Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1834-05-22
IA @tHrell 4 II p.
KECOLLECTIONs OF WASHINGTON.

Der and habits oil General DEohCE w AsHlNG-
TON, is extracted from Gen. Sullivan's "Letters
on Public Characters, &C." This highly inter-
esting work has excited more attention, than any
other that has been published for long time
One fourth part Of the whole edition. Of 900 CO.
pies, was sold in less than four hours after it was
published, last Tuesday, May 18th, 1884.
The following are recolle ctions of w ash
ington, derived from repeated opportuni-
ties during the three last years Of his pub
lie life. He was over six feet in stature;
Of strong, bony, muscular frame, without
fullness of covering, well formed and
straight. He was a man Of most extra
ordinary physical strength. In his house
his action was calm, deliberate and dig
nifed, without pretension to graceful
ness or peculiar manner, but merely nat
ural, and such as one would think it
should be in such man. When walk
ing in the street, his movements had not
the soldierly air which might be expect
ed. His habitual notions had been formed
long before he took command of the A
merican armies, in the wars of the inte-
rior, and in the surveying Of the wilder
ness lands, employments in which grace
and elegance were not likely to be ac-
quired. AT the age of sixty-fve, time
had done nothing towards bending him
out of his natural erectness. His de-
pertinent was invariably grave; it was
sobriety that stepped short of sadness -
His presence inspired veneration, and
a feeling Of awe, rarely experienced in
the presence of any man. His mode of
speaking was slow and deliberate, not
as though he was in search Of fine words,
but that he might utter those only adap-
ted 10 his purpose. 1t was the usage for
all persons, in good society, to attend
Mrs. Washington's levee every Friday
evening He was always present. The
young ladies' used to throng around him
in conversation. There were some of
the well remembered bellies of that day,
who imagined themselves to be favor
ties with him. AS these were the only
opportunities which they had Of convers-
ing with him, they were disposed to use
them. One would think, that gentle
man and gallant soldier, if he could
ever laugh, or dress his countenance in
smiles, would do so, when surrounded by
| young and admirng beauties. But this
was never so; the countenance of Wash
ington never softened: nor changed its
habitual gravity. One who had lived
always in his family, said, that his man
ner in public life, and in the secIusion Of
most retired life, was always the same.
Being asked whether Washington COULD
laugh; this person said, that this was a
rare occurrence, but that one instance,
was remembered, when.he laughed most
heartily, at her narration of an incident
in which she was party conce rned land
in which he applauded her agency. The
late General Cobb, who was long men,
Der of his family during the war, land
who enjoyed laugh as much as any
man couId,) said, that he never saw
Washington laugh, excepting when Col
Scanned, (if this was the person) came
to dine at head quarters. SCANNED hat
a fond of ludicrous anecdotes, and 6
manner Of telling them, which relaxed
even the gravity Of the commander-in
chief.
| Gen. Cobb also said, that the forms Of
proceeding at head quarters, were exac
and precise; orderly and punctual "A
the appointed moment, Washington ap
peared at the breakfast table. He ex
pected to find all the members of hi
family, Cobb, Hamilton, Humphreys
were among them,) awaiting him. HI
came dressed for the day, and brough
with him the letters and dispatches o
the preceding day, with short memoran
da of the answers to be made; also tn,
substance Of orders to be issued. Whel
reakfast was over, these papers wer,
distributed among his aids, to be put in
to form. Soon after, he mounted hi
horse tovisit the troops, and expected t
find, on his return before noon, all tn,
papers prepared for his inspection ant
. signature. There was no famill arity i
his presence; all was sobriety and busi
ness. His mode of life was abstemiou
and temperate. He had decided pre-
ference for certain sorts OF food, proba
" bly, from early associations. Through
out the war, as it was understood IN hi
y military family, he gave part of ever
day, to private prayer and devotion.
: While he lived in Philadelphia, o
President, he rose at four o'clock in tn
morning; and the general rule Of hi
house was, that the fires should be coy
d cred, and the lights extinguished at
certain hour; whether this was at nine {
9 ten, is not recollected.
He devoted one hour every Tuesday
T. from three or four, to these visits. II
understood himself to be visited as tn
President Of the United States, and M
}, on his own account. He was not to b