Throughout his campaign he [Washington] was attended by a black man, one of his slaves, who proved very faithful to his trust. This man, amongst others belonging to him, he liberated, and by his will, left him a handsome maintenance for the remainder of his life. The horse which bore the General so often in battle is still alive. The noble animal, together with the whole of his property, was sold on his death under a clause in his will, and the charger was purchased by Daniel Dulaney, Esquire, of Shuter's hill, near Alexandria, in whom it has found an indulgent master. I have often seen Mr. Dulaney riding the steed of Washington in a gentle pace, for it is now grown old. It is of a cream color, well proportioned, and was carefully trained to military manoeuvres.[151] * * * * * [Illustration: The beautiful drawing room] [Illustration: The original dining room at Mr. Dulany's, now the library] The Dulanys were hospitable folk, and many were the guests entertained both at their country estate and at their Alexandria home. A revengeful guest, or a malicious wit, startled the town one morning by the following poem entitled THE BALL AT SHOOTER'S HILL By A.X.--Georgetown Ben Dulany of Shooter's Hill, Once said to his wife, "Our rooms we'll fill With all the beauty, and all the style And all of the rank and some of the file That flourish in Alexandria Alias 'Botany Bay'," (Which was ever his subsequent say When speaking of Alexandria). Mrs. Dulany said with a sigh "If such is your fancy, so will I". Ben Dulany of Shooter's Hill Said to his wife, "We will fulfill Our social trust and invite them all, The great and the wealthy to come to our ball, The handsome and ugly, the pretty and plain, The learned and the silly, the wise and the vain." He was a man of great learning and wealth And the name that he bore was a power itself, For his Tory father was great among men And smote hard on the rebels with voice and pen, But Mrs. Dulany said with a sigh, "This fancy of his, I cannot tell why". Ben Dulany of Shooter's Hill Said to his wife, "I wish you to fill The pantry and larder, the shelves and the table With all the most excellent things you are able, And spare neither trouble or money, for when (Tobacco remember was currency then), I offer a banquet my guests must behold Something more on my table than china and gold" And Mrs. Dulany said with a deep sigh, "This fancy of his, I cannot tell why".