The Yazoo Democrat., 1854-05-24
Extract from the Life Of Jefferson
BY HENRY s. RANDALL, Ii D.
Mr.. Jefferson as n IOveT---PersOnal
Description Of Him.

the school boy in the due and time-honored
order, as laid down by the melancholy
Jaques." The only record of this affair is to
be found in a series of letters addressed by
him to his friend Page, commencing immedi-
ately after he left college and extending, at
intervals through the two succeeding years.
These are to be found at length in Professor
fuckers life of him, and in the Congress edi-
ton of his correspondence. They possess
some interest perhaps in relation to their
subject matter, but most, as the earliest spec
linens of their authors epistolary writing
which have been preserved. Though
they display something of that easy com
mand of language-that cunning Lpen"
for which he was afterwards so cele
brated they exhibit no peculiar grace Of
style, or maturity of thought. Perhaps,
however, these would scarcely be expected
in the careless, of-hand illusions of boyish
intimacy. 1t causes a smile to see the future
statesman "sighing like furnace" in first
love; concealing, after the approved fashion
of student life, the name of his mistress un-
der awkward Latin puns and Greek anagrams.
to bury a secret which the world, of course
was supposed to have vast interest in dis
covering; delightfully."- describing happy dam
ces with his belinda" in the Apollo THAT
room in the Raleigh tavern where W. shall
soon find him acting so different a part;)
vowing the customary despaifing VOW, that
IF Belinda will not accept his service, it new
er shall be offered to another" and SO on to
the end of the chapter in the well-beaten
track Of immemorial prescription. The OBJ
ject of his attachment was Miss Rebecca
Burwell (called Belinda as pet-name or by
way Of concealment,) whom tradition speaks
Of as more distinguished for beauty than eley-
-rness.
Mr. Jeferson's proposals seems to have
been clogged with the condition that he must
be absent for two or three years in foreign
travel before marriage. Whether for this, or
because her preferences lay in a different di-
Irection, Miss Burwell somewhat abruptly mar
ried another man, in 1864.
Mr.. Jefferson was generally, however, rath-
CI u "a Ol4tS With tA1C OtOS1 SCAS
and not without reason. His appearance
was engaging. His face, though angular,
and far from beautiful, beaned with intelli-
gence, with benevolence, and with the cheer
ful yivacity of happy, hopeful spirit. His
complexion was ruddy, and delicately fair !:
his reddish chestnut hair luxuriant and silk
en-. His full, deep-set eyes, rather light in
{ color and inclining most to blue or brown,
according to the light in which they are view
ed, were peculiarly expressive, and mirrored,
as the clear lake mirrors the cloud, every
j emotion which was passing through his mind.
r lie stood six feet two and a half inches IN
height, and though very slim, his form was
erect and sinewy, and his movements display
) ed elasticity and vigor. lie was an expert
/ musician, a fine dancer, dashing rider and
: there was.no. manly exercise in which he
r could not play well his part. His manners
, were unusually graceful, but simple and cor
: dial. His conversation already possessed no
: inconsiderable share of that charm which, in
f after years, was SO much extolled by friends,
e and to which enemies attributed so seductive
an influence in moulding the young and wa
yering to his political views. There was a
frankness, earnestness and cordiality in its
: J, tone-a deep sympathy with humanity
confidence in man and sanguine hopeful
I ness in his destiny-which irresistibly won
upon the feelings not only Of the ordinary
: hearer, but of those grave men whose com
Q merce with the world had perhaps led them
to form less glowing estimates Of it-of such
men as the scholar-like Small, the sagacious
: Wythe, the courtly and gifted Fauquier. Mr.
! Jeferson's temper was gentle, kindly and for.
l giving. IF it naturally had anything of thai
: warmth which is the usual concomitant O
: affections and sympathies 50 ardent, it had
been subjugated by habitual control, Yet
= under its even placidity, there was not wan
!. ting those indications of calm. self-reliance
7 and courage which all instinctively recog
nize and respect. There is not an instance
! on record of his having been engaged in q
: personal rencontre, or his having suffered 3
! personal indignity. Possessing the accom-
! plishments, he avoided the vices Of the young
Virginia gentry Of the day, and class Of hab-
] its, which, if not vices themselves, were too Of
Il ten made the preludes to them. He never
] galnbled. To avoid importunities to game.
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