Fowle's New Hampshire Gazette And General Advertiser

From the UNIVERSAL MAGAZINE.
Biographical Anecdotes of the late
General LEE.

GENERAL LEE was remarkably slovenly in his
dress and manners; and has often, by the meanness
of his appearance, been subject to ridicule and insult.
He was once attending General Washington to a place
distant from the camp. Riding on, he arrived at the
house where they were to dine some time before the rest
of the company. He went directly into the kitchen,
and demanded something to eat, when the cook taking
him for a servant, told him she would give him victuals
in a moment, but he must first help her off with the pot.
This he complied with, and sat down to some cold meat
which she placed for him on the dresser. The girl was
remarkably inquisitive about the guests who were com-
ing, particularly of Lee, who, she heard was one of the
most oddest and ugliest men in the world. In a few mo-
ments, she desired the General again to assist her in
placing on the pot, and scarce had he finished, when she
requested him to take a bucket and go with her to the
well. Lee made no objection, and began drawing water.
In the mean while General Washington arrived, and an
Aid de Camp was dispatched in search of Lee; whom,
to his great surprise, he found engaged as above. But
what was the confusion of the poor girl! on hearing the
Aid de Camp address the man with whom she had been
so familiar, by the title of Excellency. The mug fell from
her hand, and dropping on her knees, she began crying
aloud for pardon; when Lee, who was ever ready to see
the impropriety of his conduct, but never willing to
change it, gave her a crown, and turning to the Aid de
Camp, "You see, young man, the advantage of a fine
coat. The man of consequence is indebted to it for re-
spect; and neither virtue nor abilities without it, will
make him look like a gentleman."

Another time his Excellency got a most severe drub-
bing, which seemed to be intended as a mark of justice
for his impiety and blasphemy. He was once riding to
Williamsburgh, to attend the Assembly, and, as usual,
was accompanied by a number of his dogs, among
which was one whom he called by the name of our Sa-
viour. A few miles from Williamsburgh, he fell in
with a man, who eyed this dog with particular attenti-
on, and at last demanded if he would sell him, "Sell
my dog! no! (replied Lee) what do you mean by that?"
The man, however taking Lee from his dress, to be no
way his superior, continued to press him, and offered so
large a sum, as to raise the General's curiosity to ask
the man for what purpose he was so anxious for the dog.
"Why, replied he, I want him to fight the Devil."
--Lee, who from the name he had given his dog, sup-
posing the fellow meant to insult him, threatened to cane
him: The man returned the compliment, by a torrent
of abuse, and Lee, was irritated to strike him; which
the fellow returned with such interest, that the General,
on his arrival at Williamsburgh, was confined some days
in his room, by a variety of colours, which arose round
his eyes, and which though esteemed ornaments by the
Indians, are considered in a different light by us.--On
inquiry, the man proved to be the master of a puppet
show, and having lost the dog, which used to attack
his infernal Majesty, had endeavored to procure Lee's
for that use; having no idea that the animal's name
was so a propos.

Lee had the consolation to find partners in his disgrace.
In the same county, and within a few miles of him,
was Major-General Stevens, a Scotchman, who was
broke for misbehaviour at Germantown; and General
Gates's house was likewise close by. On the arrival of
the old man, after his unfortunate defeat by Lord Corn-
wallis at Camden, Lee observed, that Berkeley was the first
county which had ever been, at the same time, the retreat
of three unfortunate Generals,--You, Stevens, said he,
was broke for getting drunk, when every man should be in
his senses; I, for not fighting when I was sure to be beat;
and you, Gates, for being beat when you had no business to en-
gage.

His house was built in a most romantic and agreeable
situation, in a delightful valley, watered by a rapid
meandering stream. On one side, you beheld the Ap-
palachian or Blue Mountains, which, for height, grandeur
and variety of prospect, can hardly be excelled. The
neighbourhood is one of the most social in Virginia.
The late Lord Fairfax, Col. Martin, Col. Thruston,
and several other men of letters, assisted in rendering
Lee's situation agreeable. His family consisted only of
an old housekeeper, an aged Italian, and a few Ne-
groes. The Italian had been long a faithful servant,
and Lee could sooner have parted with a member, than
with this useful domestic. To the credit of the Ge-
neral, he has rewarded his last services. and left him in
affluence and ease; nor can the voice of slander. with
all his faults, tax him with ingratitude, or with forget-
ting benefits received.

I have been informed, by a lady who was acquainted
with Lee in Dublin, when a very young man, that his
antipathy to women proceeded from a disappointment
he met with in that city. This he never would confess,
but flew into a violent passion, that any one should sus-
pect him of being either pleased with the smiles, or af-
fected by the frowns, of a woman.

He always spoke with the highest encomiums of Ge-
neral Burgoyne; but he foretold his misfortune at Sa-
ratoga, the instant he found General Howe was gone
round to Chesapeake. Lee was then prisoner in New-
York, and one evening in company clearly pointed out
what must be the event of the campaign. General Howe
is no fool said he. but master of his profession-To what,
then, can we impute the step he has taken, but to a desire of
continuing the war? Or else it must be from a jealousy of
the increasing reputation of Burgoyne. The first appears to
me to be the cause.

He was perfect master of the Italian and French langua-
ges. His literary productions are known and admired,
and I have seen several little poetical jeux d'esprit,
greatly above mediocrity. His library, which was val-
uable, both in ancient and modern authors, with a
great number of capital plans, charts and maps, he left
to the youngest son of Colonel Thruston, a young man of
an excellent heart, and of whom he was very fond.

Among the manuscripts are several performances of
the General's, which I hope will be given to the public,
and a M.S. volume of poems, by the late Sir Charles
Hanbury Williams.

The treatment he received from many, and particu-
larly from Governor Read, was such as would have
broke down a spirit endued with less fortitude than his.
If he had not died so suddenly, he would doubtless have
turned the tables against his enemies; and his journey
to Philadelphia was with the design. The coolness
with which he met dangers was equal to the fortitude
with which he supported adversity. When Colonel
Hamilton. Aid-de-Camp to General Washington, for-
ced Lee to the field. for ridiculing that General's abili-
ties, Lee received his fire. but refused either to retract
what he had said, or to return a shot: "You may fire
at me, Sir, all day, if it will amuse you; what I have
said I am not disposed to recall; but I should conceive
you do your patron no great honour by thus assuming
his cause; and as for returning your fire, I beg to be
excused. General Lee can acquire no honour by the
death of Colonel Hamilton!"

Some time before his death he wrote the following
epigram in the French language, at once expressive of
his situation and his fortitude; and which may thus be
translated:

Seduc'd by error, to misfortune born,
Deceiv'd by Congress; made my country's scorn;
While foes oppress me, friends I seek in vain,
What hope is left?--Yes! I myself remain!