From Farm House to the White House - 912 Freedom Library

Farm House to the White House, by William M. Thayer 58
"It may be of service to you at some future day," Lawrence continued. "It will do you no harm, surely."
"I am ready for the lessons any time," added George. "I have always had a desire to know something in that
line."
Adjutant Muse served with Lawrence in the war against the Spaniards in the West Indies, and he was a
competent teacher of the manual exercise. It was arranged that he should instruct George in the art.
Subsequently, also, Lawrence made arrangements with Monsieur Van Braam to instruct George in the art of
fencing. He had an idea that dexterity in the use of his limbs, as well as fire-arms, would be of future use to
him. These facts indicate that Lawrence did not expect that his young brother would become a farmer. There
is traditional evidence that he stated as much to George, whose military aspirations were nurtured in the
Mount Vernon home.
Adjutant Muse encouraged George to read certain treaties upon the art of war, which he offered to loan him.
From these volumes he acquired considerable knowledge of the theory of tactics, and of the evolution of
troops. No previous branch of study had enlisted his interest more thoroughly than did these works upon
military tactics; and we may easily discover the design of Providence to prepare him in this way to act a
conspicuous part in the achievement of American independence.
At Mount Vernon George met William Fairfax, whose daughter Lawrence married. He occupied a valuable
estate of his cousin Lord Fairfax, at Belvoir, seven or eight miles from Mount Vernon. He was an English
gentleman of culture and wealth, very much respected by all who knew him.
Mr. Fairfax became very much interested in George, regarding him as a youth of rare, manly virtues.
"He is a man already," he remarked to Lawrence; "very mature for one of his years."
"I think so," Lawrence answered, "and I hope the way will be opened for his noblest development."
"He must visit us at Belvoir; I should delight to have him spend much time in my family," Mr. Fairfax added.
"And I should be pleased to have him," responded Lawrence. "He would derive great benefit from it."
"My sons and daughters would find him a very genial companion," continued Mr. Fairfax. "I think the benefit
from the society of each other would be mutual."
In this way George was introduced to the Fairfax family, with whom he spent many of his happiest days and
weeks. It was one of the most favorable incidents of his young life when he was welcomed to that family, for
there he enjoyed society of culture, where character, and neither wealth nor honors, ranked highest. Just at that
age he needed the influence of education and cultivated manners, and here he found both with the sons and
daughters of Mr. Fairfax. Alternately, between this family at Belvoir and his brother's family at Mount
Vernon, he enjoyed a discipline of social intercourse, better for him, in some respects, than even Mr.
Williams's school.
At Belvoir George met Lord Fairfax, a relative of William Fairfax, recently from England. "He was the owner
of immense domains in Virginia," says Mr. Everett. "He had inherited through his mother, the daughter of
Lord Culpepper, the original grantee, a vast tract of land, originally including the entire territory between the
Potomac and Rappahannock Rivers."
Mr. Everett says of him further: "Lord Fairfax was a man of cultivated mind, educated at Oxford, the associate
of the wits of London, the author of one or two papers in the Spectator, and an habitué of the polite circles of