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. 421
convenience of a small mill, which he has on the water-side, that
will not grind above three months in the twelve, and on account of
the great inconvenience and prejudice it will be to us, I hope it will
not be granted. Besides, I do not see where he can possibly have a
landing-place on his side, that will ever be sufficient for a lawful
landing, by reason of the steepness of the banks. I think we suffer
enough from the free ferry, without being troubled with such an unjust and iniquitous petition as that; but I hope, as it is only a flying
report, that he will consider better of it, and drop his pretensions.
"I shall be glad, if it is not too much trouble, to hear from you.
In the mean time I remain, with my love to my sister, dear Sir, your
affectionate brother."
George was so much indebted on many accounts to his brother
Lawrence, that it is proper in this place to bestow upon this brother
the tribute of a passing notice. The father, whose name was Augustine Washington, was twice married, first to Jane Butler, and
afterwards to Mary Ball. The fruit of the first marriage was three
sons and a daughter; and, of the second, four sons and two daughters.
The eldest son by the first marriage was called Butler, who died
young. La" rence was the second son, and was born about the year
1718. George was the eldest son by the second marriage. Dr. Burnaby, in the appendix to the third edition of his Travels in America,
says that Lawrence was educated in England. However this may
be, it is evident from several of his manuscript letters, which I have
seen, that he was a gentleman of a good education and of highly respectable parts. He joined the army, and received a captain's commission, dated June 9th, 1740. He was assigned to a company in a
regiment to be raised in America, under the command of Colonel
Alexander Spotswood, designed for the West India service, and to
act in the Spanish war. The regiment was transported to Jamaica
early in 1741, where it was united with the British forces in time to
take a part in the unsuccessful siege of Carthagena, conducted by
Admiral Vernon and General Wentworth, in March of that year.
After the failure of the expedition the fleet sailed back to Jamaica,
where the land forces were stationed, except during a few months in
the summer season, when for reasons not known they were taken to
Cuba. Captain Washington returned to Virginia near the close of
the year 1742, having been absent about two years.
At this time he had an intention of joining his regiment in England, with the view of seeking promotion in the army, where he had
good hopes of success under the friendly auspices of General Wentworth. But as he soon afterwards married Anne Fairfax, daughter
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