Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1866-02-03
| Valuable ReIic-WashlRgtOns Text
Rock
IFrom fine New York Tribune. l


interesting books in the world. 1t is
the,one that formed the intellectual. the
business and moral character of Wash
ingtoI, the Father of his country. 1t
lifts up the mystery of his early train
ing, and explains much which before
seemed unaccountable. He early lost
his father. He enjoyed but few adj
vantages of education; yet 1t is said OF
him that at a very early age he had a
knowledge of the forms of business,
proofs of which are left in his own
handwriting. Washington Irving says
of Washington that, 'before he was 10
years of age he had copied into vol
ume forms of all kinds of mercantile and
legal papers, bills of exchange, notes of
hand, deeds, bonds and the like; that
he had a lawyers skill in drafting doc
uments, and merchants exactness lii
keeping accounts"
The hook we referred to was the
architect of his character 1t IS a small
octave volume of Az pages. The name
of George Washington Is written upon
1T in boyish chlrography, but large,
bold, with every letter distinct as IN his
maturer days, to which the year 1742 is
added in the same handwriting. Wash
ington was then ten years of age. TAe
title of the book is this Young Mems
Com oanion Oh Arithmetic Made Easy,
with Plain Directions for Young Man
to attain to Read and Write True Eng.
fish, with Copies of Verses for Writ
ing School. Instructing of Letters to
Friends. Forms for Making Bills,
Bonds, Releases, Wills, Sc. Likewise
Phil
Timber by the Carpenters Plain Rule,
&c. Also, Directions for Measuring,
Guaging and Plotting out of Land, &c,
and Taking the Distance by Quadrant
and Triangle, together with "a Map of
the Globe and Mater. Also, Map of
England, together with choice Monthly
Observations for Gardening, Planting,
and Innoculating Fruit Trees. Written
by w. Mathew in Plain and Easy
style that Young Man may attain the
same without a Tutor. Thirteenth
Edition. London. Printed for S.
Clark. Z"
The Young Mans Companion opens
with instructions in spelling, punctua-
ton and composition. Selections for
practice are presented from hymns,
prayers and prose. Easy copies for
writing, with instructions how to sit,
hold the pen, and to make ink follow.
Rules are laid down for writing on love,
business or friendship, and how to be-
gin and end letter, with the different
styles to be addressed to people OF rank
and plebians. Forms for all kinds of
mercantile and legal papers are pre-
scented, with Powers of Attorney, Deeds,
and Wills. Arithmetic comes next, Sur
veying, Mensurations, Navigation,
Building Guaging, Taking Observation,
and Architecture, accompanied by rude
drawings have their place. Rules for
behavior in company are then given;
how to enter and leave the presence of
nobility and rank, with the order of
precedence, so that young man man
ners may be we'll formed. Banking and
Exchange follow, with rules for farm
ing and gardening, with innoculating,
as grating was then called, the raising
of flowers and fruits, and Instructions
for each month in the year. Receipts
are given for the making OF cider, wine
and preserves. The book holds med
ical department, and household games,
tricks and pastimes are not overlooked.
Here Washington formed his first ac-
quaIntance with the writings of Sir
Mathew Hale. Washington Irving says
that Sir Mathew Hale's CONCENTRATIONS
Moral and Divine, was the favorite vol
ume of Washington's mother. Out OF
it she daily read him lessons of religion
and morality. His mothers manual,
bearing his mothers name, Mary Wash
ington, written with her own hand, was
ever preserved by him with tilial care
and may still be seen iii the archives
of Mount Vernon. To those Contem-
plations he was first introduced by this
book. Copious extracts from Hale's
celebrated Manual are inserted under
the title Of Judge Hales Contempla-
tious In his account of the Good Stew
ard.
The remarkable book, "The Young
Mans Companion, came into Wash
ington's hand when he was ten years of
age. 1t taught him just what he wish
ed to know. He became his own tutor
under this master. That he read it,
studied it, and made the treasures his
own, his subsequent life proved. Not
content with the reading, before he
was thirteen years OF age he copied all
the business forms into q book and
mastered all it's teachings. 1t made
him the surveyor, the exact business
man, the legislator. the ruler, the gen
tleman, while its lessons of religion
and morality formed his character and
guided his life.
This book was found in Virginia du-
ring its occupation by our troops. 1t is
i'll a remarkable state of preservation
1t is in the possession OF a gentleman
of this city. In recent visit to New
York, the Lieutenant General examined
it with profound reverence, and express
ed his belief that its silent, eloquent,
and instructive pages were the architect
of the practical, symmetrical, and flu
ished character of the great Washington.
The book was presented to General
Grant. But with that ldelicacy which
distinguishes all he does, he refused to
receive it as gift, but was willing to
take it in trust to hold it till the owner
should appear. Should none apply for
it, it will be placed among the archives
of the nation-a precious legacy.
Peter the Great.
The famous Menzikoff had shed his
blood in battle and exposed his life to
defend the life of his master, Peter the
Great. But joined to his many bril-