Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1855-06-14

from the recollections of his early tenderness
for his mother.
Whatever may have been the soothing effect o.
the female society by which he was surrounded al
Belvoir. the youth found a more efIectual reme-
dy for his love-melancholly, in the company OIL
Lord Fairfax. His lordship was staunch fox
hunter, and kept horses and hounds in English
STYLE The hunting season had arrived. The
nelghborhood abounded with sport; but fox.
huuting in Virginia required bold and skillfa
horsemanship. He found Washington as bold
as himself in the saddle, and as eager to follow
the hounds. He forthwith took him into pecu-
liar favor made him his hunting companion
and it was probably under the tuition of this
hard-riding old nobleman that the youth imbib.
ed that fondness for the chase for which he was
afterwards remarked.
*
Tradition gives very different motives from
those of businoes for his two -sssasnsin- iass
ter cit5s Eel fessda there an carry friend srd
schoolmate Beverly Robinson, son Of John Rob
inson, Speaker of the Virginia House of Bur-
gesses. He was living happily and prosperous
ly with young and wealthy bride, having mar
ried one of the nioces and heiresses or Mr. Adol-
phus Philipse, rich land-holder, whose manor
house is still to be seen on the banks of the
Hudson. At the house of Mr.. Beverly Robin
son, where Washington was an honored guest,
he met Miss Mary Philipse, sister and co-heiress
of Mas Robinson, young lady whose personal
attractions are said to have rivalled her reputed
wealth.
We have already given an instance of Wash
ington's 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 society-had left littl'
mood or leisure for the indulgence of the tende
sentiment but made him more sensible. in tn,
present brief interval of gay and social life, II
the attractions of an elegant woman, brough
up in the polite circles of New York.
That he was an open admirer of Miss Philips
is histokical fact that he sought her hand
and was refused, is traditional and not YER
probable. His military rank, his early laurel
and distinguished presence were all calculate
to find favor in female eyes; but his sojourn i
New York was brief; he may have been difdden
in urging his suit with lady accustomed
the homage of refined society and surrounde
by admirers The most probable version of tn
story il that he was called away by his publ
duties before he had made sufficient approacht
inshis seige of the lady's heart to warrant sur
mons to surrender.
| Washington was now ordered by Sir John S
Clair, the quarter-master-g r-general of the forc'
under General Forbes, to repair to Williamsbur
ana lay the statesof the case before the counci
He set of, promptly on horseback, attended b
Bishsp, the well-trainod, military servant VIII
hsa served the late General Braddock. Itpro,
M haxian6sa tl,osab not nv snilitl
fy posat s1sw: ih crossing ! isffy Vi q
Pamunkeysa branch Of York Riser, he fell
with Mr.. Cbamberlayne, who lived in ii
neighborhood, and who, in the true spirit of vi
ginia hospitality, claimed him as a guest.
was with much difficulty that Washington coul
be prevailed upon to halt for sdnner, so imp
tient was he to arrive at Williamsburg and a
complish his mission.
Among the guests at Mr.. Chamberlayne's W
a young and blooming widow, Mrs. Martha Gu
tis, daughter of Mr.. John cambridge, DO
patrician names in the province. Her hdsban
John Park Curtis, had been dead about thr
years, leaving her with two young children q,
a large fortune. She is represented as beil
rather below the middle size, but extremely WI
shaped, with an agreeable countenance, dar
hazel eyes and hair, and those frank, cngagil
manners, 80 captivating in southern wome
We are not informed whether Washington h
met with her before; probably not during b
widowhood, as during that time no had be
almost continually on the frontier. We ha
shown that, with all his gravity and reserve,
was quickly susc ,ptible to female charms q
they may have had greater effect on him VIII
thus casually encountered in feeting momel
snatched from the cares and perplexities ru
scenes of frontier warfare At any rate
heart appears to have been taken by surprise.
The dinner, which in those days was an earl
meal than at present, seemed all too short. I
afternoon passed away like dream. Bish
was punctual to the orders he had received
halting the horses paved at the door, but
once Washington loitered in the path of du
The horses were countermanded, and it was
until the next morning that he was again in
saddle, squirting for Williamsburg, Happ
the White House, the residence of Mrs. Cue!
in New Kent county, at no great distance fr
that city, so that he had an opportunity of !
itng her in the intervals of business.
, His time for courtship, however, was br
, Military duties called him almost immediat
. to Winchester but he feared, should he lie
. the matter in suspense, some more enterpris
rival might supplant him during his absence
y. MS in the case of Miss Philipse at New Yo
, lie improved, therefore, his brief opportur
to the utmost. The blooming widow had mi
. suitors, but Washington was graced with
renown SO ennobling in the eyes of women.
4, word, before they had separated, they
. mutually plighted their faith, and the MARI
q was to take place as soon as the campaign aga
Fort Duquesne was at an end.
ia THE RATTLE OF BUNKER HILL.
r The sound of drum aud trumpet, the ella
l. of hoofs, the rattling gun-carriages and all
8 other military din and bustle in the streets
n. L. ausn