Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1856-08-06
COL. FREMONT.

striking testimonial to the talents and acquire
ment of Col. Fremont. 1t is found in an edi-
tion of the Anabasis of Xenophon, prepared
by Dr. j. Robertson, and published ed by Lippin-
colt & Co., Philadelphia, in 1850. In the pre-
face to this work, which is dated Philadelphia,
August, 1850, DR.. Robertson. addressing HIM
self to the student for whose use his book was
designed, relates for their encouragement what
lie calls avery remarkable instance of patient
diligence and indomitable perseverance" We
| subioin his narrative
ssIn the year 1927, after l had returned to
Charleston from Scotland, and my classes
were going on, a very respectable lawyer came
to my school, think some time in the month
Of October, with youth apparently about six
teen, or perhaps not so much, of middle size,
graceful in manners, rather slender, but well
formed, aud upon the whole, what Iwould call
handsome; OF a keen. piercing eye, and no.
bic forehead, seemingly the very seat of ge-
MUS. The gentleman stated that he found
him given to study, that he had been about
three weeks learning the Latin rudiments, and
| (hoping, l suppose, to turn the youths atten-
tion from the law to the ministry had resolv-
| ed to place him under nly care for the purpose
oflearning Greek, Latin and Mathematics, suf-
fcient to enter Charleston college. l very
gladly received him, for [ immediately per-
| ceiyed he was no common youth, as intelligence
bcamed in his dark eye, and shone brightly on
| bis countenancc, indicating great ability, and
! an assurance of his future progress. l at once
| put him in the highest class, just beginning to
/ read Csesar'S Commentaries, and although at
/ first inferior, his prodigious memory and en-
/ thusiastic application soon enabled him to sur
pass the best. He began Greek at the same
! time, and read with some who had been long
at it, in which he also soon excelled. In short,
| in the space of one year, he bad with the
class, and at odd hours with myself, read four
| books Of Caesar, Cornelius Nepos, Sallust, six
/ books of Virgil, nearly all Horace, and two
! books Of Livy; and in Greek, all Gr;eca Hi
moro. the oif of tiTe v0ir4Hr0 OF Gre
ca Majora, and four books of Homer's Iliad.
And whatever he read, he retained. 1t SEEM
! ed to me, in fact, that he learned by mere in
| tuition. I was myself utterly astonished, and
at the same time delighted with his progress.
| I have limited above that he was designed for
/ the church, but when l contemplated his bold,
fearless disposition, his powerful inventive ge-
MUS, his admiration of warlike exploits, and
! his love of heroic and adventurous deeds, |
| did not think it likely he would be q Minister
of the Gospel. He had not, however, the least
| appearance of any vice whatever. On the
contrary, he was always the very pattern Of
virtue and modesty. I could not help loving
! him, SO much did lie captiyatc me by his gen
! tlemanly conduct and extraordinary progress.
1t was easy to see that he would one day raise
himself to ominence.
s.Whilst under my instruction, l discovered
his early genius for poetic composition ia the
following manner When the Greek class read
the account that Herodotus gives of the battle
Of Marathon, the bravery of Miltiades and his
ten thousand Greeks raised his patriotic feel
ings to enthusiasm, and drew from him ex-
pressions which thought were embodied in q
few days afterward in some well written verses
IL Charleston paper, on that far-famed une-
quail but successful conflict against tyranny
and oppression, and suspecting my talented
scholar to be the author, went TO his desk,
and asked him if he did not write them; and
hesitating at first, rather blushingly, he con
fessed he did. then said, :'I knew you could
do such things, and I suppose you have some
such pieces by you which ! should like to see.
Do bring them to me- He consented, and in
day or two brought me number, which 1
read with pleasure and admiration, at the
strong marks of genius stamped ON all, but
here and there requiring, as l thought, very
slight amendment.
81 had hired a mathematician to teach both
him and myself, Cfor l could not teach that
science and in this he also made such won
derfuI progress, that at the end of one year he
entered the Junior Glass in Charleston College
triumphantly, whilst others who had been stu
dying four years and more were obliged &c
take the Sophomore Glass. About the end ol
the year 1928 left Charleston, but l heard be
highly distinguished himself, aud graduated
in 1880. After that he taught mathematic:
for some time, and then went to study law m
der certain celebrated Senator. His career
afterwards has been one of heroic adventure
of hair-breadth escapes by flood and field, ant
of scientific explorations which have made
him worldwide renowned. In letter | re
ceived from him very lately, he expressed hi:
gratitude to me in the following words :-''I an
very far from either forgetting you, or neglec
t ting you, or in any way losing the old regarc
had for you. There is no time to which
go back with more pleasure than that spen
: with you. for there was no time so thorough,
: we'll spent and of anything have learned,
s remember nothing so we'll, and so distinctly
as what / required with you.' Here | canno
2 help saying that the merit was almost all hi
own. n is true encouraged and cheered hin