that heaviness which usually accompanies great | ington retired from publick life, his name and fame muscular power, and abates active exertion. His excited in the hearts of the people at large, and most movements were graceful; his manner displayed a especially the more youthful portion, a degree of grave self-possession, and was easy and affable. All reverence which, by checking their vivacity or awing those who ever associated with him have remarked them into silence, often gave him great pain. Being that indescribable dignity which, though it created once on a visit to Colonel Blackburn, ancestor to the an affectionate confidence, at the same time repressed exemplary matron who now possesses Mount Verall freedoms, and forbade the indulgence of the slight- non, a large company of young people were assemest indecorum in his presence. His most remarkable bled to welcome his arrival, or on some other festive feature was his mouth, which was perfectly unique. occasion. The general was unusually cheerful and The lips firm and compressed. The under jaw animated, but he observed that whenever he made seemed to grasp the upper with force, as if the mus- his appearance, the dance lost its vivacity, the little cles were in full action, even while he sat perfectly gossipings in corners ceased, and a solemn silence still and composed. Yet an air of benignity and prevailed, as at the presence of one they either repose always pervaded his face, and his smile dis- feared or reverenced too much to permit them to enplayed an extraordinary attraction. No man ever joy themselves. He strove to remove this restraint possessed in a higher degree the art, or rather the by mixing familiarly among them, and chatting with moral and physical qualifications, to ensure the re- unaffected hilarity. But it was all in vain; there spect and affection of all that came within the circle was a spell on the little circle, and he retired among of his influence." the elders in an adjoining room, appearing to be much pained at the restraint his presence inspired. When, however, the young people had again become animaLike all truly great men, the manners of Wash- ted, he arose cautiously from his seat, walked on ington, though eminently dignified, were adorned by tiptoe to the door, which was ajar, and stood conthe most unaffected simplicity. He relished the in-templating the scene for nearly a quarter of an hour, nocent gayety of youth, the sprightly gambols of with a look of genuine and benevolent pleasure that children, and enjoyed a decorous jest or humorous went to the very hearts of the parents who were anecdote with a peculiar relish. If, while perusing observing him. a book or a newspaper in the domestick circle, he met with any thing amusing or remarkable, he would read it aloud for their entertainment, and never failed to participate in every innocent or sportive frolick that was going on around him. His dignity was not that of pride or moroseness, but of intellect and virtue; and among those he loved, he laughed and joked like others. He was accustomed sometimes to tell the following story:

Washington after his retirement from the presidency.

"As illustrating his character and affording an example of his great self-command, the following anecdote is appropriate to my purpose. It is derived from Judge Breckenridge himself, who used often to tell the story. The judge was an inimitable humorist, and, on a particular occasion, fell in with Washington at a publick house, where a large company had gathered together for the purpose of discussing the subject of improving the navigation of the Potomack. They supped at the same table, and Mr. Breckenridge essayed all his powers of humour

aware of his purpose, and listened without a smile. However, it so happened that the chambers of Washington and Breckenridge adjoined, and were only separated from each other by a thin partition of pine boards. The general had retired first, and when the judge entered his own room, he was delighted to hear Washington, who was already in bed, laughing to himself with infinite glee, no doubt at the recollection of his stories."

"On one occasion, during a visit he paid to Mount Vernon while president, he had invited the company of two distinguished lawyers, each of whom after-to divert the general; but in vain. He seemed ward attained to the highest judicial situations in this country. They came on horseback, and, for convenience, or some other purpose, had bestowed their wardrobe in the same pair of saddlebags, each one occupying his side. On their arrival, wet to the skin by a shower of rain, they were shown into a chamber to change their garments. One unlocked his side of the bag, and the first thing he drew forth was a black bottle of whiskey. He insisted that this was his companion's repository; but on unlocking the other, there were found a huge twist of tobacco, a few pieces of corn-bread, and the complete equipment of a wagoner's pack-saddle. They had exchanged saddlebags with some traveller on the way, and finally made their appearance in borrowed clothes that fitted them most ludicrously. The general was highly diverted, and amused himself with anticipating the dismay of the wagoner when he discovered this oversight of the men of law. It was during this visit that Washington prevailed on one of his guests to enter into publick life, and thus secured to his country the services of one of the most distinguished magistrates of this or any other age.

The following account of Washington's last illness is from a memorandum of his private secretary Tobias Lear:

"On Thursday, Dec. 12, the general rode out to his farms at about ten o'clock, and did not return home till past three. Soon after he went out the weather became very bad; rain, hail, and snow falling alternately, with a cold wind. When he came in, I carried some letters to him to frank, intending to send them to the postoffice. He franked the letters, but said the weather was too bad to send a servant to the office that evening. I observed to him that I was afraid he had got wet; he said, no; his greatcoat had kept him dry: but his neck appeared to be quite wet-the snow was hanging on his hair. "Another anecdote of a more touching character "He came to dinner without changing his dress. is derived from a source which, if I were permitted In the evening he appeared as well as usual. A to mention, would not only vouch for its truth, but heavy fall of snow took place on Friday, which pregive it additional value and interest. When Wash-vented the general from riding out as usual. He

had taken cold, (undoubtedly from being so much | About eleven o'clock, Dr. Dick was sent for. Dr exposed the day before,) and complained of having Craik bled the general again; no effect was proa sore throat; he had a hoarseness, which increased duced, and he continued in the same state, unable to in the evening, but he made light of it, as he would swallow any thing. Dr. Dick came in about three never take any thing to carry off a cold,-always o'clock, and Dr. Brown arrived soon after; when, observing, 'Let it go as it came.' In the evening, after consultation, the general was bled again: the the papers having come from the postoffice, he sat blood ran slowly, appeared very thick, and did not in the room with Mrs. Washington and myself, read- produce any symptoms of fainting. At four o'clock, ing them till about nine o'clock. On his retiring to the general could swallow a little. Calomel and bed he appeared to be in perfect health, except the tartar-emetick were administered without effect. cold, which he considered as trifling-he had been About half-past four o'clock he requested me to ask remarkably cheerful all the evening.. Mrs. Washington to come to his bedside, when he desired her to go down to his room, and take from his desk two wills which she would find there, and bring them to him, which she did. Upon looking at one, which he observed was useless, he desired her to burn it, which she did; and then took the other and put it away. After this was done, I returned again to his bedside and took his hand. He said to me, I find I am going-my breath cannot continue long--I believed from the first attack it would be fatal. Do you arrange and record all my military letters and papers; arrange my accounts and settle my books, as you know more about them than any one else; and let Mr. Rawlins finish recording my other letters, which he has begun.' He asked when Mr. Lewis and Washington would return? I told him that I believed about the twentieth of the month. He made no reply.

"About two or three o'clock on Saturday morning, he awoke Mrs. Washington, and informed her that he felt very unwell, and had an ague. She observed that he could scarcely speak, and breathed with difficulty, and she wished to get up and call a servant; but the general would not permit her, lest she should take cold. As soon as the day appeared, the woman Caroline went into the room to make a fire, and the general desired that Mr. Rawlins, one of the overseers, who was used to bleeding the people, might be sent for to bleed him before the doctor could arrive. I was sent for-went to the general's chamber, where Mrs. Washington was up, and related to me his being taken ill between two and three o'clock, as before stated. I found him breathing with difficulty, and hardly able to utter a word intelligibly. I went out instantly, and wrote a line to Dr. Plask, and sent it with all speed. Immediately I returned to the general's chamber, where I found him in the same situation I had left him. A mixture of molasses, vinegar, and butter was prepared, but he could not swallow a drop; whenever he attempted he was distressed, convulsed, and almost suffocated.

"The physicians arrived between five and six o'clock, and when they came to his bedside, Dr. Craik asked him if he would sit up in the bed: he held out his hand to me and was raised up, when he said to the physician:-'I feel myself going; you had better not take any more trouble about me, but let me go off quietly; I cannot last long.' They found what had been done was without effect; he laid down again, and they retired, excepting Dr. Craik. He then said to him :- Doctor, I die hard, but I am not afraid to go; I believed from my first attack I should not survive it; my breath cannot last long.' The doctor pressed his hand, but could not utter a word; he retired from the bedside and sat by the fire, absorbed in grief. About eight o'clock, the physicians again came into the room, and applied blisters to his legs, but went out without a ray of hope. From this time he appeared to breathe "Mrs. Washington still uneasy lest too much with less difficulty than he had done, but was very blood should be drawn, it was stopped after about restless, continually changing his position, to enhalf a pint had been taken. Finding that no relief deavour to get ease. I aided him all in my power,

"Mr. Rawlins came in soon after sunrise, and prepared to bleed him; when the arm was ready, the general, observing Rawlins appeared agitated, said, with difficulty, 'Don't be afraid;' and after the incision was made, he observed the orifice was not large enough; however, the blood ran pretty freely. Mrs. Washington, not knowing whether bleeding was proper in the general's situation, begged that much might not be taken from him, and desired me to stop it. When I was about to untie the string, the general put up his hand to prevent it, and, as soon as he could speak, said, 'More.'

was obtained from bleeding, and that nothing could and was gratified in believing he felt it, for he would be swallowed, I proposed bathing the throat exter-look upon me with eyes speaking gratitude, but unnally with sal volatile, which was done; a piece of able to utter a word without great distress. Abou flannel was then put round his neck. His feet were ten o'clock he made several attempts to speak to me also soaked in warm water, but this gave no relief. before he could effect it; at length he said, 'I am By Mrs. Washington's request, I despatched a messenger for Dr. Brown of Port Tobacco. About nine o'clock, Dr. Craik arrived, and put a blister of cantharides on the throat of the general, and took more blood, and had some vinegar and hot water set in a teapot, for him to draw in the steam from the spout.

"He also had sage-tea and vinegar mixed and used as a gargle, but when he held back his head to let it run down, it almost produced suffocation. When the mixture came out of his mouth some phlegm followed it, and he would attempt to cough, which the doctor encouraged, but without effect.

just going. Have me decently buried; and do not let my body be put into the vault in less than two days after I am dead.' I bowed assent. He looked at me again and said, 'Do you understand me?' I replied, 'Yes, sir.' "Tis well,' said he. About ten minutes before he expired, his breathing became much easier: he lay quietly: he withdrew his hand from mine, and felt his own pulse. I spoke to Dr. Craik, who sat by the fire; he came to the bedside. The general's hand fell from his wrist; I took it in mine, and placed it on my breast. Dr. Craik placed his hands over his eyes; and he expired without a sigh."

MOUNT VERNON.

THE engraving on the opposite page, represents a view of Mount Vernon. It is from a picture painted on the spot by Mr. J. G. Chapman, and forms the second in the series of "Residences of the Presidents," with which we propose to embellish the present work.

Mt. Vernon is sacred in the eyes of Americans; it is the spot to which many a pilgrim wends his way, anxious to drop a tear at the tomb of the Father of his country.

The following account of a visit to that hallowed place, was published a year or two since :

means mysterious enough for a dissertation. The only curious portion of it is that grasped by the hand in turning. It is solid and of an oval shape, and appeared to me, for I always love to be curious in these matters, to have been broken, on a time, and then soldered or brazed again. It probably had some hard wrenches in its day. On the whole, it appeared to be a very amiable key, and by no means equal to all the turns it must have seen in the Revolution.

We were first shown into a small room, which was set apart as the study of Washington. Here he was wont to transact all his business of state, in his retirement. It was hung with pictures and engra"We thought to gallop to Mount Vernon, (from vings of revolutionary events, and among the miniaAlexandria,) but the chance of missing the way, and tures was one of himself, said to be the best likeness the tiresomeness of a gig, induced us to take a hack-ever taken. Another room was shown us which had ney coach. Accordingly, we took magnificent pos- nothing remarkable about it, and then we passed into session, and ordered it on with all convenient de-a larger one, finished with great taste, and containspatch. But haste was out of the question-for never ing a portrait of Judge Washington. A beautiful orwas worse road extant than that to Mount Vernon. gan stood in the corner, and the fireplace was adornStill in the season of foliage, it may be a romantick ed by a mantelpiece of most splendid workmanship route. As it was, we saw nothing to attract the eye in bas-relief. It is of Italian marble, and was as particularly engaging, save a few seats scattered presented to Washington by La Fayette. This part among the hills, and occupying some picturesque of our visit was soon over. There was little to see eminences. On we went-and yet onward-through in the house, and the portions referred to were all to all variety of scenery, hill and vale, meadow and which we were admitted. I could not help admiring woodland, until a sheet of water began to glimmer however, the neatness and air of antiquity together, through the dim trees, and announce our approach which distinguished the several rooms through which again to the Potomack. In a few moments, a turn in we passed. There was something, also, fanciful in the wild and uneven road brought us in view of the their arrangement, that was quite pleasing to my eye, old mansion-house of Washington. We drove to far more so, than the mathematical exactness and the entrance of the old gate-way, and alighted in the right-angleism of modern and more splendid manmidst of what appeared to be a little village-so nu-sions. I like these old houses and quaint apartments merous and scattered were the buildings. They that tell you fantastick tales of their first proprietors, were of brick, and devoted to the lower menial pur- and of their architects; and, as you wander through. poses of the place. As we advanced, the houses them, something of the olden time comes upon you, that covered the grounds, had a neater appearance, that you would not away with, if you could or could and when we came in view of the edifice of which not, if you would. Passing from the house, down a all these were the outworks or appendages, we were rude pathway, and then over a little broken but alat once struck with the simple beauty of the struc- ready verdant ground, we came to an open space, ture, and the quiet and secluded loveliness of its sit- and found ourselves standing before the humble tomb uation. The roof is crowned with a little cupola or of George Washington.* It was a happy moment steeple, a common thing upon the old seats of rich to visit the spot. There was something in the time, proprietors of Virginia-and the building itself is fortunate for the feelings. The very elements seemtwo stories in height. The portion nearest the river ed in accordance with the season. The day was and which is fronted with a light piazza, is an addi- beautiful-the sunlight was streaming full upon the tion which was made to the mansion by the general. trees round about and glowing with a mellow beam By this arrangement the beauty of the whole must upon the grave; the place was quiet, and the only, have been much increased. The style of the work sound that we heard save that of our own hearts. and the painting have the effect of a freestone front, was the voice of the wind through the pines, or of and though there is nothing imposing or grand in the the waters as they broke upon the shore below us. appearance of the house, still there is an air of sub- Who can analyze his feelings as he stands before stance and comfort about it, that after all is far more that sepulchre? Who can tell the story of his assosatisfying than magnificence. ciations, or do justice by his tongue or his pen Sending in our cards by an old servant, we were to the emotions which the memories of the past awasoon invited to enter. Not having letters to Mr. W.,ken there! The history of a whole country is overthe present proprietor, who is now very ill, we did powering him at once. Its struggle-its darknessnot expect to see any of the family. A servant ac-its despair-its victory rush upon him. Its graticordingly, at our request, merely accompanied us tude, its glory, and its loss, pass before him-and in through the rooms made interesting by the hallowed a few moments he lives through an age of interest associations that came fast upon us as we traversed and wonder. Strange power of the human mind!. them. In the hall or entry, hangs, in a glass case, What an intimation does this rapid communion with the key of the Bastile, which every body has heard the past, and with the spirits of the past, give, at of. It was presented to Washington by La Fayette. once, of their immortality and our own! But it is Under it is a picture of that renowned fortress. The key is by no means formidable for its size; it is about as large as a bank-key, and of a shape by no 43.

See views of the "Tomb of Washington," on pages 26 and