1780. In the North, the malignant treason of Benedict Arnold nearly gave West Point and the control of the Hudson to the British in 1780; but this was happily frustrated. The seat of war had been transferred to the South, where Gates was defeated, and was consequently superseded by General Greene. Even that skillful general had to retreat before Cornwallis, though he practically saved the South. Washington had received a large accession of French troops, and was still engaged in watching Clinton at New York, when he learned that Cornwallis had posted himself at Yorktown, near the Chesapeake, and that De Grasse's French fleet was about to enter that bay. To prevent Clinton from suspecting his real object, and shipping his troops to Virginia, Washington made elaborate preparations for an attack on New York, then moved down the Hudson, still keeping the semblance of attacking Clinton. Then followed a rapid march through New Jersey and Philadelphia to the head of the Chesapeake Bay. Sailing down the Chesapeake, Washington reached Yorktown, where De Grasse had already arrived. Cornwallis was driven within his intrenchments, and, after three weeks' siege, was compelled to surrender his army of 8,000 men on the 19th of October, 1781. Washington's tact and good sense had been shown in securing the utmost harmony between the French and Americans, both generals and soldiers. His military skill had equally been evinced in his keeping Clinton alarmed about New York until it was too late for him to assist Cornwallis at Yorktown. The capture of Yorktown practically ended the war, though the British troops remained in New York till 1783, when many American Tories accompanied them, departing to Nova Scotia and other British possessions.

war.

Washington was at last rewarded for the sacrifices he had made and the toils he had endured during the eight years of After the proclamation of the general treaty of peace, he addressed a letter to the several Governors of the States, discussing with eloquence and ability the best measures to be adopted for the well-being and existence of the United States. as an independent power. On the 23d of December of the same year he resigned his commission, stating that he was taking leave of all the employments of public life. All his

opinions expressed about this time show how little he was aware of his future career as a statesman.

Edward Everett has well summed up the qualifications of Washington for the position of a political leader, which was now to devolve upon him. Prior to the Revolution he had passed fifteen years as a member of the House of Congress, and thus acquired a familiar knowledge of politics and civil life. A knowledge of the ordinary legislative business of a leading colony like that of Virginia was a good preparation for political duties. Again, the fifteen years he passed in the management of a large landed estate and an ample fortune, furnished material for the formation of the economical side of his character, and gave thoroughness to his administrative habits, and probably furnished that capacity for controlling the most perplexed combinations of affairs, and yet not neglecting the minutest details of minor economies. Besides this, his constant correspondence with governors of States and other prominent men had given him a truly paternal attitude towards government in general, and provided him with a fund of information beyond that of other public men.

The Federal Convention met in Philadelphia May 2, 1787, to reorganize the Union, which had been sinking into abject weakness under the Articles of Confederation, since the pressure of a foreign enemy had been withdrawn. Washington was present as a delegate from Virginia, and was unanimously chosen as presiding officer. He took but little part in the debates, unless when they touched on matters concerning the army. The convention was in session four months, and its deliberations resulted in the present Constitution, the adoption of which Washington incessantly urged by correspondence and by all the means in his power. He said it was the best Constitution that could be obtained at that time, and that "this or a dissolution awaits our choice and is the only alternative." An animated struggle ensued in several States over its ratification; but in 1789 it had been accepted by eleven out of the original thirteen.

In accordance with the provisions of this document Washington was chosen by sixty-nine electoral votes as first President of the United States, with John Adams as Vice-president.

The office of president had been framed expressly to fit George Washington. On receiving notice of his election, he started for New York, then the seat of government, and his journey through the intervening States became a triumphal procession. He took the oath of office on the 30th of April, 1789. The beginning of his term was inauspicious. He could not enter on the duties of his office on account of a sudden attack of sickness, from which he had hardly recovered when news reached him of his mother's death.

Washington on entering on the Presidency was fifty-seven years of age, of dignified appearance, athletic in build, but somewhat impaired in strength from the effects of two wars. He soon found himself beset with serious difficulties. He was to inaugurate a new and untried system of government to which, he knew, a few looked forward with confidence, some with hope, and many with suspicion. Violent political animosities were growing up around him, and such questions as that of a permanent seat for the government were agitated with much bitterness. So that even in his first administration the responsibilities of government weighed heavily upon him.

He did his best to prevent party contest till the new system was fairly established; but his task was difficult, and the object perhaps impossible of attainment. He had called to assist him the foremost leaders of the people. But the chief of them, Hamilton and Jefferson, both men of extraordinary ability, were at variance on the main points of the government, the one advocating a strong central government, the other opposing it as dangerous to the liberties of the people and the rights of the States. There was also much irritation displayed over the matter of the funding system, the assumption of the revolutionary debts of the States, and the establishing of a National Bank. It was with reluctance, therefore, that Washington consented to a nomination for a second term of office. But the people still had full confidence in his virtue and ability, and he was unanimously elected. In his opening address, after his re-election, he used the expression which has often been quoted since, "If we desire to avoid insult, we must be able to repel it; if we desire to

secure peace, it must be known that we are at all times ready for war."

During Washington's second term, even more than in his first, there were violent dissensions in his cabinet; the two leading members were compared to "game-cocks in a pit.” Contrary to what might have been expected, bitterly hostile attacks were made on Washington himself by dissatisfied politicians. Even members of his cabinet, as Randolph and Jefferson, vexed his spirit, disparaged his wise measures, and fomented opposition to his policy. Hot-headed sympathizers with the French Revolutionists endeavored to force the nation into fresh war with England. An open outbreak against the government occurred in 1794 in Western Pennsylvania, where the enforcement of a Federal excise law produced the "Whiskey Insurrection," which was happily quelled without the effusion of blood, though the troops were called out from neighboring States. Still the people never wavered in their devotion to their President, and he would have been elected to a third term of office as unanimously as before had he been willing to serve.

Nothing, however, could now turn him from his fixed purpose to retire from public life; and in order to put all doubts to rest on the subject, he determined to make a formal announcement of his intention. During the early part of his last year of office, he prepared, with the assistance of Alexander Hamilton, his memorable Farewell Address. The original manuscript of this address is wholly in his own handwriting, and is in the possession of the Lenox Library, New York. Washington met the two Houses of Congress for the last time December 7, 1796, and congratulated them on the success of the experiment of a republican form of government, as illustrated by the case of the United States.

Immediately on retiring from the presidential office he proceeded to his home at Mount Vernon, where he trusted to spend the remainder of his days in peace; but there appearing danger of a war with France, he was again called to take the field as commander-in-chief of the armies of the United States. Fortunately the difficulties between the two countries were adjusted, and war was averted. For two years after this the

ex-President busied himself with the management of his large estate, formulating a system by which it was to have been carried on for a number of years, personally supervising the farming operations, and superintending other matters of business. During a ride over his farm on December 12, 1799, he exposed himself to cold during a storm of hail and snow; on the morning of the 14th he awoke with a chill and difficulty of breathing. The family physician was sent for, and two other medical men were in attendance. The patient, however, became worse, but continued to give some business directions and to send messages of remembrance to friends. He died that same night of acute laryngitis. His last words were, "It is well." He was buried on his estate at Mount Vernon. The homestead and grounds were eventually purchased by a National association of ladies, whose object was to preserve them as nearly as possible as they were during the owner's life.

The relation of Washington to his country and its government has been briefly indicated in this sketch. In the struggle for independence and in the formation of the government, as well as in its early administration, he was the centre on which all else turned. By his masterly balance of all the qualities necessary for the founder and leader of a genuine republic he was able to secure stability with progress. The reverence of his countrymen for him was well expressed in the resolutions adopted in Congress on the announcement of his death, which declare him "first in peace, first in war, and first in the hearts of his countrymen."

BRADDOCK'S DEFEAT.

The greater part of Gage's command was actually advanced beyond the spot where the main battle was fought, and was just surmounting the second bottom, when one of the engineers who were in front, marking out the road, perceived the Indians bounding forward. Before them, with long leaps, came Beaujeu, the gaily-colored fringes of his hunting-shirt and the silver gorget on his bosom at once bespeaking the chief. Comprehending in a glance the position he had attained, he suddenly halted and waved his hat above his