Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1831-02-24

character was prudence, never acting until every
consideration. was maturely weighed; reiraining
if he saw a doubt, but, when once decideu' 90
inc through with his purpose, Whatever ops,":aeS
opposed His integrity was ost pure DIS JUS
flee the most inAexbe have ever known'no mo
tives of interest or Of consangu'ni!ty' Z" ''iehu-
shin or hatred, being able to bias his decision;
He was, indeed, in every sense OF the "oru.
wise. good, and great man. his temper was
naturally irritable and heightened; but refiecti"n
and resolution had obtained firm and habltual
ascendancy over il. If ever, however, 1t broke
lie hounds. he was most tremendous IN his wrath
In his expenses he was honorable, but exact; IL
bera in contributions To whatever promised uti'i-
ty; but frowning and unyleldlng on all visionary
projects, and all unworthy calls on his charity
His heart was not warm in ITS affections; Out ne
exactly calculated every mans value ana gave
him solid esteem propOrtioned t" 1t. his per-
son was fine, his stature exactly what one would
wish, his department easy erect anu no-
BILE; the best horseman OF his age ana the most
graceful figure that could be seen on horseback.
| Although in the circle of his friends, where he
might De unreserved with safety, he took free
share in conversation. his coloqual talents were
not above mediocrity, possessing neither coplous-
ness of ideas, nor huency OF words In pubic,
when called on for sudden opinion. he was I'M
ready. short and embarrassed. Yet he wrote
readily, rather diffusely. i'll an easy and correct
STYLE. This he had acquired by conversation
with the world, for his education was merely
reading. writing, and common arithmetic, to
which he added surveying at a later day. His
time was employed in action chiefly. reading lit
tie, and that only in agriculture and English his
tory. His correspondence became hecessaIlly
extensive, and, with journalizing his agricultural
proceedings, occupied most OF his leisure hours
within doors. On the whole, his character was,
in its mass, perfect, in nothing bad IN lew points
Indifferent; and it may truly be said, that never
did nature and fortune combine more perfectly
to make man great, and to place HIM IN the
same constellation with whatever worthless have
merited from man an everlasting remembrance.
For his was the singular merit, of leading the
armies of his country successfully through an
arduous war. for the establishment OF its indie
pendence, of conducting its councils through
the birth of government, new in its forms and
principles, until 1t had settled down into quiet
and orderly train; and of scrupulOusly obeying
the laws through the whole Of his career, civil
and military. of which the history OF the world
furnishes no other example.
-aa92S5ea-
| Nh Early Uays.-.fn MISUNDERSTANDING ar
rived al what was considered suitable age, |
made nv appearance with cightv-twO Others at
Cambridge, as a candidate for admission to the
literary arena. In the course of my examination
| in Greek, which branch was conducted by the
professor of theology with his usual ability,
came to the phrase, in Anacreon, "urgon udor,"
which translated moisture; but the learned pro-
fessor Immediately corrected me by substituting
..wet water" felt strong inclination to ask
! has in Ifu
had made him acquainted with any species of wa
ter that was not wet; but checked myself, and
was passed to the professor of mathematics, who
ssked mc sbrnptly. how much is twice twos"
to which l answered, after some hesitation.
:. four" Question second followed like flash
of lightning, IS how do you prove that!' This
was what the cocknies call settler. After pom
derinp some time, was obliged to "give it up"
and was told that (" twice two made four by the
repeated addition of ones Upon hearing this
unexpected calculation of one of the mysteries of
mathematics, felt an embryo grin dlstorting the
muscles of nv countenance. If. however, was
startled by the new ideas had received in the
outset. was again sorely puzzled at some OF the
recitations. While the class were struggling
through the Able Mlot's Universal History. the
tutor asked one day. 6 did Cato die!' to which
the student after hastily counting the centuries
that had elapsed since the time oil julius Casar,
and finding it amounted to about nineteen, an
swered boldly, " YES, sir''-taking it for granted
that ruch staunch friend of republics as Cato,
would. if he were alive, have emigrated to the
United States, and taken an active part in poll
tics-but il seems he was g clean wrong" for
the profound and accurate tutor immediately IN
terrupted him with mo, he did not,-he killed
himself"
| CON GRESS.
| In the Senate. on Tuesday, the usual morning