Among the important events of Washington's administration were the admission of Vermont, Kentucky. and Tennessee into the Union. the as sumption of the war debts of the States by the Federal Government. the chartering of the Bank of the United States, the establishment of the national mint, the Whisky Insurrection (q.v.) of 1794 in western Pennsylvania (which was speedily put down without bloodshed) , the unsuc cessful expedition of General Harmar against the Northwestern Indians in 1790, the disastrous defeat of General St. Clair by them in 1791, and time victory gained by General Wayne over them at Fallen Timbers. August 20. 1794. The retire ment of Jefferson from the Cabinet, and the more decided ascendency of Hamilton in the councils of the Administration, also should be mentioned, as well as the scurrilous attacks upon Washing ton by the radical adherents of the former. While Washington leaned to the Federalist side, he was far from being the mere instrument of the brilliant Hamilton.
On September 19. 179d. Washington. declining to serve again, issued his Farewell Address to the country lie had been so largely instrumental in forming almost out of chaos. lie delivered his last Presidential message. turned over his office to his successor, John Adams, and retired to his home at Nlount Vernon, followed by the love and veneration of his people. For further details concerning his two molmninistra Lions as President. see the article UNITED STATES, At Mount Vernon he devoted himself to agri culture. In 1798 the prospect of a war with France led to his appointment as commander-in-chief of the National .\run•. On December 12, 1799, he was exposed in the saddle, for several hours, to cold and snow, and attacked with acute laryngitis, for which he was repeatedly and largely bled. Ile sank rapidly, and died on December 14th. His last words were eharneteristie. He said: "1 die hard ; I am not afraid to go. I believed from my first attack that I should not survive it. 'Aly breath cannot last long." A little later he said: "I feel myself going. I thank you for your at tentions; but I pray you to take no more trouble :dont me. Let me go oil quietly. I eannot last long." After some instructions to his secretary about his burial he became easier. felt his own pulse, and died without a struggle, partly, it would seem, a viethn to the malpractice of that day.
When news of his death reached Europe. the mourning became almost as widespread as it bad been in America. The armies of Bonaparte and
the Channel fleet of Great Britain did homage to his memory. It was admitted on all hands that a cosmopolitan statesman of the highest rank, and a noble friend of mankind, was lost to the world. The eulogy of 'Light-Horse Harry' Lee that he was "First in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts of his countrymen," thus had a wider meaning than its author intended perhaps to give it—a meaning which the lapse of years has extended rather than diminished.
Washington was six feet two inches in height, with brown hair. blue eyes, large head and hands, and strong arms. The portraits painted in his early life are perhaps the most truthful, as the artificial teeth worn in his later years altered decidedly the expression of his face. The statue by Houdon. at Richmond, has been accepted as the typical likeness, but the forehead is probably too retreating. The earliest known portrait, by Charles Wilson Peale, was painted in 1772. That by Joseph Wright, painted in 1782, was highly ap proved by Washington himself. Those by Trum bull and Sharpless are considered faithful in most respects. Those by Stuart are somewhat idealized. No one picture can he accepted as entirely satis factory. Washington was a forcible, but not a fluent, speaker. He was attentive to his personal appearance and somewhat fond of display. To a natural diffidence was doubtless due the cold and reserved manner that distinguished him when in public life. Toward young people, and especial ly toward his nieces and nephews—his adopted children, for he had none of his own—he was gracious and gentle. He was fond of fox-hunting. visited the theatre occasionally, and was a mod erate wine-drinker, but was opposed to the use of tobacco,although he raised it on his plantations. He was, like nearly all Americans of property at that period, a slaveholder, but he was a consider ate master. He possessed at his death 124 slaves. whom lie directed, in his will, to be emancipated at the death of his wife, so that the negroes of the two estates who had intermarried might not be separated. As early as 178(3 he expressed himself in favor of abolition by legislative au thority. He was not a scholar, and the 1200 or more volumes that composed his library were chiefly on agricultural and military topics. He was a member of the Protestant Episeopal Church. but the exact nature of his religious opinions is a subject of controversy.