WASHINGTON'S WILL. 435 deceased relations (now in the old vault) and such others of my family as may choose to be entombed there, may be deposited. And it is my express desire, that my corpse may be interred in a private manner, without parade or funeral oration. LASTLY, I constitute and appoint my dearly beloved wife, Martha Washington, my nephews, William Augustine Washington, Bushrod Washington, George Steptoe Washington, Samuel Washington, and Lawrence Lewis, and my ward, George Washington Park Custis, (when he shall have arrived at the age of twentyone years,) executrix and executors of this my will and testament; in the construction of which it will be readily perceived, that no professional character has been consulted, or has had any agency in the draft; and that, although it has occupied many of my leisure hours to digest, and to throw it into its present form, it may, notwithstanding, appear crude and incorrect; but having endeavored to be plain and explicit in all the devises, even at the expense of prolixity, perhaps of tautology, I hope and trust that no disputes will arise concerning them. But if, contrary to expectation, the case should be otherwise, from the want of legal expressions, or the usual technical terms, or because too much or too little has been said on any of the devises to be consonant with law, my will and direction expressly is, that all disputes (if unhappily any should arise) shall be de cided by three impartial and intelligent men, known for their probity and good understanding, two to be chosen by the disputants, each having the choice of one, and the third by those two; which three men, thus chosen, shall, unfettered by law or legal constructions, declare their sense of the testator's intention; and such decision is, to all intents and purposes, to be as binding on the parties as if it had been given in the Supreme Court of the United States. In witness of all and of each of the things herein contained, I have set my hand and seal, this ninth day of July, in the year one thousand seven hundred and ninety,1 and of the Independence of the United States the twenty-fourth. GEORGE WASHINGTON. 1 It appears that the testator omitted the word "nine." A Abercrombie, General commander-in-chief, i. 282. proceeds against Ticonderoga, falls back, i. 290. attacks the French works, i. repulsed by Montcalm, i. 291. Abercrombie, Lieutenant-colonel, Ackland, Lady Harriet - with Burgoyne's army, iii. 236. seeks her husband, iii. 278. commands the Grenadiers, iii. wounded and taken prisoner, subsequent history (note), iii. on the conduct of Washington opposes Lee, and urges Ward as second in command, i. 483. to General Thomas on Schuy on the defense of New York, ii. member of the Board of War and Ordnance, ii. 238. on the Declaration of Independ- its great importance, ii. 275. on committee to confer with on presidential etiquette, v. 10. on the office of Vice-President, v. his "Discourses on Davila," v. 103. on the British Constitution, v. ment of Genet, v. 202. to Washington, asking advice, on the appointment of Wash irresolute as to commander-in- excepted from proffered pardon, on the united command of minister from France, v. 241. complaints against the govern- - Agnew, Brigadier-general killed at Germantown, iii. 304. Allen, the fighting parson, iii. 189. at the head of the Green Moun- commands expedition to Ticon- proceeds to Shoreham, i. 471. returns to Ticonderoga, 1. 476 to Trumbull on the invasion of superseded by Seth Warner, ii. joins as a volunteer, ii. 49. sent to reconnoitre, ii. 63. to Montgomery on Canadian meets Major Brown, ii. 70. taken prisoner, ii. 71. sent to England, ii. 72. treatment by the British, il exchanged for Colonel Camp- visits Valley Forge, iii. 433. to Washington on the treatment Allen, William, ii. 302. INDEX. distribution of before Boston, ii. condition and discipline, ii. 6. retreat from before Quebec, ii. British description of, ii. 424. marches through Philadelphia, described by a Hessian, iii. 288. pass through Philadelphia, iv. discontent of, iv. 434. meeting of officers, iv. 440. resolutions of meeting, iv. 445. contrasted with the British, iv. American Militia- fly before the British, ii 379. American Prisoners, treatment of, American Seamen, impressment Ames, Fisher- on the first Congress, v. 30. on Washington's farewell ad- to reduce Louisburg, i. 283. embarks, i. 285. 439 arrives at the bay of Gabarus, landing of troops, i. 286. to advance against Ticonderoga oga and Crown Point, i. 313. - plan for destroying British entertained by Congress, ii. 317. - and the Mischianza, iii. 427. sketch of his life, iv. 114. goes on board the Vulture, iv. interview with Arnold, iv. 121. anxiety to escape, iv. 123. stopped by patrolling party, iv approaches the Neutral Ground parts with Smith, iv. 125. |