Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1860-09-19
Correspondence Of the Boston Post
EVERETTS LIFE OF WASHINGTON.

?. EVERETTS LIFE OF WASHINGTON
New York, AUG %, 1860.
The last link of that golden chain which shall
hereafter, for many generations bind together the
names Of George Washington and Edward Everett
has just been fitted into its place. The unselish
labors of the scholar and statesman of whom we
are all proud and whose successful devotion to the
purchase of Mount Vernon has challenged the ad-
mration of the world are brought to fitting con-
clusion in the compend of Washington's Life, con-
trbuted to Messrs. Blacks new and revised edition
of the Encyclopedia Britannica. The enterprisng
Edinburgh publishers, We understand, had designa.
ted the late Lord Macaulay the writer of the ar
ticle on Washington for the Encyclopedia, 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 declinaton of the proposal, and, 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 mind could such subject be COM
mended. The result Of Mr.. Everetts labors is on
the eve of publication in this country, by Sheldon
Co., of New York, in single volume of 1913
pages, with the appropriate prefix Of a portrait of
the author, engraved after marble bust.
In this work Mr.. Everett dsclaims all pretenson
to learned research or aboEious investigation among
original documents and revolutionary manuscripts.
lie has prepared from the standard works already
sexisting comprehensive, and comparatively brief
memoir of our national hero-comprising the sail
ent features of Washngton's career and character
presented in that concise and familiar form necessa-
ry characteristic of 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
pretentious or ambitious, as regards competition
with the monumental works of Marshall, Sparks
and Irving this con amore biography, by one so
well qualified, will fill vacant niche in literature
and would seem to be destined to a 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 Washingtons 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 of the 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 Macauay, which is model of beauty
and eloquence, expressed with rare terseness and
kindness
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 Of Genius, by way of defining that much
misunderstood word, and justifyng its application
to General Washington
Akin to the argument against his military Ca
pacity, is the question whether generally speaking,
Washington was man of genius-a question not
to be answered till that word is explained DR..
johnson calls it. that power which constitutes a
poet and in that acceptaton Washington certainly
was not endowed with it. AS little did he possess
the genius of the orator, the man of letters, the
| fbo Tho &c
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 genius
for practical utty-a moral genius Of true heroism,
of unselfish patriotism and of stern public ntegr
ty, which is strongly marked an endowment as
those gifts of intellect imagination, and taste,
which constitute the poet or the artist. Without
adopting Vigils magnificent, but scornful contrast
between scientific snd literary SKILL the one hand
and those masterful arts on the other-by which
victories gained and nations are governed, We
must still admit that the chicftan who in spite Of
obstacles the most formidable and vcissitudes the
most distressing, conducts great wars to successful
issues,-that the statesman who harmonzes angry
parties in peace, skfuly 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 a divine principle of thought and &C
ton as distinct in its kind as that of Demonsthenes
or Milton 1t is the genius of consummate man
hood Analysis may describe its manifestations ir
either case, but cannot define the Interior principle
1t is final element of character. We may speak
of prudence, punctuality, and sefcontrol of brave
ry and diSnterestedncss, as we speak of eye fol
color and perception of the graceful in the painter
sensbility to the sublime, the pathetic and beau
tiful in discourse but, behind and above all these
there must be creative and animating principles a
least as much in character as in intellect or art
The qualities which pertain to genius are not tn
whole Of geuius in the one case any more than tn
other, The arteries, the lungs and the nerves arr
es scntal to life but they not life itself tina
higher something which puts all the organic fnnc
tons Of the frame in motion. In the possession o
that mysterious quality of character, manifested il
long life of unam5tious service, which, called b,
whatever name, inspires the confidence, command
the respect, and wins the affection of contempora
ries, and grows upon the admiration of successiv
generations, forming standard to which the meri
of other men is referred, and living proof tina
pure patriotism is not deusion, nor virtue al
empty name, no of the sons of men has equalle
George Washington" NORW ESTER
VIM. A. Allen, Democratic Elector, will address
the people of the Srd Congressional District, at tn
} following times and places:
Elizabethtown, Bladen Co., Oct End
Fayetteville, Cumb'd, Oct 4th.
Whtesville Columbus Oct 9th.
Wilmington, N. Hanover, Oct 18th.
, Smthvi.le, Brunswick, Oct 18th.
Kenansve, Dupn, Oct 18th.
f., summerville, Harnett, Oct. 23rd
Rockingham, Richmond, Oct. 25th.
, Lumberton, Robson, Oct. 9th
, Clinton, Sampson, Oct. 30th
We refer our readers to the above appointment