IN compliance with the request you made me in your last obliging letter, I set down to inform you of every interest­ing particular that has come to my knowledge concerning the life and character of General Washington; and I do this with the greater cheerfulness, as I flatter myself I shall be able to communicate a more accurate and circumstantial account of this illustrious personage than has ever hitherto been laid before the public. If, from what I shall say, the know­ledge you already have of this excellent man can be any-way improved, or any lustre can be added to that bril­liancy of character, which you give me to understand he possesses in the eyes of Europe, I shall deem the pains I have been at, in procuring the following intelligence, as highly compensated.

General Washington is the third son of Mr. Augustine Washington, a man of large property and distinguished re­putation in the state of Virginia: an ancestor of this gentle­man, [Page 15] about the period of the Revolution, sold his property, near Cave, in the East Riding of Yorkshire, and came over to Virginia, where he purchased lands in King George's County; and it was here that our hero was born on the 22d of February in the year 1733. In this county he has at this time three brothers, Samuel, John, and Charles, all gentle­men of considerable landed property, and a sister who is mar­ried to colonel Fielding Lewis. His elder brother Lawrence, who went out a captain of the American troops, raised for the Carthagena expedition, married the daughter of the honour­able William Fairfax, of Belvoir, in Virginia, by whom he left one daughter, who dying young, and his second brother also dying without issue, the general succeeded to the family-seat, which, in compliment to the gallant admiral of that name, is called Mount Vernon, and is delightfully situated on the Potomack River, a few miles below Alexandria. General Washington is the eldest son by a second marriage; and, having never been out of America, was educated (as youths of fortune in this country generally are) under the eye of his father by private tutorage: a slight tincture of the Latin language, a grammatical knowledge of his mother-tongue, and the elements of mathematics, were the chief objects he was taught to pursue. For a few years after he quitted his tutor, he applied himself to the practical part of survey­ing (a knowledge of which is essentially requisite to men of landed property in this country) and was appointed surveyor to a certain district in Virginia; an employment rather cre­ditable [Page 16] than lucrative; though it afforded him an opportu­nity of chusing some valuable tracts of land, and made him thoroughly acquainted with the frontier country.

On the governor and council of Virginia receiving orders from England, in October 1753, to repel by force the en­croachments of the French on the western frontiers, along the rivers Ohio and de Boeuf, Mr. Washington, then a major in the provincial service, and an adjutant-general of their forces, was dispatched by general Dinwiddie, with a letter to the commander in chief of the French on the Ohio, complaining of the inroads they were making in direct violation of the treaties then subsisting between the two crowns; he had also instructions to treat with the six nations and other western tribes of Indians, and to engage them to continue firm in their attachment to England. He set out on this perilous em­bassy, with about fifteen attendants, late in October 1753; and so far succeeded, that on his return with monsieur de St. Pierre's answer, and his good success in the Indian negocia­tions, he was complimented with the thanks and approba­tion of his country. His journal of the whole transaction was published in Virginia, and does great credit to his in­dustry, attention, and judgment; and it has since proved of infinite service to those who have been doomed to traverse the same inhospitable tracts.

Soon after this, the designs of the French becoming more manifest, and their movements and conduct more daring, orders were issued out by administration for the colonies to [Page 17] arm and unite in one confederacy. The assembly of Vir­ginia took the lead by voting a sum of money for the public service, and raising a regiment of four hundred men for the protection of the frontiers of the colony. Major Washington, then about twenty-three years of age, was appointed to the command of this regiment, and before the end of May, in the ensuing year, came up with a strong party of the French and Indians, at a place called Red-stone, which he effectually routed, after having taken and killed fifty men. Among the prisoners were the celebrated woods-man monsieur De La Force and two other officers, from whom colonel Washington had undoubted intelligence, that the French force on the Ohio consisted of upwards of one thousand regulars, and some hundreds of Indians. Upon this intelligence, although his little army was somewhat reduced, and intirely insufficient to act offensively against the French and Indians, yet he pushed on towards his enemy to a good post; where, in order to wait the arrival of some expected succour from New York and Pennsylvania, he entrenched himself, and built a small fort, called Fort Necessity. At this post he remained un­molested, and without any succour until the July following; when his small force, reduced now to less than three hun­dred men, was attacked by an army of French and Indians of eleven hundred and upwards, under the command of the Sieur de Villiers. The Virginians sustained the attack of the enemy's whole force for several hours, and laid near two hundred of them dead in the field, when the French com­mander, discouraged by such determined resolution, pro­posed [Page 18] the less dangerous method of dislodging his enemy by a parley, which ended in an honourable capitulation. It was stipulated that colonel Washington should march away with all the honours of war, and be allowed to carry off all his military stores, effects, and baggage. This capitulation was violated from the ungovernable disposition of the savages, whom the French commander could not restrain from plun­dering the provincials on the onset of their march, and from making a considerable slaughter of men, cattle, and horses. This breach of the capitulation was strongly remonstrated against by the British ambassador at the Court of Versailles, and may be looked upon as the aera when the French court began to unmask, and to avow (though in a clandestine manner) the conduct of their governors and officers in America: they redoubled their activity and diligence on the Ohio, and in other places during the winter 1754 and the following spring. Virginia had determined to send out a larger force; the forts Cumberland and Louden were built, and a camp was formed at Wills Creek, from thence to annoy the enemy on the Ohio. In these several services (particularly in the construction of the forts) colonel Washington was prin­cipally employed, when he was summoned to attend general Braddock, who with his army arrived at Alexandria, in Vir­ginia, in May, 1755. The design of sending out that army, was to penetrate through the country to Fort du Quesne (now Fort Pitt) by the route of Wills Creek; and as no person was better acquainted with the frontier country than colonel Washington, and no one in the colony enjoyed so well [Page 19] established a military character, he was judged highly ser­viceable to general Braddock, and cheerfully quitted his command to act as a volunteer and aid de camp under that unfortunate general. The particulars of the defeat, and al­most total ruin of Braddock's army, consisting of two thou­sand regular British forces, and near eight hundred provin­cials, are too well known to need a repetition: it is allowed on all sides, that the haughty positive behaviour of the ge­neral, his high contempt of the provincial officers and sol­diers, and his disdainful obstinacy in rejecting their advice, were the genuine causes of this fatal disaster. With what re­solution and steadiness the provincials and their gallant com­mander behaved on this trying occasion, and in covering the confused retreat of the army ^*, let every British officer and soldier confess, who were rescued from slaughter on that calamitous day by their valour and conduct.

After general Braddock's disaster, the colony of Virginia found it necessary to establish her militia, raise more men, strengthen her forts, undertake expeditions to check the in­roads of the enemy, &c. &c. &c. In all which important services colonel Washington bore a principal share, and ac­quitted himself to the utmost satisfaction of his country, by displaying on every occasion, the most persevering industry, personal courage, and military abilities. He was again ap­pointed to the command of the Virginia troops, and held it [Page 20] with singular credit till his resignation in 1759, when he mar­ried the young widow of Mr. Custis, his present lady; with whom he had a fortune of twenty thousand pounds sterling in her own right, besides her dower in one of the principal estates in Virginia. From this period he became as assiduous to serve the state as a senator, as he had hitherto been active to defend it as a soldier. For several years he represented Frederick County, and had a seat for Fairfax County, at the time he was appointed by the assembly, in conformity with the uni­versal wish of the people, to be one of their four delegates at the first general congress. It was with no small reluctance that he engaged again in the active scenes of life; and I sin­cerely believe that no motives but such as spring from a most disinterested patriotism could have ever prevailed upon him to relinquish the most refined domestic pleasures, which it was ever in his power to command, and the great delight he took in farming and the improvement of his estate. You well know that general Washington is, perhaps, the greatest land­holder in America (the proprietors of Pennsylvania, Maryland▪ and the Northern Neck excepted;) for besides his lady's fortune, and ten thousand pounds falling to him by the death of her only daughter, he has large tracts of land taken up by himself early in life, some considerable purchases made from officers who had lands allotted them for their services; and has, moreover, made great additions to his estate at Mount Ver­non. It is impossible in this country, as in England, to rate the value of estates by their annual rent or income, because they are universally tilled by negroes, and in the hands of land­holders. [Page 21] There are many estates in the middle colonies, which never produced a clear income to their owners of five hundred a year, that may be easily sold for forty thousand pounds. General Washington's, however, will not be over-rated, if set down at a good four thousand pounds English per annum, and his whole property could not be bought for forty years purchase.

When it was determined at length in Congress, after every step towards an accommodation had failed, and every petition from America had been scornfully rejected, to repel by force the invasion from Great Britain, the eyes of the whole continent were immediately turned upon Mr. Washington. With one common voice he was called forth to the defence of his country; and it is, perhaps, his peculiar glory, that there was not a single inhabitant of these states, except himself, who did not approve the choice, and place the firmest con­fidence in his integrity and abilities ^*. He arrived at Cam­bridge in New England, in July 1775, and there took the supreme command of the armies of America. He was receive­ed at the camp with that heart-felt exultation which su­perior merit can alone inspire, after having in his progress through the several states received every mark of affection and esteem, which they conceived were due to the man, whom the whole continent looked up to for safety and freedom.

[Page 22]As he always refused to accept of any pecuniary appoint­ment for his public services, no salary has been annexed by Congress to his important command, and he only draws weekly for the expences of his public table and other necessary demands. General Washington having never been in Europe, could not possibly have seen much military service when the armies of Britain were sent to subdue us; yet still, for a variety of reasons, he was by much the most proper man on this continent, and probably any where else, to be placed at the head of an American army. The very high estimation he stood in for integrity and honour, his engaging in the cause of his country from sentiment and a conviction of her wrongs, his moderation in politics, his extensive property, and his approved abilities as a commander, were motives which necessarily obliged the choice of America to fall upon him. That nature has given him extraordinary military talents will hardly be controverted by his most bitter ene­mies; and having been early actuated with a warm passion to serve his country in the military line, he has greatly im­proved them by unwearied industry, and a close application to the best writers upon tactics, and by a more than common method and exactness: and, in reality, when it comes to be considered that at first he only headed a body of men intirely unacquainted with military discipline or operations, some­what ungovernable in temper, and who at best could only be stiled an alert and good militia, acting under very short en­listments, uncloathed, unaccoutred, and at all times very ill supplied with ammunition and artillery; and that with such an army he withstood the ravages and progress of near forty [Page 23] thousand veteran troops, plentifully provided with every ne­cessary article, commanded by the bravest officers in Europe, and supported by a very powerful navy, which effectually prevented all movements by water; when, I say, all this comes to be impartially considered, I think I may venture to pronounce, that general Washington will be regarded by man­kind as one of the greatest military ornaments of the present age, and that his name will command the veneration of the latest posterity.

I would not mention to you the person of this excellent man, were I not convinced that it bears great analogy to the qualifications of his mind. General Washington is now in the forty-seventh year of his age; he is a tall well-made man, rather large boned, and has a tolerably genteel address: his features are manly and bold, his eyes of a blueish cast and very lively; his hair a deep brown, his face rather long and marked with the small pox, his complexion sun-burnt and without much colour, and his countenance sensible, com­posed, and thoughtful; there is a remarkable air of dignity about him, with a striking degree of gracefulness: he has an excellent understanding without much quickness; is strictly just, vigilant, and generous; an affectionate husband, a faith­ful friend, a father to the deserving soldier; gentle in his manners, in temper rather reserved; a total stranger to reli­gious prejudices, which have so often excited Christians of one denomination to cut the throats of those of another; in his morals irreproachable; he was never known to exceed the bounds of the most rigid temperance: In a word, all his [Page 24] friends and acquaintance universally allow, that no man ever united in his own person a more perfect alliance of the vir­tues of a philosopher with the talents of a general. Candour, sincerity, affability and simplicity, seem to be the striking fea­tures of his character, till an occasion offers of displaying the most determined bravery and independence of spirit.

Such, my good friend, is the man, to whom America has intrusted her important cause. Hitherto she has had every reason to be satisfied with her choice; and most ungrateful would she be to the great Disposer of human events, were she not to render him unremitting thanks for having pro­vided her with such a citizen at such a crisis. Most nations have been favoured with some patriotic deliverer: the Is­raelites had their Moses; Rome had her Camillus; Greece her Leonidas; Sweden her Gustavus; and England her Hambdens, her Russels, and her Sydneys; but these illus­trious heroes, though successful in preserving and defending, did not, like Washington, form or establish empires, which will be the refuge or asylum of Liberty banished from Europe by luxury and corruption. Must not therefore, your heart beat with conscious pride at the prospect of your friend's being ranked among (if not above) those illustrious patriots? at the enchanting thought, that He, whom you know and love, shall be acknowledged by present and future generations as their great deliverer, and the chief instrument in the hands of the Almighty for laying the foundation of that freedom and happiness, which, I trust, await the future myriads of this vast continent?