New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-05-26
NEW PUBLICA TONS
rpvno,c rrrv op WASHINGTON.

....s in such Unsuitable curiosity by the
III IN General no less than by the
- f,;erds Of the author, is on the eve Of
- from The press. BY the obliging courtesy
-,h. ,ublishers We have been permitted 10 e1-
-.,;ne the advance sheets, and fully sharing the
;u,stieuce of our readers will proceed 70 give
tbeu a brief account Of their contents.
Before making any extracts from the work
We cannot but express our satisfaction at its
final completion. Its publication will form an
important epoch in American literature. The
lifelong labors Of its llustriOus author could
not have been crowned with more appropriate
termination His name will henceforth be In
dissolubly connected with that Of Washington
not only by his boptsInal appcllation, but by the
noble monument which be has reared 10 his
memory. II was a betting task that the writer
who has left such q brilliant impress OF has
genius on the nascent literature of his country
whose fame is deYoutly cherished in the hearts
Of the American people-held in equally alice
tiopate remembrance in the rude cabins of the
frontier, the halls Of universities, and the sa-
loops of fashionable life-wbose successes ia
the varied walks of classical composition have
done as much 70 illustrate the character of
America in the eye Of the world as the elO-
quence Of her Senator'S or her proves in arms
should create permanent memorial of Wash
ipeton in style worthy the dignity Of the
,ubiect and the reputation Of the author
But in proportion to the magnitude and the fit
ness Of the task was the difficulty Of its execu-
tion. Withthe delicate sensitiveness of Mr. Irving
IL would not have been wonderful had it weighed
like a nightmare on his spirit. There is no
trace Of this however in the composition of the
work. He approaches the theme with cheer
full energy, almost gay hilarity, which shows
consciousness Of mastership as well his char
acteristic temperament. 4 writer Of less san
guine hopefulness would have shrunk from the
duty of attempting new portrature of a charac
ter so universally known as that OF Washington.
His whole history was familiar to the Amcri-
can mind as the charter of our liberties, which
was the fruit of his labOrs. Previous explorers,
il would seem, had gathered every fact, noted
every incident, exhausted every record, in de-
scribine his biography. His life, moreover, was 50
devoted to public ends as to throw into the shade
the minute traits Of personal character which
after all form the magnetic links of sympathy.
He lived so habtually in the gaze of the world as
TO produce a constant sense of Responsiveness
quite incompatible with the freedom of sponta-
neous action. His character was uniformly
grave, self-sustained and elevated above common
human weaknesses that it would seem to present
few materials for romantic delneation or fascina-
ting biography. But Mr.. Irving has not only
bravelv faced the difficulties of his subiect-he
has gathered from them an enduring triumph. He
has done well what has never been done before at
all. He has presented Washington as living
personality, not as a political or military automa
ton lie has laid bare the mighty heart of the hero
beneath the buff and blue encasings of the Con-
finenta uniform, and enabled us to listen to its
audible throbs. Henceiorth we shall know more
of the man than ever did before. The name
of Washington will not only be a household word
as Of old, but will awaken fresh sympathies in
avery lover of our marvellous humanity.
MIR. Irving introduces his volume with an ac-
count of the Washington family. Although not
of exciting interest, it presents several curious
ANTIQUARIAN details Washington was ofanancient
English stock, the genealogy Of which has been
traced up 10 the century Immediately succeed
inc the Norman Conquest. William de lIert-
bnrp. follower of William the Conqueror, was
the progeuitor of the Washingtons. The sur
name Of this brave knight was taken from a
village which he held by feudal tenure and
afterward exchanged for the manor aud village
ofWessyngton. The family changed its surname
NTH lis estate, and thenceforward assumed that
ef De Wessyngton. by degrees, the segnorial
sispof de disappeared from before the family
surname, which also varied from WessyngtOn to
Washington, Washington, and finally to Wash
ipgton. parish in the County of Durham
hears the name as last written, and in this
probably the ancient manor of WessyngtOn was
situated But leaving these genealogical nice
ties, let MS come down to the pith of the matter
and produce Washington Irving bodily in his
eapacity of biographer. Our first extract de-
xcribes the homestead on Bridges Creek which
was
THE BIRTHPLACE OF WASHINGTON:
This house commanded view over many miles Of
Tho Potomac and the opposite shore of Maryland. Ii
had probably been purchased with the property, and
was one of the primitive m-houses oil rsnna: Inc
,oof was steep and sloped down into low projecting
caves had four rooms on the ground floor and
others in the attic and immense chimney at each
n,d Not vestigc of it remains. Tive or three de-
ra~ed 6c-trees with shrubs and vines, lnger about
fle mace and here and there ilowergrown Wild
ss,xts TO marx where gardol has BEEN Such at
Is was The case few years snce; but these may
Iave Ia wisc passed away. \ stone marks the site
al the house. and an inscription denotes ns beng the
birthplace OF Washington.
We next have sketch Of the bOyhood Of the
h ero, introducing us TO
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