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.

ET. 42.] LIFE OF WASHINGTON. 133
and sound judgment, Colonel Washington is unquestionably the greatest man on that floor." * This opinion was verified by every act of his life. His knowledge, on the subjects to which he gave his attention,
was most thorough and exact; and all the world has
agreed, that no other man has given such proofs of
the soundness of his judgment.
The business of the Congress being over, Washington
went back to the occupations of his farm. Little leisure
was left him, however, for these favorite pursuits. It
had long been a custom in Virginia to form independent companies for military discipline. These compa.
nies chose their own officers, adopted uniforms, and
provided themselves with colors, arms, and drums,
being governed by the general regulations of the militia laws. Companies of this description had recently
been encouraged by Governor Dunmore, who had an
Indian war upon his hands, and was fitting out a formidable expedition to the West.
Their martial spirit was quickened, wvhen it was
perceived that their services might be wanted in a
cause of vastly greater moment. As the first military
character in the province, Colonel Washington was
much consulted by the officers, and his counsels were
implicitly followed. He had hardly returned from the
Congress, when he was solicited by the independent
company of Prince William County to take command
of them as field-officer. Othier companies tendered him
the same honor; and it seemed to be the unanimous
expectation of the people, that, in the event of a war,
he would be placed at the head of the Virginia forces.
He yielded to the solicitations of the companies, reviewed them at the different points of rendezvous,
Life of Patrick Henry, 3d edition, p. 113.
VOL. I. L