Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1856-08-15

such as Ajax, Blueskin, Valiant, Magno-
lia-and Arab-etc. Also his dogs,
chiefly fox hounds--Vulcan, Singer,
lockwood, Trustlove, etc.
A large Virginia estate, in those days
was a little empire. The mansion house
was the seat Of government with its nu-
merous dependencies, such as kitchen,
smokchouse, workshops, and stables.
In this mansion the planter reigned su-
prcme. His steward or overseer was bis
prime minister and executive officer. He
had his legion of house negroes for do
nestle service. and his host of field nc
groes for the culture of tobacco, Indian
corn. and other crops. and fdr other out
of the door labor. Their quarter form
cd a kind of hamlet apart, composed of
various huts, with little gardens ana
poultry yards, all well stocked, and
swarms of little negroes gamboling in
the sunshine. Then there were large
wooden edifccs, for the curing of tobac-
co. the staple and most profitable produe-
ton, and mills for grinding wheat and
Indian corn. of which large fields were
cultivated for the supply of the family,
and also for the maintenance of the ne
grocs.
Among the slaves were artifccrs of all
kinds-tail0r5, shocmakers, carpenters.
smiths. whcelwrights, and so forth-so
that a plantation produced everything
within itself Tor ordinary use. As to ar
ticles of fashion and luxasics, and expen-
sive clothing they were imported from
London, for the planters on the main
rivers. especially the Potomac, carried on
an immediate trade with England.-
Their tobacco was put up by their own
negroes, By their own marks, was ship
ped ON board vessels which came up the
rivers for the purpose, AMI consigned to
some agent in Liverpool or Bristol, with
whom the planter had kept an account.
The Virginia planters were prone to
leave the care of their estates too much
to their oyersccrs. ana to think personal
labor a d gradation. Washington car
ried into his rural affairs the same meth
cd, activity, and circumspection that had
distinguished him IN military life He
kept his own accounts, posted up his
boohs, and balanced them with mercan-
tie exactncss. We have examined them
rs well as his diaries recording his daily
occupations aud his lettcr-books. con-
tanning his entries OF sh ipments of to-
1acco, and correspondence with London
AGENTS. ihoy are monuments Of his
business habits.
The products Of his estate also became
so noted for the faithtulness, as to quail.
ty and quantity, with which they we're
put up, that 1t is said that any barrel OF
-four that bore the brand OF t;eorg, Wasa-
iuaton, Mount Vernon, was excmptcd
from the customary inspection in tbe
West India ports.
He was an early riser, oftea before day
break in the winter when the nights
were lons. On such occasion, he lii his
own lire, aad wrote or read by candle
light He bloaklasted at seven in the
summer and eight in the winter. Two
small cups Of tea and three or four cakes
of Indian mcal-callcd dhoccakc-iormed
his frugal repast Immediately after
breakfast he mounted his horse and vis-
tied those parts Of the estate where any
work was going on, aiding with his own
hands.
Dinner was served at two clock He
ate heartily, but was no epicure, no crit
ic about his food His beverage was
small beer or cider. and two glasses Of
old MADEIRA. He took his tea of which
he was very fond, early in the evening,
and retired for the night at about nine
o clock
If confined to the house by bad wealth
er, he took that occasion to arrange his
papers, post up his accounts, or write
letters-passing part Of his time in read
ing, and occasionally reading aloud to
his family.
lie treated his negroes with kindness,
attended to their comforts, and partlcu-
larly careful of them in sickness, but new
er tolerated idleness, and exac:ed a faith
full performance Of all their allotted
tasks. He had a quick eye in calenlat-
ing each mans capabilities. An entry
to his diary gives curious instance OF
this. Four of his negroes employed as
carpenters, were engaged in hewing and
shaping timber. 1t appeared to him, in
noticing the amount of work accomplish
ed between two succeeding mornings,
that they loitercd at their labor, Sit
ting down quietly, he timed their opera
tions-how long it took them to get their
crosscut saw and other implements ready
how long to clear away the branches
from the trunk Of fallen tree-how
long to hew and saw them-what time
expended in considering and consulting
and, after all, how much work was effect
ed during the time he looked on. From
this time he made his computation how
much they could execute in the course
of the day, working entirely at their
ease.
At another time we find him working
for part of two days with Peter, his
smith, to make plow new invention
of his own. This after two ot three fall
ures, he accomplished. Then with less
than his usual Judgment, he put his two
chariot horses to the plow, and ran a
1 b