George Washington

I am so hackneyed to the touches of the painter's pencil, that I am now altogether at their beck, and sit like patience on a monument whilst they are delineating the lines of my face. It is a proof among many others, of what habit and custom can effect. At first I was as impatient at the request, and as restive under the operation, as a colt is of the saddle.

Ah, Lee, you are a funny fellow, see, that bird is laughing at you.

As I have heard since my arrival at this place, a circumstantial account of my death and dying speech, I take this early opportunity of contradicting the first, and of assuring you, that I have not as yet composed the latter.

Mr Campbell whom I never saw (to my knowledge) has made a very formidable figure of the Commander in Chief giving him a sufficient portion of Terror in his Countenance.

When you beat my pitch, young gentlemen, I'll try again.

Dear Tench: We have had various conjectures about you. Some thought you were dead, others that you were married.

My dear Gov. Lee: You have exchanged the rugged field of Mars for the soft and pleasurable bed of Venus.

I am glad to hear that my old acquaintance Colonel Ward is yet under the influence of vigorous passions. I will not ascribe the intrepidity of his late enterprise to a mere flash of desires, because in his military career he would have learnt how to distinguish between false alarm and a serious movement. Charity therefore induces me to suppose that like a prudent general, he had reviewed his strength, his arms, and ammunition before he got involved in an action.

unless someone pops in unexpectedly-Mrs. Washington and myself will do what I believe has not been done within the last twenty years by us, that is to sit down to dinner by ourselves.

Shift that fat-ass Henry, slowly, or you will swamp the damn boat.

As the Coach would be lonesome without the horses—and the horses might repine for want of their Coach (having been wedded together Seven years) you had better take both.

It is needless to premise, that my table is large enough to hold the ladies; of this they had ocular proof yesterday.

your disorder must be frightened away; he made me drink three or four of his silver camp cups of excellent madeira at noon, and recommended to me to take a generous glass of claret after dinner.

how unkind it was of Noah now I have mentioned his name to suffer such a brood of Vermin to get a birth in the Ark

but perhaps you may be as well off as we are—that is, have no Tobacco for them to eat and there I think we nicked the Dogs.

The Army, as usual, are without Pay; and a great part of the Soldiery without Shirts; and tho' the patience of them is equally thread bear, the States seem perfectly indifferent to their cries.

The unfortunate condition of the persons whose labour in part I employed has been the only unavoidable subject of regret.

They (Indians) are wolves who seek only opportunities to destroy.

There is nothing more likely to produce an alteration in the conduct of the Indians than a conviction in their minds that we are able and determined to punish them for their depredations.

I can with truth assure you, that I never did, nor do I believe I ever shall, make a scouting party my whole army.