The Daily Nashville true Whig. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1851-1855, 1855-08-04
Incidents in washingtOn's Life.


published, the greatest pleasure is to bederived
from reading his graphic and vivid pictures of
Virginia life in 1759-'63, and Washington's
personal character and habits. These are I'M
hackneyed themes, and when treated with such
exquisite literary skill they have peculiar
charm. The following extract will give some
idea of that of the work to which we now
refer:
eFrom letter to his correspondent in England,
it would appear that Washington had long enter
tanned desire 10 visit that country. Had he done
So his acknowledged merit and military services
would have insured him distinguished reception
and it has been intimated that the signal favor OF
government might have changed the current of his
career. We believe him, however, to have been
too pure patriot and too clearly possessed of the
true interests Of his country to be diverted from
the course which be ultimately adopted. His mar
rage at any rate, had put an end to all travelling
jnclinations In his letter from Mount Vernon he
writes: 81 am now believe, fixed in this seat
with an agreeable partner for life, and hope to
find more happiness in retirement than | ever ex-
perienced in the wide and busting world"
'This was no Utopian dream, transiently indulg-
ed amid the charms of novelty. TWAS deliberate
purpose with him. the result of innate and enduring
inclinatons Throughout the whole course of his
career, agricultural life appears TO have been his
beau ideal of existence which haunted his thoughts
even amid the stern duties of the field, and to which
he required with unhagging interest," whenever en-
abled to indulge his natural bias.
mount Neruon was his harbor OF repose, where
he repeatedly furled his sail, and fancied himself
anchored for life. No impulse of ambition tempted
him thence; nothing but the call of his country,
and his devotion TO the public good. The place was
endeared to him by the remembrance OF bis broth
er Lawrence, and of the happy days he had passed
there with that brother in the days OF boyhood;
but it was delightful place in ITSELF and well cal.
cuated to inspire the rural feeling.
The mansion was beautifully situated on swell.
ing height crowned with wood, and commanding q
magnificent view up and down the Potomac
The grounds Immediately about it were laid out
somewhat in the English TASTE The estate was
apportioned' into separate farms, devoted to
different kinds Of culture each having its allotted
laborers. Much, however, was still covered with
wild woods, scanned with deep dells and runs of wa
ter and intended with inlets; haunts of deer, and
lurking places OF foxes The whole woody region
along the Potomac, from Mount Vernon 10 Bel
voir and far beyond with its range Of forests and
hills and picturesque promontories, affording sports
of various kinds, and a noble hunting ground.
Washington has hunted through il with old Lord
Fairfax in his stripping days; we do not wonder that
his feelings throughout life necessarily turned to it.
Virginia. The estates were large, and continued in
the same families by entails many OF the veal.
thy planters were old families in England The
young men especially the elder sons, were often
sent to finish their education there, and on taeir
return brought out the tastes and habits Of the
mother country. The governors Of Virginia were
from the higher orders Of society, and maintained
corresponding state. The established or Episco-
pal Church predominated throughout the Ancient
t-;. e FL
ded into parishes Rs in England each with its paro.
cial church, its parsonage and glebe. Washington
was vestryman of two parishes Fairfax and Truro;
the parochial church OF the former was at Alexan.
dria ten miles from Mount Vernon o., the latter al
Pohick. about seven miles. The church Of Pohck
was rebuilt on a plan of his own, and ia q
great measure, at his expense. At one or the
other of these churches he attended every SUNDAY
when the weather aud the roads permitted. His
demoanor was reverentiAl aud devout. Mrs. Wash
ngington knelt during prayers, he always stood a:
was the custom at that time. Both were commu
nicants.
Among his occasional visitors and associates
we're Captain Hugh Mercer and DR.. Craik. Tbs
former after his narrow escapes from the tomahawA
and scaping knife. quietly settled at trederlcks
burg; the latter, after the campaigns on the from
tier over, had taken up bis residence as Alex
andria, and was now Washingtons family physi
-
and recolections, and we're ever welcome at Noun
Vernon.
style Of living prevailed among the opulen
firglnlan families In those days that has long since
faded away. The houses were spacious, commodi
Gus, liberal Ia all their appointments and fitted u
eope with the free handed open-hearted hospitality
OF the owners. Nothing was more common thar
10 see handsome services Of plate, eegent equip
ages and superb carriage horses-all imported iron
England
The Virginians have always been noted for thei
love Of horses; manly passion which In those day
l Of opulenoe, they INDUCED without regard to ex
pense. The rich planters We'd with each other Il
their studs, and importing the bes, English stocks
Mention Is made Of one Of the Randolphs Of Tuck
ahoe, who built stable for his favOfits dsppIe gre,
horse, Shakespeare, with a recess for the bed Of tn
negro groom, who always slept beside him at night
Washington, by his marriage, had added abou
Que hundred thousand dollars 10 his already eonsd
cradle fortune, and was enabled to live in anpl