Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1834-10-17
A SKETCH OF GEN. WASHINGTON,
BY MR. JEFFERSON.


We intimated in a previous nuhoer VI Jul
paper, that we should occasionally call 10 ''ie
recollection of our readers the characters oi 'i'e
good old fathers oft the republic. we then gave
a sketch of Mr. PrNDLEToN from his own pehi
Int as we could not do so in the case OF WASH
1NeroN we resolved to do what was next IN oe'
gree, and present to our readers sketch OF 'ne
father of his country from the pen of the Author
of the Declaration of Independence
| No man more thoroughly comprehended the
! full character Of Washington than Thomas Jet-
/ ferson. He had served with him IN the virgin
ia House of Burgesses from 1869 to the breaking
out of the Revolutions and, during that ardu-
Gus struggle had him constantly in view. When
Mr. Jefferson returned from France, he accept
| ed seat in the Cabinet OF Washington; ana
was a constant observer for more than Tour
wears. of the actions and feelings of that great
man. His sources Of information were as lu
| as could be wished; and no one will doubt the
great tact of Mr. Jefferson in discriminating hu-
man character. Add to this. that when the
sketch was penned, the grave had long closed
over Washington--the party feelings of the day
! had dissoIved-and men had begun to pro-
! nounce his name with that reverence with which
the world now regards and will, we trust, con-
tinue to regard him, forever.-NortoN Beacon.
Ills mind was great and powerful. without
! being Of the very first order; his penetration
strong though not so acute as that OF New
ton Bacon, or Locke; and as far as he saw, no
Judgment was ever sounder. 1t was slow in
operation, being little aided by invention or i'm
/ apination, but sure in conclusion. Hence the
common remark of his officers, of the advan-
tage he derived from councils of war, where
hearing all suggestions, he selected whatever
was best; and certainly no General ever plan
ned his battles more judcously. But if de-
ranged during the course of the action, il any
member Of his plan was dislocated by sudden
circumstances he was slow in read juStment.
! The consequence was, that he often failed in the
! field and rarely against an enemy in station,
as at Boston and York He was incapable of
fear, meeting personal dangers with the calme>t
unconcern. Perhaps the strongest feature in
his character was prudence, never acting until
every circumstance, every onsderatlon was
maturelv weighed; refraning if he saw Il doubt,
but when once decided going through with his
purpose whatever obstacles opposed. His in
tegrity was most pure, his justice the most in
| flexible have ever known, no motives ofinter-
est or conSangunty, of friendship or hatred, be-
ing able to bias his decision. He was, indeed,
in every sense Of the word, wise, good, and
! a great man.
| His temper was naturally irritable and high
toned but reflection and resolution had obtain
ed firm and habitua ascendancy over it. If
ever, however. it bioAe its bounds he was most
! tremendous in his wrath. In his expenses he
was honorable, but exact; liberal in contrbu-
tons to whatever promised utility; but frowning
and unyieIding on al visionary projects, and
all unworthy calls on his charity His heart
was not warm in its affections; but he exactly
calculated every mans value, and gave him Il
solid esteem proportoned to it. His person,
YOU know, was fine, his stature exactly what
one would wish, his department easy, erect and
noble; the best horseman of his age, and the
most graceful figure that could be seen on horse
back Although in the circle of his friends,
/ where he might be unreserved with safety, be
took free share in conversation, his coIoqual
talents were not above meGiocrlty, possessing
neither copiousness of ideas, nor huency of
words. In public, when called on for sudden
opinion he was unready, short and embarrass
/ ed. Yet he wrote readily, rather diffusely, in
an easy and correct style. This he had acquir-
ed by conversation with the world, for his edu
cation was merely reading, writing and com
! mon arithmetic to which he added surveying at
a later dav. His time was employed in action
chiefly, reading little, and that only in agrcu-
ture and English history His correspondence
became necessarily extensive, and, with jour
nasing 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 few 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 consea
ton with whatever worthless have merited from
man an everlasting remembrance. Forhi was
the singular destiny and merit, of leading the ar
mics of his country successfully through on ar
duous war, for the establishment of its ndepen-
dence; Of conducting its councils through the
birth of government, new in its forms and
principles. until it had settled down into quiet
and orderly train; and Of scrupnlously obeying
the laws through the whole of his career, civil
and military, of which the history Of the world
furnishes no other example"
Nerifsg Punishmenf-On Monday evening