The Madisonian. (Richmond, Ky.) 1913-1914, 1913-04-22
90


ed the french lawful masters or all
the continent beyond the Alleghanies.
When Washington reached Will
liamsburg. in the middle of January.
1854. untouched by even the fearful
fatigues and anxieties of that daring
journey, he had accomplished nothing
but the establishment of his own char
acter In the eyes of the men who we're
to meet the crisis now at hand. He
/ had been at infinite pains, at every
stage of the dreary adventure, to win
and hold the confidence of the Indi-
ans who we're accounted friends of the
English, and had displayed an older
mans patience, address and fortitude
in meeting all their subtle shifts; and
he had borne hardships that tried
even the doughty Gist.
When the horses gave out, he had
left them to come by easier stages.
while he made his way afoot, with
only a single companion, across the
weary leagues that lay upon his home
ward way. Gist. his comrade in the
hazard, had been solicitously "unwil-
ling he should undertake such travel,
who had never been used to walking
before this time" but the imperative
young commander would not be
stayed, and the journey was made,
spite OF sore feet and frosts and ex-
hausting WEAKNESS. He at least knew
what the French were about, with
what strongholds and forces, and
could afford to wait orders what to
do Lext.
The Governor Had Been Busy.
Dinwiddie had not been idle while
Washington went his perilous errand.
lie had gotten the burgesses together
by the first of November, before
Washington had left the back settle
ments to cross the wilderness, and
would have gotten a liberal grant of
money from them had they not fallen
in their debates upon the question of
the new fee charged, since his coming,
for every grant out Of the public lands
of the colony. and insisted that 1t
should be done away with. Sub
jects," they said, very stubbornly,
cannot be deprived of the least part
of their property without their con-
sent;" and such a fee, they thought,
was too like a tax to be endured.
They would withhold the grant, they
declared, unless the fee was abolished,
Notwithstanding they saw plainly
enough in how critical a case things
stood in the west; and the testy gov
ernor very Indignantly sent them
home again. He ordered a draft of
200 men from the militia, neverthe-
less, with the purpose of assigning
the command to Washington and see
ing what might be done upon the Ohio
without vote of the assembly.
Defies the Burgesses.
A hard-headed Scotchman past sixty
could not be expected to wait upon a
body of wrangling and factious pro-
vincials for leave to perform his duty
In a crisis, and, inasmuch as the OBJ
ject was to save their own lands, and
perhaps their own persons, from the
French, could hardly be blamed for
proposing in his anger that they be
taxed for the purpose by act Of par
Aidlhthls n 6ONCAhOl1 hC SAOidAhhCu,
sis really to be pitied in the dis
charge Of Of his duty to his king and
country in having to do with such
obstinate, selfconceited people!"
Some money he advanced out of his
own pocket.
When Washington came back from
his fruitless mission, Dinwiddie or
dered his journal printed and copies
sent to all the colonial governors. "As
1t was thought advisable by his honor
the governor to have the following &C
count of my proceedings to and from
the French on Ohio committed to
print" said the modest young major,
81 think can do no less than apollo
gize, in some measure. for the number
less imperfections in it," But it was
very manly recital of noteworthy