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.

PART I.] THE FRENCH WAR. 9]
the fact on that fatal day, I should scarcely have given
credit to it even now.*
Whenever it suits you to come into Fairfax, I hope
you will make your home at Mount Vernon. I assure
you, nothing could have added more to the satisfaction
of my safe return, than hearing of the friendly concern
that has been expressed on my supposed death. I
am, &c.
TO AUGUSTINE WTASHINGTON.t
Mount Vernon, 2 August, 1755.
DEAR BROTHER,
The pleasure of your company at Mount Vernon
always did, and always will, afford me infinite satisfaction; but, at this time, I am too sensible how needful
the country is of all the assistance of its members, to
have a wish to hear that any are absent from the Assembly.
I most sincerely wish, that unanimity may prevail in
all your counsels, and that a happy issue may attend
your deliberations at this important crisis.
I am not able, were I ever so willing, to meet you in
town, for, I assure you, it is with some difficulty, and
much fatigue, that I visit my plantations; so much has
a sickness of five weeks' continuance reduced me. But
though it is not in my power to meet you there, I can
nevertheless assure you, and others "whom it may concern," (to borrow a phrase from Governor Innes,) that,
so little am I dispirited at what has happened, I am
For a further account of Braddock's defeat, in the action of the Monongahela, see APPENDIX, No. IV.
t Augustine Washington was an elder brother by the father's first marriage, and was now at Williamsburg as a member of the Assembly.