is to be cut at this advanced season, when we have scarcely time left to tread the beaten track, universally confessed to be the best passage through the mountain

"If Colonel Bouquet succeeds in this point with the General, all is lost! All is lost indeed! Our enterprise is ruined, and we shall be stopped at the Laurel Hill this winter-but not to gather laurels, except of the kind which cover the mountains.-The southern Indians will turn against us, and these colonies will be desolated by such an accession to the enemy's strength. These must be the consequences of a miscarriage, and a miscarriage the almost necessary consequence of an attempt to march the army by this route."

The judgment and advice of Colonel WASHINGTON in this important measure were overruled, and to his extreme mortification, the new route of the army was adopted. The disappointment and gloomy prospect which he entertained, are strongly expressed in the following letter, written from Cumberland, to the Speaker of the House of Burgesses.

1758.

"We are still encamped here, very sickly SEPT. 2, and dispirited at the prospect before us That appearance of glory which we once had in view, even that hope, that laudable ambition of serving our country, and meriting its applause, are now no more; all is dwindled into ease, sloth, and fatal inactivity. In a word, all is lost, if the ways of men in power, like certain ways of providence, are not inscrutable. But we, who view the actions of great men at a distance, can only form conjectures agreeably to a limited perception; and, being ignorant of the comprehensive schemes which may be in contempla· tion, might mistake egregiously in judging of things. from appearances, or by the lump. Yet every fool will nave his notions, will prattle and talk away; and why may not I? We seem then, in my opinion, to act un der the guidance of an evil genius. The conduct of our leaders, if not actuated by superiour orders, in

tempered with something-I do not care to give a name to. Nothing now but a miracle can bring this camDaign to a happy issue."

Mentioning the arguments he haa brought against the new road, he proceeds, "But I spoke all unavailing. ly. The road was immediately begun, and since then, from one to two thousand men have constantly wrought on it. By the last accounts I have received, they had cut to the foot of Laurel Hill, about thirty-five miles, and I suppose by this time, fifteen hundred men have taken post about ten miles further, at a place called Loyal Hanna, where our next fort is to be constructed.

"We have certain intelligence, that the French strength at Fort du Quesne did not exceed eight hundred mon, the 13th ultimo, including about three or four hundred Indians. See how our time has been mispent. Behold how the golden opportunity is lost, perhaps never more to be regained! How is it to be accounted for? Can General Forbes have orders for this Impossible. Will then our injured country pass by such abuses? I hope not; rather let a full representation of the matter go to his Majesty; let him know how grossly his glory and interests, and the pub lick money have been prostituted."

Col. Grant, with a force of eight hundred men, hav. ing been detached to reconnoitre the country, in the neighbourhood of the Ohio, was about this time defeated with loss; and himself, and Major Lewis of Colonel WASHINGTON's regiment, were taken prisoners Three companies of this regiment were on the expe dition, and behaved with great bravery. Of eight officors belonging to these companies, on this servico, five were killed, one wounded, and one taken prisoner Capt. Bullet, who had charge of the baggage, defended it with great resolution, and did much to protect the defeated troops; he fortunately came off the field without a wound. This spirited and soldierly conduct the Britons acknowledged to be highly honourable to

the troops themselves, and to the Commander, whe trained them to the service. General Forbes compli mented Colonel WASHINGTON on the ocasion.

Colonel WASHINGTON was at this time employed on the new road, in the neighbourhood of Raystown.

Ост. 8, 1758.

General Forbes resolved that the main army should move from this place; and he called upon the commanding officers of regi ments to lay before him a plan for its march. Colonel WASHINGTON presented his; it has been preserved, and is said to display the soundness of his judgment

Through a read almost impassable, the army at length reached Loyal Hanna, about ten miles from the foot of Laurel Hill, and forty-five from Fort Cumberland. At this place Colonel WASHINGTON had predicted the expedition would terminate. In a Council of War it was actually resolved to be unadviseable to proceed further this Autumn. To have wintered in this inhospitable wilderness would, perhaps, have been impossible; but before any disposition of the army was made, intelligence was brought by some prisoners, that the garrison of Fort du Quesne had not been support. ed from Canada; that the Indians had deserted it; and, that it was not in a situation to make resistance. This intelligence induced General Forbes to change his resolution, and to push on to the Ohio. Colonel WASHINGTON was ordered to the front to superintend opening the road for the army; which duty he, with extreme fatigue, executed. In slow and laborious marches, General Forbes reached du Quesne, Nov. 25, and found that the French, on the evening preceding his arrival, had set fire to this fort, and had passed in their boats down the river.

1752.

'The success of the campaign was wholly to be at tributed to the pressure of the English on Canada, which constrained the French Commander in chief to call in, or weaken his outposts, but for this circumdance, the gloomy predictions of Colonel WASHINGTO❤

would have been verified, in the failure of the expedi

tion.

The Fort being repaired, was called Fort Pitt, in compliment to the preeminent British Minister, under whose auspices the war was now conducted.

Colonel WASHINGTON furnished two hundred men of his regiment to the garrison, and soon after return ed to Williamsburg to take his seat in the House of Burgesses, of which, in his absence he had been chosen a member.

His services, while commander of the Virginia forces, were appreciated by his countrymen; and the British officers with whom he served, bore honourable testimony to his military talents. The soldierly and gallant behaviour of his regiment in the field, exhibited the best evidence of the address of their commander, in training them to exact discipline, and exciting in thein a martial spirit. His officers expressed the great affection and respect, which they entertained for his character, by an unanimous address, presented to him at the close of this campaign; and the inhabitants of the frontiers placed full confidence in him, even at a time when he was unable to defend them from the slaughter and devastation of the enemy.

Colonel WASHINGTON now saw the great object at tained, to which for years he had directed his whole. mind. The enemy was driven from the Ohio, and his country, in a great measure, relieved from the carnage and distress of an Indian war. His health was impaired by the arduous services of the campaign; and his private concerns demanded his attention. He thero

fore resigned his military commission, and retirod ta the tranquil scenes of domestick life

CHAPTER II.

Solonel Washington's Marriage-His management of the Estate of Mount Vernon--Appointed a Judge of the County Court, and a Member of the Virginia Legislature-Chosen a Member of the first Congress-Appointed Commander in Chief of the American Forces Arrives at Camp-Arranges the Army-Deficiency of Arms and Ammunition-Colonel Arrold detached to QuebeckSuccess of American Cruisers-Evils of temporary enlistmentsAn attack on the Enemy's Posts meditated-Possession taken of the Heights of Dorchester-Boston evacuated.

1759. Soon after the resignation of his military commission, Colonel WASHINGTON married Mrs. Mar. tha Custis, a young and beautiful widow, who possessed an ample fortune, and who was endowed with those amiable and pleasing accomplishments of mind and manners, which give the best security for happiness in the married state. With her he lived in all the con. fidence, endearment, and felicity which this relation can produce.

In his estate of Mount Vernon, he extensively enga ed in the business of agriculture, and was greatly dis guished for the judgment he displayed in the impro ment of his lands. Every branch of business was onducted upo. system, exact method and economy were observed throughout every department of his household, the accounts of his overseers he weekly inspected, the divisions of his farm were numbered, the expense of cultivation, and the produce of each let were regularly registered; and, at one view he could determine the profit or loss of any crop, and ascertain the respective advantages of particular modes of husbandry. He became one of the greatest landholders in North America. Besides other great and valuable tracts, his Mount Vernon estate consisted of nine thou sand acres, all under his own management. On which, in one year, he raised seven thousand bushels of wheat,