The Trinity times., 1855-08-04

| ~ Ouo WuOHic lie HuuTesseb rs his uedE
friend Robin, he writes My residence is
at present at his ! rdship's, where might
was my heart disengaged, pass my time very
pleasantly, as there's very agreeable young
lady lives in the same house (Col. George
Fairfax's wife's sister,: but as that's only
adding fuel to fire, it makes me she more un
easy, for by often and unavodably being in
company with her, revives my 1, rner pas
sion for your Lowand Beauty whereas was
| to live more retired from young woman, |
might in some measure alleviate my sorrows
by burying that chaste and troublesome pas
sion in the grave of oblivion" &c.
Similar avowals he makes to another Of his
young correspondents, whom he styled Dear
friend John :" as also to q female con6dant,
styled Dear Sally" to whom he acknow-
lodges that the company of the Every agree
able young lady, sister-in law of Colonel
George Fairfax" in great measure cheers
his sorrow and dejectedness. The object of
this early passion is not positively known.
Tradition states that the " Lowland Beauty"
was a Miss Grimes Of Westmoreland, after
ward Mrs. Lee, and mother Of Gen. Henry
Lee, who figured in the revolutionary history
as I" Light Horse Harry d" and was alwa, s
favorite with Washington, probably from
the recoectons of his early tenderness for
the mother
Whatever may have been the soothing
effect of the female society by which he was
surrounded at Belvoir, the youth found a
more effectual rem, dy for his love- melancho-
ly in the company of Lord Fairfax His
lordship ~as stanch fox-hunter, and kept
horses and hounds in the English style. The
hunting season had arrived. The neighbor
hood ABB unded with sport but tox-hunting
in Virginia required bold and skillfu horse
manship. He founi Was ington as bold as
himself in the saddle and as eager to follow
the hounds lie forthwith took him into
peculiar favor: made hun his hunting COM
panioD and it was probably under the tuition
of this hard-riding old noblenan that the
youth imbibed that fondness for the chase
for which he was afterwards remarked.
Tradition gives very different motives
from those of business for his two sol ourns in
the latter city. lie found there an early
friend and school mate, Beverly Robinson,
son of John Robinson, Speaker Of the Vir-
gina House Of Burgesses lie was living
happily and prosperoasly with a young and
wealthy bride, having married one of the
nieces and hciresses Of Mr.. Adolphus Phi.
lipse, a rich landholder, whose manor house
is stl to be seen on the banks Of the Hud-
son. At the house Of Mr. Beverly ROBIN
son, where Washington was an honored
guest he met Miss Mary Philipse, sister and
co-heiress of Mrs. Robinson, young lady
whose personal attractions are said TO have
rvaled her reputea wealth.
We have already given an instance of
Washington's early sensibility TO female
charms. A life however of constant activity
and care passed for the most part in the
wilderness and on the frontier, far from
female socie,y-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 an open admirer of Miss Phi
lipse is historical fact that he sought her
hand, but was refused, is traditional and not
very probable. His military rank, his early
laures and distinguished presence were all
calculated to find favor in female eyes but
his sol urn in New York WAS brief; he may
have been difiident in urging his suit with u
lady accustomed to the homage Of society
and surrounded by admirers. The most
probable version of the story is that he was
called away by his public duties before he
had made sufficient approaches in his siege Of
the lady's heart to warrant q summons TO
surrender.