Of another aide, Tench Tilghman, Washington said, “he has been a zealous servant and slave to the public, and a faithful assistant to me for near five years, great part of which time he refused to receive pay.  Honor and gratitude interest me in his favor.”  As an instance of this, the commander-in-chief gave to him the distinction of bearing to Congress the news of the surrender of Cornwallis, with the request to that body that Tilghman should be honored in some manner.  And in acknowledging a letter Washington said, “I receive with great sensibility and pleasure your assurances of affection and regard.  It would be but a renewal of what I have often repeated to you, that there are few men in the world to whom I am more attached by inclination than I am to you.  With the Cause, I hope—­most devoutly hope—­there will be an end to my Military Service, when as our places of residence will not be far apart, I shall never be more happy than in your Company at Mt.  Vernon.  I shall always be glad to hear from, and keep up a correspondence with you.”  When Tilghman died, Washington asserted that

“He had left as fair a reputation as ever belonged to a human character,” and to his father he wrote, “Of all the numerous acquaintances of your lately deceased son, & midst all the sorrowings that are mingled on that melancholy occasion, I may venture to assert that (excepting those of his nearest relatives) none could have felt his death with more regret than I did, because no one entertained a higher opinion of his worth, or had imbibed sentiments of greater friendship for him than I had done....  Midst all your grief, there is this consolation to be drawn;—­that while living, no man could be more esteemed, and since dead, none more lamented than Colo.  Tilghman.”

To David Humphreys, a member of the staff, Washington gave the honor of carrying to Congress the standards captured at Yorktown, recommending him to the notice of that body for his “attention, fidelity, and good services.”  This aide escorted Washington to Mount Vernon at the close of the Revolution, and was “the last officer belonging to the army” who parted from “the Commander-in-chief.”  Shortly after, Humphreys returned to Mount Vernon, half as secretary and half as visitor and companion, and he alluded to this time in his poem of “Mount Vernon,” when he said,—­

“Twas mine, return’d from Europe’s courts
To share his thoughts, partake his sports.”

[Illustration:  WASHINGTON FAMILY RECORD]

When Washington was accused of cruelty in the Asgill case, Humphreys published an account of the affair, completely vindicating his friend, for which he was warmly thanked.  He was frequently urged to come to Mount Vernon, and Washington on one occasion lamented “the cause which has deprived us of your aid in the attack of Christmas pies,” and on another assured Humphreys of his “great pleasure [when] I received the intimation of your spending the winter