The Madisonian. (Richmond, Ky.) 1913-1914, 1913-07-01
sociatien. there formed.


or and frankness of dealing towards
the governor as before. Botetourt
was not all show and galiantry. but
was a genuine man at bottom. He
had come to Virginia thinking the
colonists pleasure-loving people who
could be taken by display and cajoled
by hospitality; he had been told they
were such in London.
A Manly Governor.
But he knew his mistake almost as
soon as he had made 1t; and was
prompt, even while he upheld preroga-
tive, to do what he could to deal with
them in liberal and manly spirit He
had acquiesced very heartily at the
outset of his administration in q de-
cision of the council that writs of as
sfstance could not legally be issued In
Virginia-for the process had been
tried there too. He made such repre-
sensations with regard to the state of
the colony to the ministers at home
as were both just and wise; was as
sured in reply that the ministers were
willing to make every necessary con-
cession; pledged his word in Virginia
that there should be q substantial
change Of policy; and died the SOON
er October IS, 1770) because the gov
eminent would not. after all, redeem
his promises.
A Doubtful Compliment.
'Your governor is becoming very
popular. as we are told here" wrote
Arthur Lee to his brother, from Lon
don, land l have the worst proof of
1t in the increased orders for fineries
from the ladies'" Virginians did not
find it easy to break an immemorial
habit in order to starve the English
trades and manufactures; and it was
more than once necessary to urge and
renew the non-importation agreements
alike among the Burgesses and mer-
chants at Williamsburg and by means
of local associations throughout the
colony.
But Washington was punctilious to
observe to the letter the agreements
he had himself proposed. Again and
again he babe his mercantile agents
in London assist him to guard against
any inadvertent breach of them; not
to send him the articles Parliament
had picked out for taxation in the
colonies.
Life still continued to go, it is true.
with something of the old srmptuous-
ness at Mount Vernon.
It was in June, 176S, that Colonel
Washington ordered a new chariot,
made in the newest taste. handsome.
genteel, and light to be made OF the
best seasoned wood, and by cele-
brated workman" which was to cost
him, fittings and all, E133.
For all he grew uneasy lest the col
onies' disagreement with England
should come at last to a conflict of
arms. he pushed his private interests
with no abatement of thoroughness or
self-possession, as if there were no
fear but that things would long enough
stand as they were.
Washington Acquires Lands.
He had not run surveyors lines for
Lord Fairfax, or assisted to drive the
French from the Chic, without seeing
what fair lands lay upon the western
rivers awaiting the owner; and,
though there was still doubt how titles
were to be established in that wilder
ness, he took care. through the good
Offices of an old comrade. in arms. at
least to be quietly beforehand with
other claimants in setting up such
titles as might be where the land lay
richest and most accessible.
a silent management" was what he
advised. "snugly carried on under the
guise Of hunting other game" lest
there should be a premature rush
thither that would set rival interests
a-clashing. A strange mixture of the
shrewdness of the speculator and the
honesty of the gentleman-claims
pushed with privacy. but without trick
cry or chicane-ran through his let
tiers to Captain Crawford. and drew
as canny replies from the frontiered
soldier
Continues His Outdoor Sports.
Business gave way often to sport
and pleasure, too, as of old, when poll
tics fell dull between sessions. Now
it was the hunt; then cunning party
In the woods; and again day or two
aboard his schooner, dropping down
the river, and drawing the seine for
sheepsheads upon the bar at Cedar
Point.
Even politics was mixed with diver
sion. He must needs give a ball at
Alexandria on the evening OF his cleo
ton to the house which was to meet
Lord Botetourt, no less than on other
like occasions, of whatever kind the
business of the assembly was likely
to be.
Goeo TO Philadelphia Races.
He did not lose his passion for fine
horsefesh, either, at the thickest OF
the plot. In ITO he was with Cover
nor Eden Of North Carolina at the
Jockey club races In Philadelphia, no
doubt relieved by the news that all
but the tea tax had been repealed.
The next year it was the races In
Annapolis that claimed him; and In
1773 Jacly Gusts held him again at
Philadelphia on the same eirand
o. he olrr7IV