as at the head of the civil and military affairs of the
nation, with the title of First Consul. The weak Directory had yielded
to the increasing powers of that wonderful man, and his energy and
audacity had rescued France from impending anarchy and ruin. He promptly
received the United States embassadors; and, several months afterward,
he concluded a treaty with them, and gave them such assurances of
friendship, that, on their return home, the provisional army was
disbanded. The commander-in-chief, meanwhile, had been laid in the
grave. Washington did not live to see the clouds break and disperse
according to the prophecies of his faith.

We have anticipated events, in order that a glimpse might be given of
the conclusion of the difficulties with France. Let us now turn back to
the beginning of 1799, and consider Washington personally during that
last year of his life. To his family it opened with joy, and closed in
sorrow.

At the beginning of the year, there were preparations in progress at
Mount Vernon for an event which gave pleasure to Washington--the
marriage of Lawrence Lewis, his favorite nephew, with Nelly Custis, his
adopted daughter, of whose mutual attachment we have already spoken. At
the same time, Washington was much perplexed concerning Nelly's brother
George, who was then a youth of eighteen, talented but wayward. He had
been in college for a few years, first at Princeton and then at
Annapolis; and now, on account of his unwillingness to return to the
latter place, he had been for some time pursuing his studies at home,
under the eye of his foster father, but with indifferent success. The
correspondence between them, for several years, to which allusion has
already been made, reveals the anxiety with which Washington watched the
development of his foster-son--sometimes hoping, sometimes almost
despairing, yet always kind, though firm.[130]

Nelly Custis was married at Mount Vernon on Friday, the twenty-second
of February, 1799, Washington's birthday. It was a bright and beautiful
day. "The early spring flowers were budding in the hedges, and the
blue-bird, making its way cautiously northward, gave a few joyous notes
in the garden that morning. The occasion was one of great hilarity at
Mount Vernon, for the bride was beloved by all; and Major Lewis, the
bridegroom, had ever been near to the heart of his uncle, since the
death of his mother, who so much resembled her illustrious brother, that
when, in