Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1875-09-22

Martha Washington so honorably filed
In February, 1856, Colonel Georgt
Washington, accompanied by two aides
de-camp, left his residence at Noun
Vernon, on horseback on a journey L
Boston, to confer with General Shirley
concerning some military matters.
On reaching New York he called a
the house of Beverly Robinson, an ole
army friend, who had served with hin
under Braddock. Colonel Robinson
wishing to make the visit pleasant to hi
guest, had invited a few friends to ado
to the social attractions of bis home
Among the invited was Mary Phillips, {
sister Of Mrs. Robinson. She was ther
about eighteen years Of age, bewitchinglJ
beautiful, with form OF rare grace anC
perfection, brilliant accomplishment
and lively and vivacious in disposition
She was likewise an heiress
The young Virginia colonel, fresi
from the rural society of Mount Vernon
and the tolls of the backwoods campaign
was Immediately charmed by this witch
ing vision Of loveliness and gayety
Turning away from every other attrac
ton, he spent much of his time in hel
society, and the walks talks and rides il
which they INDUCED brought upon then
the rsillery of their associates. In thii
way the few days that Washington haC
intended to remain passed, but still b,
fingered, chained by the magic spell o
the fair charmer.
1t was the first time in the history O
his mature life that the sly Cupid had
hurled his dart at the young colonel, anC
the arrow had struck deep into his heart
Days went by almost unnoticed, until g
week had been wasted in these enjoy
ments, and the infatuated man was com
PEELED to tear himself away and proceed
to Boston. They parted, with an en-
gsgement on his part TO call again on
his return; and it is scarcely necessary
to say that he was true to the promise
Nearly another week was now passed
under the hospitable roof of his ole
friend, and in the society Of this charm
ing relative. But the urgency of mill
tary engagements forced his return tc
Virginia, and George Washington and
Mary Phillips parted with mutual regrets
to meet no more for nearly quarter o
century, when one was the great
leader of the patriot armies, and the
other the wife of a colonel fighting his
own countrymeu, in the service Of his
king.
There is nothing to prove that Wash.
ington ever made formal tender of his
hand, or that Miss Phillips ever refused
him. Letters and memorandums found
among Washington's private papers
show that their intimacy had not gone
so far as to call from HIM declaration
Of love, though they each understood
that such an avowal was imminent.
When Washington departed, he made
a confident of his old army friend, Col
Robinson, and he was directed to convey
to his brilliant sister-in-law hint of the
avowal, which his extreme delicacy
more than anything else, held back when
he was in her society.
In the management of this business
Washington exhibited less than his usual
sagacity. A young damsel, in the first
affair OF the heart, does not like to have
love made by proxy. So she listened
With impatience aud modification to the
protestations uttered by her brother-in.
law, when, had they been made by her
sdmirer in person, with the hesitancy
and secrecy which usually attends such
communications, she might have in.
clined a willing ear. Robinson made
little progress and wrote to Washington
soon after, urging him to come on and
press his suit in person. A reply was
sent, pleading urgent business as a rea.
son for postponement; but he soon re-
ceived another earnest letter from Rob
inson, stating that Robert Morris, a rich
and accomplished gentleman, had OBJ.
tained the ear of the tickle girl, and was
filling It with tales of romance, poetry
and love, slowly ard effectually etfacine
the memory ofthe plain Virginia colonel.
II any answer was returned to this
communication its tenor is not known;
it is probable, however, that his own pas,
sion had begun TO cool. His pride may
have been touched by tho preference
shown another, and he resolved no longer
to dispute the prize. So Mary Phillips
became Mrs. Roger Morris, and the ele.
giant mansion in which she reigned the
beauteous queen of fashion and fortune
is yet standing, not far from Crotor
Aqueduct.
fhe unsuccessful suitor soon after met
the charming widow PArke, and she be
came his wife and the mistress Of Noun
Vernon.
There was no visible sign that either
OF the parties ever thought of the pas
with regret; but in the tumult of wal
which followed, when each took so prom
inent part in the struggle, there mus
have been moments when memory wen
back to that brief courtship, aud they
could not help thinking how it might
have been.n
Twenty years after the parting, Wash
ington again met Mary Phillips, ther
Mrs. Morris. He was on his way to as
sume command Of the patriot army be
fore Boston, and stopped at Roger
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