instance, Lord Fairfax writes to him, saying:

“If a Satterday Night’s Rest cannot be sufficient to enable your coming hither to-morrow the Lady’s will try to get Horses to equip our Chair or attempt their strength on Foot to Salute you, so desirious are they with loving Speed to have an occular Demonstration of your being the same identical Gent—that lately departed to defend his Country’s Cause.”

A very feminine postscript was attached to this which read as follows:

“Dear Sir

Dear Sir

“After thanking Heaven for your safe return, I must accuse you of great unkindness in refusing us the pleasure of seeing you this night. I do assure you nothing but our being satisfied that our company would be disagreeable, should prevent us from trying if our Legs would not carry us to Mount [Pg 32]Vernon this night, but if you will not come to us, to-morrow morning very early we shall be at Mount Vernon.

[Pg 32]

“Sally Fairfax Ann Spearing Eliz’th Dent”

“Sally Fairfax

Sally Fairfax

Ann Spearing

Ann Spearing

Eliz’th Dent”

Eliz’th Dent

Yet, in spite of the attractions of Virginia we find him journeying to Boston, on military business, by way of New York.

The hero of Braddock’s stricken field found every door open before him. He was fêted in Philadelphia, and the aristocrats of Manhattan gave dinners in honour of the strapping young soldier from the wilds of Virginia.

At the house of his friend, Beverly Robinson, he met Miss Mary Philipse, and speedily surrendered. She was a beautiful, cultured woman, twenty-five years old, who had travelled widely and had seen much of the world. He promptly proposed to her, and was refused, but with exquisite grace and tact.

Graver affairs however soon claimed his [Pg 33]attention, and he did not go back, though a 

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