New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1858-04-13


his life discovered in him The eAs, shrink NJ In danger
aud be bad bar0.LOOd Of daring which escaped no
tce because was 30 enveoped by superior s.mness
and w,sCOn.
lie was as cbccrfal as he was .pjrtsd frank and
communicative in the society Of friends fond Of the
fo1chase and the dance often spOitive in hs letter.
and liked hearty laugh. This ioyou .nesa Of dspos
OF remained TO tie last though tho vastness Of bis
responsibilities was 20 take from him the right Of
displaying the iupuSye qualities Of his nature, and
tine weight which be was to bear up was 10 oyerlsy
and repres, h'' gayoty and Openness.
HIS hard vas liberal; giving quietly and without
observation, as though lie was ashamed Of nothing
hut being discovered il doing good. lie was kindly
and compassionate and Of lively sensibiiity TO the
sorrows Of others so that if his country had only
reeded victim for its relief lie would nave willingly
oitC rec himself a sacrifice. But while he was prod
ie al OF hmsef be was confederate for others; ever
parsimonOus OF the blood of his countrymsn.
He was piudeIt in tie management OF his private
bfiairs purchased rch lands from the Mohawk Valley
20 TIE fats Of the Kanawhs, ard improved his
fortune by the correctness Of his Judgment but as
public man he knew no other aim than the good of
has county nd in the hour Of his countrys poverty
he refused personal emolument for bis service.
He faculties were well balanced and combined
q al his constitution free from excess, was tempered
evenly with al the elements OF activity ana MS ind
reserbled ws-oIdeTed commonwealth; his passions,
which had the intensest vigor owned allegiance 10
easOr; and With al the fiery quckness OF Ills spirit
iis mpetUous aud massive will was hello IN check by
Communicate Judgment. He had In his composition a
calm, which gave RIA 10 moments of highest excite
ment the power Of se.fcontrol, ana eDaoieu MN 70
excel IN patience even wheh he had most cause Tor
disgust. Washington offered command when
there wac little to bring ont the unorganzed resources
Of the continent but his own influence, ana authority
was connected with the people by the most irai most
attepnated scarcely 'discernble threads; yet yehe-
melt as was bis nature, imprisoned as was his c0ur
age he so restrained his ardor that he never failed
continuously to exert the attracting power Of that In
fue1ce and never e1erted it go sharply a. TO break
its force
In secrecy he was unsurpassed but his secrecy had
the character Of prudent reserve, not OF cunning or
cODcealmeIt.
His understanding was lucid and isjudgment aoou
rate 20 that his conduct betrayed hurry or con-
fusicp. No detail was too minute for his personal
inaui,y and continued supervsion and, at the same
time he compIehe nded events in their widest aspects
and re! aops. he seemed above the object that
engaged his attention, and be was always equal with
out effort to tho solution of the highest questions
even when there existed 10 prececents to guide his
decision.
IL this way he rever drew to himself admiration for
the possession Of any one quality IN excess, never
mace in council any one suggestion that was sublime
but inpractcsbe, never in action took to himself the
praise or the blame of undertakings astonishing in
conception, but beyOhd his means of execution. 1t
was the mort wonderful accomplishment OF this man
that placed upcn the largest heater Of events at the
head If the create; revolution In humsn affairs, he
never failed to observe all that was possible and at
the time to bound his aspirations by that which
wss possible.
a
the close observer revealed the region from which he
spiu1g and he might be described as the best speci-
men OF manhood as developed in the South; but his
qualities sultlessly proporioned that his whole
county rather claimed hin as its choicest representa-
i've tie most complete expression OF all its attain
ments and aspirations. He studied his country and
coLforned to it. His cOuntrymen felt that he was the
lest typ. Of America and reioiced in it, and were
proud of it. They lived in his life and made his
cess and hi. praise their OWL.
Profoundly impressed with confidence in Gods
Providence, and exemplary in his respect for the forms
# public worship, no philosopher of the eighteenth
century more firm ia the support OF freedom OF re-
lgious opinion none more tolerant, or more remote
from bigOty but belief in God and trust in His over
ruling power formed the essence OF his character
Divine wisdom not only illumnes the spirit it inspires
the will. Washington was man Of action and not OF
theory OF wO,ds his creed appears in his life, not 10
his pFCfesrO which burst from him very rarely and
only at those great moments of crisis in the fortunes OF
his country when cath and heaven seemed actually
to meet his emotions became too intense for sup
preston; but his whole being was one continued ACT
Of faith in the eterua Intelligent moral order OF the
universe. Integrity completely the law OF his
stue that planet would sooner have shot from its
sph re- :har he have departed from his uprghtness,
which ~as constant that it often seemed 20 be al
Thcy GOV Of olot,o mat he introduced goodness
into tie AIT Of painting; Washington carried it with
Tim TO the camp and the cabinet and estabIished q
new criterion of iuman greatness. The purity of his
will confirmed lis foittude; and as he never ialtered
il bis faith io virtue, he stood fast by that which he
knew 10 be JUST Tree from lllusiOLs never uteCVed
by The apprehension Of the difficulties and perls
that went before him, and drawing the promise OF
success from the justice of his cause Hence he was
pcrseyenDg leaving nothing unfinished; free from all
taiIt f cbsinscy in his iimness; seeking, and gladly
receiving advice, but immOvabe in his deNotedness
10 light.
OF a g. retiring modesty and habtual reserve" his
an bltion was more than the consciousness OF his
power and was subordinate to his sense OF DUTY ne
took the foremost place, for he knew from INFORM
nagnapimity that il belonged to him, and be dared
Let withhold tbs service required of him; that,
with all lis humility, he was by necessity the first,
though never for himself for private ends. He
loved fame the approval of coming generations, the
Z, cd opinion Cf hs ellow-men OF his own time and
he desired 70 make bis conduct coincide with their
esles but not fear of cepsure, not the prospect OF
appliance. could tempt him TO swerve from recttude,
AID the praise which lie coveted, was the sympathy
Of that moral sentiment which exists in every human
breast and goes forth Only to the welcome OF virtue.
There have been sOd ers who have achieved might
ieY victories in the fie!i and made conquests more
neatly core spending t. the boundlessnes' OF selh.h
ambition; statesmen who have been connected with
more startling upbeayals Of society; but IL Is the
greatness of Washington, that in public trusts ne used
moderator add stay of the most momentous revo-
Luton in human affairs, its moving impulse and us re-
s,rajr ing power. Combining the centripeta and the
centrifugal forces IN their utmost strength and IN per-
feet relations with creative grandeur OF instinct he
held ruin il check and renewed and perfected the
Institutions cf his ountry. Finding the colonies dis.
connected and dependent, he left them such united
auG weil-OrdtTeG commonwealth no visionary had
believed e be possible. So that it has been truly
said, he was a. fortunate as great and good
LAFAYETTE.
TIE sympathy fer America which prevailed more
c FL gland, reached the king own brother
the VT ak but aInable duke of Gloucester In :. uy
b.o Oeser. he or Will viz Ina