220 THE PORTRAIT GALLERY 
Brappock enhanced his prestige, while the reduction of Ft. 
Duquesne made him America’s military leader. In 1759 the 
wars had ceased sufficiently so that he was enabled to marry 
Marta Custis, one of the wealthiest widows of Virginia, and, 
to indulge his agricultural tastes. He became a member of the 
Virginia house of burgesses, and took an earnest interest in 
politics, but “it is not known that he ever made a set speech 
or entered into a stormy debate.” He was one of Virginia’s 
delegates to the first and second Continental Congresses. On 
the return from the first congress a friend inquired of Patrick 
Henry whom he considered the greatest man in the congress. 
Henry's reply has gone into history: “If you speak of elo- 
quence, Mr. RuTLEDGE of South Carolina, is by far the greatest 
orator; but if you speak of solid information and sound judg- 
ment, CoOL. WasHINGTON is undoubtedly the greatest man on 
that floor.” 
He was appointed commander-in-chief of the Continental 
forces by the second congress, a position he accepted with sin- 
cerity and humility. His service from the successful siege of 
Boston to the surrender of Yorktown continually demonstrated 
his military prowess. After his masterly defense of the Dela- 
ware, FREDERICK THE GREAT declared his campaign “the most 
brilliant achievement recorded in military annals,” while some 
years later he sent GENERAL WASHINGTON a portrait of himself 
inscribed in his own handwriting as follows: “From the oldest 
general in Europe to the greatest general in the world.” 
His indignant refusal of a crown and his patriotic adjust- 
ment of the difficulties of the army over lack of pay, made him 
a statesman at a time when partisanship ran rampant. In 1794 
he announced as his principles of a sound government, to make 
the United States an independent power, “First, an indissoluble 
union of the states under one federal head; second, a sacred 
regard for public justice; third, the adoption of a proper peace 
