and grateful to my feelings was refused, as inconsistent with a principle which I had adopted, and I had never departed from, viz., not to receive pecuniary compensation for any services I could render my country in its arduous struggle with Great Britain for its rights, and because I had evaded similar propositions from other States in the Union; adding to the refusal, however, an intimation, that, if it should be the pleas ure of the legislature to permit me to appropriate the said shares to public uses, I would receive them on those terms, with due sensibility; and this it having consented to, in flattering terms, as will appear by a subsequent law, and sundry resolutions, in the most ample and honorable manner;-I proceed after this recital, for the more correct understanding of the case, to declare that, as it has always been a source of serious regret with me, to see the youth of these United States sent to foreign countries for the purpose of education, often before their minds were formed, or they had imbibed any adequate ideas of the happiness of their own; contracting too frequently, not only habits of dissipation and extravagance, but principles unfriendly to Republican Government, and to the true and genuine liberties of mankind, which thereafter are rarely overcome; for these reasons it has been ardent wish to see a plan devised on a liberal scale, which would have a tendency to spread systematic ideas through all parts of this rising empire, thereby to do away local attachments and State prejudices, as far as the nature of things would, or indeed ought to admit, from our national councils. Looking anxiously forward to the accomplishment of so desirable an object as this is (in my estimation,) my mind has not been able to contemplate any plan more likely to effect the measures, than the

my

establishment of a UNIVERSITY in a central part of the United States, to which the youths of fortune and talents from all parts thereof may be sent for the completion of their education, in all the branches of polite literature, and in arts and sciences, in acquiring knowledge in the principles of politics and good government, and, as a matter of infinite importance, in my judgment, by associating with each other, and forming friendships in juvenile years, be enabled to free themselves in a proper degree from those local prejudices and habitual jealousies which have just been mentioned and which, when carried to excess, are never-failing sources of disquietude to the public mind, and pregnant of mischievous consequences, to this country. Under these impressions, so fully dilated.

"Item.-I give and bequeath, in perpetuity, the fifty shares which I hold in the Potomac Company, (under the aforesaid acts of the Legislature of Virginia,) towards the endowment of a University, to be established within the limits of the District of Columbia, under the auspices of the general government, if that government should incline to extend a fostering hand towards it; and, until such Seminary is established, and funds arising for these shares shall be required for its support, my further will and desire is, that the profit accruing therefrom shall, whenever the dividends are made, be laid out in purchasing stock in the Bank of Columbia, or some other bank, at the discretion of my executors, or by the Treasurer of the United States for the time being, under the direction of Congress, provided that honorable body should patronize the measure; and the dividends proceeding from the purchase of such stock, are to be vested in more stock, and so on, until a sum adequate to the accomplishment of the object is attained;

of which I have not the smallest doubt before many years pass away, even if no aid or encouragement is given by the legislative authority, or from any other source.

"Item.-The hundred shares which I hold in the James River Company, I have given and now confirm in perpetuity, to and for the use and benefit of Liberty Hall Academy, in the county of Rockbridge, in the Commonwealth of Virginia."

The Liberty Hall Academy thus so liberally endowed by Washington, is now a flourishing Seminary of learning in Lexington, Virginia, with the corporate title of Washington College.

Martha Washington, the wife of the testator, was appointed by this will, executrix, and his nephews, William Augustine Washington, Richard Washington, George Stephen Washington, and Lawrence Lewis, and his ward, George Washington Park Custis, ("when he shall have arrived at the age of twenty years,") were appointed executors of the Will, "in the construction of which," he said, "it will be perceived, that no professional character has been consulted, or has had any agency in the draft;" and he expressed a hope that no disputes would arise concerning it. If there should, he continued, "my will and direction expressly is, that all disputes shall be decided by three impartial and intelligent men, known for their probity and good understanding; two to be chosen by the disputants, each having the choice of one, and the third by those two; which three men, thus chosen, shall, unfettered by law or legal construction, declare their sense of the testator's intention; and such decision is, to all intents and purposes, to be as binding on the parties as if it had been given in the Supreme Court of the United States."

MRS. WASHINGTON'S WILL.

* "Tis well," said Mrs. Washington when told that her hus band was dead. "All is now over; I shall soon follow him; I have no more trials to pass through." She survived her husband only two years and a half. So impressed was she that her death would soon follow his, that nine months afterwards, she had her last Will and Testament drawn up, as follows:

In the name of GOD, Amen.

"I MARTHA WASHINGTON, of Mount Vernon, in the county of Fairfax, being of sound mind and capable of disposing of my worldly estate, do make, ordain, and declare this to be my last Will and Testament, hereby revoking all other Wills and Testaments by me heretofore made.

Imprimis.-It is my desire that all my just debts may be punctually paid, and that as speedily as the same can be done.

Item.-I give and devise to my nephew, Bartholomew Dandridge, and his heirs, my lot in the town of Alexandria, situate on Pitt and Cameron streets devised to me by my late husband, George Washington, deceased.

Item.-I give and bequeath to my four nieces, Martha W. Dandridge, Mary Dandridge, Frances Lucy Dandridge, and Frances Henley, the debt of two thousand pounds due from Lawrence Lewis and secured by his bond, to be equally divided between them or such of them as shall be alive at my death, and to be paid to them respectively on the days of their respective marriage or arrival at the age of twenty-one years, whichsoever shall first happen, together with all the interest on said debt remaining unpaid at the time of my death; and in case

the whole, or any part of said principal sum of two thousand pounds shall be paid to me during my life, then it is my will that so much money be raised out of my estate as shall be equal to what I shall have received of the said principal debt, and distributed among my four nieces aforesaid as herein has been bequeathed; and it is my meaning that the interest accruing after my death, on the said sum of two thousand pounds shall belong to my said nieces, and be equally divided between them, or such of them as shall be alive at the time of my death, and be paid annually for their respective uses, until they receive their shares of the principal.

"Item.--I give and bequeath to my grandson, George Washington Parke Custis, all the silver plate of every kind of which I shall die possessed, together with the two large plated coolers, the four small plated coolers, with bottle castors, and a pipe of wine, if there be one in the house at the time of my death also the sett of Cincinnati tea and table China, the bowl that has a — in it, the fine old China jars which usually stand on the chimney-piece in the new room; also, all the family pictures of every sort and the pictures painted by his sister, and two small screens, worked one by his sister, and the other a present from Kitty Brown; also his choice of prints; also, the two girandoles and lustres that stand on them; also, the new bedstead which I caused to be made in Philadelphia, together with the bed, mattresses, bolsters, and pillows, and the white dimity curtains belonging thereto; also, two other beds with bolsters and pillows, and the white dimity window curtains in the new room; also, the iron chest and the desk in my closet which belonged to my first husband; also, all my books of every kind except the larg Bible and Prayer-book; also, the set of tea china