Part 1

The True George Washington

by Paul Leicester Ford

Author of “The Honorable Peter Stirling” Editor of “The Writings of Thomas Jefferson” and “The Sayings of Poor Richard”

“That I have foibles, and perhaps many of them, I shall not deny. I should esteem myself, as the world would, vain and empty, were I to arrogate perfection.” —Washington

“Speak of me as I am; nothing extenuate, nor set down aught in malice.” —Shakespeare

1896

BY J.B. LIPPINCOTT COMPANY

Tenth Edition

Electrotyped and Printed by J.B. Lippincott Company, Philadelphia, U.S.A.

THIS BOOK IS DEDICATED TO WILLIAM F. HAVEMEYER,

IN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF THE INDEBTEDNESS OF THE AUTHOR TO HIS COLLECTION OF WASHINGTONIANA.

Contents

Note CHAPTER I.—FAMILY RELATIONS CHAPTER II.—PHYSIQUE CHAPTER III.—EDUCATION CHAPTER IV.—RELATIONS WITH THE FAIR SEX CHAPTER V.—FARMER AND PROPRIETOR CHAPTER VI.—MASTER AND EMPLOYER CHAPTER VII.—SOCIAL LIFE CHAPTER VIII.—TASTES AND AMUSEMENTS CHAPTER IX.—FRIENDS CHAPTER X.—ENEMIES CHAPTER XI.—SOLDIER CHAPTER XII.—CITIZEN AND OFFICE-HOLDER INDEX

List of Illustrations with Notes

MINIATURE OF WASHINGTON. By JAMES SHARPLESS Painted for Washington in 1795, and presented by him to Nelly (Calvert) Stuart, widow of John Parke Custis, Washington’s adopted son. Her son George Washington Parke Custis, in whose presence the sittings were made, often spoke of the likeness as “almost perfect.”

MEMORIAL TABLET OF LAURENCE AND AMEE WASHINGTON, IN SULGRAVE CHURCH, NORTHAMPTONSHIRE The injury of the effigy of Laurence Washington and the entire disappearance of the effigy of Amee antedate the early part of the present century, and probably were done in the Puritan period. Since the above tracing was made the brasses of the eleven children have been stolen, leaving nothing but the lettering and the shield of the Washington arms.

BETTY WASHINGTON, WIFE OF FIELDING LEWIS Painted about 1750, and erroneously alleged to be by Copley. Original in the possession of Mr. R. Byrd Lewis, of Marmion, Virginia.

JOHN AND MARTHA CUSTIS Original in the possession of General G.W. Custis Lee, of Lexington, Virginia.

MINIATURE OF ELEANOR PARKE CUSTIS From the miniature by Gilbert Stuart, in the possession of her grandson, Edward Parke Lewis Custis, of Hoboken, New Jersey.

FICTITIOUS PORTRAIT OF WASHINGTON The lettering reads, “Done from an original Drawn from the Life, by Alex’r Campbell of Williamsburg in Virginia. Published as the act directs 9 Sept’r 1775 by C. Shepherd.” It is the first engraved portrait of Washington, and was issued to satisfy the English curiosity concerning the new commander-in-chief of the rebels. From the original print in the possession of Mr. W.F. Havemeyer, of New York.

COPY SHEET FROM YOUNG MAN’S COMPANION The sheet from which Washington modelled his handwriting, and to which his earliest script shows a marked resemblance. From the original in the possession of the author.

LETTER TO MRS. FAIRFAX Showing changes and corrections made by Washington at a later date. From original copy-book in the Washington MSS. in the Department of State.

PORTRAIT OF MARY PHILIPSE From the original formerly in the possession of Mr. Frederick Philipse.

PORTRAIT OF MARTHA CUSTIS Alleged to have been painted by Woolaston about 1757. It has been asserted by Mr. L.W. Washington and Mr. Moncure D. Conway that this is a portrait of Betty Washington Lewis, but in this they are wholly in error, as proof exists that it is a portrait of Mrs. Washington before her second marriage.

SURVEY OF MOUNT VERNON HILLS Made by Washington as a boy, and one of the earliest specimens of his work. The small drawing of the house represents it as it was before Washington enlarged it, and is the only picture of it known. Original in the Department of State.

MOUNTAIN ROAD LOTTERY TICKET From the original in the Historical Society of Pennsylvania.

FAMILY GROUP Painted by Edward Savage about 1795, and issued as a large engraving in 1798. The original picture is now in the possession of Mr. William F. Havemeyer, of New York.

DINNER INVITATION The official invitation while President, from the original in the possession of the author.