Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1898-02-24
EARLY VIRGINIA HISTORY.
THE EXPEDITION OF THE YOUNG SUR
VEYORS.
No. II.
(Honcln6e6 \
(Concluded.)

While on this expedition Washington
"rote to friend the following letter
Dear Richard The receipt of your
Sud favor of the I'd OF this instant af-
torded me unspeakable pleasure, as
NJ convinced / am still in the memory
Of so worthy friend, friendship
snail ever be proud of increasing. You
gave me the more pleasure as re.
cs we'd it amongst parcel of barbara
q, and an uncouth set of people. The
iiSe favour often repeated would give
me pleasure, altho l seem to be in a
piace where no real satis is to be had
Suce you received my letter in October
.=st I have not sleeped above three
rhts or four in bed, but after walk.
~ good deal all the day lay down
e!ore the fire upon little hay, straw,
der or bearskins, whichever is to be
d, with man, wife aud children, like
parcel of dogs or cats, aud happy's he
II get the birth nearest the fire
ere's nothing would make it pass
d. rably but q good reward. A double
.uu is my constant gaiu every day that
g weather will permit my going out
some times six pistoles. The cool-
8. - of the weather will not allow m =
T. king q long stay as the lodging is
-ather too cold for the time of the year.
| have never had my clothes of, but lay
,rd sleep in them like negro, excep!
tn few nights l have lay'n in Fred
rick Town. GEO. WASHINGTON"
Geo. VIM. Fairfax on his return from
lis expedition was elected member
Of the House of Burgesses, when his
commission as surveyor in chief was
given to Washington, who continued in
the employ of Lord Fairfax for two
years more, not, however, continuously
in the Shenandoah Valley, but also over
the territory now included within the
limits of the counties of Clarke, Lou
doun and Fairfax. OF his work, with
compass and chain, during this time ne
no DOUBT kept Il diary as he had done in
the first year, though no part of it has
been preserved to the present time.
Having fulfilled his mission as surveyor
he returned to the peace and quie-
tude OF the Mount Vernon home.
Soon after this he accompanied his
nrother Lawrence, now fast declining
in health, 10 his voyage to the Island of
Barbados. This was in the winter OF
l75l and '52. In the autumn of 1853
wild rumors were coming over the
mountains of the encroachments of the
French upon the Virginia frontiers
which then extended to the waters Of
the Ohio, and Governor Dinwiddie,
looking about him for suitable person
to send on g mission OF inquiry into the
circumstances and to demonstrate with
he sggressors, selected for that pur-
pose our young hero, not yet twenty
two years of age.
How worthily he acquitted himself in
this emergency, and how heroically
aud soldierly he bore his part in the
w4r of 1866 as colonel and aide OF Gen
eral Braddock, who ingloriously lost
the battle of Monongahels and his own
life, and also in after years how he be.
came the trusted and capable leader OF
the continental armies in resistance to
The oppressive rule of Great Britain,
and was finally chosen to be the tlrst
President of the United States of Amer
lca, are stories which have been told
with delight in every household and by
every freside of the civilized world.
How different the career Of George Will
liam. his whilom friend and often com
psnion. He had no military aspira
Tons. but was honored by many civic
positions of trust in his province and IN
all of them he fully sustained the IN
tecrity and nobility of his early mai
ba WAS alpptpd TO
the House OF Burgesses and for some
wears he was one of his maj jesly's coun-
ell. On the death of his father, in lI5I,
he succeeded him and became the pro-
prietor of the Belvoir House. He had
married a daughter of Col. Carey, OF
Hampton. Like his friend Washing
ton. be deplored the oppressive meas
ures of the mother country against the
colonists, but, unlike him, he did not
consider them sufficient cause for re-
beillon and resistance by force OF arms.
In 1772 he was called TO England TO at
tend 70 private business and on his voy-
age passed the ships which brought the
obnoxious cargoes of tea to Boston and
other provu ucial harbors. He never re
turned to Virginia but died at Bath IN
i7S7, aged 6S years. He lived to hear
Of the surrender of Lord CORVALLIS to
his friend Washington. His wife sur
vived him until 1872, dying then at
the age of 81. Over the dust OF George
VIM. Fairfax in an obscure Euglis1
churchyard is plain moss ' covered eTar
stone which rarely wayfarer ever
comes to look upon. The last resting
Mace of George Washington ever
guarded and preserved in its beauty BY
pious care is a shrine to which come
reyereutial p.Ver pilgrims from every nation
and cline, end a grateful people re-
meuoeripg his virtues and the WORKS
he did for his country and all humani-
ty, have builded for him the eranSdest
monument which has ever pointed 10
the skies. The life stories of the Two
personsges, however, are lnsepafaol1,,
blending in the main as they 40 win
beautiful harmony and accord.