The Virginians

sonage in all his Majesty's colonies, plantations, and possessions of North America. His guard of dragoons preceded him out of William

little postmaster from Philadelphia, Mr. Franklin, who, printer's boy as he had been, was a wonderful shrewd person, as his Excellency and the gentlemen of his family were fain to acknowledge, having a quantity of the most curious information respecting the colony, and regarding England t

o study their honours' manners, and adapt himself to them as far as he might. As for education, he could not boast much of that-his father being but in straitened circumstances,

they should spell bull with two b's or one. He had heard the Duke of Marlborough was no special good penman. He had not the honour

he was aware of

addock-"aha, Mr. Postmaster, you have hear

pair of orbs as innocent as a baby's. "He's no scholar, but he is a match for any French general that ever swallowed the Engli

nd from his large buckled wig

bels and intriguing Romish Jesuits who would take our liberty from us, and our religion, by George. His Royal

iew of the Guards, in Hyde Park," says Mr. Franklin. "

of masters, the best of friends, the best of sons to his roya

sir," says Mr. Franklin, laughing.

elcome. We don't forbid you; we encourage you. We, to fight the enemy and govern the country. Hey, gentlemen? Lord! what roads you hav

ington," says t

adiers," said the General. "He has a good figure o

, in

the opportunities he has had. I should have thoug

t off parade, except the merits of a bottle and the looks of a woman; not of high birth, yet absurdly proud of his no-ancestry; brave as a bulldog; savage, lustful, prodigal, generous; gentle in soft moods; easy of love and laughter; dull of wit; utterly un

ge; "and I dare say the Postmaster

Cap

nd Indians with him. Good day, Mr. Washington. A pre

e up, followed by a couple of natty negro grooms, in smart livery-coats and velvet

have seen our militia run from the Scotch, and be cur

assionate desire to see and serv

ge oaths; and on the heavy carriage rolled towards Castlewood; Mr. Washington asking leave

chaplain. These were presently joined by little Mr. Dempster, the young gentlemen's schoolmaster, in his great Ramillies wig, which he kept for occasions of state. Anon appeared Mr. Laws, the judge of the court, with Madam Laws on a pillion behind him, and their negro man carrying a box containing her ladyship's cap, and bestriding a mule. The procession looked so ludicrous, that Major Danvers and Mr. Franklin espying it, laughe

ho had passed much time in the Fleet Prison, at Newmarket, at Hockley-in-the-Hole; and having gone of all sorts of errands for his friend, Lord Cingbars, Lord Ringwood's son (my Lady Cingbars's waiting-woman being Mr. B.'s mother-I dare say the modern reader had best not be too particular regarding Mr. Broadbent's father's pedigree), had been of late sent out to a church-living in Virginia. He and young George had fought many a match of cocks together, taken many a roe in company, hauled in countless quantities of shad and salmon, slain wild geese and wild swans, pigeons and plovers, and destroyed myriads of canvas-backed ducks. It was said by the envious that Broadbent was the midnight poacher on whom Mr. Washington set his dogs, and whom he

), and indeed, stewed terrapins are worthy of any duke or even emperor. The negro-women have a genius for cookery, and in Castlewood kitchens there were adepts in the art brought up under the keen eye of the late and the present Madam Esmond. Certain of the dishes, especially the sweets and flan, Madam Esmond prepared herself with great neatness and dexterity; carving several of the principal pieces, as the kindly cumbrous fashion of the day was, putting up the laced lappets of her sleeves, and showing the prettiest round arms and small hands and wrists as she performed this ancient rite of a hospit

bow. "I wish, madam, we had such a happy knack of pastry at home as you have at C

t too," says Mr. Postmaster of Boston, at which remark M

both liked. She was very glad if they pleased her company. More such remarks follow: more dishes; ten times as much meat as is needful for the company. Mr. Washington does not embark in the general conversation much, but he and Mr. Talmadge, and Major Danvers, and the Postmaster, are deep in talk about roads, rivers, conveyances, sumpter-horses a

e for those which were eaten a hundred years ago, and which Madam Esmond had prepared for her guests with so much neatness and skill? Then, the table being cleared, Nathan, her chief manager, lays a glass to every person, and fills his mistress's. Bowing to the company, she says she drinks but one toast, but knows how heartily all the gentlemen present will join h

to her drawing-room when her artificial courage failed her, and she burst into tears on the sofa by Mrs. Laws' side, just in the midst of a compliment from that lady. "Ah, madam!" she said, "it may be an honour, as you say, to have the King's representative in my house, and our family has received greater personages than Mr. Braddock. But he comes to take one of my sons away from me.

station should show themselves where their country calls them. That has always been the way of the Esmonds, and the same Power which graciously preserved my dear father through twenty great battles in the Queen's time, I trust and pray, will watch over my son now his turn is come to do his duty." And, now, instead of lamenting her fate, or further alluding to it, I dare say the resolute lady sate down with her female friends to a pool of cards and a dish of coffee, whilst the gentlemen remained in

st cried out-"No! she would give no more-the common Bordeaux they might have, and welcome, if they still wanted more-but she would not give any more of the Colonel's." It appeared th

rticular Bordeaux lay, surviving its master, who, too, had long passed underground. As they went on their journey, Mrs. Mountain asked whether any of the gentlemen had

untain: "why, he will sit for

pecially against Mr. Washington, which made Mr. Washington quite red and angry, Nathan said. "Well, well!" Mrs. Mountain cried eagerly; "it was right a gentleman sh

almost everybody seemed to do who came in contact with the simple and upright young man. Himself of the most scrupulous gravity and good breeding, in his communication with other folks he appeared to exact, or, at any rate, to occasion, the same behaviour. His nature was above levity and jokes: they seemed out of place when addressed to him. He was slow of comprehending them: and they slunk as it were abashed out of his society. "He always seemed great to me," says Harry Warrington, in one of his letters many years after the date of which we are writing; "and I never thought of him

it, had been free with the glass and with the tongue. He had said a score of things to his guest which wounded and chafed the latter, and to which Mr. Washington could give no reply. A

m, or her game over, she gave up her cards to one of the other ladies, and joined her good neighbour out of doors. He tried to co

ir wine," she said; "gentlemen o

e yonder are distinguishing themselve

General is at the

think very likely that military gentlemen born and bred at home are different from us of the colonies. We have such a hot sun, that we need not wine to fire our blood as they do. And drinking toasts seems a point of honour with them. Talmadge hiccupped to me-I sho

ou talk of for so many

ar, and of the force Mr. Contrecoeur has, and how we are to get at him. The General is for making the campaign in h

the lady, whose father ha

s can do. Had they not best hasten forwards and make turnpike roads and have comfortable inns ready for his Excellency at the end of the day's march?-'There's some sort of inns, I suppose,' says Mr. Danvers, 'not so comfortable as we have in England: we can't expect that.'-

her guest's arm. "Harry promised me, and when he gives his word, I can tr

me grievance against me which I do not understand, and of which I don't care to ask the reason. He spoke to me before the g

erstand. But he has the most affectionate heart in the world. Yo

ington said with great fervour. "You know I woul

o with you, dear friend!" cried the

ing-room, could see the pair as they passed to and fro, and had listened for some time past, and replied in a very distracted manner to the remarks of the gentlemen round about him, who were too much engaged with their own talk and jokes, and drinking, to pay much attention to their young host's behaviour. Mr. Braddock lo

, for his part, was charmed,

stamp of his foot, and the

ning; they are billing and cooing now before going to roost. Had we not better both go into the garden, and pay our