virtues, and enjoying the esteem of the circle
around her as an interesting relict of days becoming historical; but
ever elevating in the associations they recall. Now that she is gone, I
am induced to give to the public the paper in question. In doing so I
have the best grounds for believing that I perform an act that would
have been grateful to her were she living. She was fully informed of my
intention to publish it and could not but be sensible that the long
respect and affectionate attachment of General Washington which her
husband enjoyed, as so indelibly stamped upon these letters, is a record
of his probity, capacity, and sterling worth, than which none could ever
be more precious, or be likely to endure longer. This consideration it
might be thought affects only the descendants of Colonel Lear or others
devoted to his memory; but I have ventured to think that the publication
may not be wholly unacceptable on broader grounds. Nothing, indeed, in
authentic connection with Washington's great name can ever be unwelcome
to the American people; and although it may have happened that some few
of these letters have heretofore found their way into print in whole or
in part, the number, as far as was known to Mrs. Lear, is believed to be
very small. Hence the publication need not be forborne on that account;
more especially if it should be found to carry with it the slightest
general interest in the form now presented.

In regard to the narrative of Arnold's treason as given by the great
Chief at his table at Mount Vernon and afterwards written down by
Colonel Lear, which I have appended to the synopsis of the letters, it
was not within Mrs. Lear's knowledge, nor is it within mine at present,
that it has ever been in print before.

RICHARD RUSH.

SYDENHAM, NEAR PHILADELPHIA, February, 1857.

WASHINGTON IN DOMESTIC LIFE.

When first I opened and cursorily read the original letters from General
Washington, mentioned in the foregoing introductory explanation, and
noticed the domestic topics which ran so largely through them, they
struck me as possessing peculiar interest. They were of value as coming
from that venerated source, and doubly so, considering how little is
known, through his own correspondence, of his domestic life; scarcely,
in fact, any of its details. Reading the letters again, I found the
matter to be somewhat more varied than my first eager inspection of
them, as hastily unfolded, had led me to