The writings of George Washington; being his correspondence, addresses, messages, and other papers, official and private, selected and published from the original manuscripts; with a life of the author, notes and illustrations. By Jared Sparks.

APPENDIX.] EARLY PAPERS. 419
hills and mountains to Coddy's on Great Cacapehon about forty
miles.
" 12th. - r. Fairfax got safe home, and I to my brother's house
at Mount Vernon, which concludes my journal."
In the little volume, which contains this journal, are the rough
drafts of letters written during the same period. They are imperfect,
and of very little importance. One of them is descriptive of his adventures.
"DEAR RICHARD,
"The receipt of your kind favor of the 2d instant afforded me unspeakable pleasure, as it convinces me that I am still in the memory
of so worthy a friend, - a friendship I shall ever be proud of increasing. Yours gave me the more pleasure, as I received it among barbarians and an uncouth sethof people. Since you received my letter
of October last, I have not slept above three or four nights in a bed,
but, after walking a good deal all the day, I have lain down before the fire upon a little hay, straw, fodder, or a bearskin, whichever
was to be had, with man, wife, and children, like dogs and cats; and
happy is he, who gets the berth nearest the fire. Nothing would
make it pass off tolerably but a good reward. A doubloon is my
constant gain every day, that the weather will permit of my going
out, and sometimes six pistoles. The coldness of the weather will
not allow of my making a long stay, as the lodging is rather too cold
for the time of year. I have never had my clothes off, but have lain
and slept in them, except the few nights I have been in Frederictown."
From the tenor of two or three of the letters it would appear, that
the charms of some beauty among his acquaintances had made an
early assault upon the heart of the young hero.
"DEAR FRIEND ROBIN,
"As it is the greatest mark of friendship and esteem, which absent
friends can show each other, to write and often communicate their
thoughts, I shall endeavour from time to time, and at all times, to acquaint you with my situation and employments in life, and I could
wish you would take half the pains to send me a letter by any opportunity, as you may be well assured of its meeting with a very welcome reception.
" My place of residence at present is at his Lordship's [Lord Fairfax's], where I might, were my heart disengaged, pass my time very
pleasantly, as there is a very agreeable young lady in the same house,
Colonel George Fairfax's wife's sister. But that only adds fuel to
the fire, as being often and unavoidably in company with her revives