Weekly Trinity journal., 1859-11-05

ST. CLAR's DErEAT.-The extract below is from
Trvngs Life Of Washington. 1t distinctly por-
trays the character of that great man
"Towards the close OF winters dnv In De-
cembcr, an officer in uniform dlsmounted In front
of the Presidents house, and giving the Bride
to his servant, knocked at the door He was in.
formed by the porter that the President was at
dinner with company The officer was not to bG
denied ; he was on public business, and brought
dispatches for the President A servant was sent
to communicate the matter to Mr. Lear The lat
ter lett the table and went into the hall, where
the officer repeated what he had said to the por-
ter. Mr.. Lear, MS the Presidents Secretary, Of
fered to take charge of the dispatches, and delv-
cr them at the proper time. The officer replied
that he was just from the western army his or
ders were to deliver the dispatches promptly to
the President in person but that he would wait
his directions. Mr. Lear returned, and in Il whis-
per, communicated 60 the President what had
passed Washington arose from the table aud
went into the ball, whence he returned in n short
time and resumed his seat, without aluding to
the cause of his absence. One Of the company,
however, overheard him, as he took his seat, NUT
ter, with an ejaculation Of extreme impatence,
Il knew il would be so =
Mrs W. held her drawlng-room that evening.
The gentlemen repaired thither, aud Washington
appeared with his usual sofenity speaking cour-
teousy to all AT ten the company had gone,
and Mrs. W. soon after retired, leaving Washing
ton aud his Secretary alone.
The General walked slowly backward and for
ward for some time in silence. Taking seat on
a sofa by the fire, he told Mr. Lear to sit down
the latter had scarce time to notice that he was
extremely agtated, whom he broke out suddenly,
IT is all over !! ST. Clair's defeated + routed
the officers nearly all killed, the men by whole
sale the rout complete too shocking to think
Of, and II surprise In the barganp All this was
uttered with great yehemence. Then pausing
and rising from the sofa, he walked up and down
The room in silence, violently agitdtcd, but say.
ing nothing. When near the door he stopped
short stood still for a few moments, when there
was another terrible explosion of wrath.
Yes he exclaimed, 'here, on this very spot,
took leave Of him / wished him success aud
honor You have your instructions from the
Secretary Of War;, said /, Q had a strict eye to
them,) and will add but one thing-beiOare Of
surprise You know how the Indians fight u.s.
repeat 1t bsicarc Of q SurpriseP lie went Off
with that, my last warning thrown into his ears.
Aud yet! to suffer that army to be cut to pieces,
hacked, butclcred, tomahawked, by a surprise
the very thing guarded him agajnstO Cod
exclaimed he, throwing up his hands, and while
his very frame shook with amo ton, he's worse
than a murdererl How can he answer it to his
country The blood Of the slain is upon him
the curse Of widows and orphans-the curse Of
Heaven =
Mr.. Lear remained silent, awed by the appa-
ling tones in which this torrent Of invective was
poured forth Washington sat down, was silent,
apparently uncomfortable, as If conscious Of the
ungovernable burst OF passion which had over
come him. This must not go beyond this room,
said be at length, in a subdued and altered tone
there was another and longer pause then in
tone quite low Gen. st. Clair shall have JUS
tce,' said he. / looked hastily through the dis
patches saw the whole disaster, but not all the
particulars. | will receive him without displeas-
ure | will hear him without prejudice he shall
have fall justice.' The storm, we are told, was
over, and 30 sign Of it WAS afterwards seen in his
conduct, or heard ia his conversations.