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 61<br />
"Exactly; my word for it, you will find it so," added Lawrence.<br />
That journal has proved of far more value than Lawrence predicted. After <strong>the</strong> lapse of over one hundred and<br />
thirty years, we are able <strong>to</strong> learn from it about <strong>the</strong> hardships, dangers, and severe labors of his surveying<br />
expeditions. A few extracts from letters and journal will afford an insight in<strong>to</strong> that important period of his life.<br />
He wrote <strong>to</strong> one of his friends, after an experience of several months, thus:<br />
"Your letter gave me <strong>the</strong> more pleasure, as I received it among barbarians, and an uncouth set of people. Since<br />
you received my last letter I have not slept above three or four nights in a bed; but after walking a good deal<br />
all <strong>the</strong> day, I have lain down before <strong>the</strong> fire upon a little hay, straw, fodder, or a bear-skin--whichsoever was<br />
<strong>to</strong> be had--with man, wife, and children, like dogs and cats; and happy is he who gets <strong>the</strong> berth nearest <strong>the</strong><br />
fire. Nothing would make it pass off <strong>to</strong>lerably but a good reward. A doubloon[A] is my constant gain every<br />
day that <strong>the</strong> wea<strong>the</strong>r will permit my going out, and sometimes six pis<strong>to</strong>les[B]. The coldness of <strong>the</strong> wea<strong>the</strong>r<br />
will not allow of my making a long stay, as <strong>the</strong> lodging is ra<strong>the</strong>r <strong>to</strong>o cold for <strong>the</strong> time of year. I have never had<br />
my clo<strong>the</strong>s off, but have lain and slept in <strong>the</strong>m, except <strong>the</strong> few nights I have been in Fredericksburg."<br />
[A] $7 50. [B] A pis<strong>to</strong>le was $3.50<br />
The entry in his journal for <strong>the</strong> third day after he started, in March, 1748, was as follows:<br />
"Worked hard till night, and <strong>the</strong>n returned. After supper we were lighted in<strong>to</strong> a room; and I, not being so good<br />
a woodsman as <strong>the</strong> rest, stripped myself very orderly, and went in<strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> bed, as <strong>the</strong>y called it, when, <strong>to</strong> my<br />
surprise, I found it <strong>to</strong> be nothing but a little straw matted <strong>to</strong>ge<strong>the</strong>r, without sheet or anything else, but only one<br />
threadbare blanket, with double its weight of vermin. I was glad <strong>to</strong> get up and put on my clo<strong>the</strong>s, and lie as my<br />
companions did. Had we not been very tired, I am sure that we should not have slept much that night. I made<br />
a promise <strong>to</strong> sleep so no more, choosing ra<strong>the</strong>r <strong>to</strong> sleep in <strong>the</strong> open air before a fire."<br />
George commenced operations for Lord Fairfax early in March, when <strong>the</strong> mountains were still white with<br />
snow, and wintry blasts swept over <strong>the</strong> plains. The heavy rains of spring had swollen <strong>the</strong> streams in<strong>to</strong> <strong>to</strong>rrents,<br />
so that it was perilous <strong>to</strong> ford <strong>the</strong>m. Of course <strong>the</strong> hardships of such an expedition were largely increased by<br />
<strong>the</strong> rough, cold wea<strong>the</strong>r of <strong>the</strong> season.<br />
Abbot says: "The enterprise upon which Washing<strong>to</strong>n had entered was one full of romance, <strong>to</strong>il, and peril. It<br />
required <strong>the</strong> exercise of constant vigilance and sagacity. Though <strong>the</strong>se wilds may be called pathless still <strong>the</strong>re<br />
were here and <strong>the</strong>re narrow trails, which <strong>the</strong> moccasined foot of <strong>the</strong> savage had trodden for centuries. They led<br />
in a narrow track, scarcely two feet in breadth, through dense thickets, over craggy hills, and along <strong>the</strong> banks<br />
of placid streams or foaming <strong>to</strong>rrents."<br />
Everett says: "The hardships of this occupation will not be fully comprehended by those who are acquainted<br />
with <strong>the</strong> surveyor's duties only as <strong>the</strong>y are practised in old and thickly settled countries. In addition <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> want<br />
of accommodation, <strong>the</strong> service was attended by serious perils. In new countries, of which 'squatters' have<br />
begun <strong>to</strong> take possession, <strong>the</strong> surveyor is at all times a highly unwelcome visi<strong>to</strong>r, and sometimes goes about<br />
his duties at <strong>the</strong> risk of his life. Besides this, a portion of <strong>the</strong> land traversed by Washing<strong>to</strong>n formed a part of<br />
that debatable land, <strong>the</strong> disputed right <strong>to</strong> which was <strong>the</strong> original moving cause of <strong>the</strong> 'Seven Years' War.' The<br />
French were already in motion, both from Canada and Louisiana, <strong>to</strong> preoccupy <strong>the</strong> banks of <strong>the</strong> Ohio, and <strong>the</strong><br />
savages in <strong>the</strong>ir interest roamed <strong>the</strong> intervening country up <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> settlements of Virginia."<br />
Ano<strong>the</strong>r entry in his journal is <strong>the</strong> following:<br />
"Rained till about two o'clock, and <strong>the</strong>n cleared up, when we were agreeably surprised at <strong>the</strong> sight of more<br />
than thirty Indians, coming from war with only one scalp. We had some liquor with us, of which we gave