The Washington union., 1857-12-06
WEEKLY MISCELLANY OF LrrERAruRH AND ART

Iyete TO the Father Of his Country, lies before The
,ctionate terms in which it Is couched indicate tho
m personal feeling entertained by the young French
.youis toward his iliustrious friend which the world
Lnows was fully reciprocated The supercption of the
letter is in these words His exoeil@ncy General Wash
inzon Mount Vernon, Virginia !" and its date Is fur
phed by the following endorsement on its back in Wash
,ngtons handwriting s'From the Marquis De la Fay
cite, August, l7sa'
PHILADELPHIA, Tuesday evening.
Nv DEAR GENERAL have already had the pleasure TO
.ouaint you with my arriyain America, andam endeav
odns TO reach Mount Vernon soon possible. My
6 plan only TO stay here two days but the affec
onate reception have met with In this city and the
turning some compliments e assembly render it
sssary for to stay day longer On Friday will
b at the head OF Elk the next day at Baltimore and by
sunday or Monday hope at last 10 be blessed with
aght Of my dear General There isno rest for until
10 to Mount Vernon ] long for the pleasure TO
baoe you, my dear General and the happiness Of being
once with you win be great that words
ever express it, In few days II be at Mount Vernon,
and do already feel delighted with charming pros
ret Nv best respects wait upon Mrs Washington, and
not long after you receive this shall tell you myself how
respectfully and aectionately have the honor to be,
my dear General, your most obedent, humble servant
LAFAYETTE.
In case your affairs call you to the springs beg leave
either to go there after you or to accompany you your
journey
We cannot forbear quoting in this oonnexion the
cludng paragraphs of the fourth volume Of Irvng's
s'Iife of Washington work which, ii we are not
greatly mistaken, Is destined to attain much wider
popularity than it has yet reached and which must
suredly take rank among the very best productions of
its accomplished author The majestic proportions of
Washington character are portrayed by his bographer,
in the passages suboin with vigor and grace which
woud to be almost hopeless to attempt to srpass
In the volumes here concluded have endeavored
10 narrate faithfully the of Washington from
childhood through his early surveying expeditions in the
wilderness his diplomatic mission to the French posts
the frontier his campaigns in the French war; his ardu
GUS trials throughout the revolu
ton the noble simplicity of his life in retirement until
we have shown him elevated to the presidential chair by
no effort of his own in against his wishes by
the unanimous vote of agrateful country.
The plan of our work has necessarily carried widely
into the campaigns of the revolution where Wash
ington not present in person for his spirit pervaded
and directed the WHOLE and general knowledge Of the
whole necessary to appreciate the sagacity forecast
enduring fortitude and comprehensive wisdom with
which he conducted it. He himself has sgnied to
who asped TO write his biography that any memoirs Of
bis fe distinct and unconnected with the history of the
war would be unsatisfactory In treating of the revolu
tion we have endeavored to do justice to what
slider Its most striking characteristic the greatness of the
object and the scantiness of the means We have
dcayored to keep in view the prevailing poverty of
sources the scandalous neglect the squad mseres of
all kinds with which its champions had to contend in
their expeditions through trackless wildenesses thnly
peopIed regions beneath scorching inclement
skies their wintry marches to be rpred by bloody foot
prints and ice their desolate wintry encamp-
ments rendered still desoate by nakedness and
famine 1t in the patience and fortitude with which
these ills we're sustained by halfdscplined yeomanry
voluntary exes from their homes destitute of all the
'pomp and circumstance of to excite them, and
animated solely by their patriotism, that we read the
nobles and most affecting characteristics of that great
struggle for human rights They do wrong to its moral
grandeur who seek by common place exaggeration to
give melodramatic effect and false glare to its military
operations and to greatest trumphsn
othe field Lafayette showed true sense OF the nature OF
the struggle when Napoleon accustomed to effect ambi
ous purposes by hundreds of thousands of troops and
tens of thousands of ain sneered at the santy armies of
the American revolution and its boosted battles Sire,
the admirable and comprehensive reply it was the
grandest of causes by skmishes of sentinels and
outposts.
In regard the character and conduct of Washing
ton have endeavored to place his deeds in the ceares
light and left them to speak for themselves, generally
avoiding comment or eulogium. We have quoted his
own words and writings largely, to explain his feelings
and motives and give the true key to his policy for
never did man leave truthful mirror OF his heart
and mind and thorough exponent of his conduct,
than he has left in his copious correspondence There
his character is to be found in all its majestic simplicity,
It's massive grandeur and quiet colossal strength He
was no hero Of there nothing of romantic
herosm in his nature As warrior, he was incapable of
fear but made merit of defying danger He fought
for cause, but for personal Gladly, when
he had the cause he hung up his sword again
to take down Glory, that blatant word, which haunts
some military minds like the bray of the trumpet formed
part Of his aspirations To act justly his instinct
promote the public veal his constant effort to deserve
the affection of good men his embition. With such
Qualifications for the pure exercise Of sound judgment
and comprehensive wisdom he asceRded the presidential
chair.
There for the present we leave him. so far work
complete, comprehendng the whole military life OF
Washington, and his agency iii public affairs up toNthe
formation Of constitution How we'll we have
ted it leave to the public to determine hoping to
find it, heretofore, far easily satisfied with the
result Of our labors than ourselves Should the
measure Of health sand good spirits with which kind
Providence has blessed beyond the usual term of lite
mry labor, be still continued may go on and in
other volume give the presidential and closing life
Of Washington In the time, having found rest
ing place in task stay hands, lay by pen,
and seek that relaxation and repose which gathering
years require"
chosen for wearing the wedding ring for the that
is not only used less than either of the rest but
more capable OF preserving ring from bruises
this quality peculiar to ITSELF that it cannot be
tended but in company with other finger whereas
the others may be sngly stretched their full length
and straightness
.The cmJao tolls the knei Of parting day"
II may not be generally known that after the con-
quests, the Norman King, William L., in order to be
cured against nsurrecon took precautionary measures
such adopted afterwards during the disturbance
IN Ireland namely, that Ito quote Hollingshed) ito
make the people quiet and less able to rebel he
caused all their weapons and to be taken from
a,J