PLAN SHOWING FOUNDATION OF WAKEFIELD HOUSE, WESTMORELAND, VA., IN WHICH General Braddock came to make war on in the Virginia legislature. He was also the French, Washington was chosen his chosen a delegate to the first Continental principal aide-de-camp. After the defeat Congress, and was a delegate the following of Braddock (see BRADDOCK, EDWARD), he year, when, in June, he was appointed commander-in-chief of the Continental financial embarrassments and an imperfect armies. For eight years Washington direct- system of government, Washington was ed the feeble armies of the revolted colo- still regarded as the public leader; and his Wife was Bom George Washington son to Augustine's Mary his Wife is when the convention that formed the national Con at Philadelphia, in 1787, he was there, y 11 Day F February 173 46 about 10 in the Morning & was optied the 3: "famil stitution assembled following, Mr Beverley, Writing & Cap? Christopher Books Godfathers and M.. Mildred Gregory Formo there FAC-SIMILE OF THE ENTRY OF WASHINGTON'S BIRTH IN HIS MOTHER'S BIBLE. a delegate from Virginia, and was chosen to preside Over that body. When, under that nies in their struggle for independence. Constitution, a President of the republic At the return of peace he surrendered his was to be chosen, all eyes were turned commission into the hands of Congress, towards him as the fittest man for the who gave it to him, and retired to private life at Mount Vernon, at the close of 1783. * There HOUDON'S BUST OF WASHINGTON.* were several different portraits of Washington painted from life. The first ever made was painted by Charles Wilson Peale, and is a three-quarter length, representing Washington in the costume of a Virginia colonel-a blue coat faced with red, bright metal buttons, having the number of his regiment (22d Militia) cast upon them, and dark-red waistcoat and breeches. Peale painted fourteen portraits of Washington at different times, half-lengths and full-lengths, the last in the fall of 1795, which is in the gallery of the New York Historical Society. Other artists had sittings by Washington, and produced portraits of various degrees of merit, the most famous and best-known of CAVE CASTLE, THE ANCIENT SEAT OF THE WASHINGTONS place, and he was elected by the unanimous voice of the people. He presided over the affairs of the new nation eight years with great wisdom and fidelity, and with great skill and sagacity assisted in laying the permanent foundations of the republic. His administration embraced the most critical and eventful portion of our his whom was Gilbert Stuart. Stuart painted the The latter is, undoubtedly, the best likeness of Washington ever made, and should be regarded as the standard portrait. It cannot be otherwise, for it is from a plaster-cast. from the living face, and a model of the rest of the bust, both made by the sculptor himself. tory before the Civil War. A new government had to be organized, without any model to follow, and to guide the ship of state through dangerous seas required a loftiness of character in the pilot and commander seldom found, but Washington was equal to the requirements of his position, and he retired from public life without the least stain of merited reproach upon his intentions or his judgment. In the enjoyment of domestic happiness at Mount Vernon, for about three years, he was regarded more and more as the great and good man. Suddenly, on Dec. 14, 1799, the nation was called upon to mourn his death, after an illness of about twentyfour hours. His last words were, "It is well." The mother of Washington, Mary Ball, was the daughter of Col. W. Ball, to whom his father was married in March, 1730. George was their first-born of six children. With these she was left a widow when her eldest child was little more than ten years of age. In the latter years of her life she lived in Fredericksburg, in a modest house, on the northwest corner of Charles and Lewis streets. There Washington's Addresses to the Churches. she died, and was buried a short distance -Washington's addresses to the Amerfrom Fredericksburg, near a ledge of ican churches, in reply to their conrocks, to which she often resorted for gratulations upon his election to the meditation, and which she had selected as COMBINED ARMS OF THE WASHINGTON FAMILY. Presidency, constitute one of the most interesting divisions of his writings, and illustrate one of the noblest and most salutary features of his life and influence. The governors and legislatures of many of the States, the mayors and aldermen of leading cities, the presidents and trustees of colleges, and the representatives of organizations of various character sent formal addresses to him, expressing their satisfaction in his inauguration, and his replies to all were full of dignity and wisdom; but his replies to the churches, which, as they met in general convention or otherwise during the months succeeding his election, successively addressed him, are especially memorable for their revelations of his broad spirit of toleration and sympathy and their inculcation of the duty of fraternity and mutual respect which should always govern the various religious bodies living together in the free republic. It has been well said that all lines of our national policy seem to lead back to Washington as all roads lead to Rome. If party spirit becomes extravagant and dangerous, we turn to him for the best words with which to rebuke it. If reck * Soon after Washington's birth, the family moved to an estate in Stafford county. The plain farm-house in which they lived overlooked the Rappahannock River. There Washington's father died, when the former was monument of white marble. See WASH- about ten years of age, leaving a plantation her burial-place years before her death. an unfinished Over the grave stands to each of his sons. INGTONIANA. urches. Amer Con o the most and most ience. many rmen trus ives cter less politicians would postpone the public plementing the addresses printed in the peace and embroil the nation for their leaflet. To Lafayette Washington wrote, own selfish purposes, his word and great Aug. 15, 1787, alluding to the proceedings example are their shame and the people's of the Assembly of Notables: "I am not refuge; and, whenever bigotry and intol- less ardent in my wish that you may erance raise their heads, and men would succeed in your plan of toleration in restir up the animosity of one part of the people against another in the name of religion, Washington's addresses to the churches will still be appealed to by good citizens. Such will remember how he wrote to the Lutheran, the Presbyterian, the Methodist, the Baptist, the Episcopalian, the Quaker, the Universalist, the Swedenborgian, the Roman Catholic, and the Jew, reminding all of their common duties as citizens, and assuring all of the common protection of the national government, which knows no differences of creeds, but holds all creeds alike before the law. WASHINGTON'S SEAL (From a letter to Bouquet, 1758). The student is referred to the valuable essay on Washington's Religious Opinions, in Sparks's edition of Washington's ligious matters. Being no bigot myself, Writings, vol. xii., appendix, p. 399. Two I am disposed to indulge the professors of expressions of Washington, quoted in this Christianity in the church with that road essay, should be given here as well sup- to heaven which to them shall seem the MOUNT VERNON IN WASHINGTON'S DAY. |