The great porcelain punch-bowl delineated in the engraving, has a deep blue border at the rim, spangled with gilt stars and dots. It was made expressly for Washington, but when, where, and by whom is not known. In the bottom is a picture of a frigate, and on the side are the initials G. W., in gold, upon a shield with ornamental sur

roundings. It is supposed to have been presented to Washington by the French naval officers. If so, it was doubtless manufactured and sent over at the time when the Cincinnati china was forwarded.

There are two massive silver candlesticks, with extinguishers and snuffers of the same metal, at Arlington House, that once belonged to Washington. These formed a

WASHINGTON'S SILVER CANDLESTICK.

part of his furniture after his retirement from the army, in

1783, and are a portion of his plate not remodelled afterward in New York.

How many interesting associations are made to cluster around these simple utensils of domestic use, at the sugges tions of fancy and conjecture! Perhaps almost every distinguished European-Lafayette, Rochambeau, Chastellux, Houdon, Pine, Moustier, Brissot, D'Yrujo, Graham-as well as equally distinguished Americans who have spent a night at Mount Vernon-bore one of them to the bedchamber.

Perhaps they were used by Washington himself at his writing-table or by the fireside, or to light the conjugal chamber. And it is quite possible that the master bore one of them on the occasion mentioned in the following paragraph from the pen of Elkanah Watson, when describing his visit at Mount Vernon:

"The first evening. I spent under the wing of Washington's hospitality, we sat a full hour at table by ourselves, without the least interruption. After the family had retired, I was extremely oppressed by a severe cold and excessive coughing, contracted by the exposure of a harsh winter journey. He pressed me to use some remedies, but I declined doing so. As usual after retiring, my coughing increased. When some time had elapsed, the door of my room was gently opened, and on drawing my bed-curtains, to my utter astonishment I beheld Washington himself standing at my bedside, with a bowl of hot tea in his hand. I was mortified and distressed beyond expression. This little incident occurring in common life with an ordinary man, would not have been noticed; but as a trait of the benevolence and private virtue of Washington, deserves to be recorded."

While residing in Philadelphia, Washington became acquainted with the merits of William Winstanley, an English

man, and landscape painter, who came to America in 1796.

He was spoken of as "an artist of genius and reputation, whose landscapes in oil are greatly admired by the connoisseurs." Washington, pleased with some specimens of his skill which were brought to his notice, gave him a commission to paint six medium-sized pictures, representing scenery on the Hudson River. These were afterward taken to Mount Vernon, and adorned the walls of the drawing-room there. Two of these, called respectively Morning and Evening, are now at Arlington House. Two others are in the family of the late Mrs. Lewis (Nelly Custis); of the remaining two we have no intelligence.

Washington was again awakened from his sweet dream of peace and quietness in his home on the Potomac, by the call of his country to lend to it once more his voice and his arm. There were signs of war in the political firmament. France, once the ally of the United States, assumed the attitude of an enemy. The king and queen of that unhappy country had been murdered at the command of a popular tribunal. Out of the anarchy that ensued, had been evolved a government, in which supreme power was vested in five men called a Directory, who ruled in connection with two chambers the Council of Ancients and the Council of Five Hundred. It was installed at the Little Luxembourg, at Paris, on the 1st of November, 1795, and held the executive power four years.

That Directory was a most despotic tyrant, and ruled with an iron hand. Its pride disgusted the nations, and every true friend of man rejoiced when it quailed before the genius and the bayonets of Napoleon.

Before Washington had left the chair of state, the friendly

feeling between the United States and France had become greatly weakened. The French Directory assumed a tone of incomparable insolence, and the American representatives in Paris were insulted. Three judicious men had been sent to adjust all difficulties with the French government. They were refused an audience with the Directory unless they would agree to pay a large sum into the French treasury. "Millions for defence, but not one cent for tribute!" said Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, one of the American envoys; and he and John Marshall, another of the envoys, were ordered out of the country. This insult the United States did not choose to allow to pass unheeded, and all diplomatic intercourse between the two governments was suspended. Preparations were made for war; and in May, 1798, Congress authorized the formation. of a large military force, to be called a Provisional Army. The movement was popular with the people, and with anxious hearts their thoughts turned instinctively to Washington as the man for the commander-in-chief.

There appeared to be a universal opinion that the weight of Washington's name and character would be necessary in order to produce unanimity among the military leaders that would be brought upon the stage, and to secure the confidence and support of the people.

Washington, though in absolute retirement, had watched the progress of affairs in France with sorrow and indignation, and had expressed his mind freely to his friends upon the subject. President Adams, in the perplexities which the progress of events produced, turned to him for advice, and looked to him for aid. "I must tax you," he said, "sometimes for advice. We must have your name, if you will in any case