Mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado Co., Cal.) 1854-1860, 1858-10-23
Bancrofs's Portrait Of Warrington.

Courage was SO natural to him, that Il was
hardly spoken of in his praise; no one ever
ut any moment Of his life discovered in him
the least shrinking in danger ; and he had
hardihood Of daring which escaped notice,
because it was 20 envelOpod by superior calm.
ness and wisdom. He was aS cheerful - he
was spirited, frank and communicative in the
eociety of friends, fond Of the fox chase and
the dance, often sportive in his letters, and
liked hearty laugh. This jOyouSneSG Of dis.
position remained to the last, though the vast
ness Of his responsibilities was soon to take
from him the right Of displaying the impul
sivc qualities Of his nature, and the weight
which he was to bear up was to overlay and
repress his gaycty and OpennesS.
His hand was liberal giving quietly and
without observation, though he was ashamed
of nothing but being discovered in doing good.
He was kindly and compassionate, and Of
lively sensibility to the sorrow Of others; so
that il his country had only needed victim
for its relief, he would have willingly offered
himself as o sacrifice. but while he was
prodigaI of himself he was considerAte for
others; ever parsimonious OF the blood OF his
cOuntrymen.
lie was prudent in the management Of his
private affairs, purcased rich lands from the
and improved his fortune by the correctness
of his Judgment; but as a public man, he
knew no other aim than the good of his cOun.
try, and in the hour of his country's poverty,
he refused personal emolument for his service.
His faculties were SO well balanced and
combined that his constitution, free from ex-
cess. was tempered evenly with all the Gle.
ments of activity, and his mind resembled q
welI.ordcred commonwealth; his passions,
which had the intenscst vigOr, owned allegi-
ance to reason and, with all the fiery quick
ness of his spirit, his impetuOus and massive
will was held in check by cOnsummatc
Judgment. lie had in his composition calm
which gave him in moments Of highest excite.
ment the power of self control, and enabled
him to excel in patience even when he had
most cause for disgust. Washington was Of
fercd q command when there was little to
bring out the unorgaDized resources OF the
continent but bis own influence, and authority
was connected with the people by the most
frAiI, most attenuated, scarcely discernible
threads; vet, vehement as was his nature,
impassioned as was his courage. no 80 re-
strained his ardOr that he never failed cOntin-
uously to exert the attracting power Of that
influence, and never exerted it 80 sharply as
to break its force.
In sccresv he was unsurpassed; but hisse-
cresv had the character Of prudent reserve,
not of cunning or concealment.
His understanding was lucid and his judg.
ment accurate, SO that his conduct never be-
trsved hurry or confusion. No Detail was
too minute for his personal inquiry and con-
tinued supervision; and at the same tune, he
comprehended events in their widest aspects
aud relations. He never seemed above the
object which ingaged his attention., and no
was always equal without an effort to the 90
luton of the highest questiOng, even when
there existed no precedent to. guide his decis-
ion.
Ia this way he never drew to himself admi- |
Eatien for the possession Of any quality in ex-