11 Custis, Recollections, p. 175. This incident adds a fair amount of incredibility to Gouverneur Morris’ claim that he knew Washington well, and so was able to declare that Washington was not a believer. Paul Boller, George Washington and Religion, p. 85, writes, “‘I know,’ Jefferson had written, in concluding his entry, ‘that Gouverneur Morris, who pretended to be in his secrets & believed himself to be so, has often told me that Genl. Washington believed no more of that system than he himself did.” Washington did write to the French later recommending the virtues of Morris to the French. See two letters written on the same date, one to Marquis de Chastellux and the other to Joseph Mandrillon, WGW, vol. 30, 11-27-1788.
12 Jackson and Twohig, ed, The Diaries of George Washington. vol. 4. The diary entry for Thursday May 26, 1785, says, “Upon my return Found Mr. Magowan, and a Doctr. Coke & a Mr. Asbury here—-the two last Methodest Preachers recommended by Genl. Roberdeau—-the same who were expected yesterday… After Dinner Mr. Coke & Mr. Asbury went away.” The note provided therein says, “Thomas Coke (1747—1814) and Francis Asbury (1745—1816) were sent to America by John Wesley as missionaries to superintend the Methodist movement in this country. Asbury came shortly before the Revolution and Coke in 1784. They were at Mount Vernon to ask GW to sign an antislavery petition which was to be presented to the Virginia legislature. Coke later wrote that GW informed them that “he was of our sentiments, and had signified his thoughts on the subject to most of the great men of the State: that he did not see it proper to sign the petition, but if the Assembly took it into consideration, would signify his sentiments to the Assembly by a letter”
13 Elmer T. Clark, ed., The Journal and Letters of Francis Asbury in 3 Volumes (Nashville: Abingdon Press 1958) vol. 1, p. 489.
14. Journals of Dr. Thomas Coke (London, G. Paramore 1793.)
15 Just about four years later on May 29, 1789, in New York, Bishops Thomas Coke and Francis Asbury wrote a letter on behalf of the Methodist-Episcopal church. Their letter of congratulations to the new president expressed “the warm feelings of [their] hearts” but also thanked Washington for his dependence upon God. George Washington Papers at the Library of Congress, 1741-1799: Series 2 Letterbooks, image 41, image 42. Coke and Asbury wrote as the Methodist Episcopal Bishops to George Washington on May 29, 1789, “We have received the most grateful satisfaction, from the humble and entire dependence on the Great Governor of the universe which you have repeatedly expressed, acknowledging him the source of every blessing, and particularly of the most excellent constitution of these states, which is at present the admiration of the world, and may in future become its great exemplar for imitation: and hence we enjoy a holy expectation that you will always prove a faithful and impartial patron of genuine, vital religion—the grand end of our creation and present probationary existence. And we promise you our fervent prayers to the throne of grace, that God Almighty may endue you with all the graces and gifts of his Holy Spirit, that may enable you to fill up your important station to his glory, the good of his church, the happiness and prosperity of the United States, and the welfare of mankind.” This letter makes it clear that Coke had not ceased praying for Washington for the gift of the “witness of the Spirit.” Washington responded on the same day with his written answer, and his words imply that he was not only pleased with their prayer but promised to reciprocate: “…I hope, by the assistance of the Divine Providence, not altogether to disappoint the confidence which you have been pleased to repose in me. It always affords me satisfaction when I find a concurrence of sentiment and practice between all conscientious men, in acknowledgments of homage to the great Governor of the universe, and in professions of support to a just civil government. After mentioning that I trust the people of every denomination who demean themselves as good citizens will have occasion to be convinced that I shall always strive to prove a faithful and impartial patron of genuine vital religion, I must assure you, in particular, that I take in the kindest part the promise you make of presenting your prayers to the throne of grace for me; and that I likewise implore the Divine benediction on yourselves and your religious community.” It seems that Coke and Washington had made a true spiritual connection after all. When Washington died in 1799, Francis Asbury wrote in his journal, “Washington, the calm, intrepid chief, the disinterested friend, first father, and temporal saviour of his country, under divine protection and direction.. . . the expressions of sorrow. . . the marks of respect paid by his fellow-citizens to this great man. I am disposed to lose sight of all but Washington. Matchless man! At all times he acknowledged the providence of God, and never was he ashamed of his Redeemer. We believe he died not fearing death. . . .”
16 Paul M. Zall, Washington on Washington (Lexington: University Press of Kentucky, 2003), p. 12.
17 WGW, vol. 3 6-16-1775.
18 Honor was so important to Washington that he chose not to receive any pay for his services to our country during the war. After the war, he reminded his fellow Virginian, Patrick Henry, of his continuing commitment to this practice in a letter in 1785: “When I was first called to the station, with which I was honored during the late conflict for our liberties . . . I thought it my duty to . . . shut my hand against every pecuniary recompense. To this resolution I have invariably adhered, and from it, if I had the inclination, I do not feel at liberty now to depart.” WGW, vol. 28, 10-29-1785. Instead of pecuniary compensation, Washington sought the approval of his country through his humble service: “The approbation of my country is what I wish; and, as far as my abilities and opportunities will permit, I hope I shall endeavor to deserve it. It is the highest reward to a feeing mind; and happy are they, who so conduct themselves as to merit it.” WGW, vol. 11, 3-28-1778.
19 WGW, vol. 2, 7-20-1758 states, “A granddaughter of Mrs. Washington is authority for the statement that Martha Washington, shortly before her death, destroyed the letters that passed between George Washington and herself.” Washington refers to Providence in the only two known letters from Washington to his wife Martha that have survived. Emphasis is added to the relevant lines. The first letter is WGW, vol. 3, 6-18-1775. Washington wrote, “My Dearest: I am now set down to write to you on a subject, which fills me with inexpressible concern, and this concern is greatly aggravated and increased, when I reflect upon the uneasiness I know it will give you. It has been determined in Congress, that the whole army raised for the defence of the American cause shall be put under my care, and that it is necessary for me to proceed immediately to Boston to take upon me the command of it. You may believe me, my dear Patsy, when I assure you, in the most solemn manner that, so far from seeking this appointment, I have used every endeavor in my power to avoid it, not only from my unwillingness to part with you and the family, but from a consciousness of its being a trust too great for my capacity, and that I should enjoy more real happiness in one month with you at home, than I have the most distant prospect of finding abroad, if my stay were to be seven times seven years. But as it has been a kind of destiny, that has thrown me upon this service, I shall hope that my undertaking it is designed to answer some good purpose. You might, and I suppose did perceive, from the tenor of my letters, that I was apprehensive I could not avoid this appointment, as I did not pretend to intimate when I should return. That was the case. It was utterly out of my power to refuse this appointment, without exposing my character to such censures, as would have reflected dishonor upon myself, and given pain to my friends. This, I am sure, could not, and ought not, to be pleasing to you, and must have lessened me considerably in my own esteem. I shall rely, therefore, confidently on that Providence, which has heretofore preserved and been bountiful to me, not doubting but that I shall return safe to you in the fall. I shall feel no pain from the toil or the danger of the campaign; my unhappiness will flow from the uneasiness I know you will feel from being left alone. I therefore beg, that you will summon your whole fortitude, and pass your time as agreeably as possible. Nothing will give me so much sincere satisfaction as to hear this, and to hear it from your own pen. My earnest and ardent desire is, that you would pursue any plan that is most likely to produce content, and a tolerable degree of tranquility; as it must add greatly to my uneasy feelings to hear, that you are dissatisfied or complaining at what I really could not avoid. As life is always uncertain, and common prudence dictates to every man the necessity of settling his temporal concerns, while it is in his power, and while the mind is calm and undisturbed, I have, since I came to this place (for I had not time to do it before I left home) got Colonel Pendleton to draft a will for me, by the directions I gave him, which will I now enclose. The provision made for you in case of my death will, I hope, be agreeable. I shall add nothing more, as I have several letters to write, but to desire that you will remember me to your friends, and to assure you that I am, with the most unfeigned regard, my dear Patsy, your affectionate, &c.” The second letter is WGW, vol. 2, 7-20-1758. Washington wrote to Martha, “We have begun our march for the Ohio. A courier is starting for Williamsburg, and I embrace the opportunity to send a few words to one whose life is now inseparable from mine. Since that happy hour when we made our pledges to each other, my thoughts have been continually going to you as another Self. That an all-powerful Providence may keep us both in safety is the prayer of your ever faithful and affectionate friend.”
20 WGW, vol. 6. 12-20-1776.
21 Ibid., vol. 3, 6-20-1775.
22 Zall, Washington on Washington, p. 10.
23 Ibid., p. 10.
24 Ibid., p. 16, James Hutton, ed., Letters and Correspondence of Sir James Bland Burges (London: John Murray, 1855).
25 WGW, vol. 37 1-27-1799.
26 Ibid., vol. 26, 1-15-1783.
27 Ibid., vol. 2, 4-5-1758.
28 Sparks, Writings of George Washington, vol. 12, p. 405-408.
29 WGW, vol. 17, 12-15-1779.
30 Ibid., vol. 37, 1-15-1799.
31 Ibid., vol. 36, 12-21-97. In his “Speech to the Delaware Chiefs, Washington said, “Brothers: I am a Warrior. My words are few and plain; but I will make good what I say.” WGW, vol. 15, 5-12-1779. Writing to Richard Henry Lee, however, Washington was forced to explain his words: “Dear Sir: By your favor of the 22d ultimo, I perceive my letter of the 17th has been expressed in too strong terms. I did not mean by the words, “to get rid of importunity,” to cast the smallest reflection; indeed the hurry with which I am obliged to write the few private letters I attempt, will not allow me to consider the force and tendency of my words; nor should I have been surprised, if the fact had really been so, if I am to judge of their, I mean foreigners’ applications to Congress, by those to myself; for it is not one, nor twenty explanations, that will satisfy the cravings of these people’s demands.” WGW, vol. 8, 6-1-1777. But Washington’s deeds were sometimes misunderstood as well: “Conscious that it is the aim of my actions to promote the public good, and that no part of my conduct is influenced by personal enmity to individuals, I cannot be insensible to the artifices employed by some men to prejudice me in the public esteem.” WGW, vol. 1, 4-14-1779.
32 Grizzard, George Washington: A Biographical Companion, p. 51.
33 On the western frontier, somewhere in the wilderness of Pennsylvania, Colonel George Washington, barely in his twenties, led an expedition on behalf of the British Governor of Virginia to counter the claims of the French. The Indians were on both sides of this conflict between Britain and France, concerning the possession and control of North America. He and his men, including several Indians, came across a hidden French military encampment. They opened fire killing and captured several French soldiers. To Washington, they were intruders and spies. The French, however, claimed they were a diplomatic military escort simply protecting an unarmed French ambassador who was one of the killed. This was the incident that triggered the French and Indian War. Without this shot by Washington, “the shot heard round the world” at the “rude bridge” of Lexington and Concord may not have been fired. The French retaliated with a larger force and forced Washington and his men to surrender, after a battle at Washington’s hastily built Fort Necessity. As part of the terms of surrender Washington, who did not read French at all with the assistance of his translator who did not read French well enough, signed a French document in which he unwittingly confessed to having “assassinated” the ambassador! This agreement of capitulation was later called “the most infamous a British Subject ever put his Hand to.” The French never forgave the British for this “outrage.” Willard Sterne Randall, George Washington: A Life (New York: Henry Holt and Co., 1997), p. 103ff.
34 Ibid., p. 107.
35 WGW, vol. 1, 5-31-1754 Washington wrote to John Augustine Washington, “ Since my last arrived at this place, where three days ago we had an engagement with the French, that is, a party of our men with one of theirs. Most of our men were out upon other detachments, so that I had scarcely 40 men remaining under my command, and about 10 or 12 Indians; nevertheless we obtained a most signal victory. The battle lasted about 10 or 15 minutes, with sharp firing on both sides, till the French gave ground and ran, but to no great purpose. There were 12 killed of the French, among whom was Mons. de Jumonville, their commander, and 21 taken prisoners, among whom are Mess. La Force and Drouillon, together with two cadets. I have sent them to his honour the Governor, at Winchester, under a guard of 20 men, conducted by Lieutenant West. We had but one man killed, and two or three wounded. Among the wounded on our side was Lieutenant Waggener, but no danger, it is hoped, will ensue. We expect every hour to be attacked by superior force, but, if they forbear one day longer, we shall be prepared for them. We have already got entrenchments, are about a pallisado which I hope will be finished to-day. The Mingoes have struck the French and I hope will give a good blow before they have done. I expect 40 odd of them here tonight, which, with out fort and some reinforcements from Col. Fry, will enable us to exert our noble courage with spirit. P.S. I fortunately escaped without any wound, for the right wing, where I stood, was exposed to and received all the enemy’s fire, and it was the part where the man was killed, and the rest wounded. I heard the bullets whistle, and, believe me, there is something charming in the sound. WGW Note: “From the London Magazine (August, 1754). Horace Walpole’s Memoirs of George the Second relates that the King, on hearing that Washington described the sound of whistling bullets as ‘charming,’ said: ‘He would not say so, if he had been used to hear many.’”
36 Zall, Washington on Washington, p. 11.
37 The spurious letters were in essence forged letters intended to weaken Washington by damaging his character. WGW, vol. 5, 6-12-1776. Note: “The first of the “Spurious Letters.” They were published in London in 1776 by J. Bew in a small pamphlet under the title of “Letters from General Washington, to several of his Friends in the year 1776,” etc. Handbills of one of the letters therefrom to Mrs. Washington were struck off by Rivington, in New York, as soon as the pamphlet reached America. A photostat copy of one of these bills is in the Library of Congress (Manuscripts Division). A complete reprint of the London pamphlet was also issued in America in 1778, and Hildeburn claims it as a Philadelphia imprint. The letters were plainly political propaganda put out by the London publisher, as much, it seems, for profit as for mischief-making, though the influences behind the move have not been traced. In America the reprint was made in the hope of creating discord between the New England and Southern Colonies. Washington attributed them to John Randolph, the last royalist attorney general of Virginia. The English magazines of 1776 expressed doubt of the authenticity of the letters and their hoped-for effect fell flat. In 1796 these letters were printed again, in New York, under the title “Epistles, Domestic, Confidential and Glacial from General Washington,” to injure Washington’s political standing, and he then took the trouble to refute their authenticity in a letter to Timothy Pickering, pointing out their discrepancies at some length. (See Mar. 3, 1797, post.)”
38 WGW, vol. 21, 3-26-1781.
39 Ibid., vol. 27, 3-25-1784.
40 Ibid., vol. 32, 5-20-1792. Madison’s notes of these conversations, May 5 and 9, are in the Madison Papers in the Library of Congress. They are printed in Victor Hugo Paltsits’s, Washington’s Farewell Address (New York Public Library: 1935).
41 David Humphreys, Life of General Washington with George Washington’s “Remarks” (London: The University of George Press, 1991).
42 WGW, vol. 28, 7-25-1785.
43 WGW, vol. 28, 8-18-1786.
44 Zall, Washington on Washington, p. 13.
45 Ibid., p. 13.
46 Jackson and Twohig, ed, The Diaries of George Washington, Volume 5, November, Sunday 8th, 1789. “It being contrary to Law & disagreeable to the People of this State (Connecticut) to travel on the Sabbath day and my horses after passing through such intolerable Roads wanting rest, I stayed at Perkins’s Tavern (which by the bye is not a good one) all day—-and a meeting House being with in a few rod of the Door, I attended Morning & evening Service, and heard very lame discourses from a Mr. Pond.
1 GW correctly interpreted New England attitudes toward travel on the Sabbath. The Pennsylvania Packet, 3 Nov. 1789, noted with approval that Tristram Dalton and John Adams, on their way to Boston, broke their journey at Springfield in order not to travel on Sunday. “How pleasing the idea, that the most venerable and respectable characters of our Federal Legislature, pay such strict attention to the Sabbath.” See also Mass. Centinel, 24 Oct. 1789.
47 Jackson and Twohig, ed, The Diaries of George Washington, Friday Feb. 15th, 1760. “Went to a Ball at Alexandria—where Musick and Dancing was the chief Entertainment. However in a convenient Room detachd for the purpose abounded great plenty of Bread and Butter, some Biscuets with Tea, & Coffee which the Drinkers of coud not Distinguish from Hot water sweetned. Be it remembered that pocket handkerchiefs servd the purposes of Table Cloths & Napkins and that no Apologies were made for either. I shall therefore distinguish this Ball by the Stile & title of the Bread & Butter Ball.” Editors add additional note: “The Proprietors of this Ball were Messrs. Carlyle Laurie & Robt. Wilson, but the Doctr. not getting it conducted agreeable to his own taste woud claim no share of the merit of it. A man named Robert Wilson voted for GW in the 1758 Frederick County election for the House of Burgesses. GW apparently played cards at the ball, because on the following day he recorded the loss of 7s. ‘By Cards’”
48 Zall, Washington on Washington, pp. 13-14.
49 WGW, vol. 1, 7-18-1755.
50 Washington humorously criticizes a family member for missing church due to having a baby by using Christian language. WGW, vol. 37, 8-28-1762. Writing to Burwell Bassett on August 28, 1762, Washington writes with tongue in cheek, “ Dear Sir: I was favoured with your Epistle wrote on a certain 25th of July when you ought to have been at Church, praying as becomes every good Christian Man who has as much to answer for as you have; strange it is that you will be so blind to truth that the enlightning sounds of the Gospel cannot reach your Ear, nor no Examples awaken you to a sense of Goodness; could you but behold with what religious zeal I hye me to Church on every Lords day, it would do your heart good, and fill it I hope with equal fervency; but heark’ee; I am told you have lately introduced into your Family, a certain production which you are lost in admiration of, and spend so much time in contemplating the just proportion of its parts, the ease, and conveniences with which it abounds, that it is thought you will have little time to animadvert upon the prospect of your crops &c; pray how will this be reconciled to that anxious care and vigilance, which is so escencially necessary at a time when our growing Property, meaning the Tobacco, is assailed by every villainous worm that has had an existence since the days of Noah (how unkind it was of Noah now I have mentioned his name to suffer such a brood of vermin to get a birth in the Ark) but perhaps you may be as well of as we are; that is, have no Tobacco for them to eat and there I think we nicked the Dogs, as I think to do you if you expect any more; but not without a full assurance of being with a very sincere regard etc.”
Washington humorously writes a thank you note for a poem written in his honor by taking on the role of a spiritual confessor. WGW, vol. 27, 9-2-1783. Washington laughingly writes to Mrs. Annis Boucinot Stockton, “You apply to me, My dear Madam, for absolution as tho’ I was your father Confessor; and as tho’ you had committed a crime, great in itself, yet of the venial class You have reason good, for I find myself strangely disposed to be a very indulgent ghostly Adviser on this occasion; and, notwithstanding “you are the most offending Soul alive” (that is, if it is a crime to write elegant Poetry) yet if you will come and dine with me on Thursday and go through the proper course of penitence, which shall be prescribed, I will strive hard to assist you in expiating these poetical trespasses on this side of purgatory. Nay more, if it rests with me to direct your future lucubrations, I shall certainly urge you to a repetition of the same conduct, on purpose to shew what an admirable knack you have at confession and reformation; and so, without more hesitation, I shall venture to command the Muse not to be restrained by ill-grounded timidity, but to go on and prosper.
“You see Madam, when once the Woman has tempted us and we have tasted the forbidden fruit, there is no such thing as checking our appetites, whatever the consequences may be. You will I dare say, recognize our being the genuine Descendents of those who are reputed to be our great Progenitors.
“Before I come to the more serious Conclusion of my Letter, I must beg leave to say a word or two about these Fine things you have been telling in such harmonious and beautiful Numbers. Fiction is to be sure the very life and Soul of Poetry. All Poets and Poetesses have been indulged in the free and indisputable use of it, time out of Mind. And to oblige you to make such an excellent Poem, on such a subject, without any Materials but those of simple reality, would be as cruel as the Edict of Pharaoh which compelled the Children of Israel to Manufacture Bricks without the necessary Ingredients. Thus are you sheltered under the authority of prescription, and I will not dare to charge you with an intentional breach of the Rules of the decalogue in giving so bright a colouring to the services I have been enabled to render my Country; though I am not conscious of deserving any thing more at your hands, than what the purest and most disinterested friendship has a right to claim; actuated by which, you will permit me, to thank you in the most affectionate manner for the kind wishes you have so happily expressed for me and the partner of all my Domestic enjoyments.”
51 Washington humorously describes the very different world of a retired president laboring as a farmer than that of a busy Secretary of War. WGW, vol. 35, to the Secretary of War on May 29, 1797 “Dear Sir: I am indebted to you for several unacknowledged letters; but ne’er mind that; go on as if you had them. You are at the source of information, and can find many things to relate; while I have nothing to say, that could either inform or amuse a Secretary of War in Philadelphia.
“I might tell him that I begin my diurnal course with the Sun; that if my hirelings are not in their places at that time I send them messages expressive of my sorrow for their indisposition; then having put these wheels in motion, I examine the state of things further; and the more they are probed, the deeper I find the wounds are which my buildings have sustained by an absence and neglect of eight years; by the time I have accomplished these matters, breakfast (a little after seven Oclock, about the time I presume you are taking leave of Mrs. McHenry) is ready. This over, I mount my horse and ride round my farms, which employs me until it is time to dress for dinner; at which I rarely miss seeing strange faces; come, as they say, out of respect to me. Pray, would not the word curiosity answer as well? and how different this, from having a few social friends at a cheerful board? The usual time of sitting at Table; a walk, and Tea, brings me within the dawn of Candlelight; previous to which, if not prevented by company, I resolve, that, as soon as the glimmering taper, supplies the place of the great luminary, I will retire to my writing Table and acknowledge the letters I have received; but when the lights are brought, I feel tired, and disinclined to engage in this work, conceiving that the next night will do as well: the next comes and with it the same causes for postponement, and effect, and so on.
“This will account for your letter remaining so long unacknowledged; and having given you the history of a day, it will serve for a year; and I am persuaded you will not require a second edition of it: but it may strike you, that in this detail no mention is made of any portion of time allotted for reading; the remark would be just, for I have not looked into a book since I came home, nor shall I be able to do it until I have discharged my Workmen; probably not before the nights grow longer; when possibly, I may be looking in doomsday book. On the score of the plated ware in your possession I will say something in a future letter. At present I shall only add, that I am always and affectionately yours.”
52 Zall, Washington on Washington, pp. 12.
53 Saul K. Padover, ed. The Washington Papers (Harper Brothers, 1955), p. 3.
54 WGW, vol. 26, 4-18-1783.
