The Conservative. (M'connelsville, Ohio) 1866-1871, 1869-12-24
MistrIIancOus.
JEFFERsON's PORTRAIT OF
WASHINGTON,

er Jones, dated Monticello, Janua-
ry I'd, 1914. 1t is powerfully
drawn picture, and, as entirely free
from iulsome ponogyrio, or attempt
at cxagcration, wo commend is 10
the careful attention Of our readers.
for II embcdie9 in a short space all
that need be said of that great and
good man. IL il written IN tho con.
else and vigorous style for which itg
illustrious author was 40 remarka-
bic, and is worthy of being troagur.
cd in the memory of every admirer
of the "Fathor OF his Country" or
the immortal writer and signor Of
tho Declaration of Independence:
Il think ! knew General Wash
ington intimately and thoroughly,
aud, were | called un to delineate
his character, it should be in terms
like this:
His mind was great and power
full, being of the very first order
m penetration strong, though not
so acute as that Of Newton Bacon,
and Locke and, as far ~ ho saw,
no judgment was ever souudcr Il
was slow in operation, being little
aided by invention or Imagination,
but sure in its conclusions.
Hence tho common remark Of his
officers Of the advantage he derived
from councils of war, where. hear
ina all suggestions, he selected
whatever was best, and certainly
no General over planned his battles
more judiciously. But If deranged
during the course of the action, if
a?y member ofhis plan was distrac-
ted by sudden circumstances, he
was slow IN n rcadjnstment. The
consequence was, that he otter fail
ed ia tho field, and rarely against
an enemy in station, as at Boston
and York. IIo was incapable Of
fear, meeting personal dangers with
tho calmest uncOnccrn.
Perhaps the strongest feature in
his character was prudence /; never
acting until every circumstance,
every consideration, was matGrcly
weighed refraining If he saw u
doubt, bot, when once decided, go>
ing through with bis purpose, what.
ever obstacle opposed. HIS integ-
rity was pure, his justice the most
infeXible | have ever known no
motive Of interest or cousanguinity,
Of friendship or hatred being able
to bias his decision. lio was, in
iced, in every sense Of the word, a
wise. II good, and q great man.
His tompor was naturally irrita-
bic and high toned, but reflection
and resolution had obtained q firm
aud habitu,l ascendency over 1T
lf ever, however, il broke its bounds
ho was most tremendous IN his
wrath.
In his expenses, lie wus honora.
bic, but exact 4; liberal in contribu'
tions TO whatever promised utility
but frownIng ard unyieldrng Oh all
visionary projects, and all unwor-
thy calls on his charity. His heart
was not warm in it's affections, but
no exactly calculated every mans
value, and gave him q solid esteou
proportloned to it, His person, you
know, was fine his stature exactly
what ono would wish his deport
ment easy, erect, and noble the
best horseman Of his ago, and thC
most graceful figure that could b'
seen on horseback. Although IN
Tho circle Of his friends, whore hC
might be unreserved with safety
he took free share in converse
ton, his colloquial talents were no
above medIocrity, possessing Meth
q er copiousness Of ideas non Ruency
5 of words.
, In public, when called on for {
sudden OPINION, he was unrGady
, short, aud embarrassed. Yet hr
, wrote realty, rather ditTusely il
an easy and correct style. This h,
had acquired by conversation witt
tho world, for his education wal
morcly reading, writing, and com
mon arithmetic, 20 which he addc,
surveying at later day, His tim,
$ was employed IN action chiefly
+ reading little, and that only il Ag
r ricuIturo and English ii story. Iii
e correspondence became necessarily
( extensive, and, with iournahzinl
, his agricultural proceedings, oecu
: pied most Of his lciRuro hours with
, In doors. On tho whole, his char,
actor was, IN its mass, pcrlect--il
nothing bad, in few points indi1er,
eut and IL may be truly said, tha
never did nature and fortune com,
: hIno moro perfectly to mako a MAJ
r great, and TO place in tho same con
T. stelation whatever worthios hav'
r morited from man an everlasting
{ remembrance for hiswas the sing
q ular destiny and merit of leading
the armies of his county through
F. an arduous war for the establish
mont OF It's liberties, Of conducting
its councils through tho birth of |
. government new ia lts form and il
principles, until it had settled dowi
into quiet and orderly train, anC
+ of scrupulously obeylny the law
> tho whole of his career, civil anC
! military, of which the history o
tho whole world furnishes no othe
. example l felt On his death, with