Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1858-06-03

George Washington.

UeoISe WdSlllnSCoN.
Washington was then forty-three years of
age. In stature he little exceeded six feet his
limbs were snewy and well proportioned his
chest broad his figure stately, blending dignity
OF presence with ease. His robust constitution
had beon tried and invigorated by his early life
in the wilderness, his habits of occupation out
of doors, and his rigid temperance 50 that few
equaled him in strength of arm or power of en-
durance. His complexion was horid his hair
dark brown; his head in its shape perfectly
round. His broad nostrils seemed formed to
giy9 expression and escape to scornful anger
ilis dark blue eyes, which were deeply set, had
an expression of resignation, and an earnest
ness that was almost SADNESS.
At eleven years of age, left an orhhan to
the care of an excellent but unlettered mother
he grew up without learning. OF arithmetic
and geometry he acquired just knowledge enough
to be able to practice measuring land but all
his instruction atschool taught him notso much
as the orthograpuy, or rules Of grammar Of his
own tongue. His culture was altogether his
own work, and he was in the strctist sense a
selfmade man; yet from his carly life he never
seemed uneducated At sixteen he went into
the wilderness as a surveyor, and for three years
continued the pursuit, where the forests trained
him, in meditative solitude, to freedom and
largeness of mind and nature revealed to him
her obedience to serene and silent laws. In his
intervals from toll he seemed always to be at
tracted to the best men, and to be cherished by
them. Fairfax, his employer, an Oxford schol-
ar, already aged, became his fast friend. lie
read but little but with close attention What
ever he took in hand he applied himself to with
care; and his papers, which have been presery-
ed, show how he imperceptibly, almost, gained
the power of writing correctly-always cx-
pressing himself with clearncss and drectness,
often with felicity of language and grace.
When the frontiers on the West became dis
turhad, he at nineteen was commissioned an ad-
jutant general, with the rank of major Al
twonty-one he went as the envoy Of Virginia tC
the council of Indian chiefs on the Ohio, and t(
the French officers near Lake Erie. Fame wait
, ed upon him from his youth, and no one of hi
: colony was so much spoken of. He conducted
, the first military expedition from Virginia tina
, crossed the Alleghanies. Braddock selected hin
as an aid, and he was the only man who cam
out of the disastrous defeat near the Mononga
hela with increased reputation, which extende
@ to England. The next year, when he was four
$ and-twenty, " the great esteem" " in which h
! was held IN Virginia, and his real merit, lie,
the Leutenant-Governoro of Maryland to reques
q that he might be /" commissionated and appoint
p ed second in command " of the army designe,
to march to the Ohio; and Shirley, the Com
$ mander-n- Chief, heard the proposal " witt
great satisfaction and pleasure, for he kney
l. no provincial officer upon the continent to whom
J. he would so readily give it as to Washington.
c In 1853 he acted under Forbcsqsa d brigadier
C and but for him that gentleman would neye
:. have been able to cross the mountains
+ Courage was so natural to him, that it wa
:, hardly spoken of to his praise no one ever 4
r. any moment of his life discovered in him th
n least shrinking in danger and he had a hard
/. hood of daring which escaped notice, because
is was SO enveloped by superior calmness and vii
!. dom.
= He was as cheerful as he was spirited, fran
: and communicative in the society of friends
G fond of the fox chase and themdance, ofte
sportive in his letters, and liked hearty laugh
: This joyousness of disposition remained to tn
It last, though the vastness his resp6nsibilitit
}, was soon to take from him thc rightof display
Y ing the impulsive qualities of his nature, an
II the weight which he was 10 bear up was t
,e overlay and repress his gaiety and openness.
4 His hand was liberal; giving quietly an
/, without sbserTation, as though he was ashame
II of nothing but being discovered in doing goo(
'e He was kindly and compassionate, and of liv
r y sensibilty to the sorrows of others; SO tn,
r if his country had only needed victim for i
nt relief, he would have willingly offered himse
N as a sacrifice. But while hc was prodigal
es himself, he was considerate for others eve
lie parsimonious of the blood of his countrymen.
He was prudent in the management of h
es private affairs, purchased rich land from tt
at Mohawk Valley to the flats of the Kanawh
es and improved his fortune by the correctness
1t his Judgment but, as public man, he kne
We no other aim than the good of his country, an
) in the hour of his country's poverty, he refus
of personal emolument for his service.