who had married her niece, and who was left in charge of domestic affairs at Mount Vernon when her husband assumed the presidency, she wrote from New York, saying:

"Mrs. Sims will give you a better account of the fashions than I can. I live a very dull life here, and know nothing that passes in the town. I never go to any public placeindeed I think I am more like a state prisoner than any thing else. There are certain bounds set for me which I must not depart from; and, as I cannot do as I like, I am obstinate and stay at home a great deal."

At that time the etiquette of the President's household was not fully determined on. In his diary, on the 15th of November, Washington wrote: "Received an invitation to attend the funeral of Mrs. Roosevelt (the wife of a senator of this state [New York], but declined complying with it—first, because the propriety of accepting any invitation of this sort appeared very questionable—and secondly (though to do it in this instance might not be improper), because it might be difficult to discriminate in cases which might thereafter happen."

The establishment of precedents and the arrangements of etiquette were of more importance than might at first thought appear. The plan of having certain days and hours when the President would receive calls, was a measure of absolute necessity, in order that the chief magistrate might have the control of his time; and yet it offended many who were of the extremely democratic school.

The precedents of monarchy might not be followed in a simple republic, and yet a certain dignity was to be preserved. The arrangement of official ceremonies, connected with the

President personally, was finally left chiefly to Colonel Humphreys, who had been abroad, and was a judicious observer of the phases of society under every aspect. The customs which were established during Washington's administration concerning the levees-the President not returning private visits, et cetera―have ever since prevailed; and the chief magistrate of the republic is never seen in the position of a private citizen.

In the letter just quoted, Mrs. Washington wrote: "Dear Fanny, I have, by Mrs. Sims, sent you a watch. It is one of the cargo that I have so long mentioned to you that was expected. I hope it is such a one as will please you. It is of the newest fashion, if that has any influence on your taste. The chain is Mr. Lear's choosing, and such as Mrs. Adams, the Vice-President's lady, and those in polite circles use. It will last as long as the fashion, and by that time you can get another of a fashionable kind."

The watch mentioned in this letter was a flat gold one, manufactured by Lepine, "watchmaker to the king." Washington purchased one for his own use at the same time, it being much more agreeable in the pocket than the old-fashioned bulky English watch. That watch, with the key and seals, became the property of Bushrod Washington, the General's nephew, who inherited Mount Vernon, and was by him, in the following clause in his will, given to a friend :

"My gold watch I give to my friend Robert Adams, of Philadelphia, knowing that he will appreciate the gift, not for the intrinsic value of the article, but because it was worn by the Father of our Country, and afterward by his friend. After the death of the said Robert Adams, I give the said watch to his son Bushrod."

On the 23d of March, 1830, the watch was forwarded to Mr. Adams by John A. Washington, who inherited Mount Vernon from his uncle Bushrod. It is now in the possession of Bushrod Washington Adams, of Phila

delphia, and is preserved with the

greatest care as a precious memento of the beloved patriot.

Our en

graving shows the watch, ribbon, seal, and key, on a scale one-third less than the objects themselves. The picture of the impression of the seal, exhibiting the Washington arms and motto, is the size of the original. The stones of the seal and key are cornelian; the former white and the latter red, and polygonal in form. The dial is of white enamel; the seconds figures carmine red. The case is standard gold, the alloy copper, giving it the red appearance of jeweller's gold.

In the letter from which we have just quoted, Mrs. Washington exhibits the care and frugality which she always practised at home. To Fanny she wrote:

"I send to dear Maria a piece of chene to make her a frock, and a piece of muslin which I hope is long enough for an apron for you. In exchange for it, I beg you will give me a worked muslin apron you have, like my gown

PROBAT

WASHINGTON'S LAST

WATCH-SEAL.

that I made just before I left home, of worked muslin, as I wish to make a petticoat to my gown of the two aprons.'

It should be remembered that the writer was in the midst of the gay life of New York, then the federal metropolis; the wife of the presiding chief magistrate of the republic, receiving visits from the great of many lands and the most notable of her own, and having her own and her husband's large fortune at command. Some may call her practice the development of a parsimonious spirit. It was not so. Hers was the “liberal hand" that devised "liberal things" for the poor and unfortunate. It was only an exhibition of economy in the use of articles and the management of affairs, which American housewives would do well to imitate.

Mrs. Washington left Mount Vernon for New York on the 19th of May, in her chaise, accompanied by her grandchildren, Eleanor Parke and George Washington Parke Custis, and a small escort on horseback. She was clothed tidily in manufactures of our own country entirely. She lodged at Baltimore the first night of her journey. When she approached that city she was met by a cavalcade of gentlemen and escorted into the town. In the evening fireworks were displayed in her honor; and after supper she was serenaded by a band of musicians, composed of some gentlemen of the city.

When she approached Philadelphia she was met, ten miles from the town, by the president of the state and the speaker of the assembly, accompanied by two troops of dragoons and a large cavalcade of citizens. Some miles from the city she was met by a brilliant company of women, in carriages. They attended her to Gray's Ferry, on the Schuylkill, where they all partook of a collation; and from that place to the city, Mrs

Robert Morris occupied a seat by the side of the President's wife, resigning her own carriage to Master Custis, then a boy a little more than eight years of age. The procession entered the city at two o'clock, when the beloved lady was greeted by thirteen discharges of cannon, and the shouts and cheers of a great multitude. While in the city she was the guest of Mrs. Morris.

On Monday morning, the 26th of May, Mrs. Washington left Philadelphia for New York, accompanied by her hostess. The military paraded for the purpose of forming an escort as far as Trenton, but, as on the morning when her husband left the same city a month before, rain prevented the performance. After proceeding a short distance they took a respectful leave of her, and returned. She slept at Trenton that night, and on Tuesday night she and her family were guests of Governor Livingston, at Elizabethtown.

On Wednesday morning Washington proceeded, in his splendid reception-barge, to Elizabethtown Point to meet his family, accompanied by Robert Morris and several other distinguished men. The barge was manned as on the occasion of the reception of the President. When it approached Whitehall, on its return, crowds of citizens thronged the wharves; and from the grand battery the voices of thirteen cannon, in quick succession, uttered a greeting.

On the day after Mrs. Washington's arrival, the President entertained a few guests at a family dinner. These consisted of Vice-President Adams, Governor Clinton, the Count du Moustier (French minister), Don Diego Gardoqui (Spanish minister), Mr. Jay, General St. Clair, Senators Langdon, Wingate, Izard, and Few, and Mr. Muhlenburg, Speaker of the House of Rep