for the most vigorous and energetic measures, to rescue the country from imminent and wide-spread danger. The persons selected as adjutants were, under the circumstances of the case, regarded as clothed with a most important and momentous trust. The preservation of the lives and property of the whole people was felt to be committed, to a considerable extent, to their fidelity, activity, and ability, in organizing, disciplining, and instructing the militia of their districts.

The appointment of a mere youth to one of these offices is a remarkable circumstance, and may well arouse our attention, and occupy our reflections. It is decisive evidence of the fact, before alluded to, that from the commencement of his career-his very boyhood—there was something in his personal aspect, bearing, and deportment, which impressed all who saw him with respect, confidence, and admiration. This feeling, we shall have occasion to perceive, amounted, in the later periods of his life, to a sort of reverential awe. But, in greater or less degrees, it was produced wherever he went, and upon all who were brought into contact with him, throughout his entire life. He struck all beholders as a noble specimen of humanity, as of a larger pattern than the ordinary mould of the race. It was not merely his personal appearance, but his whole manner, an harmonious combination of all the elements which contribute to awaken interest, and impart authority, which produced this effect. This indescribable and remarkable impression of his personal aspect and character, became stronger and deeper the more he was known. It was confirmed and renewed from day to day, on the minds and hearts of those most intimate with him, and was always felt at once, and admiringly acknowledged, by strangers. It was, as it were, a mysterious charm borne about with him, which sustained him frequently when nothing else could, and was the great element of his power and secret of his

success.

While threading the valleys and exploring the forests and mountains of Virginia, during the three years he had spent as a surveyor, he had become personally acquaint

ed with all the settlers, planters, and owners of land there; and the estimate they formed of him is seen, not only in the public reputation which led to his appointment, as adjutant of the district to which he belonged, but in frequently-repeated indications during his subsequent life.

Military science and adventures, as has before been mentioned, had always been favorite topics with him. From a child, he had shown a passion for the exercises and feats of arms. This was a perfectly natural result of

the circumstances which surrounded him. Lawrence Washington had seen service in foreign parts, having been engaged at the siege of Carthagena, and in the West Indies; he also kept up a correspondence with his old commanders, General Wentworth and Admiral Vernon, in honor of the latter of whom he called his estate Mount Vernon. The father of his wife, William Fairfax, had passed his early life in the army also. In the immediate circle of the relatives and connexions of the Washington family, there were others who had had a similar experience; and it cannot be doubted, that, from his very infancy, George had been particularly subjected to this influence. At the fireside, and around the domestic board, his imagination had been accustomed, from its first opening, to revel in scenes of martial glory and adventure. The food provided for it had been drawn from battles, sieges, fortunes-most disastrous chances, hair-breadth escapes in the imminent deadly breach, and every variety of moving accidents by flood and field. No observing person, conversant with children, can fail to notice with what a greedy ear all boys devour such discourse. native intrepidity of temperament, and conscious firmness of nerve, of George Washington, together with the superior bodily strength and activity for which he was noted among his young companions, inclined him to take even a more than usual interest in military subjects and exercises; and at the time of his being commissioned as adjutant of the northern neck of Virginia, he was well known in all that portion of country, as a proficient in the art of the manual exercise, both of sword and musket, and as

The

eminently acquainted with the drill, and the leading principles of tactics.

He had scarcely, however, entered on the discharge of the duties of this office, when he was called away from the scene, by the necessity of attending his brother Lawrence, who had for some time been suffering from pulmonary complaints, and was required by his physicians to try the effect of a voyage to the West Indies. There was a strong attachment between the brothers. George had been a member of Lawrence's family, from the period of his leaving school; and, although many years younger, was regarded by him with a high degree of confidence and respect, as well as affection. They sailed for Barbadoes in the month of September, 1751, and reached their place of destination after a voyage of five weeks. In observance of a practice which he had very early acquired, and which he followed, with the most beneficial effects, to the close of his life, George kept a journal during the passages, and while residing at Barbadoes. While on shipboard, he carefully noted and recorded every incident, registered the weather, and copied off the log-book from day to day. The diary is well written, and, so far as it relates to Barbadoes, is quite instructive. It gives a succinct account of the most interesting occurrences on the island, describes the general aspect of the scenery, and the social and political condition of its inhabitants, and narrates the movements of himself and brother.

On the 17th of November, 1751, he was strongly attacked by the small-pox, from which he did not recover until the middle of the next month. As Lawrence Washington flattered himself that his health was benefited by the change of climate, he determined to continue for some time under its healing and invigorating influence, and, instead of returning to Virginia in the spring, to pass the summer in Bermuda. It was agreed that George should return to Virginia forthwith, and make arrangements to accompany his brother's wife to Bermuda, there to meet her husband. On the 22d of December he sailed for the Chesapeake, and, after a very tem

pestuous passage, reached Mount Vernon in the month of February.

Not long after landing in Bermuda, Lawrence wrote word that his wife need not follow him, as he feared that no essential relief could be procured by his remaining abroad; and, to use his own expression, in one of his letters, written at the time, he hurried home to his grave. He died at Mount Vernon, on the 26th of July, 1752, at the age of thirty-four, leaving an only child, a daughter. He bequeathed to her his estate, making his brother George one of his executors, and also making him residuary legatee, so far as related to Mount Vernon, and other lands owned by him, in case his daughter died without issue. The use and income of the whole estate were secured to the widow during her lifetime. The daughter was of a feeble constitution, never enjoyed good health from the time of her birth, and died at the age of eighteen. In this manner, Mount Vernon came ultimately into the hands of George Washington.

As soon as the private engagements and responsibilities, in which he was involved by the sickness and death of his brother, were sufficiently discharged and arranged to allow him to attend to his public duties, Major Washington devoted himself to the execution of his office as adjutant. He visited the several counties of his division, and inspected the militia, instructing the officers, promoting frequent trainings of the companies and battalions, and taking all possible methods to increase their efficiency, and bring the country into a state of preparation for vigorous military operations, in checking the progress of French encroachment, and in expelling their forces from the points at which they had taken position on the western frontier.

CHAPTER VI.

Washington's Mission to the Ohio.

EVENTS Soon reached that point, at which it became evidently necessary to adopt active measures. Governor Dinwiddie, who had recently arrived in Virginia, received information that the French had crossed the northern lakes, and were establishing themselves on the Ohio River. Their approach towards the English colonies encouraged those Indians already allied to the French, and in full sympathy with them, to renewed and bolder assaults upon the remote settlements; while the tribes which had before been friendly to the English, were overawed and shaken in their fidelity, by the threatening progress of the French power. Aware of these things, the British ministry despatched orders to the Governor of Virginia, to send forces out as far as the Ohio River, and to secure the possession of it, by building fortified posts in its neighborhood. In the mean time, before these orders had reached Virginia, the superior activity of the French had enabled them, to a very considerable extent, to accomplish their object. The Governor of Canada had sent troops, well provided with all the requisite means of sustaining themselves, across the lakes, and a military force, at the same time, was ascending the Mississippi, from New Orleans, to meet that advancing from Canada. The British possessions were thus on the point of being completely surrounded, and it was impossible for them any longer to remain inactive spectators of the course of things. An effort was required to be immediately made, or the whole continent would fall irretrievably into the hands of France.

The first step of Governor Dinwiddie, on the receipt of his instructions, and as the commencement of measures which had the expulsion of the French from the borders of the Ohio for their end, was to send a messen