Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1860-09-19
Correspondence Of the Boston Post.J
EvERETTS LIFE OF WASHINGTON.

clusion IN the compeRd Of Washington's Life, con-
tributed to Messrs Blacks new and revised edition
OF the Encyclopaedia Britannica. The enterprising
Edinburgh publishers we understand, had designa
ted the late Lord Macaulay the writer Of the ar
tcle on Washington for the Encyclopaedia. in its
new edition and had made propositions to Macaulay
to undertake the task. The engagements already
pressing upon the great essayist and historian
PEELED his declination of the proposal and at his
suggestion, Mr.. Everett was invited to furnish the
article in question. The selection was most fortu-
nate; for in no ones hands was such task more
likely to resolve itself into labor of love, and to
no filter heart or mind could such subject be
mended- The result of Mr. Everetts labors is on
the eve of publication in this country, by Sheldon
Dc Co.,, of New York, in single volume of 323
pages, with the appropriate prefix of portrait of
the author, engraved after a marble bust. '7
In this work Mr.. Everett disclaims all pretension
to learned research laborous investigation among
original documents and revolutionary manuscripts.
He has prepared, from the standard works already
existing comprehensive, and comparatively brief,
memoir of our national hero-comprisng the sail
ent features Of Washington's career and character
presented in that concise and familiar form
riy characteristic of Encyclopaedia articles. The biog
raphy is model of condensation, and, by its rapid
narrative and attractive style, must commend ITSELF
in its new FORM to the mass of readers the STAN
dard, popular Life Of Washington. In no respect
prctentious or ambitious as regards competition
and Irving, this con dnore biography, by one
well qualified, will fill vacant niche in literature,
and would seem to be destined to circulation
among the people of both England and America,
such as no previous Life of the Father Of his Coun
try has attained.
In addition to the historical and biographical in
cidents of Washington's life, which are concisely
narrated by Mr. Everett this volume is enriched by
contribution by DR.. James Jackson, upon the ma
ture of the disease of which Washington died; the
inventory ofthe personal property at Mount Vernon,
at the time of the Generals death and the Will of
Martha Washington. 1t may also be stated, that in
the preface, Mr.. Everett pays passing tribute to
the memory of Macaulay, which is a model of beauty
and eloquence, expressed with rare terseness and
kindliness.
We append the concluding paragraphs Of Mr.
Everetts memoir as furnishing, at once, specimen
OF the STYLE and some very sensible remarks upon
the subject ofGenus, by way Of defining that much
misunderstood word, and justfying its application
to General Washington
akin to the argument against his military ca
paciy, is the question whether, generally speaking,
Washington was man of genius-a question not
to be answered till that word is explained. DIR.
johnson calls it that power which constitutes
poet and in that acceptation Washington certainly
was not endowed with it. As little did he possess
the genius Of the orator, the man of letters, the
sculptor, the painter, the musician. The term is
so habitually, not to say exclusively, appropriated
to that native power, which enables men to excel in
science literature and the fine arts that those who
destitute Of it in these departments often de-
clared to want it altogether. But there is genius
Of political and military skill-of social influence,
Of personal ascendancy, Of government; a genius
for practical utity-a moral genius Of true heroism,
of unsel6sh patriotism, and Of stern public integri-
ty, which is as strongly marked an endowment as
those gifts of intellect imagination, and taste,
which constitute the poet or the artist Without
adopting VigiIs magnificent but scornful contrast
between scientific snd literary SKILL on the one hand
and those masterful arts on the other-by which
victories gained and nations governed,
must still admit that the cheftain who, in spite of
obstacles the most formidable and vicssitudes the
most distressing conducts great wars to successful
iSSues,-that the statesman who harmoniZes angry
parties in peace, skfuy moderates the councils of
constituent assemblies, and, without the resources
Of rhetoric but by influence mightier than authority
secures the formation and organization of govern
ments and in their administration, establishes the
model for official conduct for all following time, is
endowed with divine principle of thought and &C.
tion distinct in its kind that of Demonsthenes
or Milton. 1t is the genius of consummate man.
hood. Analysis may describe its manifestations in
either case but cannot define the Interior principle
1t is final element Of character. We may speak
of prudence, puncuality, and selfcontrol Of brave
~ and disinterestedness, speak of an eye for
color and perception of the graceful in the painter
sensibility to the sublime, the pathetic, and beau
tfu in discourse but behind and above all these,
there must be creative and animatng principle; at
least much in character as in intellect or art
The qualities which pertain to genius are not the
whole of geuius in the one case any more than the
other, The arteries the lungs, and the nerves are
es sentia to life but they not life itself; that
higher something which puts all the organic func.
tons Of the frame in motion. In the possession of
that mysterious quality of character, manifested in
long life of unam5tious service, which, called by
whatever name, inspires the confidence, commands
the respect and wins the affection of contempora-
ries, and grows upon the admiration of successive
generations, forming standard to which the merit
of other men is referred, and living proof that
pure patriotism is not delusion, nor virtue an
empty namc no one of the sons Of men has equalled
George Washington" NORWESTER
VIM A. Allen, Democratic Elector, will address
of o-d