The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1855-06-16

IhO I"tiidl'i " -tHcflC1n literature. alter
halt century OF honorable labor, fitlv closes
his brilliant and useful career hv becoming
the hiographer Of WAeuINGroN. who 50 en-
lncn|y deserved the 'itie. Greater than that
OF Emperor. King. or KaiSir.) of" Father of
his Country. The whole work will he pub
l'>h"d within the present year. The first vol
umc OF the library or subscription edition is
to appear IN few days. and we avail our
selves Of an earl y copy to give al idea of
what promises 70 become. and viii deserve
10 i've. Nc Life Of the most ilustriouS amonr =
band Of patriots and heroes
| Commenced several years ago, its prosecu-
non was repeatedly interrupted. Mr.. Irving
says hy other occupations, by a long absence
isfn EUROPE, and by occasional arrangement
OF health. 1t was on!v within the last two
or three years that he had been able to apply
himself to ii steadily. This opening volume
traces The career from Waslinc:on's child
! hood to his entering into the active service
Of his country in June. 80. as Commander
! in-CiIct Of the Con:incnt., forces Mr.. Irving
sass That w ashineton. in fact. bed very little
private life. Lu. was cmnentlv public char.
artcr. .t'l his actions AMI concerns almost
from boy hood were connected with the hi~to-
ry of his country" This is true enough. and
whoever is master of The biography Of Wash
ington will from it know the history of our
struggle Tor independence But Mr. Irving
pleasantly and practically runs counter in his
book. to the assertion in his preface hv rcla-
TING variety of personalities respecting
Na>hiNgtonS pr.vA,c life. which. 10 our mind
constitute the charm Of thc volume. Nuch
oi wha. he tolls rs hns been related before
"ui much also new. Anl even the old
;ra.,luonal anecdotes are told With fresh
ness Which. 70 Use an artists phrase, brings
thea OUT, evan as the ,in.s OF fine picture
are made ".earcr acd brirh'er hv a iuiiciouS
touch OF cofal. Mr.. Irving states his work
TO be founded on the correspondence of
a>hinc: on in the archi:rs Of the Dcpar:
mcnt OF STATE, and on Sparks edition of
! NashinGton's Writings. But he has got
much from Trustworthy tradition - much
also from the recollection Of persons who
e""ro " II " ..'ain,"A Nth .ho hero Eor
many reasons. we consider III. b;nrr,,,l,y 4
very reliable one.
The o;"nln- chapter is devoted 10 the rc-
nca!o-y Of the WN~TIN,,roN tamilv-a sub
.iect. we think. very secondary Importance.
The catgran',father of WASnIxGrov en-
grated from England in too, and pur,ha>
irnd> in Virginia. where he settled GruE,,r.
the eldest son Of AUGUSTINE WA>uIx,ro<'s
second marriage. was born on the 24l o.!
February. orr .. s. in The homestead! on
Brides Creek, "a house which commanded
the opposite shore Of Mar,la 1t had
probably been purchased with the property.
and was one of the primitive tarm-houscS of
Virginia The root was steep, and soped
'own INTO low pro ccctin- caves il had four
rooms on the ground floor, and others in the
attic AMI an immense chimney at ea h end.
Not vcStIye o. 1t renlains. Two or three
d'cavcl --trceS, with shrubs and vines. ling
cr ahout the place. and here and there flow
~ garden wild serve to marx where a var
'icn llGI been. >Hch. at least. was the c:S.
a few wears since: but these NAV have like
wise passed away. \ stone mark, the si.,
Of the house, and an Inscription denotes its
beng the birthplace OF WAsm!xGrnx.
Oddly enough, thon.'i Nr. IHNi<.; ciycs the
date Of ;hc marriage i;scii. Goth March. l130.)
he las omitted to state the pcat' Of WA,u-
I>"r"N'S birth. That event took place in
1892. LAWETNCF. elder brother of GroE,;r
,>H!NGT"N lv prior marriage, became
head of the family. ly his fathers death in
l'l%, when GEORGE was only eleven wears
old, and conducted himself towards his faith
cr's family in an admirable manner.
'i'corCc, now eleven wears OF age, and the
other children OF the second marriage, haI
been left under the guardianship of their
mother, to whom was intru=ted The proceeds;
OF all their property until they should sever
ally come of age, She rro,el herself wor-
thy of the trust. Endowed with plain. direct
prompt decision. she governed her family
strictly but kindly, cxacting Difference while
she inspired atic ton. t;eorce, being her
eldest son, was thought to be her favoritc.
yet she never gave him undue preference,
and the implicit Difference exacted from
childhood, continued to be habitually ob~ery-
ed by him to the day of her death. lie in
herl'cd from her high temper and spirit
oi command. but her early preccpts and cx-
ample iau9h him TO restrain and govern that
temper. and to square lis conluc, on the ex-
act principles OF equity and justice
81 radition gives an interesting picture Of
the wl'iow, with her little flock gathered
round her. as was her daily wont, reading to
them lessons of religion and morality out of
some standard work. Her tavoritc volume
was NJ Matthew liale's Cont.my'1tionS, mo-
raj and divine. The admirable maxims
therein contained, for outward action as we'll
as seif-sovernmcnt, sank deep into the min
OF George. and, doubtless. had a great innu-
cnce IN forming his character They GER
taInly were exemplifed in his conduct
throughout life. This mothers manual, bear
ing bis mothers name, Mary Washington.
written with her-owI. hand. was ever presery
ed by him with tiIial care, and NAV still be
seen in the archives of Mount Vernon. \
precious document Let those who wish to
Know the moral foundation of his character
consul; its pages"