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the records kept by the librarian. The
5000 volumes which Mr.. Stevens said that
he bought were not all from Washington 8
library. but had very many Of them been
collected by Bushrod Washington, his
nephew, to whom were beQueathed Mount
Vernon, the mansion and its furnishings
and 900 acres Of land. after the death Of
Martha Washington.
Besides the books owned by Washington
the Athenaeum contains one of the finest
collections in the country of portraits,
manuscript and books about Washington.
The original interest of the books has not
been departed frcm by rebinding, as they
are all in the covers'which they had when
in Washington's hands, a dignified and
durable brown calf binding.
Augustine washington's Autograph.
A peculiar suggestiveness attaches to the
seven books which were in the Washing
ton household during hts whole life time,
as they belonged to his father. Augustine
Washington, whose autograph they con-
tain. One Of them Is of special interest,
and is kept in a glass case by itself. 1t is
discussion of the book of Common
Prayer. printed In London in 11l2. The
first fly leaf contains the autographs Of
Augustine, of Washington's mother, Mary,
and Of George Washington.
The last, written as note in old-fash-
foned handwriting, informs us when he was
thirteen years of age. Even more interest:
his mother, written by the young Wash
ingtGn just above his own signature.
1t Is impossible to recognize in this small
neat handwriting, with its high, elaborate
capitals. any resemblance to the bold slop-
ing autograph with which we are SO ia
miliar In c-simile. Between the two in
appearance Is an autograph made when he
was ten years of age. 1t is in work en-
titled "A Compleat History of the Piratical
States Of Barbary," published in London.
1850. The writing is here very similar to
that generally known. except that the "G''
Is run into the wv" in an extra loop.
library Of Washington was 1.-The Royal
English Grammar. containing what is
necessary to knowledge of the English
tongue"
The earliest autograph of Washington
known TO exist was written when he was
about nine years of age. 1t is in a volume
bishop.
George c. Washington a grand nephew
OF the President, wrote a note on the fly
leaf of this book which reads: This auto
graph of Gen. Washington is believed to be
the earliest specimen of his handwriting,
written when he was probably eight or nine
years old"
Among the books are to be found some
showing that like other boys he had q
taste for scenes of adventure and military
escapades, somewhat corresponding to the
peDchant which dime-novel reading youths
have shown in our day with reference to
"A
which boys would read with avidity is AN
sons Voyage Around the World"
Valuable Books.
An odd Illustration of his fathers readi-
ness to give his autograph is seen in the
book entitled "A Compleat View Of the
British Customs in which we find the
name Augustine Washington" written
three times, to which is added the informa-
tion. This book, bought We 4th of May
1I31 OF ye buckseller under ye royal ex-
change. cost seven shillings."
A work which is particularly valuable, as
Washington put his autograph on twenty
one of its volumes, and on five of them in
scribed Martha Washington, 1900" is a
work entitled Annals of Agriculture and
bears an inscription ''To General washing
ton. in testimony of the veneration I feel
for so great and good character" 1t is to
be remarked that Washington's interest
gree in the proportion of his volumes de-
voted to agriculture and kindred subjects.
Many of the books contain Washington's
own book plate. pasted on the inside of the
first cover. The design Is the Washington
arms, an irregular white shield, surrounded
by an ornamental border and crossed by
two broad lateral bands near which are a
crown, on which a dove is resting. Below
the arms is the name George Washing
ton" in engraved script.
A very suggestive and appropriate motto,
in the light of Washington's career is that
which is on each of these Shields "Existus
acta probat."
A volume foreshadowing the use of steam
for navigation is among the books giving a
side light on the times. In this the author
states that Washington had witnessed one
of his experiments and had given his GER
tificate of the boats efficacy. There is
reminder of the stage in small collection
of comic operas and plays in which is in
scribed John Auge Washington's Musick
Book 1715." This was Washington's young
er brother