Weekly Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1853-1861, 1855-05-31


abounded with sport but fox-hunting In
Virginia required bold and skillful horse
manShip. He found Washington Is bold Is
himself in the saddle, and as eager 10 follow
the hounds. He forthwith took him into pc
culiar favor, made him his hunting compan-
ion; and it WAS probably under the tuition OF
this old nobleman 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 soiourns In the
latter city. He found there an early friend
and schoOl-mate, Beverly Robinson, son Of
John Robinson, Speaker Of the Virginia
House of Burgesses. He was living happily
and prosperously with a young and wealthy
bride, having married one of the nieces and
heiresses of Mr. Adolphus Philipse, q rich
landholder, and 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 an honored guest, he met Miss
Mary Philipse, sister and co-heiress with
Mrs Robinson, young lady whose personal
attractions are said to have riysled her repu-
ted wealth.
Washingtons early sensibilty to female
charms. A life however of constant activity
and care-passed for the most part in the will
derness and on the frontier, far 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 inter-
val of say and social life, to the attractions OF
an elegant woman, brought up in the polite
circle of New York.
That he was an open admirerof Miss Phi
| lipse is a historical fact; that he sought her
hand, but was refused, is traditional and very
probable. His military rank, his early laurels
and distinguished presence were all calculat-
ed to find favor in female ewes; but his So
journ in New York was brief; he may have
been diffident in urging his suit with lady
accustomed to the homage Of society and sur
rounded by admirers. The most propablo
versioR Of the story is that he was called away
by his public duties before he had made suf-
fcient Approaches in his sie2s.of.1ho -
heart % warrant a summons q No.
|
Washington was now ordered by Sir John
st. Clair, the quarter-master-g general Of the
| forces under General Forbes, to repair to VIII
liamsburg and lay the state of the case before
the Council. He set off promptly on horse
back, attended by Bishop, the well-trsined
military servant who had served the late
General Braddock. Ii proved an eventful
journey, though not in a military point of
view. In crossing ferry of the Pamunkey,
branch Of York River, he fell in company
with Mr.. Chamberlayne who lived In the
neighborhood, and who, in the spirit of Viz
ginian hospitality, claimed him as q guest
Ii was with difficulty Washington could be
prevailed on to halt for dinner so impatient
was he to arrive at Williamsburg and accom-
| plish his mission.
Among the guests at Mr. Chamberlayne's
was young and blooming widow, Mrs. Mar
tina Gusts, daughter Of Mr.. John cambridge,
both patrician names in the province Her
husband, John Parke Gusts, had been dead
about three years, leaving her with two young
children and a large fortune. She is repre-
sented as being rather below the medium size,
but extremely well-shaped, with an agreeable
countenance, dark hazel eyes and hair, and
those frank, engaging manners, so captivating
in Southern women. We are not informed
whether Washington had met with her before;
probably not, during her widowhood, as dur
ing that time he had been almost continually
on the frontier. We have shown that, with all
his gravity and reserve, he was quickly sus-
ceptible TO female charms; and they may
have had greater effect upon him when thus
casually encountered in fieeting moments
snatched from the cares and perplexities and
rude scenes of frontier warfare. At any rate
his heart appears to have been taken by sur
prise.
The dinner, which in those DAYS was an
earlier meal than at present, seemed all too
short. The afternoon passed away like q
dream. Bishop was punctnal to the orders he
had received on hating; the horses paved at
the door, but for once Washington lotered in
the path of duty. The horses were counter
manded. and it was not until the next morn
ing that he was in the saddle, squirting for
Williamsburg. Happily, the White House.
the residence Of Mrs. Gusts, was in New
Kent county, at no great distance from that
city, so that he had opportunities of visiting
her in the intervals Of business. His time for
fcourtship, however was brief. Military du-
ties called him almost Immediately to Win
chester; but he feared, should he leave the
matter in suspense, some mole enterpnsing
rival might supplant him during his sbsehce,
as in the case of Mrs. Philipse, at New York
He improved, therefore his brief opportunity
to the utmost The blooming widow had
many suitors, but Washington was grsced
with that renown so ennobling ia the eyes of
woman. In word, before they separated,
they had mutually plighted their faith, and
the marriage was to take place as soon as the
campaign against Fort Duquesne was at an
end