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                              WASHINGTON.




[Illustration]




                                  THE
                              EARLY LIFE
                                  OF
                              WASHINGTON;

                           DESIGNED FOR THE
                       INSTRUCTION AND AMUSEMENT
                                  OF
                              THE YOUNG.


                         By a Friend of Youth.


                              PROVIDENCE:
                      KNOWLES, VOSE AND COMPANY.
                                 1838.




Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1838, by Knowles,
Vose & Co., in the Clerk’s Office of the District Court for the
District of Rhode-Island.




CONTENTS.


CHAPTER FIRST.

Washington’s birth――his ancestors――the first school he attended――family
anecdotes――death of his father.


CHAPTER SECOND.

Family anecdote――George lives with his half-brother Augustine about
three years, and attends Mr. Williams’s school――his manuscript book of
forms――his rules of behavior.


CHAPTER THIRD.

Came very near entering the British Navy at the age of fourteen――attends
school at Fredericksburg――becomes a practical surveyor at the age of
sixteen――the Indian war dance――continues surveying three years――is
appointed Adjutant General of the Militia, with the rank of Major, at
the age of nineteen――accompanies his half-brother Lawrence to
Barbadoes――Lawrence dies and leaves George the Mount Vernon estate.


CHAPTER FOURTH.

Washington’s mission from the Governor of Virginia to the French
commandant, at the age of twenty-one――narrowly escapes being killed by
an Indian――came near being drowned in the Allegany river――visits Queen
Aliquippa.


CHAPTER FIFTH.

Major Washington, at the age of twenty-two, is appointed to command the
regular Virginia forces, consisting of two companies――being increased
to six companies, he is raised to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, and
made second in command――his modesty――the fort, just begun at the fork
of the Ohio, surrenders to the French――Washington attacks and defeats a
party of French.


CHAPTER SIXTH.

Battle of the Great Meadows――vote of thanks to Colonel Washington and
his officers――disapproving of the arrangement of the Virginia troops,
he retires from the service.


CHAPTER SEVENTH.

Is invited by General Braddock to join his expedition as a
volunteer――accepts the invitation――Battle of Monongahela――Washington
conducts the retreat with ability, and retains the confidence of the
public.


CHAPTER EIGHTH.

Anecdote――Washington is appointed to command the Virginia forces――his
visit to Boston――commands the advance division at the taking of Fort
Du Quesne――resigns his military commission――marries――devotes himself
chiefly to agricultural pursuits till called to take command of the
American armies in the war of Independence.




TO THE READER.


The following is a narrative of him, who has been justly styled “The
Father of his Country.” It comprises the first twenty-seven years of
his life. Though this is the least brilliant portion of Washington’s
life, it is a _valuable_ portion of it; because it exhibits those
traits of character which laid the foundation of his future greatness,
and are worthy the attention and imitation of youth.

The author, in remarking that he has drawn his information from the
most authentic sources, acknowledges his obligations to the works of
Weems, Ramsay, Marshall, and M’Guire, and especially to the valuable
notes and observations of Sparks.




THE EARLY LIFE OF WASHINGTON.




CHAPTER FIRST.

Washington’s birth――his ancestors――the first school he attended――family
anecdotes――death of his father.


George Washington was born in Virginia, on the 22d of February, 1732.
The particular place of his birth was Pope’s Creek, Washington parish,
in the county of Westmoreland. The name of his great grandfather was
John Washington, who came from the north of England and settled on
Pope’s Creek, in Virginia, in the year 1655. He afterwards married
Miss Pope, the daughter of the gentleman from whom the Creek took its
name. John Washington is believed to have been a military man in early
life. His will, now at Mount Vernon, is endorsed thus: “The will of
Lieutenant Colonel Washington.” This will contains a small bequest to
the church, and affords evidence that he was a pious man. As the parish
in which he lived has always borne his name, he was probably very
instrumental in establishing it.

John Washington had three children, Lawrence, John and Ann. Lawrence
Washington, the oldest son and the grandfather of George, inherited the
Pope’s Creek farm.――Augustin Washington, the son of Lawrence and the
father of George, was born in the year 1694. He was