1783]

ADVICE TO A NEPHEW

39

funds, or the extensiveness of your demands, is matter of conjecture, with me. I hope it is not the latter, because common prudence, and every other consideration which ought to have weight in a reflecting mind is opposed to your requiring more than his conveniency and a regard to his other Children will enable him to pay; and because he holds up no idea in his Letter, which would support me in the conclusion. yet when I take a view of the inexperience of Youth, the temptations in, and vices of Cities; and the distresses to which our Virginia Gentlemen are driven by an accumulation of Taxes and the want of a market; I am almost inclined to ascribe it, in part to both. Therefore, as a friend, I give you the following advice.

Let the object, which carried you to Philadelphia, be always before your Eyes; remember, that it is not the mere study of the Law, but to become eminent in the Profession of it which is to yield honor and profit; the first was your choice, let the second be your ambition. and that dissipation is incompatible with both.

That the Company in which you will improve most, will be least expensive to you; and yet I am not such a Stoic as to suppose you will, or to think it right that you ought, always to be in Company with Senators and Philosophers; but, of the young and juvenile kind let me advise you to be choice. It is easy to make acquaintances, but very difficult to shake them off, however irksome and unprofitable they are found after we have once committed ourselves to them; the indiscretions, and scrapes which very often they involuntarily lead one into, proves equally distressing and disgraceful.

Be courteous to all, but intimate with few, and let those few be well tried before you give them your confidence; true friendship is a plant of slow growth, and must undergo and

withstand the shocks of adversity before it is entitled to the appellation.

Let your heart feel for the affliction, and distresses of every one, and let your hand give in proportion to your purse; remembering always, the estimation of the Widows mite. But, that it is not every one who asketh, that deserveth charity; all however are worthy of the enquiry, or the deserving may suffer.

Do not conceive that fine Clothes make fine Men, any more than fine feathers make fine Birds. A plain genteel dress is more admired and obtains more credit than lace and embroidery in the Eyes of the judicious and sensible.

The last thing I shall mention, is first of importance. and that is, to avoid Gaming. This is a vice which is productive of every possible evil. equally injurious to the morals and health of its votaries. It is the child of Avarice, the brother of inequity, and father of Mischief. It has been the ruin of many worthy familys; the loss of many a man's honor; and the cause of Suicide. To all those who enter the list, it is equally fascinating; the Successful gamester pushes his good fortune till it is over taken by a reverse; the loosing gamester, in hopes of retrieving past misfortunes, goes on from bad to worse; till grown desperate, he pushes at every thing; and looses his all. In a word, few gain by this abominable practice (the profit, if any, being diffused) while thousands are injured.

Perhaps you will say my conduct has anticipated the advice, and that "not one of these cases apply to me." I shall be heartily glad of it. It will add not a little to my happiness, to find those, to whom I am so nearly connected, pursuing the right walk of life; it will be the sure road to my favor, and to those honors, and places of profit, which their Country can bestow, as merit rarely goes unrewarded. I am, etc.

1783]

SAMUEL'S DEBTS

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GENERAL ORDERS

Head Quarters, Newburgh,

Thursday, January 16, 1783.

Parole Gottonburgh. Countersigns Hillsborough, Jersey. For the day tomorrow Lieutenant Colonel Barber. For duty tomorrow the 5th. Massachusetts regiment. Commanding officers of Lines from which there are soldiers absent attending as servants on officers who have retired in consequence of the late arrangement, or left the service in any other way, will direct in pointed terms all such soldiers to join their corps without delay; and in case they shall neglect to comply with the order, their names, together with the names and ranks of the officers by whom they are retained, must be immediately reported to Head Quarters, that proper measures may be taken to enforce obedience.

*To JOHN AUGUSTINE WASHINGTON

Newburgh, January 16, 1783. My dear Brother: Since the letter which Bushrod delivered me in Philadelphia, I have received your favors of the 24th. of July from Westmoreland, and 12th. of Novr. from Berkley.

The latter gave me extreme pain. In Gods name how did my Brothr. Saml. contrive to get himself so enormously in debt? Was it by purchases? By misfortunes? or shear indolence and inattention to business? From whatever cause it proceeded, the matter is now the same, and curiosity only prompts the enquiry, as it does to know what will be saved, and how it is disposed of. In the list of his debts did it appear that I had a claim upon him for the purchase money of the

Land I sold Pendleton on Bullskin? I have never received a farthing for it yet, and think I have been informed by him that he was to pay

it.

I have heard a favourable acct. of Bushrod, and doubt not but his prudence will direct him to a proper line of Conduct. I have given him my sentiments on this head; and perswade myself that, with the advice of Mr. Wilson, to whose friendship as well as instruction in his profession I recommended him and the admontion [sic] of others, he will stand as good a chance as most youth of his age to avoid the Vices of large Cities, which have their advantages and disadvantages in fitting a man for the great theatre of public Life.

I have lately received a letter from my Mother in which she complains much of the Knavery of the Overseer at the little Falls Quarter. that She says she can get nothing from him. it is pretty evident I believe, that I get nothing from thence, which I have the annual rent of between Eighty and an hundred pounds to pay. The whole profit of the Plantation according to her Acct. is applied to his own use, which is rather hard upon me as I had no earthly inducement to meddle with it but to comply with her wish, and to free her from care, this like every other matter of private concern, with me, has been totally neglected; but it is too much while I am suffering in every other way (and hardly able to keep my own Estate from Sale), to be saddled with all the expence of hers and not be able to derive the smallest return from it. She has requested that I would get somebody to attend to it. I must therefore desire the favor of you to take it under your care. I know of none in whose hands it can be better placed, to none to whom it can be less inconvenient, and who is more interested in the good managemt. of the Land. For as it lyes directly in your Route to

James Wilson.

1783] PENSION FOR HIS MOTHER

43

Berkley, and in the Neighbourhood of our friends where you must always make a halt, it will give you very little additional trouble to provide an Overseer. Call upon him as you pass and repass, and set the annual Accts. with him, so as that I may have some knowledge of his transactions and a certainty that whatever is made goes towards payment of the Rent. I shall by this Post inform my Mother of this application to you, hoping you will find no difficulty in the undertaking.

63

While I am talking of my Mother and her concerns, I am impelled to mention somethings which has given, and still continues to give me pain. About two years ago a Gentleman of my acquaintance** informed me that it was in contemplation to move for a pension for her in the Virginia Assembly. That he did not suppose I knew of the measure, or that it would be agreeable to me to have it done; but wished to know my sentiments on it. I instantly wrote him that it was new and astonishing to me and begged that he would prevent the motion if possible, or oppose it if made; for I was sure she had not a Child that would not share the last farthing with her, and that would not be hurt at the idea of her becoming a Pensioner, or in other words receiving charity. Since then I have heard nothing of that matter; but I learn from very good authority that she is upon all occasions, and in all Companies complaining of the hardness of the times, of her wants and distresses; and if not in direct terms, at least by strong innuendos inviting favors which not only makes her appear in an unfavourable point of view but those also who are connected with her. That she can have no real wants that may not be supplied I am sure of; imaginary wants are indefinite and oftentimes insatiable, because they are boundless and always

The draft of this letter is not now found in the Washington Papers.

"Benjamin Harrison. (See Washington's letter to Benjamin Harrison, Mar. 21, 1781, ante.)