Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1855-08-11
AGRICULTURAL.
[From the New England Farmer.1
WASHINGTON AS AN AGRICULTU-
RIST
by FREDERIcK HoLBRooK.

ny FREDERICK HoLBRooK.
We might almost say that the wealth Of our
language has been exhausted, in the many ef-
forts which have been made delineating those
qualities of goodness and greatness Which form
ed the character of Washington and yet we all
feel that his merits and virtues have not been
oversta,od, that he is the peculiar ornament of
human nature, and by universal consent, 'tbe
Father of his Country" He has perhaps
been most commonly viewed in The light Of his
military and civil services but an examination
Of his habits and sentiments as connected with
farming, whether in public or private charac-
ter, shows him in quite another light, and in
this view we feel that he is entitled to the pc
cular regard Of the agricultural community.
A friend recently sent me volume Of WASH
ington's letters to Sir John Sinclair, of Eng
land the perusal of which led me to realize
more fully than ever before the great predilec-
tons of their illusirious anthor for the pursuits
Of agriculture. and his practical acquaintance
with its principles and induced me to examine
other publications within reach, which disclose
his connection with the subject The volume
Of letters TO Sinclair contains about fifty pages
in quarto or letter-sheei form, the contents be-
ing engraved from the original letters, so as To
be an exact fac simile Of Washington's hand
writing. They represent very round, full
and legible hand, read with entire ease at first
sight The letters are models of good epis-
tolary style of composition, expressing the
views of the author with eminent propriety,
discrimination and sound sense, and disclosing
an intimate knowledge of the subjects discussed.
They are particularly honorable to the author,
as coming from him while chief magistrate Of
the United States, at a time when everything
contested with the administration Of the gov
ernment was new and uniried, and 10 be wrought
out and established without aid Of precedent,
making his public labors most arduous and in
cessant; and when most other public men
would have found no time for such a correspou-
denee, or would perhaps have deemed the sub
jects discussed beneath their notice.
When Washington assumed command Of the
army, he committed the care Of his estates to Q
relative in whom he reposed special confidence
He gave full and minute directions for the con.
duct of the farming, taking away with hin
drawings and charts Of each farm and subdyid
ed field, and leaving duplicates with his super
intendent, so that in future correspondence par
ticular references might be made to any portion.
Of the estates, and be readily understood b,
both parties. In the midst Of the most stirring
and eventful scenes of the war, his mind con
s,anlly reverted to his farms at Mount Vernon
and he kept up frequent and systematic cor
respondenee with his superintendent, giving th'
most particular directions about the farming
and requiring, in return, full and regular report
Of operations, Of the condition Of the laborer
and the stock, the products raised, expenses in
cured, and other matters of interest.
At the close Of the war, and Immediately OF
resigning his commission in tho army, he 70