years of my life dedicated to its service, with an upright zeal,
the faults of incompetent abilities will be consigned to
oblivion, as myself must soon be to the mansions of rest.
Relying on its kindness in this as in other things, and actuated
by that fervent love towards it which is so natural to a man who
views in it the native soil of himself and his progenitors for
several generations, I anticipate with pleasing expectation
that retreat, in which I promise myself to realize, without
alloy, the sweet enjoyment of partaking, in the midst of my
fellow citizens, the benign influence of good laws under a free
government--the ever favorite object of my heart, and the happy
reward, as I trust, of our mutual cares, labors, and dangers.

GEORGE WASHINGTON.

On closing his presidential career, March 4, 1797, Washington retired to
Mount Vernon, to spend the remnant of his days in retirement. It was not
long, however, before the prospect of a war with France prompted the
nation to ask him to take command of its armies, to which he consented,
although he declared that there would be no war--a conclusion which
subsequent events fully justified. John Adams was president, and he
wrote to Washington:

"We must have your name, if you will in any case permit us to use it.
There will be more efficacy in it than in many an army."

Having said nothing particularly concerning Washington as a
slave-holder, we may add, in closing this chapter, that he believed,
with Jefferson, that slavery was a cruel wrong, and ought to be
abolished. He said to Jefferson, before he was president:

"I never mean, unless some particular circumstances should compel me to
it, to possess another slave by purchase; it being among my first wishes
to see some plan adopted by which slavery in this country may be
abolished by law." In another letter he says, "I can only say there is
not a man living who wishes more sincerely than I do to see a plan
adopted for the abolition of it; but there is only one proper and
effectual mode by which it can be accomplished, and that is by
legislative authority, and this, as far as my suffrage will go, shall
never be wanting."

During his presidency in New York, Mrs. Washington's favorite maid Ovey
ran away, and she besought her husband to take measures to find her.
Laughing, Washington replied:

"I, who have been fighting for liberty, would appear finely in pursui