The True George Washington | Page 7

was four years
his junior, Washington described as "the intimate companion of my
youth and the friend of my ripened age." While the Virginia colonel
was on the frontier, from 1754 to 1759, he left John in charge of all his
business affairs, giving him a residence at and management of Mount
Vernon. With this brother he constantly corresponded, addressing him
as "Dear Jack," and writing in the most intimate and affectionate terms,
not merely to him, but when John had taken unto himself a wife, to her,
and to "the little ones," and signing himself "your loving brother."
Visits between the two were frequent, and invitations for the same still
more so, and in one letter, written during the most trying moment of the
Revolution, Washington said, "God grant you all health and happiness.
Nothing in this world could contribute so to mine as to be fixed among
you." John died in 1787, and Washington wrote with simple but
undisguised grief of the death of "my beloved brother."
The eldest son of this brother, Bushrod, was his favorite nephew, and

Washington took much interest in his career, getting the lad admitted to
study law with Judge James Wilson, in Philadelphia, and taking
genuine pride in him when he became a lawyer and judge of repute. He
made this nephew his travelling companion in the Western journey of
1784, and at other times not merely sent him money, but wrote him
letters of advice, dwelling on the dangers that beset young men, though
confessing that he was himself "not such a Stoic" as to expect too much
of youthful blood. To Bushrod, also, he appealed on legal matters,
adding, "You may think me an unprofitable applicant in asking
opinions and requiring services of you without dousing my money, but
pay day may come," and in this he was as good as his word, for in his
will Washington left Bushrod, "partly in consideration of an intimation
to his deceased father, while we were bachelors and he had kindly
undertaken to superintend my Estates, during my military services in
the former war between Great Britain and France, that if I should fall
therein, Mt. Vernon ... should become his property," the home and
"mansion-house farm," one share of the residuary estate, his private
papers, and his library, and named him an executor of the instrument.
Of Washington's relations with his youngest brother, Charles, little can
be learned. He was the last of his brothers to die, and Washington
outlived him so short a time that he was named in his will, though only
for a mere token of remembrance. "I add nothing to it because of the
ample provision I have made for his issue." Of the children so
mentioned, Washington was particularly fond of George Augustine
Washington. As a mere lad he used his influence to procure for him an
ensigncy in a Virginia regiment, and an appointment on Lafayette's
staff. When in 1784 the young fellow was threatened with consumption,
his uncle's purse supplied him with the funds by which he was enabled
to travel, even while Washington wrote, "Poor fellow! his pursuit after
health is, I fear, altogether fruitless." When better health came, and
with it a renewal of a troth with a niece of Mrs. Washington's, the
marriage was made possible by Washington appointing the young
fellow his manager, and not merely did it take place at Mount Vernon,
but the young couple took up their home there. More than this, that
their outlook might be "more stable and pleasing," Washington
promised them that on his death they should not be forgotten. When the
disease again developed, Washington wrote his nephew in genuine

anxiety, and ended his letter, "At all times and under all circumstances
you and yours will possess my affectionate regards." Only a few days
later the news of his nephew's death reached him, and he wrote his
widow, "To you who so well know the affectionate regard I had for our
departed friend, it is unnecessary to describe the sorrow with which I
was afflicted at the news of his death." He asked her and her children
"to return to your old habitation at Mount Vernon. You can go to no
place where you can be more welcome, nor to any where you can live
at less expence and trouble," an offer, he adds, "made to you with my
whole heart." Furthermore, Washington served as executor, assumed
the expense of educating one of the sons, and in his will left the two
children part of the Mount Vernon estate, as well as other bequests, "on
account of the affection I had for, and the obligation I was under to
their father when living, who from his youth attached himself to my
person, and followed my fortunes