Staunton vindicator and general advertiser. (Staunton, Augusta County, Va.) 1858-1860, 1859-05-28
Gen. WaShiDgtOn'S First Love.

4 correspondent Of the Century," in
giving some "reminiscences of the old coun-
ty seat called ''The Cottage" in Hanover
county, Va, gives an account Of Gen.
Washington's suit and rejection by Mary
Carey.
Her father was Wilson Carey, ESQ, of
"Celeys," in the county Of Elizabeth City,
descended from the noble family of Huns
don, in England. His relative, Col. Arch
ibald Carey, Of sAmpthill, in CHESTERFIELD
was at his death the heir apparent to the
earldom. The worthy old gentleman seems,
from all we know Of him. to have been as
proud as the Coucys or the Somersets and
to have thought his family the t1oblest in
the land He lived in great state, with
chariot and Horses, plate and velvet and
embroidery-a worthy of the old school,
fully satisfied with the order of things, and
enjoying serenely the good gifts of Provi-
dence His beautiful daughter was great
heiress, and had many suitors-the accident
that befell one of them has made her remem-
bered in many books. lie was young
man Of very high character, relative of
Geo VIM. Fairfax, Esq, who lived at Bel
voir, on the Potomac, and here he met
with Miss Carey, who came to visit Mrs
Fairfax, her eldest sister. The young man
{ at once proceeded to fall in love, which he
did with an ardor characteristic of his ma
ture. When Miss Carey went back home
to "Celeys," on James River, he followed
her like a courageous gallant, and laid open
siege to the fair fortress. In the good old
times, however something more was neces-
sary than the consent Of the young lady,
and so the youth duly asked a private in
terview with the awful lord of the manor,
who listened to him silently throughout.
When the lover had finished, Mr.. Carey "a
rose, made him low bow, aad said that if
this were young Mr.. Washington's errand
at ''Celeys" his visit had better terminate
his 'daughter had been accustomed to ride
in her own chariot" And with this allu-
sion to the poor condition Of the younger
son, the interview terminated. Young Wash
ington bowed and turned away, and in due
time married Martha cambridge Gusts, who
"resembled Miss Carey" says my authority,
Gas much as one twin sister ever did an
other"
But the old tradition does not end here
Many years fled aWay-Mary Carey was
Mrs. Amber and her discarded sutton was
h, man who had just received the sword of
Corvallis at Yorktown whom the whole
civilized world hailed as the greatest among
the great-''the foremost man. not only Of
America, but cf all the world" He pass
ed through the old metropolis, Williams
burg, at the head of his victorious troops,
and the people were crazy with joy and ad
Grafton almost. The vast multitude nearly
prevented his horse from proceeding-the
calm statue on horseback passed On serenely.
All at once he perceived at window, or in
a crowd, his old love, Mary. He raised
his sword and aaluted her profoundly. She
tainted
But it does not seem that the lovely wo-
man was to blame. She had not been able
to return the affection Of the youth-that
was all. She married him who won her
heart, Edward Amber He was not un-
worthy of this noble lady in rank or in CHI
acter. He was descended through his ~
er from the great Huguenot house q
Roche Jaqueline, in Vendee, and inhelI
the honest instincts of his race. At twelve
he had been sent for his education to Eng
land; he graduated at Cambridge, and then
made the grand tour Of Europe, returning
to Virginia when he was twenty one. He
was married to Miss Carey soon afterward,
became Collector at York, and was SO much
respected that when Lord Botetourt came
to Virginia as Governor, he brought let
ter of introduction to the Collector He
died at thirty-fve, and the Revolutionary
war breaking out soon afterward, his beau
tiful widow moved away from the scene of
her grief, and took refuge in The Cottage
far up in Hanover
4 SISTER IN A TIGHT PLACE. AT N
one Saturday evening fat7gued BY his long
journey, a wagner, with his son John
drove his team into good range, and deter
mined to pass the Sabbath enjoying season
of worship with the good forks Of the village.
When the time of worship arrived John
was set to watch the team, while the wagon
er went in With the crowd. The preacher
had hardly announced his subject before
the old man fell sound asleep. He set
against the parutloa IN :tne ceAtre OF the
body slip; just against him, separated
only BY the very low partition, sat feshy
lady who seemed all absorbed in the SER
mon She struggled hard with her feel
ings, until unable to control them longer.
she burst out with loud scream, aud shout
ed at the top of her voice, rousing the old
man who, but half awake, thrust his arms
around her waist and cried, very sooilingly
s'Wo, Nance. Wo. Nance. Wol here