The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-08-26

the other instruments. Mr.. FAINT he, since
given up the trombone.-KusicdL ReUieaO.
BANcROFTs PORTRAIT OF WASHINGTON.
From his New Volume Of the History of tie Revolarsn
Courage was so natural to him, that it was
hardly spoken of to his praise no one ever, at
any mopent of his life, discovered in him the
least shrinking IN danger and he had Lard,-
hrcd vi Caring which escaped notice. becsus.
1t was 30 enveloped by superior calmness AMI
wisdom. de IVES as cheerful as he was spiri;-
Cd, frank, and communicative, in the 8 ciety az
friends, fond of the fox. chase and the dane.
often sportive in his letters, and liked a hearty
laugh. This joyousness Of disposition remain
ed TO the last, though the vsstness of his re-.
spons'billties was soon to take from him the
right OF displaying the impulsve qualities of hi,
nature, and the weight which he was to bear
up was to overlap and repress his gaiety snd
openness.
HIS hand was liberal, giving quietly and
without observation, as though he was ashamed
OF nothing but being discovered in doing good.
hs was Kindly and compassionate, and of lively
sensioiilty to the sorrow of others 80 that. Il
his country had only needed victim for a..
relief he would rave willingly offered himself
as q sacrifice. But while he was prodioaI ~
himself, he was considerable for others ever
psrsimonious of the blood of his countrymen.
de was prudent in the management of hi7
private affairs, purchased rich lands from The
Mohawk Valley TO the fats of the Kanavha.
and improved his fortune by the correctness q
bis judgment; but, as public man, he knew
no other aim than the good of his country, and.
III the hour of his couutry's poverty. he refu-e6
| personal emolument for his service.
| bis faculties were 40 well balanced ord ~,
oined, that his constitution, free from excess.
WAS tempered evenly with all the elements of
activity, and his mind resembled a wellordarfd
commonwealth; his passions, which had the
intensest vlgor, owned allegiance to reason
and, with all the fiery quickuess of his suiri.
his impetuous and massive will wss held in
check by consummate Judgment.
de had in his composition a calm which
gave him, In moments of highest excitement.
the power OF selfcontrol, and enabled him TO
excel In patience even when he had unost
cause for disgust Washington was offered a
command when there was little to bring ON;
the unorganized resources of the Continent Int
his own influence, and authority was connected
with the people by the most frai. most ettanp.
ated, scarcely discernible threads vet. vaba-
ment as was his nature, impssssioned as was
ma courage, he so restrained his ardor. tina,
ne never Jailed continuously to exert the AZ
tracting power OF that II fiuence, aud never ex.
erted 1t 30 sharply as to break its force.
In secrecy he was unsurpassed but his So
crecy had the character OF prudent reserve. not
of cunning or concealment
bis understanding was lucid, and his iujr.
ment accurate, 30 that bis conduct never be-
trayed hurry or confusion. No detail was too
minute Tor hls personal inquiry and continued
supervision and at the same time he compra.
| her In ba,. Il.
lions. de never seemed shove the object
which engaged bis attention. and he was ALWAYS
equal, without an fort, to the solution of tie
highest questions, even when there existed 20
precedeuts 10 guide his decision.
In this way, he never drew to himself admi-
ration Tor The possession of any one quality in
axcess, never made IN council any one sugge5-
ton that was sublime but impractcable. never
in action took to himself the praise or the blame
OF undertakings astonishing in conception. but
beyond his means Of execution. 1t was the
most wonderful accom- lishment of this man
that, placed upon the largest theatre of events,
at the head OF the greatest revolution in human
affairs, be never failed to observe all that was
possible, and at the same time 10 bound HE
aspirations by that which was possible
A slight tiuge in his character, perceptib!e
only to The close observer, revealed the rtgiuu
from which be sprung, and be might be de-
| scrbed as the best specimen of manhood, as
developed In the South but his qualities were
so tautlessy proportioned, that his whole coun-
| try rather Claimed him as It's choicest represent
alive, the most complete expression Of ali It's
attachments and aspirations. He studied his
country, and conformed to it. His countrymen
felt that he was the best type of America, and
rejoiced in it. and we're proud of it, They lived
in his life, and made his success and his praise
their own.
Profoundly impressed with confidence ia
Coos Providence, and exemplary in his re-
spect for the forms OF public worship, no phi
losopher OF the eighteenth century was more
firm in the support of freedom of religious
opinion; none more tolerant or more remote
from bigotry; but belief in God, and trust ia
his overriding power, formed the essence OF hi4
| character. Divine wisdom not only ilumin1s
the spirit, it inspires the will.
Washington was a man of action, ard not of
theory and words his creed appears in his lite,
not in his professions, which burst from him
very rarely and only at those great moments
of crisis in the fortunes CT bis country when
earth and heaven seemed actually TO meet, and
his emotions became too intense for suppress
sion but his whole being was one continued
act of faith in the eternal, intelligent, moral
order Of the universe. Integrity was 90 com
4
would sooner have shot from its sphere than
he have departed fron Lis upriehtness, which
was 80 constant that it often seemed to be al.
| most impersoral.
They say of Giotto, that be introduced good
ness into the art of painting; Washington car
ried it with him into the camp and the cabinet.
| and established q new criterion of human great.
ness. The purity of his will confirmed his for
titude, and, as he never feltered in his faith in
virtue, he stood fast by that which he knew 10
be just, free from illusions, never detected bv
the apprehension OF the difficulties and p.riIs
that went before him, and drawing the promi.e
of success from the Justice Of his cause Hence
he was perseveriDg, leaving nothing unfinished;
free from all taint Of obstinscy in his frmness,
seeking and gladly receiving advice, but i'm.
movable in his devotedness to right.
Ola "retiring modes'y and hsbitual reserve {"
his ambition was not more than the conscious
ness of his power, and was subordinate to his
sense of duty he took the foremost place, for
he knew, from Unborn magnanimty, that it be-
longed to him, aud he dared not withhold the
service required of him 90 that, with all mig
humility, be was by necessity the FIRST though
never for himself or fot private ends. He
loved fame, the approval of coming genera
tons, the good opinion of his fellow men of
his own time, ard he desired to make his conduct
coincide with their wishes but not fear OF
censure, nor tie prospect of applause, could
tempt him to s~erve from rectitude ami the
praise which he coveted was the sympathy of
that moral sentiment which exists in every bu
man breast, and goes forth only to the welcome
of virtue.
| There have been soldiers who have achieved
migbtier victories in the held, and made cen
quests more nearly corresponding to the bound
IS ALL ak az