pass, especially by ladies, which induces me to think of the frame in the form of casters."

Mr. Lear was pleased with Washington's suggestions, and ordered a silversmith to make two of the caster-like frames, of solid silver, and these were used upon the President's table on the occasion of the first dinner which he gave to the officers of government and their families, foreign ministers and their families, and other distinguished guests. Their lightness and convenience commended them, and from that time they became fashionable, under the appropriate title of coasters. Thenceforth the wine-cooler was left upon the sideboard, and the coaster alone was used for sending the wine around the table. For more than a quarter of a century afterward, the coaster might be seen upon the table of every fashionable family in Philadelphia. Few persons, however, are aware that Washington was the inventor of it.

The coolers sent over by Mr. Morris, were eight in number, four large and four smaller ones, the former holding four bottles, and the latter two. Two of the larger ones were presented by Washington to General Hamilton, and are now in possession of Mrs. Holley, of Washington city, a daughter of the latter. The others were taken from Philadelphia to Mount Vernon, and after the death of Mrs. Washington, passed into the possession of her grandson, George Washington Parke Custis. They now belong to Mr. Custis's daughter, at Arlington House. They are both elliptical in form at top, the larger one nine inches in height, and the smaller one eight inches. The silver coasters are also at Arlington House. They are fourteen inches in height, and each is composed of four baskets united to a handle in the centre, made of strong wire. There

is a roller under the centre of each basket, by which the coaster is more easily sent around the table. A specimen of each of these articles is seen in the engraving upon the next page.

Washington took his family plate with him when he went to New York in 1789, and there had it made over into more elegant and massive forms. Several pieces were also added to it, and this service graced his table and sideboard in Philadelphia. Several pieces of this plate are now in use at Arlington House. The engraving shows five of them, namely, a round salver, an elliptical tray, a coffee-pot, teapot, and sugar-bowl. All of these have Washington's crest neatly engraven upon them. The tray with handles, all of massive silver, is plain, except a beaded rim. It is twenty-two inches in length, and seventeen and a half inches in breadth. This,

with the waiter, was used at all the levees and drawing-rooms of the President and Mrs. Washington, during the eight years of their public life in New York and Philadelphia, and served

the purposes of hospitality afterward, at Mount Vernon. How many eyes, beaming with the light of noble souls, have looked upon the glittering planes of that tray and salver! How many hands that once wielded mighty swords, and mightier pens, in the holy cause of universal freedom, long since mouldered into native earth, have taken from them the sparkling glass, while health and long life were invoked for Washington!

Mr. Custis once related to me a pleasing circumstance connected with the use of that tray. Gushing from a rocky bank beneath the trunk of a huge oak-tree-a genuine Anak of the primeval forest-near the bank of the Potomac, on his estate, is a copious spring, and around it stands a beautiful grove,

wherein parties from Alexandria, Washington city and Georgetown, have picnics in the summer months. For the accommodation of these, Mr. Custis generously erected, near the spring, a kitchen and dancing-hall; and he frequently attended the joyous gatherings, and lent servants to wait upon the ladies.

On one occasion, a party of military, accompanied by ladies, went over to Arlington spring, from Washington city, for a day's recreation. Mr. Custis sent his favorite servant, Charles, to wait upon the company at table. He also sent down the precious silver tray for their use. Placing a dozen glasses of ice cream upon it, Charles carried it to the visitors, and said, "Ladies, this waiter once belonged to General Washington, and from it all the great ladies of the Revolution took wine." The young ladies, as if actuated by one impulse, immediately arose, crowded around Charles, and each in turn, kissed the cold rim of the salver, before touching the cream.

The session of 1790-91, was the third of the first Congress, and ended by limitation on the 3d of March; but Washington did not depart from Philadelphia for Mount Vernon, until Monday the 21st. On that day, at twelve o'clock, he and his family left his residence on Marketstreet, in his English coach,

THE PRESIDENTIAL MANSION.

drawn by six horses, accompanied by Mr. Jefferson and General Knox (two of the heads of departments), who escorted them as far as Delaware. Major Jackson was also of the party. He accompanied Washington to Mount Vernon, and

throughout an extensive tour through the Southern states, which the President commenced a few days afterward.

That tour had occupied Washington's thoughts from time to time, for several months. Many leading men of the South invited him to visit their respective states. He had made a tour eastward, and it was deemed expedient that the Southern states should be honored by his presence. Their invitations generally expressed a desire, that the President, in the event of his making such tour, should honor the writers by a residence with them, while he remained in their respective neighborhoods. Among others who proffered the hospitalities of his house was Colonel William Washington, the heroic cavalry officer in the southern campaigns under Greene, who was then residing in Charleston. But his invitation, like all others of the same kind, was declined for reasons which Washington frankly stated:

"I cannot," he said, "comply with your invitation, without involving myself in inconsistency; as I have determined to pursue the same plan in my Southern as I did in my Eastern visit, which was, not to incommode any private family by taking up my quarters with them during my journey. leaves me unincumbered by engagements, and by a uniform adherence to it, I shall avoid giving umbrage to any, by declining all such invitations."

It

Washington remained at Mount Vernon only a week, making preparations for his Southern tour. On the 4th of April he wrote to the several heads of departments-Jefferson, Hamilton and Knox-giving them information concerning the time when he expected to be at certain places on his route. This information was given because the public service might require communication to be made to him.