The life and achievements of George Washington have already been described by so many able and accomplished biographers, that it might be deemed superfluous in any other writer to attempt the same task, or to add to the large number of works now existing on the subject. It is true, indeed, that the records of Washington’s career which have been published, have in a great measure exhausted the subject, so far as the discovery and accumulation of facts in reference to him are concerned; nor does the present writer presume to have made any researches which have brought to light details and incidents which were not previously known.
Nevertheless, it has been thought that the want still existed in our literature of a concise and condensed narrative of Washington’s career, which would be suitable to the popular reader; for whose use the more aspiring style and ponderous bulk of other works on the same subject were not so well adapted. It was to supply this supposed necessity, that the present volume has been written. In preparing it the author has made a careful selection of the more important events connected with the public and private career of this illustrious man; and has narrated them in plain and simple language, as being best adapted to the purpose for which the volume was intended.
It had been useless on the part of the present writer, to have attempted an elaborate and extensive work upon a theme which has already been depicted by several of the master-minds of the age, with every charm of genius, and with every characteristic of ability. He has therefore contented himself with endeavoring to portray the subject in an unassuming, though, as he hopes, an accurate and reliable manner; at the same time making use of the most authentic and authoritative sources of information having reference to it. Whatever imperfections may exist in the work, will be amply atoned for by the superior interest and dignity of the subject; for the life and public services of Washington constitute one of those immortal themes, which no lapse of time or vicissitude of human affairs can deprive of their resistless hold upon the attention and admiration of mankind.
