Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1857-07-03
miscellaneous.
THOMAS JEFFERSON.
BY DANIEL WEBSTER.


BY DANIEL WEBSTER.
The following is an admirable descrip-
ton of ex. President Jefferson, as he APP
peared in 1924. Mr.. Webster visited
him this year, being one of party eff
eminent Bostonians who were several
days in the vicinity of Monticello. 1t
was within two years of his death, yet
such were his vivacity, the elegance of
his hospitality, and the Undesirable
charm of his conversation, as to make
deep impression even on such a party.
Mr.. Jefferson is now between eighty.
one and eighty-two, above six feet high,
of an ample, long frame, rather thin and
spare. His head, which is not peculiar
in its shape, is set rather forward on his
shoulders; and his neck being long,
there is, when he is walking or convers-
ing, an habitual protrusion of it. 1t is
still well covered with hair, which, hav-
ing been once red and now turning gray,
is of an indistinct sandy color.
His eyes are small, very light, and
neither brilliant nor striking. His chin
is rather long, but not pointed His
nose small, regular in its outline, and the
Dostrils little elevated. His mouth is
well formed, and still filled with teeth;
it is strongly compressed, bearing an ex-
preston of contentment and benevolence.
His complexion, formerly light and
freckled, now bears the marks Of age
and cutaneous affection. His limbs are
uncommonly long; his hands and feet
very large, and his wrists of an extra
ordinary size. His walk is not precise
and military, bnt easy and swinging -
He stoops little, not 50 much from age
as natural formation When sitting, he
appears short, partly from rather loung-
ing habit of sitting, and partl " from the
disproportionate length Of bis limbs
His dress when in the house is gray
surtout coat, kerseymere stuff waistcoat,
with an under one faced with some ma
terial of dingy rcd. His pantaloons
are very long and loose, and Of the same
color as his coat. His stockings are
wooden, either white or gray; and his
shoes of the kind that bear his name
His whole dress is very much neglected,
but not sloyculy. lie wears a comr4On
round hat. His dress when on horse
back is gray straight bodied coat, and
spencer of the same material, both fast
cned 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 knit white wool
en- tippet, in the place Of a cravat, and
black velvet CATERS under his pantaloons.
His general appearance indicates an ex-
traordinary 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
number Of voices in animated converse
ton confuse it.
Mr.. Jefferson rises in the morning as
soon as he can see the hands Of his clock,
which is directly opposite bis bed, and
examines his thermometer Immediately,
as he keeps a regular meteorological d.
airy. 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 four
teen miles. Dimes at four, returns to
the drawing room at six, when coffee is
brought in, and passes the evening till
nine in conversation His habit 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 be does
not seem afraid, with sometimes a slight
accompaniment of cold meat lie en-
joys his dinner well, taking with his
meat large proportion Of vegetables.
He has strange 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 thom.
Among others we found the following,
which are very rare in this country, and
apparently not atall injured by Transport
tation: LAdnau, Muscat, Samian, and
de Limoux. Dinner is scry-
cd in half Virginian half French style,
in good taste and abundance No wine
is put on the table till the cloth is re-
In conversation, Mr.. Jefferson is easy
and natural, and apparently not ambi-
tious; il is not loud, as challenging gen
eraI attention, but usually addressed to
the person next him. The topics, when
not selected TO suit the character and
feelings Of bis auditor, are those subjects
with which his mind Aeems particularly
and these, at present, may be