New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1866-01-19
A VALUABLE RELIC.
wAsHINGTON'S TEXT BOOK.
Ills Autograph Copy Of the Yeung
Mans Companion.

There is in this city one Of the most interest
inc hooks in the world. 1t is the one that foTmeu '
intellectual tie business and moral charSotoi -
Washington the Father Of his Country IL iii'S W
The nv stery Of his early training and explains
which before seemed unaccounaDle' lie ear! ~
sa,hsr He enioved bur few advantages Of edneauoni
get il is said Of him that at q very cary "e
tnowledce Of the forms of business proofs ol "n10N
- ,as. - b,s own handwriting Washington Irving
yavs ~ Warrington that before he was 10 years
a ~ hod oonied into a volume forms Of all kinds OF
nercsptre and legal papers bills Of exchange notes oil
hand deeds bonds and the like that he hada law
,er,s skill in drafting documents, and merchants ex
actness in keeping accounts"
The book We have referred to the architect OF DIS
character It is small octave volume Of Az pages
The name Of George Washington is written upon IL ID
boyish chirography but large bold with every ieler
distinct as in bis maurer days to which the year 4f%
Is added in the same handwriting. Washington was
then ten years Of age. The title OF the BOOK IS inns
..Young Mems Companion or ArithemeteA Made Lasy
with Plain Directions for Young Man TO Attain 10
Read and Write True English with Copies OF verses
Tor a Writing School, Instrueting Of Letters TO
Friends. Forms for Making Bills, Bonds, Releases
Wills, &C. Likewise Easy Rules for Measuring Board
and Timber BY the Carpenters Plain ltnle, &C. Also
Directions for Measuring, Gusging and Plot
ting out Of Land &c, and Taking the
Distance BY Quadrant and Triangle together with q
Map Of the Globe and Water. Also, Map OF England
together with Choice Monthly Observations for Gar
dening, Planting aud InCceuating Fruit Trees
Written by w. Mather in a Plain and Easy style that
Young Man may Attain the sane without Tutor
Thirteenth Edition. London. Printed for S Clark"
The Young Mans Companion opens with instructions
for practice are presented from hymns prayers and
prose Easy copies for writing with instructions how
10 sit hold the pen and to make ink follow. Rules are
laid down for writing letters love, business ant
friendship, and how 10 begin and end q letter
with the different styles TO be addressed TO people
of rank and plebians Forms for all kind o.
mercantile and legal papers are presented, with
Powers of Attorney, Deeds and Wills. Arithmetic
comes next, Surveying, AIensurau9ps, Navigation
Building, Guaging Taking Observations, and Arehtoo
lure accompanied by rude drawings have their place
Rules for behaviour in company are then given how &c
enter and leave the presence Of nobility and rank with
the order Of precedence that young mans manneIs
may be well formed. Banking and Exchange follow
with rules for farming and gardening with inoenating
as grating was then called, the raising Of flowers an'
fruits and instructions for each month in year lie
oepts are given for the making Of cider wine and pre-
household games, tricks and pastimes are not over
looked.
Here Washington formed his fret acquaintance wit
the writings OF Sir Matthew Hale Washington Irwin
saws that Sir Matthew Halos Contempations, Aor'
and Divine was the favorite volume OF Washington
mother Out of it she daily read him lessons OF regio
and morality His mothers manual, bearing h
mothers name Mary Washington. written with he
own hand was ever preserved by him with flia carr
and may still be seen in the archives Of Mount Vernon
To those Contempatons he was first introdueedby IN
book. Copious extracts from Hales celebrated Manu-
are inserted under the title Of Judge Hales Conter
platOns in his Account Of the Good Steward"
This remarkable book The Young Mans Con
panion, came into WsshiDgtons hand when he was j
years Of age 1t taught him Just what be wished 4
spow. He became his own tutor under this master
That he read IT, studied IT, and made the treasures hi
own his subsequent life proved. Not content with TN
reading before he was 3 years Of age he copied all TN
business forms into book and mastered all its teach
ings. 1t made him the surveyor, the exact bushes
man the legislator the ruler the finished gentleman
while its lessons Of religion and moraLy formed Ia
character and guided his life.
This book was found in Virginia during its occupa
lion BY our troops II is in remarkable state Of presel
walton. 1t is in the possession OF gentleman oil TIL
Sity In a recent visit 10 New. York the Lieutenant
General examined II with profound reverence and O.
pressed his belief that its silent eloquent and lnstruC
tive pages the architect Of the practical symmet
cal, and finished character Of the great washington
The book was presented 10 Gen. Grant. But with tina
6eicacy which distinguishes all that lie does be refused
TO receive il as gift but was willing 10 take 1t III trnS
70 hold it till the owner should appear Should nom
apply Tor il, 1t will be placed among the archives
the national precious legacy.
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