Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1871-01-13
geleCten Mlsrellany.
jefferson Sketch of George Washington.

His mind was great and powerful, with
out Icing Of the very first order; his pen
etrat,on strong, though not SO acute as
that of Newton, Locke. or Bacon and as
far as he saw no judgment was ever sound
er. 1t was slow in operation. being little
aided by invention or Imagination. but
sure in conclusion. Hence the common
remark Of his officers, Of the advantages
he derived FROM conncils Of war, where,
hearing all suggestions. he selected what
ever was best. and certainly no 6 neral
ever planned his battles more judiciously.
But if deranged during the course Of the
action. if any member of bis plan was dislo-
Gated by sudden circumstances. be was
slow in readjustment. The consequence
was that hea often failed in the field, aud
rarely against au enemy in station, as at
Boston and York. He was incapable of
fear, meeting personal dangers with the
calmest unconcern. Perhaps the strong
est feature in his character was prudence.
never acting till every circumstance, every
consideration, was maturely weighed; re-
framing if be saw doubt. but when once
d-s;ls DC; 4. going thrcuga with his purpose.
what ever obstacles opposed.
His integrity was most pure, his JUS
tice the most iuAexible I have ever known;
no motives Of consanguiuity. OF friendship
or hatred being able to bias his decision.
He was. indeed, in every sense of the
word, wise, good, and great man.
His temper was naturally irritable und
high-toned but reflection and resolution
had obtained a firm. and habitual ascen-
dency over it. Ifever, however. it broke
its bounds. he was most tremendous in
his wrath In his expenses he was hon
orable. but exact liberal in contributions
to whatever promised utility. but frown-
ing and uuyieldiug on all visionary pro-
jects, aud all unworthy calls on his char
ity. His heart was not warm in its af-
fections. but he exactly calculated every
mans value. and gave him solid esteem
proportioned to it. His person. you
know, was 6ne; his stature exactly what
one would wish; his department easy. e.
rect and noble; the best horseman of his
age. and the most graceful q cure that
could be seen on horseback. Although
in the circle of his friends, where he migh
be unreserved with safety. he took free
share in conversation his colloquial tai
ehts were not above mediocrity. p"ssess-
lug neither copiousness of ideas or fuency
of words. In public, when called on for
sudden opinion, he was uuready, short.
and embarrassed. Yet he wrote readily.
rather dltfusely. in an easy aud correct
style. This he bad acquired by conver-
sation with the world. tor his education
was merely reading. writing AMI common
arithmetic, to which he added surveying
at later day. His time was employed
in action chiefly, reading little, aud th''
only in agriculture and English history
His correspondence became necessarily ex'
tensive. and. with journalizipg his agri-
cultural proceedings. occupied most Of bis
leisure hours within doors. On the whole
his character was. in its mass. perfect, iu
nothing bad, in few points Indifferent
aud it may truly be said. that never did
rature aud fortune combine more perfect
! ly to make man great, and to place HIN
u the same constellation with whatever
WORTHLESS have merited from man an ever.
lasting remembrance. For his was the
singular destiny and merit Of leading the
armies of his country successfully through
an arduous war. for the establishment o.
its independence; of conducting lts coun'
ellis through the birth of q government
new in its form and principles. until it hac
settled down into quiet aud orderly train
andof scrupuiously obeying the laws tbro
the whole OF bis career, civil and military
Of which the history of the world furnishes
no other example.-Jefersons Letter t.
W. q. Giles.
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