ever lying, and wheresoever found, a schedule of which, as far as is recollected, with a reasonable estimate of its value, is hereunto annexed, I desire may be sold by my executors, at such times, in such manner, and on such credits, if an equal, valid, and satisfactory distribution of the specific property cannot be made without, as in their judgment shall be most conducive to the interest of the parties concerned, and the monies arising therefrom to be divided into twenty-three equal parts, and applied as follows, viz. To William Augustine Washington, Elizabeth Spotswood, Jane Thornton, and the heirs of Ann Ashton, son and daughter of my deceased brother Augustine Washington, I give and bequeath four parts, that is, one part to each of them; to Fielding Lewis, George Lewis, Robert Lewis, Howell Lewis, and Betty Carter, sons and daughter of my deceased sister Betty Lewis, I give and bequeath five other parts, one to each of them; to George Steptoe Washington, Lawrence A. Wash ington, Harriet Parks, and the heirs of Thornton Washington, sons and daughter of my deceased brother Samuel Washington, I give and bequeath the other four parts, one part to each of them; to Corbin Washington, and the heirs of Jane Washington, son and daughter of my deceased brother John A. Washington, I give and be que.h two parts, one part to each of them; to Samuel Washington, Frances Ball, and Mildred Hammond, son and daughters of my bro ther Charles Washington, I give and bequeath three parts, one part to each of them; and to George F. Washington, Charles Aug. Wash. ington, and Maria Washington, sons and daughter of my deceased nephew, George A. Washington, I give one other part, that is, to each a third of that part; to Eliz. Park Law, Martha Park Peter, and Eleanor Park Lewis, I give and bequeath three other parts, that is, a pat to each of them; and to my nephews, Bushrod Washington, and Law. Lewis, and to my ward, the grandson of my wife, I give and bequeath one other part, that is, a third thereof to each of them. And if it should so happen, that any of the persons whose names are here enumerated, unknown to me, should now be dead, or should die before me, that in either of these cases, the heirs of such de ceased persons shall, notwithstanding, de ive all the benefits of the bequest, in the same manner as if he or she was actually living at the time. And by way of advice, I recommend to my executors not to be precipitate in disposing of the landed property, therein direct ed to be sold, if from temporary causes the sale thereof should be dull; experience having full evinced, that the price of land, especially above the falls of the rivers and on the western waters, has been pro gressively rising, and cannot be long checked in its increasing value. And I particularly recommend it to such of the legatees, under this clause of my will, as can make it convenient, to take each a share of my stock in the Potowmac company, in preference to the amount of what it might sell for; being thoroughly convinced myself, that no uses to which the money can be applied, will be so productive as the tolls arising from this navigation when in full operation, and this from the nature of things, it must be ere long, and more ́esp cially if that of the Shenandoah is added thereto,

The family vault at Mount Vernon i equiring repairs, and being im properly situated beside, I desire that a new one of brick, and upon a large scale, may be built at the foot of what is commonly called the Vineyard enclosure, on the ground which is marked out; in which my remains, with those of my deceased relations, now in the old vault, and such others of my family as may choose to be entombed there, may be deposited. And it is my express desire, that my corpse may be interred in a private manner, without parade or funeral oration.

Lastly. I constitute and appoint my dearly beloved wife, Martha Washington, my nephews William Augustine Washington, Bushrod Washington, George Steptoe Wa hington, Samuel Washington, and Lawrence Lewis, and my ward George Washington Park Custis, when he shall have arrived at the age of twenty years, executrix and executors of this my WILL AND TESTAMENT; in the construction of which, it will readily be perceived, that no professional character has been consulted, or has had any agency in the draught; and, that although it has occupied many of my leisure hours to digest, and to throw it into its present form, it may, notwithstanding, appear crude and incorrect; but having endeavoured to be plain and explicit in all the devises, even at the expence of prolixity, perhaps of tautology, I hope and trust, that no disputes will arise concerning them; but if, contrary to expectation, the case should be otherwise from the want of legal expression, or the usual technical terms, or because too much or too little has been said on any of the devises to be consonant with law, my will and direction expressly is, that all disputes, if unhappily any should arise, shall be decided by three impartial and intelligent men, known for their probity and good understanding; two to be chosen by the disputants, each having the choice of one, and the third by those two; which three men thus chosen shall, unfettered by law or legal constructions, declare the sense of the testator's intentions; and such decision is, to all intents and purposes, to be as binding on the parties as if it had been given in the supreme court of the United States.

In witness of all and each of the things herein contained, I have set my hand and seal, this ninth day of July, in the year one thousand seven hundred and ninety, and of the independence of the United States the twenty fourth.

GEORGE WASHINGTON. * It appears the testator omitted the word nine.

SCHEDULE

Of property comprehended in the foregoing WILL, directed to be sold, and some of it conditionally is sold with descriptive and explanatory notes thereto.

CITY OF WASHINGTON,

Two near the capitol, square 634, cost 963 dollars, and with buildings,

15,000

Nos. 5, 12, 13, and 14, the three last water lots on the Eastern Branch, in square 667, containing together 31,438 square feet, at twelve cents,

4,132%

ALEXANDRIA.

Corner of Pitt and Prince streets, half an acre laid out into buildings, three or four of which are let on ground rent at three dollars per foot,

Dollars.

4000/

WINCHESTER,

A lot in the town, of half an acre, and another in the commons, of about six acres, supposed

BATH OR WARM SPRINGS.

Two well situated, and had buildings to the amount of 150%.

400

8000

POTOWMAC COMPANY. Twenty four shares, cost 100/ sterling,

10,666r

JAMES RIVER COMPANY.

Five shares, each cost 100 dollars,

500

BANK OF COLUMBIA.

One hundred and seventy shares, cost $40 each

6,800%

1.000

BANK OF ALEXANDRIA.

Beside twenty shares to the free school-5.

STOCK LIVING, VIZ.

One covering horse, five carriage horses, four riding ditto, six broodmares, twenty working horses and mares, two covering jacks, and three young ones; ten she asses, forty two working mules, fifteen younger ones, three hundred and twenty nine head of horned cattle, six hundred and forty head of sheep, and a large stock of hogs, the precise number unknown. My manager has estimated this live stock at 7,000/. but I shall set it down, in order to make a round sum, at

15,658

Aggregate amount, 530,000

NOTES.

a This tract for the size of it, is valuable, more for its situation than the quality of its soil, though that is good for farming; with