Ridge at Swift run gap, 10 Miles," where he baited and proceeded over the mountain, lodging at night at a Widow Yearly's, twelve miles farther. On the following day, October 3, he took breakfast at Culpeper Court-House, and lodged at Captain John Ashby's.

MONDAY, OCTOBER 4.

At Mount Vernon: "October 4.-Notwithstanding a good deal of Rain fell in the Night and the continuance of it this morning (which lasted till about 10 oclock) I breakfasted by Candlelight, and Mounted my horse soon after day break; & having Capt Ashby for a guide thro' the intricate part of the Road (which ought tho' I missed it, to have been by Prince William old Court H°) I arrived at Colchester,* 30 Miles to Dinner; and reached home before Sun down; having travelled on the same horses since the first day of September by the computed distances 680 Miles."— Washington's Diary.

An interesting description of Washington and the life at Mount Vernon at this period has been written by Charles Varlo, an Englishman, who visited this country in 1784. Landing at Philadelphia on July 23 of that year, Mr. Varlo made an excursion to the eastward as far as Boston, and afterward journeyed to the southward, arriving at Mount Vernon in the month of October. The following is transcribed from vol. ii., p. 90, of his work, entitled "Floating Ideas of Nature, suited to the Philosopher, Farmer, and Mechanic," published at London in 1796:

"I crossed the river from Maryland into Virginia, near to the renowned General Washington's, where I had the honour to spend some time, and was kindly entertained with that worthy family. As to the General, if we may judge by the countenance, he is what the world says of him, a shrewd, good-natured, plain, humane man, about fifty-five years of age, and seems to wear well, being healthful and active, straight, well made, and about six feet high. He keeps a good table, which is always open to those of a genteel appearance. He does not use many Frenchified congees, or flattering useless words without meaning, which savours more of deceit than an honest heart; but on the contrary, his words seem to point at truth and reason, and to spring from the fountain of a heart, which being good of itself, cannot be suspicious of others, till facts unriddle designs, which evidently appeared to me by a long tale that he told me about Arnold's manœuvres, far-fetched schemes, and deep-laid designs, to give him and his army up, above a month

*Ten miles southwest of Mount Vernon.

before the affair happened; and though he said he wondered at many things that he observed in Arnold's conduct, yet he had not the least suspicion of any treachery going on, till the thing happened, and then he could trace back and see through his intentions from the beginning; which, from the General's behaviour to him, I am well apprized, seems to be the highest sin of ingratitude that a man could be guilty of.

"The General's house is rather warm, snug, convenient, and useful, than ornamental. The size is what ought to suit a man of about two or three thousand a year in England. The out-offices are good, and seem to be not long built; and he was making more offices at each wing to the front of the house, which added more to ornament than real use. The situation is high, and commands a beautiful prospect of the river which parts Virginia and Maryland, but in other respects the situation seems to be out of the world, being chiefly surrounded by woods, and far from any great road or thoroughfare, and nine miles from Alexandria in Virginia. The General's lady is a hearty, comely, discreet, affable woman, some few years older than himself; she was a widow when he married her. He has no children by her. The General's house is open to poor travellers as well as rich; he gives diet and lodging to all that come that way, which indeed cannot be many, without they go out of their way on purpose.

...

"I have travelled and seen a great deal of the world, have conversed with all degrees of people, and have remarked that there are only two persons in the world which have every one's good word, and those are---the Queen of England and General Washington, which I never heard friend or foe speak slightly of."

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 14.

At Richmond, Virginia: "Last Sunday [November 14], in the afternoon, came to this city, his Excellency General George Washington, Esq. The next day was ushered in with the discharge of thirteen cannon, when every countenance showed the most heartfelt gladness on seeing our illustrious and beloved General in the Capital of the State, and in the bosom of peace. In the evening the city was illuminated and every demonstration of joy was shown on the pleasing occasion. The corporation of the city waited on his Excellency with an address, which he answered."—Richmond paper, November 20, 1784.

"On Thursday [November 18], the merchants of the city gave an elegant dinner to his Excellency General Washington; the same day came from Boston, the Marquis de la Fayette, accompanied with Captain Grandchain,

of the navy of his most Christian Majesty, and the Chevalier Caraman. The two Houses of Assembly appointed committees to wait upon his Excellency and the Marquis de la Fayette, who severally addressed them."-Idem.

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 19.

At Richmond: "Last night [November 19] the corporation of the city gave an elegant ball in honor to our illustrious and much beloved visitor General Washington."Richmond paper, November 20, 1784.

Washington visited Richmond for the purpose of meeting the Marquis de Lafayette, who, after leaving Mount Vernon in August, had made a tour of the Eastern States. At Boston he embarked on board the French frigate "Nymphe," for the Chesapeake Bay, and landed at Yorktown. He met Washington at Richmond on the 18th of November (as stated) and accompanied him to Mount Vernon, where he made a second visit of about a week.

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 25.

At Mount Vernon: "I have had the honor to receive your favor of the 11th of June, accompanied with your Remarks and Inquiries concerning America. The honorable mention, which you make of me in both, is far above my deserts. . . . It is a matter of regret to me, that my want of knowledge in the French language will not allow me to become acquainted with all the beauties of your Spectator." -Washington to Joseph Mandrillon.

Joseph Mandrillon was born at Bourg-en-Bresse, France, in 1742. Having embraced the mercantile profession, he established himself at Amsterdam, from whence he made a voyage to the United States, and afterward published the results of his observations in a 12mo volume, entitled “Le Spectateur Américain," Amsterdam, 1784, a copy of which he seems to have sent to Washington. From his "Portrait of General Washington" in this book we make the following extract:

"If ever mortal enjoyed his whole reputation during his lifetime, if ever a citizen has found in his own country a reward for his services and abilities, it is my hero; every where fêted, admired, caressed, he every where sees hearts eager to render him homage; if he enters a town, or if he passes through a village, old and young men, women and children, all follow him with acclamations; all load him with blessings; in every heart he has a temple consecrated to respect and friendship. How I love to imagine to myself the French general (M. de Rochambeau) equally the idol and the

hero of his army, saying at table as he sat near Washington, that he had never known what true glory was, nor a truly great man, until he became acquainted with him. When America, overthrown by the dreadful revolutions of nature, shall no longer exist, it will be remembered of Washington, that he was the defender of liberty, the friend of man, and the avenger of an oppressed people.”

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 29.

At Annapolis, Maryland: "On Monday, the 29th of November, 1784, general Washington arrived at Annapolis, accompanied by the Marquis de la Fayette. On the day following, the general assembly of this State, being then in session, to manifest their gratitude and attachment to those distinguished men, directed an elegant ball to be provided for their entertainment. The evening was crowned with the utmost joy and festivity, the whole company being made happy by the presence of two most amiable and all-accomplished men, to whom America is so deeply indebted for her preservation from tyranny and oppression.”—Annals of Annapolis.

At Annapolis, Washington bade a final adieu to Lafayette. From thence the marquis proceeded to Trenton, where Congress was then sitting, reaching that place on December 8. On the 25th of the month he embarked at New York for France, on board the frigate "Nymphe."

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 5.

At Mount Vernon: "I met the Marquis de La Fayette at Richmond-brought him to this place, conducted him to Annapolis, saw him on the road to Baltimore, and returned." Washington to General Knox.

"December 8.—The peregrination of the day in which I parted from you ended at Marlborough [Maryland]. The next day, bad as it was, I got home before dinner. In the moment of our separation, upon the road as I travelled, and every hour since, I have felt all that love, respect, and attachment for you, with which length of years, close connexion, and your merits have inspired me. I often asked myself, as our carriages separated, whether that was the last sight I ever should have of you?"— Washington to the Marquis de Lafayette.

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 14.

At Mount Vernon: "The Assemblies of Virginia and Maryland have now under consideration the extension of the inland navigation of the rivers Potomac and James, and opening a communication between them and the western waters. They seem fully impressed with the political as well as the commercial advantages, which would result from the accomplishment of these great objects, and I hope will embrace the present moment to put them in a train for execution."- Washington to Richard Henry Lee.

The importance of connecting the western with the eastern territory by a system of inland navigation had from an early period attracted the attention of Washington, and prior to the Revolution he had made some efforts to bring the subject to public notice. During his western trip in September the matter was constantly in his mind, and after his return he wrote a long letter to Benjamin Harrison, Governor of Virginia, in which he detailed the advantages, both in a commercial and political point of view, which might be derived from opening the Potomac and James Rivers as high as should be practicable. This letter was communicated to the Assembly of Virginia, and led to the organization of the James River and Potomac Canal Companies. Thus it will be seen that during the first year after the close of the Revolution, Washington set in motion that vast scheme of internal improvements which has had a powerful and salutary influence upon the destinies of the country.

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 23.

At Annapolis: "I am here [since December 20] with General Gates, at the request of the Assembly of Virginia to fix matters with the Assembly of this State respecting the extension of the inland navigation of the Potomac, and the communication between it and the western waters." Washington to the Marquis de Lafayette.

An exact conformity between the acts of Virginia and of Maryland being indispensable to the improvement of the Potomac, Washington was requested to wait upon the Assembly of Maryland, in order to agree on a bill which might receive the sanction of both States.