An account of the early years of WASHINGTON, will probably be regarded as a proper introduction to the following work. With such a chart, the progress of the reader will be rendered more easy, as he will not then be detained with explanations and references, otherwise unavoidable. Something of the kind becomes expedient, moreover, for other reasons entitled to weight.
Of the many narratives published of this period of Washington's life, it is believed that none have been correct. The prominent facts may have been given, but not without striking errors and contradictions in them all. These, indeed, may not be of very great moment, but it certainly is desirable that the statements should be accurate. If the history is of any value, it is worthy of being exact in its details. The author cannot say that he has attained to perfect accuracy, in regard to all the facts, dates, &c., but he has been enabled to rectify sundry mistakes of former biographers, and to give, as he thinks, a record more faithful than any which has yet appeared.
GEORGE WASHINGTON was born on the 22d of February, (N. s.) A.D. 1732. The place of his nativity was Pope's Creek, Washington parish, Westmoreland county, Virginia.
The estate on which he was born had been in possession of his family for about seventy-five years. It was originally settled by his great-grandfather, John Washington, an English gentleman, who had emigrated from the north