English fallow deer, from the park of Governor Ogle, of Maryland.*

The stock of deer increased very rapidly, yet, strange to say, although herding together, there never was perceptible the slightest admixture of the two races.

On the decay of the park paling, and the dispersion of the deer over the estate, as many as fifteen or twenty were often to be seen in a herd.

The general was extremely tenacious of his game, and would suffer none to be killed, till, being convinced that the poachers were abroad, that the larder of an extensive hotel in a neighboring town was abundantly supplied with plump haunches from the Mount Vernon stock, and indeed that every one seemed to be enjoying his venison but himself, he at length consented that "a stag should die."

One morning I was summoned to receive his orders for hunting. They were given as follows: "Recollect, sir, that you are to fire with ball, to use no hounds, and on no account to kill any but an old buck." Charmed with a permission so long coveted, and at last obtained, we prepared for the field. Determined to make a sure shot, we discarded the rifle in favor of an old British musket, of the fashion and time of George II.-a heavy, black, ill-favored looking piece, but capable of carrying two balls, each of an ounce weight, and famed for hitting hard behind as well as before. Thus equipped, and with a goodly array of drivers, and dogs of various sorts, we repaired to the haunt of a celebrated old buck, considered as the patriarch of the herd.

*Samuel Ogle was governor of Maryland at three different times, namely, in 1732, 1737, and 1747.

"Rousing him up from his lair," the woods echoed with the shouts of the huntsmen and the cries of the dogs, while the noble buck, crashing through the undergrowth, seemed to bid defiance to his pursuers. The loud report of the musket was now added to the uproar in the wood, and, it being evident from hunter's signs that the game was hit, it only remained to mount and pursue.

The "stricken deer" always seeks the water as a refuge from the dogs: in this instance, a melee of hunters, horses, dogs, and deer rushed into the waters of the Potomac at the same time, the huntsmen laying lustily about them to prevent the dogs from breaking up the wounded stag, that, after a gallant struggle, yielded up his life, and was carried in triumph to the mansion-house, there to await the master's inspection.

Punctual as the hand of the clock, at a quarter to three the general arrived from his morning ride. Upon his dismounting, we announced that a fine buck had been shot. "Ah, well!" he replied, "let's see," and strode along to the Locust grove, to which we led the way-ay, and manly was that stride, although he was then in the sixtyeighth year of his age. He examined the deer, that had been triced up to a tree, and observing the frosted front of the antlered monarch of the herd, he became convinced that his orders had been obeyed to the very letter; he gave a nod of approbation, and retired to his room to dress, as was his custom, before the second bell for dinner.

The carcass of the Washington Stag, after being trimmed according to hunter's fashion-that is, the neck, hocks, and offal parts removed-weighed one hundred and forty-six pounds.

The next day, several guests having assembled, the

haunch was served up in the family dining-room at Mount Vernon; and of the venison it may of a truth be said that

"Finer or fatter

Was ne'er carved at a board, or smoked on a platter."

We have killed many a brave deer since the days of 1799, but none have left an impression on the memory or the heart like that of the Washington Stag, that was killed by Washington's special order, that was served at his board, and on which he fed in the last, the very last year of his glorious life.*

The antlers of this famous buck may still be seen at Arlington House, where they grace the great hall, and are labelled, in the handwriting of the sportsman who killed the owner, "The Washington Stag."

CHAPTER XX.

THE FIRST YEAR OF THE PRESIDENCY.

ANAUGURATION OF WASHINGTON HIS PLACE OF RESIDENCE IN NEW YORK. HIS FAMILYTHE GUESTS AT THE PRESIDENT'S HOUSE- HIS LEVEES-MRS. WASHINGTON'S DrawingROOMS AN ACCIDENT-WASHINGTON AN EARLY RISER - HIS STABLES IN NEW YORK AND PHILADELPHIA - THE THEATRE IN NEW YORK-SEVERE ILLNESS OF THE PRESIDENT — HIS RECOVERY - HIS EASTERN TOUR-WASHINGTON'S PRIVATE SECRETARIES - ANECDOTE OF HUMPHREYS-THE PRESIDENT CHANGES HIS RESIDENCE-DEPARTURE FROM NEW YORKATTEMPT TO LEAVE PRIVATELY A PUBLIC DEMONSTRATION - -PROGRESS TO PHILADELPHIA -REVOLUTIONARY VETERANS - THE PRESIDENT'S RECEPTION IN PHILADELPHIA — HE VISITS MOUNT VERNON.

On the 30th of April, 1789, the Constitutional Government of the United States began, by the inauguration of GEORGE WASHINGTON as President of the United States, in the city of New York.*

* The president, as we have observed in a note on page 382, left his home for New York on the sixteenth, and was everywhere received on his journey with the greatest demonstrations of affection. At Trenton, where he entered New Jersey, his reception was peculiar and gratifying. It was arranged entirely by the ladies, in which, as has been already observed, Mrs. Stockton, the widow of one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, participated. Upon Trenton bridge they caused to be erected an arch, which they adorned with laurel leaves and flowers from the forests and their hot-houses, and the first spring contributions from their gardens. Upon the crown of the arch, in large letters, formed of leaves and flowers, were the words "December 26th, 1776;" and on the sweep beneath was the sentence, also formed of flowers, "The Defender of the Mothers will be the Protector of the Daughters." Beneath this arch the president elect was obliged to pass on entering Trenton. There he was met by a troop of females. On one side a row of little girls dressed in white, and each bearing a basket of flowers, were arranged; on the other side stood a row of young ladies similarly arrayed, and behind them were the married ladies. The moment Washington and his suite approached the arch, the little girls began to strew flowers in the road, and the whole company of the fair sang the following ode, written for the occasion by Governor Howell :

In the then limited extent and improvement of the city, there was some difficulty in selecting a mansion for the residence of the chief magistrate, and a household suitable to his rank and station. Osgood's house, a mansion of very moderate extent, was at length fixed upon, situated in Cherry street. There the president became domiciled. His domestic family consisted of Mrs. Washington, the two adopted children,† Mr. Lear,‡ as principal secretary, Colonel Humphreys,§ with Messrs. Lewis and Nelson,|| secretaries, and Major William Jackson aid-decamp.

"Welcome, mighty chief, once more
Welcome to this grateful shore.

Now no mercenary foe

Aims again the fatal blow

Aims at Thee the fatal blow.

"Virgins fair and matrons grave,
Those thy conquering arm did save,
Build for Thee triumphal bowers.

Strew, ye fair, his way with flowers

Strew your Hero's way with flowers!"

Washington arrived in New York on the twenty-third of April, and took the oath of office, administered to him on the balcony of the old Federal Hall, in Wall street, by Robert R. Livingston, then chancellor of the state.

*This was No. 10 Cherry street, a few doors from Franklin square. When, afterward, the houses upon Franklin square, constituting a point at the junction of Pearl and Cherry streets, were removed, the former southern side of the mansion fronted on the square, and so remained until its demolition, in 1856. Views of this house, as it appeared just before its destruction, to make way for finer buildings, may be seen in Valentine's Manual of the Common Council of New York, 1857.

† Eleanor Parke and George Washington Parke Custis. Mr. Custis (the author of these Recollections) was then eight years of age.

Tobias Lear, who was a member of Washington's family at the time of that great man's death.

Colonel David Humphreys, a sketch of whom is given elsewhere.

The former was a nephew of Washington, and the latter was a son of Governor Nelson, of Virginia.

Major Jackson was a great favorite in Washington's family. He and Mr. Lear always walked out with the president; and he accompanied Washington in his eastern and southern tours, made during his presidency. His wife, a daughter of