Page images
PDF
EPUB

ted laborers; much, however, was still covered with wild woods, seamed with deep dells and runs of water, and indented with inlets-haunts of deer and lurking-places of foxes. The whole woody region along the Potomac from 5 Mount Vernon to Belvoir, and far beyond, with its range of forests, and hills, and picturesque promontories, afforded sport of various kinds, and was a noble hunting-ground. Washington had hunted through it with old Lord Fairfax in his stripling days; we do not wonder that his feelings I throughout life incessantly reverted to it.

66

No estate in United America," observes he in one of his letters, "is more pleasantly situated—in a high and healthy country; in a latitude between the extremes of heat and cold; on one of the finest rivers in the world, a 15 river well stocked with various kinds of fish at all seasons of the year, and in the spring with shad, herring, bass, carp, sturgeon, &c., in great abundance. The borders of the estate are washed by more than ten miles of tidewater; several valuable fisheries appertain to it; the whole 20 shore, in fact, is one entire fishery."

These were as yet the aristocratical days of Virginia. The estates were large, and continued in the same families by entail. Many of the wealthy planters were connected with old families in England. The young men, especially 25 the elder sons, were often sent to finish their education there, and on their return brought out the tastes and habits of the mother country. The governors of Virginia were from the higher ranks of society, and maintained a corresponding state. The " established" or 30 Episcopal church predominated throughout the "ancient dominion," as it was termed; each county was divided into parishes, as in England-each with its parochial church, its parsonage, and glebe.

A style of living prevailed among the opulent Virginia 35 families in those days that has long since faded away. The houses were spacious, commodious, liberal in all their

appointments, and fitted to cope with the free-handed, open-hearted hospitality of the owners. Nothing was more common than to see handsome services of plate, elegant equipages, and superb carriage horses-all imported 5 from England.

The Virginia planters were prone to leave the care of their estates too much to their overseers, and to think personal labor a degradation. Washington carried into his rural affairs the same method, activity, and circum10 spection that had distinguished him in military life. He kept his own accounts, posted up his books, and balanced them with mercantile exactness. We have examined them, as well as his diaries recording his daily occupations, and his letter-books, containing entries of shipments of tobacco, 15 and correspondence with his London agents. They are monuments of his business habits. The products of his estate also became so noted for the faithfulness, as to quantity and quality, with which they were put up, that it is said any barrel of flour that bore the brand of 20 George Washington, Mount Vernon, was exempted from the customary inspection in the West India ports. rose early, often before daybreak in the winter when the nights were long. On such occasions he lighted his own fire, and wrote or read by candlelight. He breakfasted 25 at seven in summer, at eight in winter. Two small cups

He

of tea, and three or four cakes of Indian meal, (called hoe-cakes,) formed his frugal repast. Immediately after breakfa. he mounted his horse, and visited those parts of the estate where any work was going on, seeing to every30 thing with his own eyes, and often aiding with his own hand.

Washington delighted in the chase. In the hunting season, when he rode out early in the morning to visit distant parts of the estate, he often took some of the dogs 35 with him, for the chance of starting a fox, which he occasionally did, though he was not always successful in kill

ing him. He was a bold rider and an admirable horseman, though he never claimed the merit of being an accomplished fox-hunter. In the height of the season, however, he would be out with the fox-hounds two or three 5 times a week, accompanied by his guests at Mount Vernon, and the gentlemen of the neighborhood, especially the Fairfaxes of Belvoir, of which estate his friend George William Fairfax was now the proprietor. On such occasions there would be a hunting dinner at one or other of 10 those establishments, at which convivial repasts Washington is said to have enjoyed himself with unwonted hilarity.

Occasionally he and Mrs. Washington would pay a visit to Annapolis, at that time the seat of government of Mary15 land, and partake of the gayeties which prevailed during the session of the legislature. The society of these seats of provincial governments was always polite and fashionable, and more exclusive than in these republican days, being, in a manner, the outposts of the English aristoc20 racy, where all places of dignity or profit were secured for younger sons and poor but proud relatives. During the session of the legislature, dinners and balls abounded, and there were occasional attempts at theatricals. The latter was an amusement for which Washington always had a 25 relish, though he never had an opportunity of gratifying it effectually. Neither was he disinclined to mingle in the dance; and we remember to have heard venerable ladies, who had been belles in his day, pride themselves on having had him for a partner, though, they added, he was apt 30 to be a ceremonious and grave one.

In this round of rural occupation, rural amusement, and social intercourse, Washington passed several tranquil years, the halcyon season of his life. His already established reputation drew many visitors to Mount Vernon; 35 some of his early companions in arms were his occasional

guests, and his friendships and connections linked him

with some of the most prominent and worthy people of the country, who were sure to be received with cordial but simple and unpretending hospitality. His marriage was not blessed with children; but those of Mrs. Washington 5 experienced from him parental care and affection, and the formation of their minds and manners was one of the dearest objects of his attention: His domestic concerns and social enjoyments, however, were not permitted to interfere with his public duties. He was active by na10 ture, and eminently a man of business by habit. As judge of the county court, and member of the House of Burgesses, he had numerous calls upon his time and thoughts, and was often drawn from home; for whatever trust he undertook he was sure to fulfil with scrupulous exactness.

[merged small][ocr errors][merged small]

[ROBERT SOUTHEY was born in Bristol, England, August 12, 1774, and died March 21, 1843. For the last forty years of his life he resided at Keswick, in the county of Cumberland. He was a very voluminous writer in verse and prose, and his works would fill not less than a hundred volumes. His poetry is characterized by a rich and gorgeous fancy, great beauty in description, and an elevated moral tone, but not by high creative power. His "Thalaba" and "Curse of Kehama" are splendid Oriental visions, and his "Roderick" is an elaborate and well-sustained work. Many of his shorter poems are marked by a happy vein of humor.

His prose style is admirable; puré, simple, perspicuous, and energetic; singularly well suited for narrative, and hardly less so for reasoning upon the usual topics of controversy among men. His best known prose works are "The Life of Nelson," "The Life of Wesley," "The History of the Peninsular War," "The History of Brazil," "Sir Thomas More, or Colloquies on the Progress and Prospects of Society," "The Life of Cowper," and "The Doctor."

Southey was exclusively a man of letters, and few men have ever adorned that profession with higher qualities of character. He was admirable in all the relations of life, full of warm affec ions, and ever faithful to duty. He had strong prejudices, but they were honestly entertained. His literary industry was worthy of all praise. He was a passionate lover of books, and left behind him a large and valuable library. Overworn by excessive mental toil and domestic anxiety, the light of his mind faded away before death released him; and his last years were passed in ignorance alike of his books and his friends.

STRANGER. Whom are they ushering from the world, with all

This pageantry and long parade of death?

TOWNSMAN. A long parade, indeed, sir, and yet here You see but half; round yonder bend it reaches 5 A furlong farther, carriage behind carriage.

STRAN. 'Tis but a mournful sight, and yet the pomp Tempts me to stand a gazer.

Towns.

Yonder schoolboy,

Who plays the truant, says the proclamation
10 Of peace was nothing to the show, and even
The chairing of the members at election +
Would not have been a finer sight than this;
Only that red and green are prettier colors
Than all this mourning. There, sir, you behold
15 One of the red-gowned ‡ worthies of the city,
The envy and the boast of our exchange,

Ay, what was worth, last week, a good half million, —
Screwed down in yonder hearse.

STRAN.

20 Under a lucky planet, who to-day

Then he was born

Puts mourning on for his inheritance.

TOWNS. When I first heard his death, that very wish Leapt to my lips; but now the closing scene Of the comedy hath wakened wiser thoughts; 25 And I bless God, that when I go to the grave, There will not be the weight of wealth like his To sink me down.

*This poem was written in 1803. The allusion in the text is to the peace of Amiens, between England, France, Spain, and Holland, which was concluded in May, 1802.

In England, after a contested parliamentary election, the successful members are sometimes carried about in a chair on the shoulders of their partisans. In such elections, also, the voters on different sides are sometimes designated by ribbons and badges of a peculiar color.

In England, a red gown is a common official dress of mayors and aldermen of cities, worn on important occasions.

« PreviousContinue »