THURSDAY, MARCH 25.

At Mount Vernon: "I will frankly declare to you, my dear Doctor, that any memoirs of my life, distinct and unconnected with the general history of the war, would rather hurt my feelings than tickle my pride whilst I live. I had rather glide gently down the stream of life, leaving it to posterity to think and say what they please of me, than by any act of mine to have vanity or ostentation imputed to me."- Washington to Dr. James Craik.

The letter from which the above extract is made was in reply to an application made by a Mr. Bowie, through Dr. Craik, for permission to examine such papers as would be necessary to enable him to prepare a memoir of the General, which he had in contemplation. Washington, deeming it improper to have the papers connected with his career during the Revolution made public until Congress thought proper to open its archives to the historian, and as, in his opinion, no accurate history of his life could be written without consulting them, denied the request, not unwillingly, as it appears.

MONDAY, APRIL 12.

At Mount Vernon: "The estate of General Washington not being more than fifteen leagues from Annapolis I accepted an invitation that he gave me to go and pass several days there, and it is from his house that I have the honor to write to you. After having seen him on my arrival in this continent, in the midst of his camp and in the tumult of arms, I have the pleasure to see him a simple citizen, enjoying in the repose of his retreat the glory which he has so justly acquired. . . . He dresses in a gray coat like a Virginia farmer, and nothing about him recalls the recollection of the important part which he has played except the great number of foreigners who come to see him."—Chevalier de la Luzerne to Rayneval, April 12, 1784.

SATURDAY, MAY 1.

At Philadelphia: "On Saturday last [May 1] his Excellency General Washington our late worthy and much re

spected Commander in Chief arrived in the city, from his seat in Virginia.”—Pennsylvania Gazette, May 5, 1784.

"On Saturday, the first of May, the sons of St. Tammany* met at Mr. Pole's seat on Schuylkill in order to celebrate the day. The company having learned that general Washington dined with the financier general [Robert Morris], they marched with the music before them to his door, where they halted and gave his excellency thirteen cheers, and at the same time thirteen cannon were fired on the banks of the Schuylkill."-Pennsylvania Packet, May 6, 1784.

SATURDAY, MAY 15.

At Philadelphia: "We have been amazingly embarrassed in the business that brought us here. It is now drawing to a conclusion, and will soon be given to the public."— Washington to Philip Schuyler.

Washington visited Philadelphia at this time for the purpose of attending the first general meeting of the Cincinnati. The society met at the City Tavern, Second Street above Walnut, every morning at nine o'clock (Sundays excepted) from Tuesday, May 4, to Tuesday, the 18th, when it adjourned. The session of the 18th was short, and Washington in all probability left for Mount Vernon the same day.

The embarrassment in the business referred to by Washington arose from his desire to overcome the popular dissatisfaction excited by the institution of the society, produced mainly by the provision of hereditary distinction. He, therefore, submitted a paper to the meeting, suggesting alterations to the institution, and most of his suggestions were embodied in a proposed amended institution, which was recommended to the State societies for adoption. The State societies, however, regarding the prevailing excitement as a passing storm, withheld their approval and ratification of the proposed amendments, and the society stands now on the same footing that it did on its organization in 1783.

* This society, organized for social purposes, took its name from TAMANEND, an ancient Indian chief of the Lenni Lenape confederacy, remarkable for his good and noble qualities. The fame of this great man extended among the whites, and in the Revolutionary war his admirers among the Pennsylvania troops established him as the Patron Saint of America, under the name of St. Tamany. His festival was celebrated on the, first day of May in every year. The noted political organization of New York, the Tammany Society," derives its name from this chief.

FRIDAY, MAY 21.

At Annapolis, Maryland: "His excellency general Washington arrived at Annapolis from Philadelphia the 21st. ult. and the next day set off for his seat in Virginia."-Pennsylvania Packet, June 8, 1784.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 2.

At Mount Vernon: "I did not hear of your late appointment until I arrived at Annapolis, where I remained but one day, and that occasioned by the detention of my carriage and horses on the Eastern Shore."- Washington to David Humphreys.

David Humphreys, of Connecticut, an aide to Washington from 1780 until he resigned his commission, accompanied him on his return to Mount Vernon, where he remained until the middle of January. He was the last officer of the army to take leave of the General.

On the 12th of May, Colonel Humphreys was appointed secretary to the commission for negotiating treaties of commerce with foreign powers. He sailed from New York for France in July. The commission was composed of Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, and Thomas Jefferson.

THURSDAY, JUNE 24.

At Alexandria, Virginia: Attends the Masonic festival of St. John the Baptist, and dines with the Master and brethren of Lodge No. 39. The following record was made: "The Worshipful Master, with the unanimous consent of the brethren, was pleased to admit his EXCELLENCY General WASHINGTON, as an honorary member of Lodge No. 39." MONDAY, JULY 5.

At Mount Vernon: "The General being in want of a House Joiner & Bricklayer who understand their respective trades perfectly, would thank Mr. Rumney for enquiring into the terms upon which such workmen might be engaged for two or three years."— Washington to William Rumney.

At this time Washington was engaged in the prosecution of improvements at Mount Vernon, the principal being additions to the house origi

nally built by Lawrence Washington (1744), which was of the old gableroofed style, with only four rooms upon each floor. It was about one-third the size of the present building, and in the alteration it was made to occupy the central portion, the two ends having been built at the same time. The mansion, when completed by General Washington, at the close of 1785 (and as it now appears), was of the most substantial framework, two stories in height, ninety-six feet in length, thirty feet in depth, with a piazza fifteen feet in width, extending along the eastern or river front.

Mr. William Rumney, a shipping merchant of Alexandria, to whom the above-quoted letter was addressed, was about to leave for England, and hence the request.

THURSDAY, JULY 15.

At Mount Vernon: Answers an address of the General Assembly of Virginia, voted on the 22d of June, and presented to him at Mount Vernon, a few days afterward, by a joint committee of the two Houses, headed by James Madison.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 20.

At Mount Vernon: "I thank you for your favor of the 16th of June by the Marquis de Lafayette, who arrived here three days ago."- Washington to Count de Rochambeau.

Lafayette arrived at New York on the 4th of August, after a passage of thirty-four days from France. He remained a short time in New York to receive the congratulations of the citizens, and also in Philadelphia, and then hastened forward to Mount Vernon, which place he reached, as stated, on the 17th. He stayed at Mount Vernon twelve days.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1.

Leaves Mount Vernon: "September 1.-Having found it indispensably necessary to visit my Landed property West of the Apalacheon Mountains, and more especially that part of it which I held [in Fayette County, Pennsylvania] in Copartnership with Mr Gilbert Simpson.-Having determined upon a tour into that Country,-and having made the necessary preparations for it,-I did, on the first day of this Month (September) set out on my journey.

"Having dispatched my equipage about 9 o'clock A.M.; consisting of 3 Servants & 6 horses, three of which carried my Baggage, I set out myself in company with Doctor James Craik; and after dining at Mr Sampson Trammells (ab 2 Miles above the Falls Church) we proceeded to Difficulty Bridge, and lodged at one Shepherds Tavern 25 Miles."Washington's Diary.

"September 2.-About 5 o'clock we set out from Shepherds; and leaving the Baggage to follow slowly on, we arrived about 11 O'clock ourselves at Leesburgh where we Dined-The Baggage having joined we proceeded to Mr Israel Thompsons & lodged make ab 36 M. September 3.—Having business to transact with my Tenants in Berkeley; & others were directed to meet me at my Brothers (Col Charles Washington's*) I left Doct Craik and the Baggage to follow slowly, and set out myself about Sun Rise for that place where after Breakfasting at Keys" ferry [on the Shenandoah] I arrived about 11 O'clock-distant abt 17 Miles. Colo Warner Washington, Mr Wormeley, Gen' [Daniel] Morgan, Mr Trickett and many other Gentlemen came here to see me. September 4.-Having finished my business with my Tenants . . . and provided a Waggon for the transportation of my Baggage to the Warm Springs (or Town of Bath) to give relief to my Horses, which from the extreme heat of the Weather began to Rub & gaul, I set out after dinner and reached Capta Stroads a substantial farmers betw" Opecken [Opequan] Creek & Martinsburgh-distant by estimation 14 Miles from my Brothers. September 5.-Dispatched my Waggon (with the Baggage) at daylight; and at 7 o'clock followed it.-bated at one Snodgrasses, on Back Creek-and dined there, about 5 o'clock P.M. we arrived at the Springs-or Town of Bath [now Berkeley Springs, Morgan County, West Virginia] after travelling the whole day through a drizling Rain, 30 Miles."- Washington's Diary.

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 6.

At Bath, Virginia: "September 6.-Remained at Bath all day, and was showed the Model of a Boat constructed by the ingenious M' [James] Rumsey for ascending rapid cur

* Charles Washington resided at what is now Charlestown, Jefferson County, West Virginia, laid out in 1786, and named from his Christian

name.

† A son of John Washington, the elder brother of Augustine, the father of General Washington. He resided at Fairfield, Frederick (now Clarke) County, Virginia.