The penny press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1859-1860, 1859-11-02
WAsHrNG7oN's FIRST LovE.-A cores

Ponuent OF tne century, IN giving some
"reminiscences of the old country seal
called "rhe Cottage" in Hanover County
Virginia, relates the following account
of Gen. Washington's proposal for the
hand of Mary Gary, and his rejection by
her father:
Her father was Wilson Cary, Esq, Of
" Celeys" in the County of Elizabeth
City, descended from the noble family of
Colonel Archibald Cary, Of Ampthith, 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 Cou-
cys or the Somersets, and to have thought
his family the coblest in the land. He
-: oreat state, with chariot and
t,Veu hOrsss III nlste ans velye,tand embroidery,
CnSu a worthy f Of the old S;.5oo, fully satisfied
with the Sorder Of things aGa enjoying
serenely the good gifts Of Provio, 'nGs. 10
His beautiful daughter was q great heA
ess, and had many suitors. The one here
alluded to was q young man of very high
character, relative Of George William
Fairfax, Esq, who lived in Belvoir, on
the Potomac; and here he met with Miss
Cary, who came to visit Mrs. Fairfax, her
eldest sister. He at once proceeded to
fall in love, which he did with an ardOr
characteristic Of his nature
When Miss Cary 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
necessary than the consent Of the young
lady, and so the youth duly asked a
private interview with the old lord of the
manor, who listened to him silently
throughout When the lover had finished,
Mr.. Cary arose, made him a low bow,
and said that if this was young Mr..
Washington's errand at "Celey's," his
visit had better terminate--his "daughter
had been accustomed to ride in her own
chariot, And with this allusion to the
poor condition of the younger son, the in
terview terminated Young Washington
bowed and turned away, and in due time
married the young widow, Martha Dand-
ridge Gusts, who 'tresembled Miss Cary"
says an authority, "as much as one sister
ever did another"
The old tradition does not end here
Many years fed away-Mary Cary was
Mrs. Amber, and her discarded suitor
was the man who had just received the
sword fCornwalis at Yorktown, whomthe
whole civilized word hailed as the greatest
among the great-'the foremost man."
notonly in America, but Of "all the world"
He passed through the old metropolis,
Williamsburg, at the head of This victorious
troops, and the people were almost crazy
with Joy and alteration. The vast multi
tude nearly prevented his horse from pro.
ceeding the calm statue on horseback
passed on serenely. All at once he per-
ceived at a window, or in the crowd, his
old love, Mary Cary He raised his sword
and saluted her profoundly. She tainted
But it does not seem that the lovely
woman 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
unworthy Of this noble lady in rank Or
character. He was descended through
his mother from the great Huguenot house
of La Eache Jakueline, in Vendee, and
inherited the honest instincts of his race
Attwelve years ofage he had been sent for
his education to England He graduated
at Cambridge, and then made grand tour
of Europe, returning to Virginia when he
was twenty-one. He was married to Miss
Cary soon afterward; became collector Of
York; and was so much respected that
when Lord Bottetort came to Virginia as
Governor he brought letter of introduc-
tion to the collector. He died at thirty
five; and the Revolutionary war breaking
out soon afterward, his beautiful widow
moved away from the scene of her grief
and took refuge in the "Cottage," far up
in Hanover.
Sic TRANSIT. IT.-Belvoir the seat Of the
Fairfaxes spoken Of above, was on the
bank Of the Potomac, three, four, or five
miles below Mount Vernon. The only
remains now of that fine residence is low
mound Of broken mouldering bricks, cov-
cred over with wild vines.
CoUsINTNG.--A country gentleman Wis
tied the city, and Immediately repaired