Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-06-12
TnELoyEs OF wAsHINGToN.
From Iryingis LIE Of Washington.

i
all that we have Just cited, and with his apparent
/ ly unromantic character In word, there are
evidences in his own handwriting that, before he
was fifteen years of age, he had conceived pas
sion for some unknown beauty, SO serious as to
\ disturb his otherwise wel-regulated mind, and to
make him really unhappy. Why this Juvenile at
tachment was source of unhappiness we have
| no positive means of ascertaining. Perhaps the
4 object of it may have considered him mere
school boy, and treated him such; or his own
| shyness may have been in his way, and his 'rules
| for behavior and conversation" may as yet have
sat awkwardy on him, and rendered him formal
and ungainly when.he most sought to please
Even in later years he was apt to be silent and
embarrassed in female society. she was very
bashful young man, !" said old lady whom he
used to visit when they were both in their nom
age. 81 used often to wish that he would talk
more"
Whatever may have been the reason, his early
attachment seems to have been source of poig-
nant discomfort to him. 1t chung to him after he
took final leave Of school in the autumn OF l747
and went to reside with his brother Lawrence at
Mount Vernon. Here he continued his mathe-
matical studies and his practice in surveying, dis
turbed at times by occurrences OF his unlucky
passion Though by no means OF a poetical tenn
permanent, the waste pages of his journal betray
several attempts to pour forth his amorous sor
rows in verse. They are mere commonplace
rhymes such as lovers at his age are apt to
write in which lie bewails his "poor restless
heart, wounded by Cupid's dart, and "bleedng
for one who remains pitiless of his griefs and
woes"
The tenor Of some of his verse induces us to be-
leve that he never told his love- but, as we have
already surmised, was prevented by his bashiul-
ness.
.tAh wo Is me, that should love and conceal
| Long have wished and never dare reveal"
1t is difficult to reconcile ones self to the idea
of the cool and sedate Washington, the great
champion of American liberty, woe-worn lover
in his youthful days, "sighing like a furnace, I"
and inditng paintive verses about the groves of
Mount Vernon. We are glad of an opportunity,
however, of penetrating to his native feelings and
finding that under his studied decorum and re-
serve he had heart Of flesh, throbbng with the
warm impulses Of human nature.
| The merits Of Washington were known and
appreciated by the Fairfax family. Though not
quite sixteen years Of age he no longer seemed a
boy, nor was he treated as such. Tall, athletic,
and manly for his years, his early self-training
! and the code of conduct he had devised, gave a
gravity and decision TO his conduct; his frankness
and modesty inspired cordial regard, and the
melancholy of which he speaks, may have pro-
| duced softness in his manner calculated to win
favor in ladies' eyes. According to his own ac-
count the female society by which he was sur
| rounded, had soothing effect ON that melan-
choly. The charms of Miss Carey, the sister of
the bride, seem even TO have caused slight fut-
tering in his bosom; which, however, was con-
stantly rebuked by the remembrance of his for
mer passion--so at least we judge from letters to
his youthful confdents, rough drafts ofwhich are
| still to be seen in his tel-tale journal.
| To one whom he addresses his dear friend
Robin, he writes: "My residence is at present at
his lordship's where | might, was my heart dis
engaged, pass mytime very pleasantly, as there's
a very agreeable young lady lives in the same
| house. (Col George Fairfax 5 wife sister y but
as tlMt's only adding fuel to fire, it makes me
the more uneasy, for by often and unavoidably
| being in company with her, revves my former
passion for your Lowland Beauty whereas was
! to live more retired from young women,
might in some measure alleviate my sorrows by
burying that chaste and troublesome passion in
| tire grave of oblivion," SC.
Similar avowals he makes to another of his
young correspondents, whom he styles, "Dear
friend john also to female confdant, styl-
ed ssDear Sally to whom he acknowledges that
the company of the "very agreeable young lady,
sster-in-law of Colonel George Fairfax, I" in
great measure cheers his sorrows and detected
ness The object of this early passion is not
known. Tradition states that the "lowland beau
ty'' was Miss Grimes OF Westmoreland, after
ward Mrs. Lee, the mother of Gen. Henry Lee,
who figured in revolutionary history as '.Light
Horse Harry" and was always favorite with
his early tenderness for the mother.
Whatever may have been the soothing effect
of the female society by which he was surround
ed at Belvoir, the youth found more effectual
remedy for his love-melancholy in the company
of Lord Fairfax. His lordshlp was staunch
fox hunter, and kept horses and hounds in the
English style. The hunting season had arrived.
The neighborhood abounded with sport but fox
hunting in Virginia required bold and skillful
Workmanship He found Washington as bold as
himself in the saddle and as eager to follow the
hounds. He forthwith took him into peculiar
favor; made him his hunting companion; and it
was probably under the tuition of this hard rid
ing old nobleman, that the youth imbibed that
fondness for the chase for which he was after
wards remarked.
Tradition gives very different motives from
those of business for his two soiourns in the latter
city. He found there early friend and school
mate, Beverly Robinson, son of John Robinson,
Speaker of the Virginia House of Burgessss.
He was living happily and prosperously with
young and wealthy bride, having married one of
the nieces and heiresscs of Mr.. Adolphus Phil
ipse, rich landholder, whose manor house is
still to be seen on the banks of the Hudson. At
the house Of Mr.. Beverly Robinson, where Wash
ington was honored guest, he met Miss Mary
Philipse, sister and co-heiress of Mrs. Robinson,
a young lady whose personal attractions are said
to have rivaled her reputed wealth.
We have already given an instance Of Wash
ingtons early sensbility 10 female charms. A
life however Of constant activity and care-passed
for the most part in the wilderness and on the
frontier, Gar from female society-had left little
mood or leisure for the indulgence Of the tender
sentiment; but made him more sensible, in the
present brief interval Of gay and social life, TO the
attractions of an elegant woman, brought up in
the polite circle Of New York.
That he was admirer Of Miss Philipse is a
historical fact; that he sought her hand, but was
refused, is traditional and not very probable.
His military rank, his carly laurels and distin-
gushed presence were all calculated to find favor
in female eyes; but his sojourn in New York
was brief; he may have been diifident in urging
his suit with lady accustomed to the homage of
society and surrounded by admirers. The most
probable version Of the story is that he was call
ca away by his public duties before he made suf
hcient approaches in his siege of the ladys heart
to warrant a summons To surrender.
Washington was now ordered by Sir John ST.
Clair, the Quartermastcr General Forbes, to re-
pair to Williamsburg and lay the state of the
case before the Council. lie set of promptly on
horseback, attended by Bishop, the well-trained
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