Washington recommends preparations for another cam- paign.-Rumours of peace, which are at first doubted, but afterwards are believed.-Discontents in the army. -A meeting of the officers.-Address of Washington to them.-Soldiers from Lancaster mutiny.-The army disbanded.-Washington takes leave of his officers.- Settles his accounts.-Returns his commission to congress, and retires to Mount Vernon. pp. 194-266. General Washington, on retiring rom public life, devotes himself to agricultural pursuits.-Favours inland na- vigation. Declines offered emoluments from it.- Urges an alteration of the fundamental rules of the society of the Cincinnati.-Regrets the defects of the federal system, and recommends a revisal of it.-Is appointed a member of the continental convention for that purpose, which, after hesitation, he accepts.- Is chosen president thereof.-Is solicited to accept the presidency of the United States.-Writes sundry letters expressive of the conflict in his mind between Washington elected president.-On his way to the seat of government at New York, receives the most flat- tering marks of respect.-Addresses congress.-The situation of the United States in their foreign and domestic relations at the inauguration of Washing- ton.-Fills up public offices solely with a view to the public good.-Proposes a treaty to the Creek Indians, which is at first rejected.-Colonel Willet induces the heads of the nation to come to New York, and treat there.-The north-western Indians refuse a treaty, but, after defeating generals Harmar and Sin- clair, they are defeated by general Wayne; they then submit, and agree to treat.-A new system is General Washington attends to the foreign relations of the United States.--Negotiates with Spain.-Diffi- culties in the way. The free navigation of the Mis- sissippi is granted by a treaty made with major Pinck- ney.-Negotiations with Britain.-Difficulties in the way. War probable.-Mr. Jay's mission.-His treaty with Great Britain.-Opposition thereto.-Is ratified. Washington refuses papers to house of representa- tives.-British posts in United States evacuated.— Negotiations with France.-Genet's arrival.-Assumes powers in violation of the neutrality of the United States. Is flattered by the people, but opposed by the executive.-General Pinckney sent as a public minister to adjust disputes with France.-Is not re- ceived. Washington declines a re-election, and ad- dresses the people.-His last address to the national legislature. He recommends a navy, a military academy, and other public institutions. pp. 323-389. Washington rejoices at the prospect of retiring.— Writes to the secretary of state, denying the authen- ticity of letters, said to be from him to J. P. Custis and Lund Washington, in 1776.-Pays respect to his successor, Mr.John Adams.-Review of Washington's administration.-He retires to Mount Vernon.-Re- sumes agricultural pursuits.-Hears with regret the aggressions of the French republic.-Corresponds on the subject of his taking the command of an army to oppose the French.-Is appointed lieutenant-general. His commission is sent to him by the secretary of war. His letter to president Adains, on the receipt thereof.-Directs the organisation of the proposed army. Three envoys extraordinary sent to France, who adjust all disputes with Buonaparte, after the overthrow of the directory.-General Washington dies. Is honoured by congress.-His character.- INDEX pp. 451, &c. THE LIFE OF GEORGE WASHINGTON; &c. CHAP. I. Of the family and education of GEORGE WASHINGTON. He is sent on an embassy to the French commandant on the Ohio.-Is appointed lieutenantcolonel of a regiment, and an aid-de-camp to general Braddock.--Braddock's defeat.-Washington is appointed commander in chief of all the forces in Virginia. His cperations in 1755-1758.-Fort Duquesne taken.-Washington retires, and marries, THE HE ancestors of GEORGE WASHINGTON were among the first settlers of the oldest British colony in America. He was the third in descent from John Washington, an English gentleman, who, about the middle of the 17th century, emigrated from the North of England, and settled in Westmoreland county, Virginia. In the place where he had fixed himself, his great grandson, the subject of the following history, was born on the 22d of February 1732. His immediate ancestor 1732. was Augustine Washington, who died wher his son George was only ten years old. The education of the young orphan, of course, devolved on his mother, who added one to the many examples of virtuous matrons, who, devoting themselves to the care of their children, have trained them up to be distinguished citizens. In one instance, her fears, combining with her affection, prevented a measure, which, if persevered in, would have given a direction to the talents and views of her son very different from that which laid the foundation of his fame. George Washington, when only fifteen years old, solicited and obtained the place of midshipman in the British navy; but his ardent zeal to serve his country, then at war with France and Spain, was, on the interference of his mother, for the present suspended, and for ever diverted from the sea service. She lived to see him attain higher honors than he could have obtained as a naval officer; nor did she depart this life till he was elevated to the first offices, both civil and military, in the gift of his country. She was, nevertheless, so far from being partial to the American revolution, that she frequently regretted the side her son had taken in the contest between her king and her country. In the minority of George Washington, the means of education in America were scanty. His was therefore very little extended beyond what is common, except in mathematics. Knowledge of this kind contributes more perhaps than any other to strengthen the mind. In his case it was doubly useful, for in the early part of his life it laid the foundation of his fortune, by qualifying him for the office of a practical surveyor, at a time when good land was of easy attainment. Its intimate connexion with the military art enabled him at a later period to judge more correctly of the proper means of defending his country. Of the first nineteen years of George Washington's life, little is known. His talents, being more solid than brilliant, were not sufficiently developed for public notice, by the comparatively unimportant events of that early period. His contemporaries have reported, that in his youth he was grave, silent, and thoughtful, diligent and methodical in business, dignified in his appearance, strictly honorable in all his deportment; but they have not been able to gratify the public curiosity with any striking anecdotes. His patrimonial estate was little, but that little was managed with prudence, and increased B 2: by |