American armies, in the wars of the interior, and in the surveying
of wilderness lands, employments in which grace and elegance were
not likely to be acquired. At the age of sixty-five, time had done
nothing toward bending him out of his natural erectness. His
deportment was invariably grave; it was sobriety that stopped short
of sadness. His presence inspired a veneration and a feeling of awe
rarely experienced in the presence of any man. His mode of speaking
was slow and deliberate, not as though he was in search of fine
words, but that he might utter those only adapted to his purpose. It
was the usage of all persons in good society to attend Mrs.
Washington's _levee_ every Friday evening. He was always present.
The young ladies used to throng around him, and engage him in
conversation. There were some of the well-remembered _belles_ of
that day who imagined themselves to be favorites with him. As these
were the only opportunities which they had of conversing with him,
they were disposed to use them. One would think that a gentleman and
a gallant soldier, if he could ever laugh or dress his countenance
in smiles, would do so when surrounded by young and admiring
beauties. But this was never so: the countenance of Washington never
softened, nor changed its habitual gravity. One, who had lived
always in his family, said that his manner in public life was always
the same. Being asked whether Washington _could_ laugh, this person
said this was a rare occurrence, but one instance was remembered
when he laughed most heartily at her narration of an incident in
which she was a party concerned, and in which he applauded her
agency. The late General Cobb, who was long a member of his family
during the war, and who enjoyed a laugh as much as any man could,
said that he never saw Washington laugh, excepting when Colonel
Scammel (if this was the person) came to dine at headquarters.
Scammel had a fund of ludicrous anecdotes, and a manner of telling
them, which relaxed even the gravity of the commander-in-chief.

"General Cobb also said that the forms of proceeding at
headquarters were exact and precise, orderly and punctual. At the
appointed moment, Washington appeared at the breakfast-table. He
expected to find all the members of his family (Cobb, Hamilton,