The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-08-07
From the Philadelphia North American
COLONEL FREMONT.

COLONEL FREMONT.
A friend has called our attention to very
striking testimonial to the talents and acquire
ments of the Republican candidate for the
Presidency. 1t is found in an edition of the
Anabssis of Xenophon, prepared by DIR. j.
Roberton, and published by Lippincott & Co.,
of this city, in 1850. In the preface of this
work, which is dated Philadelphia, August 1850,
DR.. Roberton, addressing himself to the stu
dents for whose use his book was designed, re-
lates for their encouragement what he calls
"a very remarkable instance of patient dill
gence and indomitable perseverance" We
subjoin his narrative:
"In the year 1927, after / 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 we'll
formed, and upon the whole, what would call
handsome of keen, piercing eye, and a no.
Bile forehead seemingly the very seat of genius.
The gentleman stated that he found him given
to study, that he bad been about three weeks
learning the Latin rudiments, and, (hoping,
suppose, to turn the youths attention from the
law to the ministry had resolved to place him
under my care, for the purpose of learning
Greek. Latin, and mathematics, sufficient to
enter Charleston College. very gladly re-
ceived him, for Immediately perceived he was
no common youth, as intelligence beamed in
his dark eye, and shone brightly on his counte-
nance, indicating great ability, and an sssu-
rance of his future progress. | at once put him
in the highest class, just beginning iG reed
C@ssr's Commentaries; and, although at first
inferior, his prodigious memory and enthusi-
astic application soOa enabled him to surpass
the best. He began Greek at the same time,
and read with some who had been long st 1t,
in which he also soon excelled. In short, in
the space of one year, he had, with the class,
and at odd hours with myself read four books
of Caesar, Cornelius Nepos, Ssllust, six books
of Virgil, nearly all Horace, and two books of
Livy and in Greek, all Greca Minors, about
the half of the first volume of Greca Msjora,
and four books Of Homer's Had. And what.
ever BE read, he retained. It seemed to me-
in fact, as if he learned by mere intuition. I
was myself utterly astonished, and at the same
time delighted with his progress. have
limited above that he was designed for the
church; but when ! 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 minister
appearance of any vice whatever. On the
contrary, he wss always the very pattern of
virtue and modssty. ] could not help loving
him, so much did he captivate me By his gen.
tlemanly conduct and extraordinary progress.
1t was easy to see that he would one day raise
himself to eminence.
"Whilst under my instruction, l discovered
his early genius for poetic composition in 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 bis patriotism to
enthusiasm, and drew from him expressions
which thought we're embodied, in a few days
afterwards, in some well-written verses in
Charleston paper, on that far famed, unequal,
but successful CONFLICT against tyranny and op-
preston; and suspectiBg nay 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 confessed he did.
L then said, knew you could do such things,
and suppose you have solae auch pieces by
you, which l should like to see. Do bring
them to me- He consented, and in day or
brought me a number, which / read with
pleasure and admiration, at the strong marks
of genius stamped on ell, but here and there
requiring, as | thought, 3 very slight amend
ment.
81 had hired mathematician to teach both
him and myself, flor could not then teach that
science,) and in this he also made such won
derful progress, that at the end of one year he
entered the junior class in Charleston College
triumphantly, whilst others, who had been
studying four years and more were obliged to
take the sophomore class. About the end of
the year 1928, left Charleston, but heard
that he highly distinguished himself, and grad
uated in 1880. After that, he taught mathe-
| matics for some time and then went to study
law under certain celebrated Senator.
His career afterwards has been one Of he,
roic adventure and hair-breadth escapes, by
GOOD and field, and Of scientific explorations,
which have made him worid-Eide renowned.
| expresses his gratitude to me in the following
words: l am very far from either forgetting you,
or negisctng you, or in any way losing the old
regard had for you. There is no time to which
| 90 back with more pleasure than that spent
| with you for there was no time so thoroughly
we'll spent; and of anything may have learned,
remember nothing so well, and so distinctly,
as what acquired with yos.' Here l cannot
| help saying, that the merit was almost all dis
own. It is true, that encouraged and cheer
| ed him on but if the soil into which put the
seeds of learning had not been of the richest
quality, they meyer would have sprung up to q
hundred fold in the fqii eas.
"such, my young friends, is but an immperfess
sketch of nv ONCE beloved and fayorite pupil,
now Senator, and who may yet rise to be ct
the head of this great and growing Republic.
My prayer is, that he may ever be opposed to
war, injustice, and oppression Of every kind,
9 blessing to his country, and an example OF
every noble virtue to the whole world"
Elections.-The States of Kentucky, Texas,