The Placer herald., 1857-11-14
The Wrath of Washington,

An anecdOte derived from Colonel Lear
shortly before his death in 1S46, may here
be related, showing the weight to which
Washington's passion would rise yet be con
trolled. 1t belongs to his domestic life
which am dealing with, having occurred
under his own roof whilst it marks public
feelings the most intense, and points to the
moral of his life l give it in Col. Lear's
words as nearly as l can having made note
of them at the time.
Towards the close of winters day in
1890, an officer in uniform was seen to dis
mount at the Presidents house in Philadel-
phia, and giving the bride to his 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 dining room to give
the information to Mr.. Lear who left the table
and went into the hall, where the officer re-
peated what he had said. Mr.. Lear replied
that, as the Presidents Secretary he would
take charge of the dispatches and deliver
them at the proper time. The officer made
answer that he had Just arrived from the
western army, and his orders were to deliver
L
dent in person; but that he would wait his
directions. Mr.. Lear, returned and in whs
per impaired to the President what had
passed. Ge. era Washington rose from the
table, and went to the officer. He was back
in short time, made word of apology for
his ABSENCE but no aluson to the cause of
it. He had company that day. Every
thing went on as usual. Dinner over, the
gentlemen passed to the drawing room of
Mrs. Washington, which was open in the
evening. The General spoke courteorsly to
every lady in the room as was his custom.
His hours were early, and by ten o'clock all
the company had gone. Mrs. Washington
and Mr.. Lear remained. Soon Mrs. Wash
ington left the room.
The General now walked backward and
forward slowly for some minutes, without
speaking. Then he sat down on the sofa by
the fire, telling Mr. Lear to sit down. To
this moment there had been no change in his
manner since his interruption at table, Mr.
Lear now perceived emotion. This rising in
him, he broke out suddenly, dts all over
ST. Clair's defeated-routed; the officers near
ly all killed, the men by wholesale; the route
complete-too shocking to think ot-and a
surprise into the bargain"
He uttered all with great vehemence.-
Then he paused, got up from the sofa and
walked about the room several times agitat-
ed, but saying nothing. Near the door he
stopped short and stood still! few seconds,
when his wrath became terrible.
"Yes," he burst forth, "here on this very
spot, took leave of him. wished him sue
cess and honor; you have your instructions,
| said, from the Secretary Of War, had
strict eye to to them, and will add but one
word-beware of a surprise. Irepeat it, BE-
WARE OF A sURPRIsE-you know how the
Indians fight u.s. 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, butchered, tomahawked by
surprise-the very thing l guarded him
against! OH God, Oh! God, he's worse
than a murderer. how can he answer to his
country; the blood of the slain is upon him
the curse of Heaven'
This torrent came out in tones appalling.
His very frame shook 1t was awful said
Mr.. Lear More than once he threw his
hands up as he hurled imprecations upon
St. Clair. Mr.. Lear remained speechless,
awed into breathess silence.
The reused chief sat down on the sofa
once more. He seemed conscious of his
passion, and uncomfortable. He was 81
lent. His warmth beginning to subsidc, he
at length said in an altered voice. This
must not 60 beyond this ROOM.
Another pause followed-a longer one
when he said in a tone quite low:
O. ~, olo1l 7 L. rol
hastily through the dispatches, saw the
disaster but not all the particulars; will
receive him without prejudice; he shall have
full Justice
He was now said Mr.. Lear, perfectly calm.
The storm was over; and no sign Of it was
afterwards seen in his conduct or heard in
his conversation. The result is known.
The whole case was investigated by Con-
gress. St. Clair was excu pated and re-
gained the confidence Washington had in
him when appointing him to that COM
mand. He had put himself into the thick
est of the fight and escaped unhurt, though
so ill as to be carried on litter, and un-
able to mount his horse without help.
The FIFTH AVENUE AND BENNETr.-The
smashing and crashing, says the New York
correspondent Of the Union, has already
brought the red flag into Fifth avenue, and
the new brown stone fronts for sale have
declined full forty per cent in price. The
Daily Times people have had their turn for
laugh at Mr. Bennett, of the Herald.-
When Mr. Wesleys Wall street house sus-
pended for few hours, the Herald, of course
had word on the subject. Mr.. Bennett
has been for two years so terribly down on
banking institutions that he has made Persse
u Brooks, the paper dealers his sub-treasury
Well, they made bad failure the other day,
owing Mr.. Bennett the sum of $4,000.
The affair has got into the papers, and the
| loainn aditor makas no denial of the fact