The weekly pioneer and Democrat., 1857-09-17

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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 Doctor WAL
TER JONES, dated ut Monticello. January 2.
1874 1t is powerfully drawn picture, and
being entirely free from fulsome panegyrc,
or attempt At exaggeration. we commend II
to the careful attention OF our readers. rs
embodying in short space all that need be
said of that great and good man. 1t is writ
ten in the concise aud vigorous style for
which its iustrious author was SO remarka-
BILE, and is worthy Of being treasured in the
memory Of every admirer of the Father
of his Country" or the immortal writer and
signer of the Declaration of Independence
l think knew General Washington init.
mately and thoroughly; and were called
on to delineate his character it should be in
terms like these:
His mind was great and powerful, with
out being of the very first order his penetra-
ton strong, though not SO acute as that OF
Newton, Bacon, or Locke; and, US 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-
cusion.
Hence the common remark OF his officers,
of the advantage he derived from councils Of
war where, hearing all suggestions, he Sc
lectcd whatever was best, and certainly no
General ever planned his battles more judi
ciously. But if deranged during the course
of the action if any member Of his plan was
distracted by sudden circumstances, he was
slow in re,adjustment. The consequence
was that he often failed in the field and
rarely against an enemy in station, as at
Boston and York. lie was incapable OF
fear meeting personal dangers with the
calmcst uncOnccrn.
Perhaps the strongest feature in his char
acter was prudence, never acting until every
circumstance every consideration, was ma
,urcly weighed; relrainng if he saw doubt,
but, when once decided. going through with
his purpose, whatever obstacles opposed
HIS integrity pd, most pure. his justice the
most iniiexibe have ever known; no mo-
tivcs Of interest or consanguinii,y, of friend
ship or hatred being able to bias his dccis-
ion. He was, indeed, in every sense of the
words wise. good, and IA great man.
Ills temper was naturally irritable and
high-toned; but reflection and resolution
had obtained firm and habitual ascendan-
cy over it, II ever, however, 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 utility but frowning and unyicld-
ing on all visionary projects, and all un-
worthy calls on his charity His heart was
not warm in its affections, but, he exactly
calculated every mans value, aud gave him
IL solid esteem proportional to it. His per-
son, YOU know. was fine, his stature exactly
what one would wish, his department easy,
erect, and noble; the best horseman Of his
age, and the most graceful figure that could
be seen on horseback. Although in the
circle Of his friends wl,cro he might he m
reserved with safety, he took free share IN
conversation; his colloquial talents were not
above mediocrity, possessing neither cop
ousncss OF ideas nor iiuency Of words.
In public, when called on for sudden
opinion. he was unready, short, and cmbar-
rassed. Yet he wrote readily, rather DIFF
fusely. in an easy aud correct style. This b"
had acquired by conversation with the
world, for his education was merely reading
writing, and common arithmetic, to which
be added surveying a, a latter day.
His time was employed in action chiefly,
reading little, and that only in agriculture
and English history. His correspondence
became necessarily extensive, and, with
journalizng his agricultural proceedings,
occupied most of his leisure hours in doors.
On the whole his character was, in It's mas,
pcrfect-in nothing bad; in few points, III
different, and il may truly b. sad, that
never did nature and fortune combine more
perfectly 10 make a man great, aud to place
him in the same constellation with whatever
worthics have merited from man an ever.
lasting remembrance: for his was the singu-
lar destiny and merit Of leading the armies
of hs country through an arduo,is war, Tor
establishment Of its independence Of con
ducting ts councils through the birth Of II
government, new in it's forms and princi-
pies. until it hal settled down into qn'ct
and orderly train. and Of scrupuIously obey
iny the laws through the whole of his ca
rsr. civil and military. Of which the history
Of the world furnishes no other example.
| felt on his death, with my counirymen,
that verify great man hath this day 'al-
i,n in Israel