Zagarri, Rosemarie. A Woman's Dilemma: Mercy Otis Warren and the American Revolution. Wheeling, ILL: Harlan Davidson, 1995. American Biographical History Series.

"A Visit to Mount Vernon -- A Letter of Mrs. Edward Carrington to her sister, Mrs. George Fisher." The William and Mary Quarterly, Second Series, 18 2 (April 1938): 198-202.

"Yes we arrived at this venerable mansion in perfect safety, where we are experiencing every mark of hospitality & kindness that the good old General's continued friendship to Col. C. lead us to expect; his reception of my husband was that of a Brother; he took us each by the hand & with a warmth of expression not to be described, pressed mine, & told me that I had conferred a favour, never to be forgotten, in bringing his old friend to see him; then bidding a servant to call the ladies entertained us most facetiously till they appeared."

"Mrs. Washington venerable, kind & plain, & resembling very much our aunt A-----."

"...but now when I see her [i.e. Eleanor Parke Custis Lewis] the Matron, for such her situation makes her appear, though she has only been ten months a wife, lovely as nature could form her, improved in every female accomplishment & what is still more interesting, amiable & obliging in every department that makes woman most charming, particularly in her conduct to her aged Grandmother & the General..."

"It is really an enjoyment to be here, to witness the tranquil happiness that reigns throughout the house (except now & then a little bustle, occasioned by the young squire Custis when he returns from hunting, bringing in a 'Valiant Deer' as he terms it, 'that Grand Pa & the Col. will devour'..."

"My mornings are spent charmingly alternately in the different chambers; first an hour after breakfast with the lady in the straw -- dressing the pretty little stranger, who is the delight of the Grand-Ma; then we repair to the old lady's room, which is precisely on the style of our good old aunt's, that is to say nicely fixed for all sorts of work -- on one side sits the chambermaid with her knitting on the other a little colored pet, learning to sew, an old, decent women with her table and shears cutting out the negroes winter clothes, while the good old lady directs them all, incessantly knitting herself, & pointing out to me several pair of nice coloured stockings & gloves she had just finished, & presenting me with a pair half done, begs me to finish, & wear for her sake --
Her netting too is a great source of amusement, & is so neatly done, that all the younger part of the family are proud of trimming their dresses with it and have furnished me with a whole suit, so that I shall appear "A la domestique" at the first party we have when we get home."

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"Written by Richard Howell and sung to the tune of Handel's "See the conquering hero comes." Later set to music and published by Alexander Reinagle, to whom the words are sometimes mistakenly attributed. See: Stryker, William S. Washington's reception by the people of New Jersey in 1789 (Trenton, 1882)." American Antiquarian Society. Accessed on Early American Imprints, Series I: Evans.

American Antiquarian Society

A SONATA

Sung by a Number of young Girls, dressed in white and decked with Wreaths and Chaplets of Flowers, holding Baskets of Flowers in their Hands, as General Washington passed under the Triumphal Arch raised on the Bridge at Trenton, April 21, 1789.

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 Arms did save,
Build for thee triumphal Bowers.
Strew, ye Fair, his Way with Flowers --*
Strew your Hero's Way with Flowers.

*As they sung these Lines they strewed the Flowers before the General who halted until the Sonata was finished.

The General being presented with a Copy of the Sonata, was pleased to address the following Card to the Ladies.

To the Ladies of Trenton, who were assembled on the twenty-first Day of April 1789, at the Triumphal Arch erected by them on the Bridge, which extends across the Assanpinck Creek.

General Washington cannot leave this Place without expressing his Acknowledgments to the Matrons and Young Ladies, who received him in so novel and grateful a Manner at the Triumphal Arch in Trenton, for the exquisite Sensations he experienced in that affecting Moment.--The astonishing contrast between his former and actual Situation at the same Spot -- the elegant Taste with which it was adorned for the present Occasion -- and the innocent Appearance of the White-Robed Choir who met him with the gratulatory Song -- have made such an Impression on his Remembrance, as, he assures them, will never be effaced.

Trenton, April 21, 1789.

broadside

Ryan, Dennis P., ed. A Salute to Courage: The American Revolution as Seen Through Wartime Writings of Officers of the Continental Army and Navy. New York: Columbia University Press, 1979.

“…I am at present enjoying myself incomparably well in the family of Mrs. Washington, whose guard I have had the honor to command since the absence of the General and the rest of the family, which is now six or seven days. I am happy in the importance of my charge, as well as the presence of the most amiable woman upon Earth, whose character should I attempt to describe I could not do justice to, but will only say that I think it unexceptionable; the first and second nights after I came it was expected that a body of the Enemy’s horse would pay us a visit, but I was well prepared to receive them for I had not only a good detachment of well disciplined troops under my command, but four members of Congress who were volunteers with their musquets, bayonets and ammunition. I assure you they have disposed of a greater share of spirits than you have ever seen in that body or perhaps ever will see as long as they exist. I leave you to judge whether there is not considerable merit due their commander. I only wish I had a company of them to command for a campaign; and if you would not see an alteration in the constitution of our army against the next, I would suffer to lose my ears and never command a Congressman again. The rations they have consumed considerably overbalance all their service done as volunteers, for they have dined with us every day almost and drank as much wine as they would earn in six months.” (186-187)

Perkins, Bradford. "A Diplomat's Wife in Philadelphia: Letters of Henrietta Liston, 1796-1800." The William & Mary Quarterly, 11 4 (October, 1954): 592-632.

From Mrs. Henrietta Liston to her uncle, Phila. Feb. 1797: “In my last I mentioned that Mr. Adams had carried his Ellection [sic] for President, it was only by three Votes. Washington is preparing for retirement with a very cheerful Countenance—Mrs. Washingtons [sic] heart seems a little melted, as she never expects to see Philadelphia again; she prest [sic] me to come to Mount-vernon this Summer but I made my excuses, as our wishes bend to the North….” (608)

From Mrs. Henrietta Liston to her uncle, Phila., 7/12/1797: “…to-morrow Congress rises (I am glad of it,) on the following day we dine, by invitation, with the President [John Adams], who, as his Wife is not in very good health is glad to run from the heat of Philadelphia, I believe I told you how pleased I am with Mrs. Adams, she has spirit enough to laugh at [journalist Benjamin F.] Baches [sic] abuse of her Husband, which poor Mrs. Washington could not, I hope to acquire that sort of spirit in time, but the thing is new to me yet-" (613)

Astell, Mary. A serious proposal to the ladies, for the advancement of their true and greatest interest by a lover of her sex. London: 1694. Yale University Library. In Early English Books Online

Yale University Art Gallery

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Smith, Eliza B. • The Compleat housewife; or, Accomplish'd gentlewoman's companion, being a collection of upwards of six hundred of the most approved receipts in cookery, pastry ... with copper plates curiously engraven ... and also bills of fare for every month of the year, to which is added, a collection of above three hundred family receipts of medicines. TX705 .S53 1742b, rare books and special collections, Rockefeller Library.

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Bremner, Robert. The Harpsichord or Spinnet Miscellany being a gradation of proper lessons from the beginning to the tolerable performer chiefly intended to save masters the trouble of writing for their pupils: to which are prefixed some rules for time. London: R. Bremner, c1765. Rare Books and Special Collections in the Rockefeller Library at Colonial Williamsburg. MT243 .B74 H37 1765.

Colonial Williamsburg Foundation

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• John Tennent . Every man his own doctor, or, The poor planter's physician: prescribing, plain and easy means for persons to cure themselves of all, or most of the distempers, incident to this climate, and with very little charge, the medicines being chiefly of the growth and production of this country.  Williamsburg, Rockefeller Library, RC81.T42 1736a, rare books and special collections.

Colonial Williamsburg Foundation

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