And that in this policy he was consistent is shown by a letter of Jefferson, who wrote to an office-seeking relative, “The public will never be made to believe that an appointment of a relative is made on the ground of merit alone, uninfluenced by family views; nor can they ever see with approbation offices, the disposal of which they entrust to their Presidents for public purposes, divided out as family property.  Mr. Adams degraded himself infinitely by his conduct on this subject, as Genl.  Washington had done himself the greatest honor.  With two such examples to proceed by, I should be doubly inexcusable to err.”

There were many other more distant relatives with whom pleasant relations were maintained, but enough has been said to indicate the intercourse.  Frequent were the house-parties at Mount Vernon, and how unstinted hospitality was to kith and kin is shown by many entries in Washington’s diary, a single one of which will indicate the rest:  “I set out for my return home—­at which I arrived a little after noon—­And found my Brother Jon Augustine his Wife; Daughter Milly, & Sons Bushrod & Corbin, & the Wife of the first.  Mr. Willm Washington & his Wife and 4 Children.”

His will left bequests to forty-one of his own and his wife’s relations.  “God left him childless that he might be the father of his country.”

II

PHYSIQUE

Writing to his London tailor for clothes, in 1763, Washington directed him to “take measure of a gentleman who wares well-made cloaths of the following size:  to wit, 6 feet high and proportionably made—­if anything rather slender than thick, for a person of that highth, with pretty long arms and thighs.  You will take care to make the breeches longer than those you sent me last, and I would have you keep the measure of the cloaths you now make, by you, and if any alteration is required in my next it shall be pointed out.”  About this time, too, he ordered “6 pr.  Man’s riding Gloves—­rather large than the middle size,"... and several dozen pairs of stockings, “to be long, and tolerably large.”

The earliest known description of Washington was written in 1760 by his companion-in-arms and friend George Mercer, who attempted a “portraiture” in the following words:  “He may be described as being as straight as an Indian, measuring six feet two inches in his stockings, and weighing 175 pounds when he took his seat in the House of Burgesses in 1759.  His frame is padded with well-developed muscles, indicating great strength.  His bones and joints are large, as are his feet and hands.  He is wide shouldered, but has not a deep or round chest; is neat waisted, but is broad across the hips, and has rather long legs and arms.  His head is well shaped though not large, but is gracefully poised on a superb neck.  A large and straight rather than prominent nose; blue-gray penetrating eyes, which are widely separated and overhung by a heavy brow.