From Farm House to the White House - 912 Freedom Library
From Farm House to the White House - 912 Freedom Library
From Farm House to the White House - 912 Freedom Library
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<strong>Farm</strong> <strong>House</strong> <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>White</strong> <strong>House</strong>, by William M. Thayer 127<br />
fox-hunting and o<strong>the</strong>r amusements more than he did <strong>to</strong> his studies. He fell in love, also, with Eleanor Calvert,<br />
daughter of Benedict Calvert of Mount Airy, and he entered in<strong>to</strong> a matrimonial engagement with her. Mrs.<br />
Washing<strong>to</strong>n was very much tried by <strong>the</strong> course of <strong>the</strong> young man, and, after canvassing <strong>the</strong> whole subject<br />
carefully with her husband, he addressed a letter <strong>to</strong> Miss Calvert's fa<strong>the</strong>r, which was a compliment alike <strong>to</strong> his<br />
head and heart. It was a very long letter, and we have space for brief extracts only:<br />
MOUNT VERNON, April 3, 1773.<br />
"DEAR SIR,--I am now set down <strong>to</strong> write <strong>to</strong> you on a subject of importance, and of no small embarrassment<br />
<strong>to</strong> me. My son-in-law and ward, Mr. Custis, has paid his addresses <strong>to</strong> your second daughter, and, having made<br />
some progress in her affections, has solicited her in marriage. How far a union of this sort may be agreeable <strong>to</strong><br />
you, you best can tell; but I should think myself wanting in candor were I not <strong>to</strong> confess that Miss Nelly's<br />
amiable qualities are acknowledged on all hands, and that an alliance with your family will be pleasing <strong>to</strong> his.<br />
"This acknowledgment being made, you must permit me <strong>to</strong> add sir, that at this, or in any short time, his youth,<br />
inexperience, and unripened education, are, and will be, insuperable obstacles, in my opinion, <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
completion of <strong>the</strong> marriage. As his guardian, I consider it my indispensable duty <strong>to</strong> endeavor <strong>to</strong> carry him<br />
through a regular course of education, and <strong>to</strong> guard his youth <strong>to</strong> a more advanced age, before an event on<br />
which his own peace and <strong>the</strong> happiness of ano<strong>the</strong>r are <strong>to</strong> depend, takes place....<br />
"If <strong>the</strong> affection which <strong>the</strong>y have avowed for each o<strong>the</strong>r is fixed upon a solid basis, it will receive no<br />
diminution in <strong>the</strong> course of two or three years, in which time he may prosecute his studies, and <strong>the</strong>reby render<br />
himself more deserving of <strong>the</strong> lady and useful <strong>to</strong> society. If, unfortunately, as <strong>the</strong>y are both young, <strong>the</strong>re<br />
should be an abatement of affection on ei<strong>the</strong>r side, or both, it had better precede, than follow, marriage.<br />
"Delivering my sentiments thus freely will not, I hope, lead you in<strong>to</strong> a belief that I am desirous of breaking off<br />
<strong>the</strong> match. To postpone it is all I have in view; for I shall recommend <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> young gentleman, with <strong>the</strong><br />
warmth that becomes a man of honor, <strong>to</strong> consider himself as much engaged <strong>to</strong> your daughter as if <strong>the</strong><br />
indissoluble knot was tied; and, as <strong>the</strong> surest means of affecting this, <strong>to</strong> apply himself closely <strong>to</strong> his studies, by<br />
which he will, in a great measure, avoid those little flirtations with o<strong>the</strong>r young ladies, that may, by dividing<br />
<strong>the</strong> attention, contribute not a little <strong>to</strong> divide <strong>the</strong> affections."<br />
The result of this correspondence was that Washing<strong>to</strong>n <strong>to</strong>ok young Custis <strong>to</strong> King's (now Columbia) College,<br />
New York City, and entered him for two years. But love had so much more control of his heart than learning<br />
had of his head, that he remained <strong>the</strong>re only a few months, when he returned <strong>to</strong> Mount Vernon, and was<br />
married <strong>to</strong> Miss Calvert on Feb. 3, 1774. The couple were nineteen and seventeen years of age, respectively,<br />
and <strong>the</strong>ir marriage proved a very fortunate event for <strong>the</strong>mselves, and <strong>the</strong> families on both sides.<br />
The following incident, illustrative of Washing<strong>to</strong>n's fine personal appearance, transpired when he<br />
accompanied his step-son <strong>to</strong> New York. It is from <strong>the</strong> pen of Mr. Custis:<br />
"It was boasted at <strong>the</strong> table of <strong>the</strong> British governor that a regiment, just landed from England, contained<br />
among its officers some of <strong>the</strong> finest specimens of martial elegance in his Majesty's service; in fact, <strong>the</strong> most<br />
superb-looking fellows ever landed upon <strong>the</strong> shores of <strong>the</strong> new World. 'I wager your excellency a pair of<br />
gloves,' said Mrs. Morris, an American lady, 'that I will show you a finer man in <strong>the</strong> procession <strong>to</strong>-morrow<br />
than your excellency can select from your famous regiment;'--'Done, madam!' replied <strong>the</strong> governor. The<br />
morrow came (<strong>the</strong> fourth of June), and <strong>the</strong> procession, in honor of <strong>the</strong> birthday of <strong>the</strong> king, advanced through<br />
Broadway <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> strains of military music. As <strong>the</strong> troops filed before <strong>the</strong> governor, he pointed out <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> lady<br />
several officers by name, claiming her admiration for <strong>the</strong>ir superior persons and brilliant equipments. In rear<br />
of <strong>the</strong> troops came a band of officers not on duty, colonial officers, and strangers of distinction. Immediately,<br />
on <strong>the</strong>ir approach, <strong>the</strong> attention of <strong>the</strong> governor was seen <strong>to</strong> be directed <strong>to</strong>ward a tall and martial figure, that<br />
marched with grave and measured tread, apparently indifferent <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> scene around him. The lady now archly