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ET. 30-31.1

LIFE AT ANNAPOLIS-THE DISMAL SWAMP.

107

Anchoring of a British frigate (the Boston) in those of Mrs. Washingtoa espérionedd from the river, just in front of the hospitable man-him parental care and affection, and the fúrniation of the Fairfaxes. A succession of tion of their minds and munges we une of and breakfasts takes place at Mount the dearest objects of his attention. -ta dhe Vernon cod Belvoir, with occasional tea parties on mestic concerns and social cryineista, hogy "Loard; of the frigate. The commander, Sir ever, were not permitted to interfero.w.sk Thomas Adams, his officers and his midship- public duties. He was active by natte, men, aro cherished gueste, end love the free-eminently a man of Lasiness by half) 23 dom of both establishments.

Occasionally he and Mrs. Washington would ay's sit to Annapolis, at that time the seat government of Maryland, and partake of the eries which prevailed during the session of

islature. The society of these coats of vincial governments was always polite and durable, and more exclusive than in these than Maya, being, in a manter, the outdefor the English aristocracy, where all

judge of the county court, and member of House of Burgesses, he had numerous cale upon his time and thoughts, and was otet drawn from home; for whatever trust ha undertook, he was sure to full with scrupulous exactness,.

About this time we find him esgaged, with other men of enterprise, in a project to drain the great Dismal Swamp, and render it capable of cultivation. This vast moruss was about thirty miles long, and ten miles wide, and its interior bat Htle known. With his usual zeal and hardihood he explored it on horseback and on foot. In many parts it was covered with dark and gloomy woods of codar, cypress, and hemlock, or deciduous trees, the branches of which were hung with long drooping moss.

of dignity or profit were secured for epsons, and poor, but proud relatives. Date the session of the Legislature, dinners and 3,55-abounded, and there were occasional - etter at theatricals. The latter was an aniscent for which Washington always had rell, though he never had an opportunity of Sirva 157 afectually. Neither was he disin-Other parts were almost inaccessible, from the zabad to sinople in the dance, and we rememto have heard venerable ladies, who had befas fa his day, pride themselves on vig had him for a partier, though, they ed he was apt to be a ceremonious and

one.

density of brakes and thickets, entangled withi vinos, briers, and creeping plants, and intersected by creeks, and standing pools. Ocea sionally the soil, composed of dead tegetsbla fibre, was over his horse's fetlocks, and some times he had to dismount and make his way on foot over a quaking bog that shook beneath his tread.

this round of rural occupation, rural sements, and social intercourse, Washing pas several tranquil years, the haleyon In the centre of the morass ho came to a wun of his life. Dis already established grent piece of water, six miles long, and threo Ration drew many visitors to Mount Vor-broad, called Drummond's Pond, but more posome of his carty companions in arms etically celebrated as the Lake of the Dismal mae his cogasional guests, and his friendships Swamp. It was more elevated than any other Fennections linked him with some of the part of the swamp, and capable of feeding prominent and worthy people of the canals, by which the whole might be traversed. zy, who vero sure to be received with Having made the circuit of it, and noted all its but simple and unpretending hospitality, characteristics, lo encamped for the night upon unerringe was unblessed with children; but the firal load which bordered it, and finished. his explorations on the following day.

We have in an amusing picture of Annapolis, as it ment, Uiljonel, fornished to us some years ago by a toireburial who had resided thero in his boyhood. In parts of the country," said he, "where the roads cru too magh for chiriges, the ladies used to ride on samuse, scrioburi la finck servants on horseback; in this ang-bis zowater thek advanced in iffe, need to travel, in a slot epak Muling habit, which she had procured from Erishil Kay Luthie was, un cuentneies, ho, added, Balogiamen from the country used to come to the ding with their hoops arranged fore Bern willey and after dancing bil night,

In the ensuing session of the Virzląda Argie. lature, the association in belif, of shaleke had acted, was chartered under the the Disinal Swamp Company; cl servations and forecast inay bad! sequent improvement and yanına once desolato région.

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ET. 30-31.]

LIFE AT ANNAPOLIS THE DISMAL SWAMP.

107

anchoring of a British frigate (the Boston) in | those of Mrs. Washington experienced from the river, just in front of the hospitable man-him parental care and affection, and the formasion of the Fairfaxes. A succession of dinners tion of their minds and manners was one of and breakfasts takes place at Mount Vernon the dearest objects of his attention. His doand Belvoir, with occasional tea parties on mestic concerns and social enjoyments, howboard of the frigate. The commander, Sir ever, were not permitted to interfere with his Thomas Adams, his officers and his midship- public duties. He was active by nature, and men, are cherished guests, and have the free-eminently a man of business by habit. As dom of both establishments.

Occasionally he and Mrs. Washington would pay a visit to Annapolis, at that time the seat of government of Maryland, and partake of the gayeties which prevailed during the session of the legislature. The society of these seats of provincial governments was always polite and fashionable, and more exclusive than in these republican days, being, in a manner, the outposts of the English aristocracy, where all places of dignity or profit were secured for younger sons, and poor, but proud relatives. During the session of the Legislature, dinners and balls abounded, and there were occasional attempts at theatricals. The latter was an amusement for which Washington always had a relish, though he never had an opportunity of gratifying it effectually. Neither was he disinclined to mingle in the dance, and we remember to have heard venerable ladies, who had been belles in his day, pride themselves on having had him for a partner, though, they added, he was apt to be a ceremonious and grave one.*

In this round of rural occupation, rural amusements, and social intercourse, Washington passed several tranquil years, the halcyon season of his life. His already established reputation drew many visitors to Mount Vernon; some of his early companions in arms were his occasional guests, and his friendships and connections linked him with some of the most prominent and worthy people of the country, who were sure to be received with cordial, but simple and unpretending hospitality. His marriage was unblessed with children; but

We have had an amusing picture of Annapolis, as it was at this period, furnished to us some years ago by an

octogenarian who had resided there in his boyhood. In those parts of the country," said he, "where the roads were too rough for carriages, the ladies used to ride on ponies, followed by black servants on horseback; in this way his mother, then advanced in life, used to travel, in a scarlet cloth riding habit, which she had procured from England. Nay, in this way, on emergencies," he added, "the young ladies from the country used to come to the balls at Annapolis, riding with their hoops arranged 'fore and aft' like lateen sails; and after dancing all night, would ride home again in the morning,"

judge of the county court, and member of the House of Burgesses, he had numerous calls upon his time and thoughts, and was often drawn from home; for whatever trust he undertook, he was sure to fulfil with scrupulous exactness.

About this time we find him engaged, with other men of enterprise, in a project to drain the great Dismal Swamp, and render it capable of cultivation. This vast morass was about thirty miles long, and ten miles wide, and its interior but little known. With his usual zeal and hardihood he explored it on horseback and on foot. In many parts it was covered with dark and gloomy woods of cedar, cypress, and hemlock, or deciduous trees, the branches of which were hung with long drooping moss. Other parts were almost inaccessible, from the density of brakes and thickets, entangled with vines, briers, and creeping plants, and intersected by creeks and standing pools. Occasionally the soil, composed of dead vegetable fibre, was over his horse's fetlocks, and sometimes he had to dismount and make his way on foot over a quaking bog that shook beneath his tread.

In the centre of the morass he came to a great piece of water, six miles long, and three broad, called Drummond's Pond, but more poetically celebrated as the Lake of the Dismal Swamp. It was more elevated than any other part of the swamp, and capable of feeding canals, by which the whole might be traversed. Having made the circuit of it, and noted all its characteristics, he encamped for the night upon the firm land which bordered it, and finished his explorations on the following day.

In the ensuing session of the Virginia Legislature, the association in behalf of which he had acted, was chartered under the name of the Dismal Swamp Company; and to his observations and forecast may be traced the subsequent improvement and prosperity of that once desolate region.

108

TREATY OF PEACE-RESTRICTIVE POLICY OF ENGLAND.

[1763.

CHAPTER XXVII.

TIDINGS of peace gladdened the colonies in the spring of 1763. The definitive treaty between England and France had been signed at Fontainebleau. Now, it was trusted, there would be an end to those horrid ravages that had desolated the interior of the country. "The desert and the silent place would rejoice, and the wilderness would blossom like the rose."

The month of May proved the fallacy of such hopes. In that month the famous insurrection of the Indian tribes broke out, which, from the name of the chief who was its prime mover and master spirit, is commonly called Pontiac's war. The Delawares and Shawnees, and other of those emigrant tribes of the Ohio, among whom Washington had mingled, were foremost in this conspiracy. Some of the chiefs who had been his allies, had now taken up the hatchet against the English. The plot was deep laid, and conducted with Indian craft and secrecy. At a concerted time an attack was made upon all the posts from Detroit to Fort Pitt (late Fort Duquesne). Several of the small stockaded forts, the places of refuge of woodland neighborhoods, were surprised and sacked with remorseless butchery. The frontiers of Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia, were laid waste; traders in the wilderness were plundered and slain; hamlets and farm-houses were wrapped in flames, and their inhabitants massacred. Shingis, with his Delaware warriors, blockaded Fort Pitt, which, for some time, was in imminent danger. Detroit, also, came near falling into the hands of the savages. It needed all the influence of Sir William Johnson, that potentate in savage life, to keep the Six Nations from joining this formidable conspiracy; had they done so, the triumph of the tomahawk and scalping-knife would have been complete; as it was, a considerable time elapsed before the frontier was restored to tolerable tranquillity.

Fortunately, Washington's retirement from the army prevented his being entangled in this savage war, which raged throughout the regions he had repeatedly visited, or rather his active spirit had been diverted into a more peaceful channel, for he was at this time occupied in the enterprise just noticed, for draining the great Dismal Swamp.

which, without any political aspiration or forethought of his own, was destined gradually to bear him away from his quiet home and individual pursuits, and launch him upon a grander and wider sphere of action than any in which he had hitherto been engaged.

The prediction of the Count de Vergennes was in the process of fulfilment. The recent war of Great Britain for dominion in America, though crowned with success, had engendered a progeny of discontents in her colonies. Washington was among the first to perceive its bitter fruits. British merchants had complained loudly of losses sustained by the depreciation of the colonial paper, issued during the late war, in times of emergency, and had addressed a memorial on the subject to the Board of Trade. Scarce was peace concluded, when an order from the board declared that no paper, issued by colonial Assemblies, should thenceforward be a legal tender in the payment of debts. Washington deprecated this "stir of the merchants" as peculiarly ill-timed; and expressed an apprehension that the order in question "would set the whole country in flames."

We do not profess, in this personal memoir, to enter into a wide scope of general history, but shall content ourselves with a glance at the circumstances and events which gradually kindled the conflagration thus apprehended by the anxious mind of Washington.

Whatever might be the natural affection of the colonies for the mother country,—and there are abundant evidences to prove that it was deep-rooted and strong, it had never been properly reciprocated. They yearned to be considered as children; they were treated by her as changelings. Burke testifies that her policy toward them from the beginning had been purely commercial, and her commercial policy wholly restrictive. "It was the system of a monopoly."

Her navigation laws had shut their ports against foreign vessels; obliged them to export their productions only to countries belonging to the British crown; to import European goods solely from England, and in English ships; and had subjected the trade between the colonies to duties. All manufactures, too, in the colonies, that might interfere with those of the mother country, had been either totally prohibited, or subjected to intolerable restraints.

The acts of Parliament, imposing these proPublic events were now taking a tendencyhibitions and restrictions, had at various times

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