...absence." On February 1, 1784, Washington wrote to Lafayette — "At length, my dear Marquis, I am a private citizen on the banks of the Potomac, and under the shadow of my own vine and fig-tree, free from the bustle of a camp, and the busy scenes of public life. I am pleasing myself...

...THE MARQUIS DE LAFAYETTE. "MOUNT VERNON, 1 February, 1784. "At length, my dear Marquis, I am become a private citizen on the banks of the Potomac; and under the shadow of my own vine and my own fig tree, free from the bustle of a camp, and the busy scenes of public life, I am dolacing myself...

...retirement that he conveyed as one of resting "under the shadow of my own Vine and my own Fig tree, free from the bustle of a Camp and the busy scenes of public life" did not quite correspond to his activities.5' Washington threw himself into that same bourgeois "symbiosis...

...peace". For too brief a time, Washington now became "a private citizen on the banks of the Potomac ... free from the bustle of a camp and the busy scenes of public life". However, elements of his illustrious army, embittered at the failure of Congress to provide back pay...

..."the philosophic retreat to which I am retiring." To Lafayette he would describe his hopes of becoming "a private citizen on the banks of the Potomac, and...bustle of a camp and the busy scenes of public life." There he expected to be, soon, "solacing myself with those tranquil enjoyments, of which the Soldier...

...three-year-old George Washington Custis, familiarly known as "Wash" or "Tub." At length I am now become a private citizen on the banks of the Potomac, and under the shadow of my own Vine and my own Fig tree, free from the bustle of a camp and the busy scenes of public life I am not only retired from...

...expressed that feeling to simply go home in a touching letter he later wrote to Lafayette: I am become a private citizen on the banks of the Potomac, and under the shadow of my own vine and my own fig tree. Free from the bustle of a camp and the busy scenes of a public life, I am solacing myself...

...Dispenser of human events could have prevented his falling." And in a letter to Lafayette he writes ; " Free from the bustle of a camp and the busy scenes of public life, I am sola®, ing myself with those tranquil enjoyments which the soldier, who is ever in pursuit of fame...

...letters. After a month of that, he wrote Lafayette manfully: "At length, my dear Marquis, I am become a private citizen on the banks of the Potomac, and...camp and the busy scenes of public life. ... I am not only retired from all public employments, but I am retiring within myself. . . . Envious of none,...

...for everybody." At this time Washington wrote to Lafayette: "At length, my dear Marquis, I am become a private citizen on the banks of the Potomac ; and under the shadow of my own vine and fig-tree, free from the bustle of a camp, and the busy scenes of public life, I am solacing myself...