number of American officers. Many Americans from distant places visited New York, to unite with their countrymen there in public expressions of joy; one of this number was General Washington's nephew, Bushrod Washington, then a youth, and afterwards an eminent and highly respected Judge, of the Supreme court of the United States. The following anecdote connected with that visit, he kindly communicated for this biography, in a letter dated Mount Vernon, June 1st 1829. "In the early part of the year 1782 I was sent by my father to Philadelphia, for the purpose of prosecuting the study of law. It was my good fortune to meet General Washington there. Within a few days after my arrival, but not until he had placed me in the office of Mr. Wilson, and secured for me the countenance and kind attention of some of his friends in that city, he returned to the state of New York. Upon that occasion, or at a subsequent period, (I cannot now recollect which,) he requested me to make inquiries respecting a kind of cloth which he particularly described, and wished to purchase, and to inform him by letter the price, and where it was to be procured. I readily promised an early compliance with this request, and intended, I doubt not, at the time, conscientiously to fulfil my engagement. I postponed doing so, however, from day to day, until the subject was forgotten altogether; or was too seldom thought

of, to leave more than a very slight impression upon my mind. About the time when the evacuation of New York, by the British troops was to be commemorated in that city, the General wrote to me, giving me permission to be present on that occasion, and enclosing me money for my expenses. On my arrival in New York, I called at his lodgings, and was received by him with his former kindness. After some general conversation, he asked me if I had attended to his request respecting the cloth, and what had been the result of my inquiries? My feelings, at that moment, may be imagined, -it is not in my power to describe them. I had no excuse to offer, and as soon as the power of speech was allowed me, I acknow. ledged my delinquency. Turning to me with a mildness which I did not deserve, but with an impressiveness in his manner which I have never forgotten, he observed, “remember, young man, never in future to make a promise, even of a trivial kind, the nature and extent of which you have not duly considered; having made it, let nothing prevent a punc tual performance of it, if it be within your power. He then dismissed me without an additional reproach or observation."

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General Washington remained in New York, until December, and when the day arrived on which he had determined to leave it, the officers of the army assembled to bid him farewell. When their loved commander en

tered the room in which they were, he could not speak for several moments; but, when he had calmed his strong feelings, he said “with a heart, full of love and gratitude, I now take leave of you; I most devoutly wish that your latter days may be as prosperous and happy as your former have been honourable. I cannot come to each of you to take my leave, but shall be obliged to you if each of you will come and take me by the hand." General Knox, who was nearest to him, turned, and Washington took his hand, and then put his arms around him, and in the same affectionate manner embraced each officer. A tear from the heart filled every eye; but no word could be uttered to break the silence of the affecting scene. Washington left the room, and the officers followed him in noiseless procession, and with sad countenances to the boat which was to convey him away from them. Washington stepped into the boat, and turning towards the shore waved his hat without speaking; the officers returned the same last farewell, and continued to gaze after their beloved commander until they could no longer distinguish his form, and then they returned in sadness to the place where they had assembled.

Washington could not enjoy rest until he had performed all the duties which his upright mind dictated, and he proceeded to Philadelphia to give an account of the manner in