her brother-in-law, adding, "Mr. Bassett will inform you of the mirth and gayety that he has seen, so I hope I have no occasion to enlarge in order to induce you to try Fairfax in a pleasanter season than you did last time. "1

Another letter to the same sister, indeed all Mrs. Washington's letters seem to have been written to this most dear Nancy, is interesting and characteristic.

MT. VERNON Aug 28 1762

MY DEAR NANCY, I had the pleasure to receive your kind letter of the 25 of July just as I was setting out on a visit to Mr Washington in Westmoreland whare I spent a weak very agreabley I carred my little patt with me and left Jackey at home for a trial to see how well I coud stay without him though we ware gon but won fortnight I was quite impatiant to get home. If I at aney time heard the doggs barke or a noise out, I thought thair was a person sent for me.

I often fancied he was sick or some accident had happened to him so that I think it is impossible for me to leave him as long as Mr Washington must stay when he comes down If nothing happens I promise myself the pleasure of comeing down in the spring as it will be a healthy time of the year. I am very much obliged to you for your

1 From the original in the Dreer Collection in the Historical Society of Pennsylvania.

kind invatation and assure yourself nothing but my childrens interest should prevent me the sattisfaiton of seeing you and my good Friends I am always thinking of and wish it was possable for me to spend more of my time amongst. It gave me great sattisfaction to hear of your dear billy's recovery which I hope will be a lasting wone; you mentioned in your letter that Col More intended hear but we have seen nothing of him. We heard at Fredericksburg that he and my brother had been thaire but no higher. I should [have] been very glad to [have] seen them heare. We all injoy very good health at preasent, I think patty seems to be quite well now, Jackey is very thin but in good health, and learn thaire books very fast. I am sorry to hear you are unwell but hope your Complaint is slight. I have no news worth telling you.

We are daly expect[ing] the kind laydes of Maryland to visit us. I must begg you will not lett the fright you had given you prevent you comeing to see me again If I coud leave my children in as good Care as you can I would never let Mr W- -n come down without me Please to give my love to Miss Judy and your little babys and make my best compliments to Mr Bassett and Mrs Dawson

I am with sincere regard

dear sister

yours most affectionately

(MRS. BASSETT)

MARTHA WASHINGTON 1

1 Original in possession of Mr. Curtis Guild of Boston.

To Washington these years of peace and prosperity at Mount Vernon, with a congenial companion, who sympathized with him in his love of country pursuits, and was ready to enter with him into a round of homely duties and simple pleasures, must have been the happiest and most care-free in all his anxious and responsible career. Not that these were days of idleness to either husband or wife, for although both were well endowed with worldly goods, personal ease and self-indulgence seem never to have entered into their thoughts. Mrs. Washington was a notable and painstaking housekeeper, and at home dressed with the simplicity that suited her active and useful life. When she went abroad with her husband in Williamsburg, or drove to Annapolis or Alexandria in her chariot and four, with black postilions in the white and scarlet livery of the Washington family, she attired herself richly and in a style becoming her station. Indeed, both of those young people seem to have possessed a fine sense of the fitness of things. If Washington desired his clothes, which were ordered in London through his kinsman, Richard Washington, to be plain, without embroidery or lace, he was particular about the quality of the cloth, the manner in which these garments fitted his fine figure, and

was careful to state that the buttons should be of gold or silver.

For Mrs. Washington, her husband sent sumptuous orders to the same agent. Among the articles upon the lists written by him are "a salmon-colored tabby velvet of the enclosed pattern, with satin flowers, to be made in a sack and coat, ruffles to be made of Brussels lace or Point, proper to be worn with the above negligee, to cost £20; 2 pairs of white silk hose; 1 pair white satin shoes of the smallest fives; 1 fashionable hat or bonnet; 6 pairs woman's best kid gloves; 6 pairs mitts; 1 dozen breast-knots; 1 dozen most fashionable cambric pocket handkerchiefs; 6 pounds perfumed powder; a puckered petticoat of fashionable color; a silver tabby velvet petticoat; handsome breast flowers; sugar candy;" and as if arranged to mislead the custom-house officials of those days, the following curious entry, "a piece of lace or linen pinned to the top of a woman's stays."

For Master Custis, aged eight years, and for Miss Custis, aged six years, numerous garments and ornaments were ordered. For the former a silver-laced hat, silver knee and shoe buckles; and for his sister "a coat made of fashionable silk," and various frocks of lawn and cambric; "6 pairs of white kid gloves,

handsome egrettes of different sorts;" and alas for the health of the delicate, growing child! "one pair of pack thread stays."

With these articles of luxury and fashion, fashionable being a word in frequent use with the grave and earnest Washington, we find a proper corrective in the form of an order for "a small Bible neatly bound in Turkey, and John Parke Custis wrote in gilt letters in the inside of the cover; and a neat, small Prayer Book, bound as above, with John Parke Custis, as above," duplicates of these books being ordered for little Miss Custis.

These London orders, and others, were given with the exactness and attention to the most minute details, which were characteristic of all Washington's business affairs. His ac

count books, of which there were many, are models of accuracy and neatness; and never did Mrs. Washington get a pair of stockings or a dozen cotton handkerchiefs for her maids, or as many linen kerchiefs for herself, or a hat and feather for Miss Custis, but it was straightway set down upon its own especial page of the account book, under its own date.

Washington's letters and diaries are filled with accounts of his experiments in farming, in draining, ditching, hedging, and in fertilizing the rather poor soil of his estate, and the