Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1857-10-17
JEFFERsoN's PORTRAIT OF WASHINGTON.

JEFFERSON'S PORTRAIT OF WASHINGTON
The subjoined sketch Of the life. character and
services of General Washington is from the pen of
Mr.. Jefferson, and is to be found in letter Of his,
to Dr. Walter jones' dated at Monticello, January
3D. 1914. Ii is a powerfully drawn picture, and
being entirely free from fusome panegyric, or at.
tempt at cxaggeration, commend 1t to the careful
attention OF our readers, embodying in a short
space all that need be said of that great and good
man. 1t is written in the concise aud vigorous style
for which its illustrous author was so remarkable,
and is worthy Of being treasured in the memory Of
every admirer of the b" Father Of his Country" or
the immortal writer and sgner of the Declaration of
Independence:
ri think knew General Washington intimately
and thoroughly and were called on to deneate
his character, it should be in terms like these:
His mind was great and powerful, without being
of the very first order; his penetration strong,
though not so acute as that OF Newton, Bacon or
Locke; and, far as he saw, no judgment was ever
sounder. II was slow in operation, being little
aided by invention or imagination, but sure in con.
c.usion.
Hence the common remark of his officers, of the
advantage he derived from councils Of war, where
hearing all suggestions, he selected whatever was
best and certainly no General ever PLANNED his
battles more judciously. But if deraRged during
the course of the action, if any member of his plan
distracted by certain circumstances he was
slow in readjusment. The consequence was that
he often failed in the field, and rarely against an
r. enemy in station, as at Boston or New York. He
incapable Of fear, meeting personal dangers with
the calmest unconcern.
Perhaps the strongest feature in his character
prudence, never acting until every circumstance,
every consideration, was maturely weighed; re-
framing if he saw doubt, but when once decided
going through with his purpose whatever obstacles
opposed His integrity was most pure, his justice
the most inficxibe have ever known no motives
of interes, consangunty, of friendship or hatred
being able to bias his decision He was indeed,
in every sense of the word, wise, good, and great
man.
His temper was naturally irritable and high
toned but reflection and resolution had obtained
firm and habitual ascendcncy over it. IL ever, how
ever, it broke its bounds, he was most tremendous
in his wrath.
In his expenses he was honorable, but exact
liberal in contributions to whatever promised utili-
ty, but frowning and unyielding on all visionary
projects and all unworthy calls for charity His
heart not in its affections, but he exactly
calculated every mans value, and gave him solid
esteem proportioncd TO it. His person, you know,
fine, his statue exactly what one would wish,
his department easy, erect and noble; the best
horscman of his age, and the most graceful figure
that could be seen on horseback Although in the
circle of his friends, where he might be unreserved
with safety, he took a free share in conversation
his colloquial talents were not above mediocrty
possessing neither copiousness nor brancy Of IDEAS
In public, when called on for his opinions, he was
unready, short and embarrassed Yet he wrote
readily rather dIusely, in easy and correct style
This he had acquired by conversation with the
world, for his education was merely reading, writ
ing, and common arithmetic, to which he added
surveying at a later day,
His time employed in action chiefly, reading
lttle and that only in agriculture and English his
tory. His correspondence became necessarily ex
tensive, and, with journazing his agricultural pro
cecdngs, occupied most of hs leisure hours in doors
On the whole, his character in its mass, perfect
in nothing, bad; in few points indifferent; and it
may truly he said, that did nature ana fortune
combine perfectly to make man great, and
place him in the same constellation with whatever
worthless have lnerited from everlasting
membrance; for his was the singular destiny and
merit of leading the armies of his county through
an arduous war for the establishment of its ndcpcnd.
ence, of conducting its councils through the birth Of
n government, new in its forms and principles, until
it had setl, d down into quiet and orderly train;
and of scrupulousy obeying the laws through the
whole of his career civil and military Of which the
history of the world furnishes no other example |
felt on his death, with my countrymen, that verify
great man hath this day fallen in Israel"