants]. The attempt would be futile, and must recoil upon themselves; +and next, admitting that they were to make the lives of the present +steward and housekeeper so uneasy as to induce them to quit, others +would be got, and such, too, as would be equally if not more rigid in +exacting the duty required of the servants below them; the steward and +housekeeper were indispensably necessary in taking trouble off of Mrs. +Washington's hands and his own, and would be supported in the line of +their duty, whilst any attempt to counteract them would be considered as +the strongest evidence the other servants could give of their +unworthiness. A good and faithful servant, he adds, was never afraid of +having his conduct looked into, but the reverse. + +Mount Vernon, June 19, 1791. He acknowledges the receipt of several +letters from Mr. Lear, and approves what he has done. He tells him that +in the fall he shall want blankets for his servants and people[C] at +Mount Vernon; and the summer being the best time for buying them, he +wishes inquiry to be made on this subject, saying he should want about +two hundred. He wants to see Paine's answer to Burke's pamphlet on the +French Revolution, and requests it may be sent to him. He says that +"Paris" has grown to be so lazy and self-willed that John, the coachman, +says he has no sort of government of him, as he did nothing that he was +told to do, and everything he was not. The General adds that his +incapacity as a postilion was such that he had determined to leave him +behind when returning to Philadelphia, which would make one or two boys +necessary in his stable at that place, as assistants, and asks whether +it might not be possible to find emigrant Germans to answer the purpose. +He concludes, "Be assured of the esteem and regard of yours +affectionately, G.W." + +Mount Vernon, September 26, 1791. He refers to the house in +Philadelphia; says that he never expressed any dissatisfaction at want +of accommodation in it since he got rid of the workmen; and that that +supposition must _not_ be adduced as a motive for causing a _public +edifice_ to be built for his use or occupancy; that he has no intention +of interfering with the politics of Pennsylvania, or the household +accommodations of his successors in the Presidency; but that, for +himself, personally, he had wholly declined living in any public +building. This subject appears to have engaged some of his sensibility, +and he tells Mr. Lear he is glad to learn he has put in writing his +views in regard to it, as that will protect him against misconception on +any point. + +Mount Vernon, October 7, 1791. He writes again about the blankets; some +have been offered to him in Alexandria, but he likes neither the size +nor price, and speaks of those to be had in Philadelphia as intolerably +narrow. He cannot think of being disappointed in his supply, as his +people would suffer in the ensuing winter. He wants one hundred of the +largest size and best quality, and one hundred of the middle size but +_good_ in quality. I recollect asking you if among my pamphlets you had +seen the journal of my tour to the French (the word _position_ was +probably omitted here) on _La beauf_ in the year 1753. I understood you +no; but Mrs. Washington thinks you said yes. Pray decide the point for +us--I have searched in vain for it here. + +Mount Vernon, October 14, 1791. In this letter he begins by saying he is +glad of the intimation given of the intentions of the minister of France +[not stated what they are], and pleased though distressed at the +information that the 24th instant is the day for the meeting of +Congress. He had supposed it to be the 31st, and intended to spend +Monday and possibly Tuesday in Georgetown; but now he would endeavor to +reach Bladensburg on Monday night and lose no time afterwards in +pursuing his journey onward to Philadelphia, as scarce any time would be +left to him for preparing his communications when the session opened, if +the members were punctual in attending. This makes it the more +necessary, he says, that Mr. Lear should look with accuracy, and without +delay, into his speeches and the laws of the past sessions; that all +might be at hand for his own review and consideration. And he requests +Mr. Lear, should anything else have occurred to him as fit for +recommendation or communication in his speech to Congress, to note it, +that it might be ready for his consideration in case it should not be +among his own memorandums. The conclusion is in his usually cordial way. + +This session of Congress passed over. It was the long one, and ran into +May 1792. I find in the collection only three letters to Mr. Lear dated +in that year. The first is from Mount Vernon, July 30, '92, soon after +he had left Philadelphia, and is familiarly descriptive of his journey +homewards. His horses plagued him a good deal, he says, and the sick +mare, owing to a dose of physic administered the night he reached +Chester, was so much weakened as to be unable to carry Austin [one of +the postilions] further than the Susquehannah; had to be led thence to +Hartford, where she was left, and two days afterwards, "gave up the +ghost." As he travelled on, he heard great complaints of the Hessian +fly, and of rust or mildew in the wheat, and believed that the damage +would be great in some places; but that more was said than the case +warranted, and on the whole the crops would be abundant. On arriving in +Georgetown, he found many well-conceived plans for the public buildings +in the new city, and remarks that it was a pleasure to him to find in +our new country so much architectural ability displayed. Concludes, "I +am your affectionate friend, G.W." + +The second is dated Mount Vernon, September 21, '92. He tells Mr. Lear +that he had written him but one letter since arriving at Mount Vernon, +but was on the eve of writing a second when his of the 5th of August got +to hand, with such information of his movements (Mr. Lear having been +away from Philadelphia) as might now enable him to direct a letter to +him without danger of its "reverberating back." He thanks him for the +information afforded in his letter of the 5th of August and in another +of the 21st of July; says he has nothing agreeable of a domestic nature +to relate. Poor George [the General is here supposed to allude to Mr. +George Lewis, one of his nephews, then staying at Mount Vernon], he +fears, is not far from that place whence no traveller returns; he is but +the shadow of what he was; has not been out of his room, scarcely out of +his bed, for six weeks; has intervals of ease which flatter us a little, +but he, the General, has little hope of his surviving the winter. It is +so he writes of this nephew, adding that the subject gives him much +distress. Concludes, "with sincere and affectionate regard I am always +your friend, G.W." + +The third is dated Mount Vernon, October 1, '92. In the expectation +that this letter will find Mr. Lear again in Philadelphia, he wishes him +to begin in time to compare all his former speeches to Congress with the +subsequent acts of that body that he might see what parts of them passed +altogether unnoticed or had been only partially noticed, that thus he +might be enabled to judge whether any and what parts should be brought +forward again. He requests him also, as before, to note everything that +may occur to him as fit to be noticed in his communication to Congress +this year, as he desires to have all the materials collected for his +consideration in preparing his speech. He speaks again of the illness of +"poor George," and says that others of his family are unwell. Concludes +in his usually kind and affection manner. + +[This session of Congress--the short session--came to its regular close +on the 3d of March, 1793.] The General is again at Mount Vernon in +April, and writes to Mr. Lear on the 8th of that month on some of his +private affairs. He tells him that his letter of the 3d had been +received transmitting Mr. ******'s rental, and Mr. *****'s profession of +his inability to discharge his bond. The latter he thinks more candid +than the former, but supposes that he must be satisfied with both, +knowing he will never get better terms from either. He intimates that +before doing anything with respect to the lands the latter had from him, +he wishes Mr. Lear to have some conversation with * * * * on a point he +(the General) did not clearly understand, as he would not "put it in the +power of malice itself to charge him with any agency in measures that +could be tortured into impropriety in this matter." In regard to the +former person [the same mentioned in his letters of March 28 and April +3, '91, as having the charge of some of his property], he requests Mr. +Lear to endeavor to find out through members of Congress, if he can, the +name of some individual in the State in question who would be likely to +make him a faithful agent, as it would not do to leave his concerns in +the hands of ***** any longer; he was too dependent, he feared (besides +other objections to him), for his election to the legislature to fix his +rents at a just medium, or collect them in the manner he ought to do. +The conclusion of this letter has reference to the will of his deceased +nephew, Mr. George Lewis, who had died at Mount Vernon. + +Mr. Lear had now ceased to be his private Secretary; but the most +intimate correspondence was still kept up with him. On the 21st of June, +1793, there is a letter to him from Philadelphia [Mr. L. then being in +Georgetown], which the General writes on purpose to say that he +considers it a very kind and friendly act in him to go to Mount Vernon. +The letter finishes with a few lines of allusion to his private affairs. + +Philadelphia, May 6, 1794. This is a letter written to Mr. Lear when the +latter was in England. It treats of private matters, and expresses his +pleasure at the reception he had from the Earl of Buchan, Sir John +Sinclair, and others in England to whom General Washington had given him +letters. He tells him he was much obliged to him for the several +communications in his letters, and placed great reliance on them; that +the opportunities he derived from mixing with people in different walks, +high and low, and of different political sentiments, must have afforded +him an extensive range for observation and comparison; more so by far +than could fall to the lot of a stationary person always revolving in a +particular circle. The General then touches on our home affairs. [He was +still President, it will be remembered.] He says that to tell him the +British order in council of the 8th of June last respecting neutral +vessels had given much discontent in the United States; and that that of +the 6th of November had thrown the people into a flame, could hardly be +new to him. In reference to all the existing difficulties with England +he tells him that many measures had been moved in Congress, some of +which had passed into acts, and others were pending; that among the +former was a law for fortifying our principal seaports, and another for +raising an additional corps of eight hundred artillery-men for the +defence of them and other purposes; and that the bills pending were: +1st. One to complete our present military establishment; 2d. One to +raise an army of twenty-five thousand men in addition to it; and 3d. A +bill to organize, put in training, and hold in readiness at a minute's +warning a select corps of eighty thousand militia. He seemed to think +that the first and last would pass, but that the result of the second +could not be so well predicted. He mentions the appointment of Mr. Jay +as special minister to England in the hope of settling all our +difficulties in a temperate way by fair and firm negotiation, and that +he would sail in a few days, with Mr. John Trumbell as his private +Secretary; tells him also of Mr. Randolph's appointment as Secretary of +State, and that Mr. Bradford, of Pennsylvania, was made Attorney General +in Mr. Randolph's place. In conclusion, he alludes to "little Lincoln" +[Mr. Lear's son] and his "lottery tickets," which, "poor little fellow!" +he exclaims, will never be likely to build him a baby-house even; the +whole Washington lottery business having turned out a bed of thorns +rather than roses. He terminates the letter by telling him that his +public avocations will not admit of more than a flying trip to Mount +Vernon this summer, and that this not suiting Mrs. Washington he has +taken a house in Germantown [the vicinity of Philadelphia] to avoid the +heat of Philadelphia in July and August, and that Mrs. Washington, Nelly +[one of the Miss Custi's], and the rest of the family united with him in +every good wish for his health, prosperity, and safe return; and he begs +him to be "assured of the sincerity with which he was and always should +be his affectionate friend, G.W." + +Mount Vernon, August 5, 1795. Mr. Lear had got back from England and +was now residing in Georgetown or its neighborhood. The present letter +incloses him a power of attorney to vote on the General's shares in the +Potomac Company at a meeting of its stockholders to be held on the day +following, in Georgetown. He says he would be there himself to vote in +person if possible; but that having sent to the post-office in +Alexandria every day since Friday for letters without receiving any from +any of the officers of the government, he might probably receive a great +accumulation of them on the day following [which was again Friday, and a +post day], to which he would have to give his attention and prepare +answers. It was therefore that he sent the power of attorney to meet the +contingency of his not being present. This power of attorney was in his +own handwriting. + +Philadelphia, March 13, 1796. There are brief letters since the above +that touch on private business. In this of the 13th of March, 1796, +alluding to his pecuniary affairs, he says, that for the few years he +has to remain here, the enjoyment of less, with more ease and certainty, +will be more convenient to him, and more desirable; had his resources +been adequate to it, he would have purchased the lot and houses in +Alexandria which Mr. Lear pointed out; but that as his resources +depended on contingencies that might baffle his calculations, he chose +to tread on sure ground in all his engagements, being as unwilling to +embarrass others by uncertain contracts as to be deceived himself in his +expectations. + +Philadelphia, April 29, 1796. This is one of a few lines in which he +requests Mr. Lear's acceptance of some garden seeds for his garden and +farm. They were portions of some sent to him from England to be planted +at Mount Vernon. + +Philadelphia, November 16, 1796. This relates to the sale of some of his +agricultural produce, and to the disappointments he had experienced in +payments promised to him. + +Mount Vernon, March 25, 1797. The General is now relieved from all +public duties and cares. On the 3d of March of this year he ceased to be +President by voluntarily retiring from the post after writing that +farewell address which a British historian[D] has pronounced unequalled +by any composition of uninspired wisdom. He is now a private citizen +returned to his country estate at Mount Vernon on the banks of the +Potomac. Mr. Lear is in Georgetown. In this letter to him of the 25th of +March '97, he speaks of plans for repairing and refitting his ancient +and loved home; but adds that in that rural vicinity he finds difficulty +in getting proper workmen, and requests Mr. Lear's aid in procuring some +from Georgetown, or the new "Federal City," [as Washington at that day +was usually called.] Skill and dispatch would be necessary +qualifications, and he thinks that his "_Old Sergeant Cornelius_" might +do for one of the workmen. It seems that this person had been heard of +in those parts, and he adds that he would give him the preference as +knowing his temper and industry. + +Not long, however, is he permitted to remain a private citizen reposing +at Mount Vernon amidst all its endearments. The next succeeding year +finds him again summoned by his country to her service. At the eager +solicitation of the government, the elder Adams then being President, +and Mr. Adams' own desire being seconded by the nation's voice, he was +prevailed upon to accept the supreme command of the Army during the +difficulties and even quasi-war that had risen up with our old ally, +France. He accepted on condition of receiving no pay or emolument until +actually called into the field. Nevertheless this conditional acceptance +threw upon him burdensome duties. It exposed him to "many official +calls, to a heavy correspondence, and to a flow of company." It is so +he expresses himself. In this conjuncture he writes to his attached +friend and faithful secretary Mr. Lear. Under date of August the second, +1798, from Mount Vernon, he describes to him those fresh duties as +hindrances to putting his private affairs in that order so necessary +before he embarked in new scenes; it being his desire, before quitting +the scene of human action, to leave his concerns in such a condition as +to give as little trouble as possible to those who would have the +management of them afterwards. Under this view of his situation he had +written to the Secretary of War to be informed whether he was at liberty +to appoint his secretary, who should be entitled to the usual and proper +allowances; and concludes with asking Mr. Lear if he would join him in +that capacity if the Secretary of War answered in the affirmative. Mr. +Lear assents. + +This is the last letter in the series. I learn from Mrs. Lear that +others not in this collection, bespeaking a high degree of intimacy and +confidence, were written to her husband by the same hand. This may well +be conceived when it is known that Mr. Lear's connection with this +illustrious man began prior to the year '86, and continued until his +death in '99; that he was at his bedside when he died, and drew up the +authentic narrative, which was verified by the physicians, of his last +illness, from its commencement to the closing scene. This was published +at that time to meet the anxious feelings of his mourning countrymen, +struck down at first by his death as by a shock that went through every +heart. + +From one of the letters there dropped out, as I unfolded it, a slip in +Mr. Lear's handwriting, dated May the first, 1791, containing the copy +of a message to General Washington from Lord Cornwallis, of which +Captain Truxton had been the bearer from the East Indies. His lordship, +whom Captain Truxton had seen there, being then Governor General of +India. "congratulated General Washington on the establishment of a +happy government in his country, and congratulated the country on the +accession of General Washington to its Chief Magistracy." The message +wished "General Washington a long enjoyment of tranquillity and +happiness," adding that, for himself (Lord C.), he "continued in +troubled waters." + +I have thus noticed succinctly, perhaps I might more appropriately say +described, these letters. In abridging and connecting the train of them, +Washington's language is used to the extent that will be seen. The style +is different from that of his official productions and other letters of +his voluminous correspondence. He naturally stepped into one more +familiar when writing to a confidential friend on family matters +relating to his home at Mount Vernon, or as it was to be arranged in +Philadelphia while he was President. But the style has the directness +and sincerity of all his writings. It is apparent that the letters are +written without reserve. With two or three exceptions, no copies appear +to have been kept; yet everything is frank and straight-forward. +Understanding human nature thoroughly under all its phases, he deals +wisely with men in small things as in great; but he does no one +injustice. When others are acting disingenuously towards him, though +seeing through it, he is considerate and forbearing, not taking steps +hastily, but ready to make allowances where they could be made. +Dishonesty or suspicion of it he never overlooks. In the second letter +he suspects his steward of extravagance in spending too much for +supplies of the table kept for his upper servants; yet he authorizes Mr. +Lear to retain him, if, on looking into his accounts, he finds him +honest; intimating that any successor to him might act in the same way, +and a dismissal might be only a change without a benefit. His +reprobation of all dishonesty is seen in more than one of the letters, +as well as his restrained modes of dealing with it whilst affecting only +his own interests. + +As regards the minutiae seen in the letters; the details respecting his +house, furniture, servants, carriages, horses, postilions, and so on, +these will be read with curiosity and interest. They suggest a new test +by which to try Washington, and let him be tried by it. We have not +before had such details from himself. It is for the first time the +curtain has been so lifted. + +All great men, the very greatest, Caesar, Cromwell, Napoleon, Frederick, +Peter the Great, Marlborough, Alexander, all on the long list of +towering names, have had contact with small things. No pinnacle in +station, no supremacy in excellence or intellect, can exempt man from +this portion of his lot. It is a human necessity. Washington goes into +this sphere with a propriety and seemliness not always observable in +others of his high cast, but often signally the reverse. In dealing with +small things, he shows no undue tenacity of opinion; no selfishness; no +petulance; no misplaced excitements. He never plays the petty tyrant. He +does not forget himself; he does not forget others; he assumes nothing +from any exaltation in himself, but is reasonable and provident in all +his domestic and household arrangements. + +Shall we seek for comparisons, or rather contrasts? With as much of +Washington's domestic portraiture before us as these letters hold up, +shall we turn to look at others? There is no difficulty, but in +selecting from the vast heap. + +Frederick thought coffee too expensive an indulgence for common use in +his kingdom, saying he was himself reared on beer soup, which was surely +good enough for peasants and common fellows, as he called his people. He +wrote directions to his different cooks with his own hand the better to +pamper his appetite with every variety of the dishes and sauces he liked +best. He stinted Voltaire in sugar while a guest in his palace, or gave +it to him cheap and bad. He praised him face to face, and ridiculed him +behind his back. Napoleon played blind-man's buff at St. Helena. He lost +his temper at his coronation on perceiving that some of the princesses +of his family who were to act as trainbearers were not in their right +places. Caesar was versed in all the ceremonials of State. It was said +that he would even have been a perfect Roman gentleman but for a habit +of putting one of his fingers in his hair. Yet such a master of forms +gave grave offence to the Roman Senate by not rising when they intended +him a compliment; so unwise was he in small things. Cromwell in a frolic +threw a cushion at Ludlow, who in turn threw one at him. He bedaubed +with ink the face of one of the justices, who, with Cromwell himself, +had just been condemning Charles to the block. Peter the Great travelled +about with a pet monkey, which unceremoniously jumped upon the King of +England's shoulder when the latter visited the Czar in London. Some +great men have played leap-frog; some practised this affectation, some +that. The book of history records too amply the child-like diversions +among those who have flourished on the summits of renown. We hear of +none of this in Washington; no idle whimsies, no studied or foolish +eccentricities; none of the buffoonery of ripe years. They were not in +him; or if they were, self-discipline extirpated them, as it did the bad +ambition and moral callousness that have disfigured too many of the +great names of the earth, ancient and modern; whilst his matchless +purity and deathless deeds raise him above them all. This verdict is +already more than half pronounced by the most enlightened and +scrutinizing portions of mankind, and time is silently extending its +domain as he is longer tried by the parallels of history, and by the +philosophy of greatness itself. + +Before his fame, steadily ascending from its adamantine foundation, gave +signs that it was to encircle the globe, some imagined him too prudent. +Some thought him devoid of sensibility; a cold, colossal mass, +intrenched in taciturnity, or enfolded in a mantle of dignity. The +sequel disclosed that his complete mastery over passion, moving in +harmony with his other powers and faculties, lent its essential aid +towards his unrivalled name. Opinion and passion were strong in him. The +latter existed in vehemence; but he put the curb upon it, turning it +into right directions, and excluding it otherwise from influence upon +his conduct. He stifled his dislikes; he was silent under sneers and +disparaging innuendoes lest inopportune speech might work injury to the +great cause confided to him. To the success of that cause he looked +steadily and exclusively. It absorbed his whole soul, and he determined +to concentrate upon it all his forbearance as well as energy. The +complicated dangers which encompassed it he knew, from his position, +sooner and better than others; but he would not make them public, lest +the foe might hear them, or others whose prepossessions were unfriendly; +preferring that temporary odium should rest upon himself. Therefore his +reserve; and thus it was that the grand results of his life came out in +manifold blessings to his country; thus it was that some at first +distrustful, and others long distrustful, of his superiority, came to +admit it in the end. Be it added, that his native good sense teaching +him the value of social restraint, and his knowledge of the world, its +approved observances in intercourse, the tone of the gentleman on its +best models ever also graced his public glory. + +An anecdote I derived from Colonel Lear shortly before his death in +1816, may here be related, showing the height to which his passion would +rise yet be controlled. It belongs to his domestic life which I am +dealing with, having occurred under his own roof, whilst it marks public +feeling the most intense, and points to the moral of his life. I give it +in Colonel Lear's words as nearly as I can, having made a note of them +at the time. + +Towards the close of a winter's day in 1791, an officer in uniform was +seen to dismount in front of the President's in Philadelphia, and, +giving the bridle to his servant, knock at the door of his mansion. +Learning from the porter that the President was at dinner, he said he +was on public business and had dispatches for the President. A servant +was sent into the dining-room to give the information to Mr. Lear, who +left the table and went into the hall where the officer repeated what +he had said. Mr. Lear replied that, as the President's Secretary, he +would take charge of the dispatches and deliver them at the proper time. +The officer made answer that he had just arrived from the western army, +and his orders were to deliver them with all promptitude, and to the +President in person; but that he would wait his directions. Mr. Lear +returned, and in a whisper imparted to the President what had passed. +General Washington rose from the table, and went to the officer. He was +back in a short time, made a word of apology for his absence, but no +allusion to the cause of it. He had company that day. Everything went on +as usual. Dinner over, the gentlemen passed to the drawing-room of Mrs. +Washington, which was open in the evening. The General spoke courteously +to every lady in the room, as was his custom. His hours were early, and +by ten o'clock all the company had gone. Mrs. Washington and Mr. Lear +remained. Soon Mrs. Washington left the room. + +The General now walked backward and forward slowly for some minutes +without speaking. Then he sat down on a sofa by the fire, telling Mr. +Lear to sit down. To this moment there had been no change in his manner +since his interruption at table. Mr. Lear now perceived emotion. This +rising in him, he broke out suddenly, "_It's all over--St. Clair's +defeated--routed;--the officers nearly all killed, the men by wholesale; +the route complete--too shocking to think of--and a surprise into the +bargain_!" + +He uttered all this with great vehemence. Then he paused, got up from +the sofa and walked about the room several times, agitated but saying +nothing. Near the door he stopped short and stood still a few seconds, +when his wrath became terrible. + +"_Yes_," he burst forth, "HERE _on this very spot, I took leave of him; +I wished him success and honor; you have your instructions, I said, from +the Secretary of War, I had a strict eye to them, and will add but one +word_--BEWARE OF A SURPRISE. _I repeat it_, BEWARE OF A SURPRISE--_you +know how the Indians fight us. He went off with that as my last solemn +warning thrown into his ears. And yet!! to suffer that army to be cut to +pieces, hack'd, butchered, tomahawk'd, by a surprise--the very thing I +guarded him against!! O God, O God, he's worse than a murderer! how can +he answer it to his country;--the blood of the slain is upon him--the +curse of widows and orphans--the curse of Heaven_!" + +This torrent came out in tones appalling. His very frame shook. It was +awful, said Mr. Lear. More than once he threw his hands up as he hurled +imprecations upon St. Clair. Mr. Lear remained speechless; awed into +breathless silence. + +The roused Chief sat down on the sofa once more. He seemed conscious of +his passion, and uncomfortable. He was silent. His warmth beginning to +subside, he at length said in an altered voice: "_This must not go +beyond this room_." Another pause followed--a longer one--when he said +in a tone quite low, "_General St. Clair shall have justice; I looked +hastily through the dispatches, saw the whole disaster but not all the +particulars; I will receive him without displeasure; I will hear him +without prejudice; he shall have full justice_." + +He was now, said Mr. Lear, perfectly calm. Half an hour had gone by. The +storm was over; and no sign of it was afterwards seen in his conduct or +heard in his conversation. The result is known. The whole case was +investigated by Congress. St. Clair was exculpated and regained the +confidence Washington had in him when appointing him to that command. He +had put himself into the thickest of the fight and escaped unhurt, +though so ill as to be carried on a litter, and unable to mount his +horse without help. + +A passage from one of Mr. Jefferson's letters which the historian Sparks +records, may here be given, as its spirit covers the private as well as +public life of Washington. Mr. Jefferson withdrew his services as +Secretary of State from the administration of Washington towards the +close of his first term in the Presidency. His retirement from that +post took place when party spirit was violent and bitter in the extreme; +never was it more so in the annals of our country; and it was known that +he had differed from Washington on political questions of the greatest +importance. Nevertheless, writing of him at a later period Mr. Jefferson +says: "His integrity was most pure; his justice the most inflexible I +have ever known; no motives of interest or consanguinity, of friendship +or hatred, being able to bias his decision. He was, indeed, in every +sense of the word, a wise, a good, and a great man." + +I return to his letters to Mr. Lear. In superintending his domestic +affairs, these letters exhibit him as the head of a well-ordered family, +himself the regulator of it all under maxims that best conduce to order +because not too rigid. We see that he was truly hospitable; kind; +devoted to his kindred whom he gathers around him, interesting himself +in their education and welfare; cheering them with a welcome at Mount +Vernon, and soothing them in sickness and sorrow. The kindred of Mrs. +Washington alike share his solicitudes, paternal care, and constant +kindness. All this is discernible from the facts that drop out in these +letters. They point to a heart affectionately alive to the best social +and family feelings. We see his attention to the comfort of his +servants, slaves, and others. His government of them, upper and +subordinate, appears to have been perfect by his union of discipline +with liberality. He knew that his postilions, if they slept over the +stable, would carry lights there whether he forbade it or not, for they +would do it when he knew nothing about it and not tell on each other. He +therefore allowed no sleeping there at all. + +I could not avoid remarking, as characteristic throughout the whole of +this correspondence, that there is never any complaining of his labors. +Letter-writing alone would have been a heavy labor to him but for his +system and industry. Promptitude in using his pen there must necessarily +have been, or he could not have written so much. The history of the +times will show that when he wrote these letters he was simultaneously +writing others on public business, which, as the world knows, he never +neglected in any jot or tittle no matter what else he might be doing. +The domestic letters must therefore have been struck off with great +facility. Let us call to mind also the more than two hundred volumes of +folio manuscript of his public correspondence which Congress purchased, +and then remember that the sum of all he wrote is as nothing to what he +_did_ in his long career of activity in his country's service, military +and civil. + +Next I remark, as a new corroboration of the modesty ever so prominent +in him, that not once throughout the whole of this correspondence does +he make any, the slightest, allusion to himself in connection with the +Revolutionary War, comparatively recent as it then was. Besides that the +general tenor of the correspondence might have supplied occasions for +such allusions, special opportunities were at hand while skirting the +battlegrounds and other localities of his military operations in the +war, even in his journeys between Mount Vernon and Philadelphia; yet +they are never once made. The casual mention of his "_Old Sergeant +Cornelius_," whom he happened to want as a workman about his grounds at +Mount Vernon, is the sole reference that could wake up the mind to his +having had anything to do with the Revolution. He had helped to pave the +way for that great event by the influence of his high character thrown +into the scale when the early questions of resistance or submission were +in agitation; he had helped it on by his attachment to constitutional +liberty at that epoch though his fortune was at stake, and friendships +among the highborn and cultivated from the parent State then among his +associates in Virginia--could a bosom like his have been swayed by such +thoughts; he had helped it on by the special weight of name he had won +in arms fighting side by side with the proud generals and troops of +Britain confident of victory, but saved from annihilation by his inborn +fearlessness and superiority, when death was all around him and dismay +everywhere in Braddock's disastrous fight--their silent homage crowning +the head of their deliverer; his triumphant sword at Yorktown put the +crowning hand to the immortal work--the work that founded this great +nation; yet we could never infer from a word or hint in the course of +these letters, from first to last, that he had anything to do with the +work, except as the name of "_Sergeant Cornelius_" incidentally falls +from his pen with only a rural object. What a lesson! Some extol +themselves openly. Some do it under cover of self-humiliation, called by +a French writer the pomp of modesty. Washington is simply silent; he +will slide into no allusions to the great and glorious work of his life +in the midst of temptations to it. + +Finally: the charm of these letters is in their being so familiar, so +out of the sphere of his correspondence generally, and therefore holding +him up in lights that seem new. Mankind, long familiar with the external +attributes and grandeur of his character, looking up to his vast fame +as hero and statesman uncertain which predominates, have known less of +him at home with his family, his relations and his friends. The inner +parts of his character, the kindlier impulses of his nature, his +sympathies with those dear to him, dependent on him, or looking to him +for the solace of his kindness, seem to have remained less publicly +known. Mr. Sparks, in his preface to his "Life and Writings," remarks +that "it must be kept in mind that much the larger portion of his life +passed on a conspicuous public theatre, and that no account of it can be +written which will not assume essentially the air of history." He adds, +that while in his work "anecdotes are interwoven and such incidents of a +private and personal nature as are known, they are more rare than could +be desired." + +The synopsis of the letters which I have given may perhaps tend in some +small degree to supply this desideratum in his illustrious life +alongside of the more copious anecdotes and reminiscences supplied by +the patriotic and filial devotion of Mr. Custis. This is my humble hope. + +Since the foregoing Letters were received from Mrs. Lear, she has +favored me with the perusal of other manuscripts introducing us to the +domestic hours of General Washington. Among them is a Diary kept by Mr. +Lear at Mount Vernon in 1786, anterior therefore to the time when +Washington became President. From this document I am permitted to copy a +passage entire. It is dated the 23d of October, '86. Mr. Drayton and Mr. +Izard, gentlemen of South Carolina, had been spending the day at Mount +Vernon. After dinner, the company still round the table, Washington was +led to speak of Arnold's treason, and Mr. Lear wrote down his account of +it in his Diary of that day. Although history has made us familiar with +that whole transaction in its essential facts, to hear it under such +circumstances from the lips of Washington, seems to impart to it new +interest. We listen with revived curiosity and attention when such a +narrator speaks. The copy from Mr. Lear's Diary, in which is recorded +this interesting dinner-table narrative, is in the words following:-- + + + "MOUNT VERNON, + Monday, October 23d, 1786. + +"Mrs. Washington went to Arlington with the two children. Sent a letter +directed to Mr. Samuel Storer to the post-office by Charles, who went up +to town (Alexandria) with Master Thompson and Lawrence Washington, who +had spent their vacation here. Mr. Drayton and Mr. Izard here all day. +After dinner General Washington was, in the course of conversation, led +to speak of Arnold's treachery, when he gave the following account of +it, which I shall put in his own words, thus: 'I confess I had a good +opinion of Arnold before his treachery was brought to light; had that +not been the case, I should have had some reason to suspect him sooner, +for when he commanded in Philadelphia, the Marquis la Fayette brought +accounts from France of the armament which was to be sent to co-operate +with us in the ensuing campaign. Soon after this was known, Arnold +pretended to have some private business to transact in Connecticut, and +on his way there he called at my quarters; and in the course of +conversation expressed a desire of quitting Philadelphia and joining the +army the ensuing campaign. I told him that it was probable we should +have a very active one, and that if his wound and state of health would +permit, I should be extremely glad of his services with the army. He +replied that he did not think his wound would permit him to take a very +active part; but still he persisted in his desire of being with the +army. He went on to Connecticut, and on his return called again upon me. +He renewed his request of being with me next campaign, and I made him +the same answer I had done before. He again repeated that he did not +think his wound would permit him to do active duty, and intimated a +desire to have the command at West Point. I told him I did not think +that would suit him, as I should leave none in the garrison but +invalids, because it would be entirely covered by the main army. The +subject was dropt at that time, and he returned to Philadelphia. It then +appeared somewhat strange to me, that a man of Arnold's known activity +and enterprise, should be desirous of taking so inactive a part. I +however thought no more of the matter. When the French troops arrived at +Rhode Island, I had intelligence from New York that General Clinton +intended to make an attack upon them before they could get themselves +settled and fortified. In consequence of that, I was determined to +attack New York, which would be left much exposed by his drawing off the +British troops; and accordingly formed my line of battle, and moved down +with the whole army to King's ferry, which we passed. Arnold came to +camp at that time, and having no command, and consequently no quarters +(all the houses thereabouts being occupied by the army), he was obliged +to seek lodgings at some distance from the camp. While the army was +crossing at King's ferry, I was going to see the last detachment over, +and met Arnold, who asked me if I had thought of anything for him. I +told him that he was to have the command of the light troops, which was +a post of honor, and which his rank indeed entitled him to. Upon this +information his countenance changed, and he appeared to be quite fallen; +and instead of thanking me, or expressing any pleasure at the +appointment, never opened his mouth. I desired him to go on to my +quarters and get something to refresh himself, and I would meet him +there soon. He did so. Upon his arrival there, he found Col. Tilghman, +whom he took a one side, and mentioning what I had told him, seemed to +express great uneasiness at it--as his leg, he said, would not permit +him to be long on horse-back; and intimated a great desire to have the +command at West Point. When I returned to my quarters, Col. Tilghman +informed me of what had passed. I made no reply to it--but his behavior +struck me as strange and unaccountable. In the course of that night, +however, I received information from New York that General Clinton had +altered his plan and was debarking his troops. This information obliged +me likewise to alter my disposition and return to my former station, +where I could better cover the country. I then determined to comply with +Arnold's desire, and accordingly gave him the command of the garrison at +West Point. Things remained in this situation about a fortnight, when I +wrote to the Count Rochambeau desiring to meet him at some intermediate +place (as we could neither of us be long enough from our respective +commands to visit the other), in order to lay the plan for the siege of +Yorktown, and proposed Hartford, where I accordingly went and met the +Count. On my return I met the Chevalier Luzerne towards evening within +about 15 miles of West Point (on his way to join the Count at Rhode +Island), which I intended to reach that night, but he insisted upon +turning back with me to the next public house; where, in politeness to +him, I could not but stay all night, determining, however, to get to +West Point to breakfast very early. I sent off my baggage, and desired +Colonel Hamilton to go forward and inform General Arnold that I would +breakfast with him. Soon after he arrived at Arnold's quarters, a letter +was delivered to Arnold which threw him into the greatest confusion. He +told Colonel Hamilton that something required his immediate attendance +at the garrison which was on the opposite side of the river to his +quarters; and immediately ordered a horse, to take him to the river; and +the barge, which he kept to cross, to be ready; and desired Major +Franks, his Aid, to inform me when I should arrive, that he was gone +over the river and would return immediately. When I got to his quarters +and did not find him there, I desired Major Franks to order me some +breakfast; and as I intended to visit the fortifications I would see +General Arnold there. After I had breakfasted, I went over the river, +and inquiring for Arnold, the commanding officer told me that he had +not been there. I likewise inquired at the several redoubts, but no one +could give me any information where he was. The impropriety of his +conduct when he knew I was to be there, struck me very forcibly, and my +mind misgave me; but I had not the least idea of the real cause. When I +returned to Arnold's quarters about two hours after, and told Colonel +Hamilton that I had not seen him, he gave me a packet which had just +arrived for me from Col. Jemmison, which immediately brought the matter +to light. I ordered Colonel Hamilton to mount his horse and proceed with +the greatest despatch to a post on the river about eight miles below, in +order to stop the barge if she had not passed; but it was too late. It +seems that the letter which Arnold received which threw him in such +confusion was from Col. Jemmison, informing him that Andre was taken and +that the papers found upon him were in his possession. Col. Jemmison, +when Andre was taken with these papers, could not believe that Arnold +was a traitor, but rather thought it was an imposition of the British +in order to destroy our confidence in Arnold. He, however, immediately +on their being taken, despatched an express after me, ordering him to +ride night and day till he came up with me. The express went the lower +road, which was the road by which I had gone to Connecticut, expecting +that I would return by the same route, and that he would meet me; but +before he had proceeded far, he was informed that I was returning by the +upper road. He then cut across the country and followed in my track till +I arrived at West Point. He arrived about two hours after, and brought +the above packet. When Arnold got down to the barge, he ordered his men, +who were very clever fellows and some of the better sort of soldiery, to +proceed immediately on board the Vulture sloop of war, as a flag, which +was lying down the river; saying that they must be very expeditious, as +he must return in a short time to meet me, and promised them two gallons +of rum if they would exert themselves. They did, accordingly; but when +they got on board the Vulture, instead of their two gallons of rum, he +ordered the coxswain to be called down into the cabin and informed him +that he and the men must consider themselves as prisoners. The coxswain +was very much astonished, and told him that they came on board under the +sanction of a flag. He answered that that was nothing to the purpose; +they were prisoners. But the Captain of the Vulture had more generosity +than this pitiful scoundrel, and told the coxswain that he would take +his parole for going on shore to get clothes, and whatever else was +wanted for himself and his companions. He accordingly came, got his +clothes and returned on board. When they got to New York, General +Clinton, ashamed of so low and mean an action, set them all at liberty." + +This closes the account. It terminates also the use I have been +permitted, through the valued friendship of Mrs. Lear, to make of these +manuscripts. + +R.R. + + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote A: Alluding probably to the Nootka Sound controversy then +pending between these courts.] + +[Footnote B: The affectionate interest General Washington took in this +adopted son is well known. Mr. Custis still lives (1856) and still +dispenses the hospitalities of Arlington, his estate and home in +Virginia near the city of Washington; which it overlooks from its +beautiful heights. His house exhibits paintings, illustrative of our +revolutionary annals, the work of his amateur pencil; whilst the +productions of his patriotic pen have charmed the public by the +anecdotes they record in attractive ways of the personal, rural, and +other habits of the great Chief.] + +[Footnote C: The latter mean his slaves.] + +[Footnote D: Alison] + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Washington in Domestic Life, by Richard Rush + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WASHINGTON IN DOMESTIC LIFE *** + +***** This file should be named 11926.txt or 11926.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/1/9/2/11926/ + +Produced by Garrett Alley and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team. + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +https://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, is critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at https://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +https://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at https://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit https://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including including checks, online payments and credit card +donations. To donate, please visit: https://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + +Each eBook is in a subdirectory of the same number as the eBook's +eBook number, often in several formats including plain vanilla ASCII, +compressed (zipped), HTML and others. + +Corrected EDITIONS of our eBooks replace the old file and take over +the old filename and etext number. The replaced older file is renamed. +VERSIONS based on separate sources are treated as new eBooks receiving +new filenames and etext numbers. + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + https://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. + +EBooks posted prior to November 2003, with eBook numbers BELOW #10000, +are filed in directories based on their release date. If you want to +download any of these eBooks directly, rather than using the regular +search system you may utilize the following addresses and just +download by the etext year. + + https://www.gutenberg.org/etext06 + + (Or /etext 05, 04, 03, 02, 01, 00, 99, + 98, 97, 96, 95, 94, 93, 92, 92, 91 or 90) + +EBooks posted since November 2003, with etext numbers OVER #10000, are +filed in a different way. The year of a release date is no longer part +of the directory path. The path is based on the etext number (which is +identical to the filename). The path to the file is made up of single +digits corresponding to all but the last digit in the filename. For +example an eBook of filename 10234 would be found at: + + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/0/2/3/10234 + +or filename 24689 would be found at: + https://www.gutenberg.org/2/4/6/8/24689 + +An alternative method of locating eBooks: + https://www.gutenberg.org/GUTINDEX.ALL + + |