The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1815-09-02
FOR The ENQUIRER.
EXTRACTS
FRO.h TIE ms rORY or RGLNLq.
By EDNrNp R,SooLPn.
Continued.
GEORGE U.iSifI.VtG TON.

could not have beeu then truly fJrc,od, that even
,ose scrinsof sold worth, cners rca
oIr land viii. us,rous frait would elevate hiln very
far above many u the TRENDS Ut tn, Revolution But
take him as lac even then VAS
From various causes, TIE Biography ct Virginia
must he rutatcd confused in its earlier times Al.
least unti records succeed to oral tradition
The uniettered state OF our society III general at the
bginuing OF the last century; the apltude oil midi
tiduals tor observation ct character; the iittle
hold which is taken by the memory oil transactions
striking; the imperfect talent OF combination and
Induction the dispersion OF the inhabitants new
country an ignorance OF the names of those who
could Il stfy q the advanced age at which any Virgin
ian born late as the year 1884, could probably de-
large page III colonial story, deprive Us of
those prognostcs, which when referred to manhood,
almost creates ruc for kind Of prophecy. Hence,
even Washington is a partial prey TO the havoc of
time.
If his youth h,d developed % flatterirr symptom OF
what the world calls genius, he had been in matu-
!erayes conspicuos, for irunesa, for Judgment which
snsyzed the materials gatheted by Others of quick
er and fertile Invention, . fora prudence which
no volatility had dscopposed. He possessed n
f,u of qualities which had specific direction To-
hisparcuixr calling, but instruments for : cri
si.s
rs nature, By his attention to agriculture, by an
exposure OF himself in the chase, and his occupation
as surveyor oiaads, he remarkably robyst and
attentive to business. Ii had been the lot of WASH
ing,on, ut the xge of nineteen years, history has
.enn to have been, the only man, whose tot. tit
ness pointed out for mi.sici, which fytt introduced
him TO public notice when France hsc made some
progress in eomplcatng scbeme tostround the Bra
fish colonies by ane OF posts, from the lakes, the
river Ohio and the Governor of yirgina had resov-
ed TO demonstrate against the encroachnents. and
demand the removal OF them. The odrrey through
A wilderness without track opened by civilized man
aud infested by Inlians not friendly TO the English,
was truly formidable, fiomits dangers aud ftgues--
But the grandeur of the eHterprz- aiInat Il Wash
ingon, it on the day ri rec~ivns his
mission and instructions. Among the levers OF ease,
a,d chose who i'll the lap Of luxury considered the
Western Territory, SO incapable OF emerging freIn
perpetaal savage rudeness Washington an adven-
rircr mertorous indeed, bat without envy or compe-
tiuon In the hands OF Washington the expedition
did not droop IN the hands OF any other man. would
probably have perished.With what applause he full
Filed his crranJ o! Defiance is recorded by s coun-
try in the journal, which short notice, he compos-
ed and the publication of which, his nodesty induced
tsm TO desire to be withheld, he evineed ceaYness
end skill in composition, which begat a reverence for
his powers OF varied utility 1t impossible per-
use il without reflections like these. The quickness
of his movements, the psteHce with which he encoun-
tered the inconvenences of the weather, the military
ts,ent with which he surveyed with his eye the lands
in the fork of the Monongahela and Ohio where Pts-
burg has been since erected bis comparison Of that
settle with L9ggstown his accuracy In the computation
Of distances his knowledge ia tle requirement of in.
diligence to b. proouredi his management in obtain
ing secret interviews with The hall king and extracting
fr,,a him all that he knew his Gscernlnent in ascer-
tanning when to yield to importantly, and when re-
st il his escape from French sures his treasuring
up the irnprn9ent discoveries made by the French Off
GERS his cancellations Of respect from those who were
hostile To- his business his observance o all attention
towards even savage princes, whose favor might be
beneficial to his country and the aaxietJ. which per-
vaded his whole journey to do his duty in every thing
all these traits when brousi. together rscda ground
OF anticipation, that trial could exhaust such quail
des that they you'll supply every patriotic call.
Being member of the House OF Burg.sses, after
his return from the Ohio the Speaker charged to
express TO him the thanks Of that body. That officer,
by the august sole unity ofhs manners would proba-
bly have embarrassed most men, in their attempt to
reply 10 the compliments, with which he covered Mr..
Washington; tor while they soothed, they awed him.
When the address from the chair concluded, he
could not articulate without diifculty-Ths being
perceived by Me-. Robinson. he did honor to himself
and relieved Mr. Washington by crying ont at the
instant e Sit down, Mr. Washington; your modesty is
equal TO your merit. 10 the description Of which, word,
must fall short"
ora regiment, raised for the defence of the from.
tiers the command had been given to SIr. Fry, and
MIR. WashingtOn had been appointed Lieut.. Colonel
Upon the death Of MIR Fry, Nr Washington siceeed-
ed TO the command, and unfortunate the Great
Meadows, hut it IS remarkable, that ia adversely
was his honor as soldier stained
Ill was himself pattern Of suboriin,ton for when
orders OF the most prcposterous and destructive
ture given to him, lac demonstrated indeed, but
began execute them, as tir as 1t was in his power.
A new arrangement OF rank which Inundated the
provincial officers ,ofthe highest grade, the
iand If the lowest missoned officer ofthe crown,
rendered his continuance in the regiment harsh
his brother the paternai side, passing by his own
full blood, had beqIeathed to him. His economy,
without which, virtue itself always in hazard afford
ell nutrimon, 80 his character.
Bf lie did not loag indnlge himselfim the occnpali-
ons ofhis farm. General Braidock, who had been
sent by. the Duke Of Cumberland, the commander in
Chief 20 he; the forces employed against the Indians
and French, Invited him iHto his family volunteer
hnl-du.camp. he fate OF tat brave igf rash General,
WHO had been taught stem, unplant to all local CIR
eumslamces and exceptions, might have been nvertcd,
Il WaslIngtons ayIee had be urecciyed. AZ il WAS,
he in his debitated state, could raccompFIh neshng
more than by bis vaor and wisdom TO leal ror. the
field oil slaughter into security, the remais Of the Bri-
Csh army
Washington longer forbidden by sny
sule Of honor TO accept the cammaud ofa new regi-
inent raised by Virginia. In his intercourse with Brad
dock and his first and second officers he continued
add to the differences from the whole of his former
conduct instances Of vigilance, courage, comprehen-
sycness OF purpose land delcacy offeeling and in the
enthusiastic laaguaee ola Presbyterian Minister he
was announced nero, born to be tic future saviour
Of hIs country
Ii was the custom ofthe KIM TO enrol in the Coun-
Gil OF State rr Virginia, men with fortune whch cassed
tl,eeni ia the srislocracy OF the colony.
The tjrOprictor OF fine Nurthern Neck Lord Pair
E,x he'd been i'm Fortunate for the promotion Of Col
been gFaied long before il four OF lis tenants and
one a his name had not been already in the same
corps. That tlis honor awaited him Col Washington
we'll knew but the probability that the event was not
tar distant, could not less lis sympathy with his