The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1856-12-17
DersonaI gkcttbes.
AND HENRY.

From n volume, containing the Prl-
vate Correspondence of Daniel Webster,
just published, we select the following
interesting itemss
THOMAS E DESCRIBED BY DANIE
WEBSTER.
Mr.. Jefferson is now, December,
1924 between 81 and 80 above 6, feet
high, of IN ample, long frame, rather
thin and spare. His head, which is not
peculiar in its shape is set rather for
ward on his shoulders and his neck be-
ing long, there is, when he iswalking for
conversing, an habitual protrusion of
it. 1t is still we'll covered with hair
which having been once red, and now
turning gray, is of an indistinct sandy
color.
His eyes are small, very light, and
now neither brilliant For striking. His
chin is rather long, but not. pointed
His nose small, regular in its outline,
and the nosirils a little elevated. His
mouth is we'll formed, and still filled with
teeth it is strongly compressed, bear
ing an expression of contentment and
benevolence. His complexion, formerly
light and freckled. now bears the marks
of age and cutaneous affection. Hislimbs
are uncommonly long; his hands and
feet are very large, and his wrists of an
extraordinary size. His walk is not
precise and military, but easy and
swinging. He stoops a little, not so
much from age as from natural forma-
ton. When sitting, he appears short,
partly from a rather ~lounging habit of
sitting, and partly from the dispropor-
t~ionate length of his limbs.
His dress, when in the house, is a
gray surtout coat, kerseymere stuff
w~aistcoat, with an under one faced with
some materiel of a dingy red. His pan
falcons are very long and loose, and of
the same color as his coat. His stock
ings are wooden either white or grey
and his shoes of the kind that bear his
name. His whole dress is very much
neglected, but not slovenly. He wears
a common round hat. His dress, when
on horseback, is a grey straight-bodied
coat, and a spencer of the same material,
both fastened with large pearl buttons.
When we first saw him, he was riding;
and, in addition to the above articles of
apparel, wore round his throat a knit
white wooden tippit, in tho place of a
c~ravat, and black velvet CATERS under
h~islpantaloons. His general appearance
indicates an extraordinary degree of
health, vivacity and spirit. His sight
is still good, for he needs glasses only in
the evening. His hearing is generally
good. but a number of voices in ANNA
mated conversation confuse it.
Mr.. Jefferson rises in the morning as
soon as he can see the hands ofhis clock,
which is directly opposite his bed, and ex
amines his thermometer Immediately, as
he keeps a regular meteorological diary.
He employs himself chiefly in writing
till breakfast, which is at nine. From
that time till dinner he is in his library,
excepting that in fair weather he rides
on horseback from seven to fourteen
miles. Dimes at four, returns to the
drawing room at six, when coffee is
brought in, and passes the evening till
nine in conversation. Hisshabit of re-
firing at that hour is so strong, that it
has become essential to his health and
comfort. His diet is simple, but he
seems restrained only by his taste. His
breakfast is tea and coffee, bread always
fresh from the oven, of which he does
not seem afraid, with sometimes a slight
accompaniment of cold meat. He en-
joys his dinner well, taking with his meat
a large proportion of vegetables. He
has a strong preference for the wines
of the Continent, of which he has many
sorts, of excellent quality, having been
more than commonly successful in his
mode of importing and preserving them.
Among others we found the following,
which are very rare in this country, and
apparently not at all injured by trans
portation /: L'Ednau, Muscat, Simian,
and Blanchette de Limoux. Dinner is
served in half Virginian, half French
style, in good taste and abundance. No
wine is put on the table till the cloth is
removed.
Iu conversation. Mr.. Jefferson is easy
and natural, and apparently not am
bilious; it is not loud, as challenging
general attention, but usually addressed
to the person next him. The topics,
when not selected to suit the character
and feelings of his auditor, are those
subjects with which his mind seems par
ticularly occupied; and these, at pres
ent, may be said to be science and let
tiers, and especially the University OF
Virginia, which is coming into existence,
almost entirly from his exertions, and
will rise, it is to be hoped, to usefulness
and credit under his continued care.
When we were with him, his favorite
subjects were Greek and Anglo-Saxon,