should have objects of employment. Idleness is disreputable under
any circumstances; productive of no good, even when unaccompanied
by vicious habits; and you might commence building as soon as you
please, during the progress of which Mount Vernon might be made
your home.

"You may conceive that building before you have an absolute title
to the land is hazardous. To obviate this, I shall only remark that
it is not likely any occurrence will happen, or any change take
place, that would alter my present intention (if the conduct of
yourself and wife is such as to merit a continuance of it); but be
this as it may, that you may proceed on sure ground with respect to
the buildings, I will agree--and this letter shall be an evidence
of it--that if hereafter I should find cause to make any other
disposition of the property _here_ mentioned, I will pay the actual
cost of such buildings to you or yours.

"Although I have not the most distant idea that any event will
happen that could effect a change in my present determination, nor
any suspicions that you or Nelly could conduct yourselves in such a
manner as to incur my serious displeasure, yet, at the same time
that I am inclined to do justice to others, it behooves me to take
care of myself, by keeping the staff in my own hands.

"That you may have a more perfect idea of the landed property I
have bequeathed to you and Nelly in my will, I transmit a plan of
it, every part of which is correctly laid down and accurately
measured, showing the number of fields, lots, meadows, &c., with
the contents and relative situation of each; all of which, except
the mill and swamp, which has never been considered as a part of
Dogue-run farm, and is retained merely for the purpose of putting
it into a better state of improvement, you may have on the terms
before-mentioned.

"With every kind wish for you and Nelly, in which your aunt, who is
still much indisposed, unites,

"I remain your affectionate uncle,

"GEO. WASHINGTON."

Little did any of the parties concerned then suppose that in less than
three months the hand that penned this letter would be paralyzed by
death; and that the Will, so lately written by that hand, would so soon
call for executors.

During the autumn, Washington digested a complete system of manageme