Lear ordered provisions
to be prepared for a large number of people, as some refreshment would
be expected by them. And Mr. Robert Hamilton, of Alexandria, wrote to
Mr. Lear that a schooner of his would anchor off Mount Vernon, to fire
minute-guns while the body was passing from the mansion to the tomb.

The arrangements for the procession at the funeral were made by
Colonels Little, Simms, and Deneale, and Doctor Dick. The old family
vault was opened and cleaned, and Mr. Lear ordered an entrance-door to
be made for it, that it might not be again closed with brick. Mr.
Stewart, adjutant of the Alexandria regiment, of which Washington had
once been colonel, went down to Mount Vernon to view the ground for the
procession.

The people began to collect at Mount Vernon on Wednesday, at eleven
o'clock; but, owing to a delay of the military, the time for the
procession was postponed until three o'clock. The coffined body of the
illustrious patriot lay, meanwhile, beneath the grand piazza of the
mansion, where he had so often walked and mused.

Between three and four o'clock the procession moved, and, at the same
time, minute-guns were fired from the schooner anchored in the Potomac.
The pall-bearers were Colonels Little, Simms, Payne, Gilpin, Ramsay, and
Marsteler. Colonel Blackburn preceded the corpse. Colonel Deneale
marched with the military. The procession moved out through the gate at
the left wing of the house, and proceeded round in front of the lawn,
and down to the vault on the right wing of the house. The following was
the composition and order of the procession:--

The troops, horse and foot, with arms reversed.
Music.
The clergy, namely, the Rev. Messrs. Davis, Muir, Moffat, and Addison.
The general's horse, with his saddle, holsters, and pistols,
led by two grooms (Cyrus and Wilson), in black.
The body, borne by the Masons and officers.
Principal mourners, namely:
Mrs. Stuart and Mrs. Law,
Misses Nancy and Sally Stuart,
Miss Fairfax and Miss Dennison,
Mr. Law and Mr. Peter,
Mr. Lear and Doctor Craik,
Lord Fairfax and Ferdinando Fairfax.
Lodge No. 23.
Corporation of Alexandria.
All other persons, preceded by Mr. Anderson and the overseers.

When the body arrived near the vault, at the bottom of the lawn, on the
high bank of the Potomac, the cavalry halted; the infantry moved forward
and formed the in-lining; the Masonic brethren and citizens