The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1857-09-03
WHOLE NUMBER 634
Tie Wrath OF washington.

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An nnecdOte derived from Colonel Tear
shortly before bis death, in 1916, msy here
be related, showing the height to which
Weshing'on's passion would rise, vet be
controlled. 1t belongs TO his domestic life
which am dealing with, having occurred
under his own roof, whilst it marks public
feeling the most intense, and points to the
moral OF his i e. | give it in Col. Lear's
words as near as can, having made note
of them at The time.
Towards the close of winters dav in
l79l, an officer in Uniform vts seen TO dis.
mount in front Of the Presidsnt's in Phila.
delphia, and, giving the bridle to servant.
knocked at the door of his mansion. Learn.
ing from the porter that the President was. at
dinner, he said he was on public business.
and had dispatches for the President A
servant was sent into the dning.room TO
give the Information to Mr.. Lear, who lett
the table and went into the hall, where the
officer repeated what he had said. Mr.. Lear
replied that, as the Presidents Secretary, he
would take charge of the dispatches and de.
liver them at tie prcrer time. The officer
made an 3wer that he had just arrived from
the western army, ard his orders were to
deliver them with all promptitude, and to
the President in person; but thu. he would
wait his directions. Mr.. Lear returned, and
IN whisper. impaired to the President what
had passed. General Washington rose from
the table, and went to the officer. He was
back in a short time, made a word of apolo.
gy for his absence, but no allusion TO the
cause 81. t. He bad company that day
Everything went on as usual. Dinner oyar.
the gentlemeA passed to the drawing-roem
OF Mrs. Washington, which was open in the
evening. The General spoke courteouslv
of every lady in the room, as was his Gus.
tom. His hours were early, and, by ten O..
clock AL the company had gone. Mrs.
Washington and Mr.. Lear remained. Soon
Ms. Washington left the room.
The General now walked backwards and
'of"dfuS !or some minutes without speaking.
Lhen ne sat down on sofa by the fire, tell.
ing Mr.. Lear to sit down. To this moment
there had been no change in his manner
since his interruption at the table. Mr..
Lear now perceived emotion. This rising
IN him, he broke out suddenly, "It's all
oVer-St, Clair's defeated-routed; the off.
GERS nearly al killed, the men by wholesale;
the rout eomplete-too shocking to think of
and surprise in the bargain!"
He uttered all this with great vehemence.
Then he paused, got up from the sofa and
walked about the room several times, agita-
ted but saying nothing. Near the door he
stopped short and stood still few seconds,
when his wrath became terribLe.
eyes," he burst forth, "HERE on this .yery
spot took leave of him; wished him sue.
cess and homer; you have your instructions,
l said, from the Secretary of War, had a
strict eye to them, and will add but one word
BEWARE OF 81 URpRIsE-you know
how the Indians fight us. He went off with
that as my last solemn warning thrown into
his ears. And yet /! to suffer that army to
be cut TO pieces, hacked by a surprise-that
very thing guarded him against! Oh, God!
oh, God he's worse than murderer how
can he answer it 70 lis Countrywide blood
of the slain is upon hm-the curse of wild
ows and orphans-the curse of Heavenn'
This torrent came out in tones appalling.
His very frame shook. 1t was cwful, said
Mr.. Lear. More than once he threw his
hands up as he hurled imprecations upon
st. Clair. Mr.. Lear remained speechless,
awed into breathless silence.
The reused chief sat down on the sofa
once more. He. seemed conscious of his
! passion, and uncomfortable. He was silent.
His wrath began 10 subside, he at length
said in an altered voice: "This must not
so farther than this ROOM" Another pause
foIlowed-a longer one-when he said in
tone quite low, General ST. Clair shall
have justice; looked hastily through the
dispatches, saw the whole disaster, but not
the particulars; will receive him without
disPleasure; l will hear him without preju-
dice; he shall have full justice.' ~
He was new, said Mr.. Lear, perfectly
calm. Half an hour had gone by. The
storm was over; and no sign of it was after
wards seen in his conduct or heard in his
conversation. The result is known. The
whole case was Investigated by Congress-
St. Clais was exculpated, and regained the
confidence Washington had in him when ap-
pointing him to that command, He had put
himself into the thickest of the fight and
escaped unhurt, though SO i'll as to be car.
ried on q litter and unable to mount his
horse without help Washington in Domes.
tic Life, By Richard Rusb. F& NJ,
GT.A teacher in one of the ca tern Sunday
Schools was lecturing class Of little girls
. | on the influence of the Mons in the formation