New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1857-03-30
Washington Library.

good portion of the library which once graced
Mount Vernon was purchased in Georgetown few
years since BY Mr. Stevens, who intended to dispose
of il to the British Museum, but was persuaded to
sell it, at an almost fabulous price to certain solid
men Of Boston They presented them to the ." Bos-
ton Athenanm, where they are preserved with such
precautions as defy those spectators who have re-
Gently committed daring depredations. The follow
ing account OF these works is well worth perusal
s OK exceeding interest are these volumes, and
ehieest those associated with his earliest years They
Illustrate the grave, firm, decent, practical boy-the
coming man. They tell Of the forming purposes of
theWise, calm, steadfast, ruehearted republican. It
only by special effort that this library was pre-
served to America. Some gentlemen in Boston heard
OF the extraordinary fact that the books were about
being purchased for the British Museum, and they
reused to their acquisition for their city 1t was
like Boston to do deed SO worthy of being done.
At Ole Of them we looked long and earnestly. 1t
is curious book, and one which ought to merit a
reprint. Its title is " Short Discourses upon the
Whole Common Prayer; abridged to inform the judg
ment and excite devotion Of such as daily see the
same.H
Our Appletons, and Harpers and Derbys, and their
eterprsing associates, had then but few and feeble
REPRESENTATIVES in America and fathers looked to
England alone for their literature. This volume is
published at the Middle Temple Gate. in Fleet street,
in lTl2, and is commended to the pervadng loyalty
OF that day Con both sides of the water) by its dedi
cation to the " most noble and high-born Princess
Ann Of Denmark"
It has better and loftier dedication to u.s. Upon
its cover leaves Washington essayed his skill, and 1t
il characteristic Of the Difference and al respect of
his years. that it is the name OF his father, Augustine,
has himself written the in title page and is
very Indifferent, commonplace chirography, utterly
different from that strong, neat elaborate signature
which is SO appropriately that Of his iustrions child
But the boy George experimental largely on his
fathers name, and the book OF common prayer could
not have gone far astray long these leaves re-
I maiDed.
The very writing the boy made contained a prophe
icy Of which he did not dream
:. Builded better than he knew
In bold and handsome inscription, he has writer
the August Washington. 1t was In his act the abbre
Walton OF his fathers name, but the voice of worlds
Judgment declares it the appellation belonging tt
himself
There is another book which it is interesting to ex
anime. 1t is the watchword to another movement il
\ his evcntful life. Its title is
INQUIRY INTO THE ART OF WAR;
and receives its dedication to man at whose namt
less than hundred years since the very stones o
Boston street called out mutiny-John Earl OF Butte
It is the compilation Of Charles de VALERIE. Was HI
kindred to The lovely woman who we are told tool
the step, the beautiful of the splendid Court o
France 50 seldom took, from " evil to good.''
Its opening sentence is curious one, and ont
which Washington never believed:
. Honor is vague expreSsien.''
Other volumes upon husbandry indicate that The
farm at Mount Vernon found the brave soldier, the
unsuled statesman, prepared for the arts Of peace
as well as OF conflict of camp and cabinet.
In one of the pages Washington has written the
name of his mother. The resemblance of even his
own signature to the quaint, complicated oranmented
style in which old deeds OF conveyance were writer
is remarkable