The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1872-02-07

lated to produce something of the impres
sions, arising from beholding a panorama,
with its shifting scenes, its varied aspects od
the same general subject, and its striking,
full development of the less, but important,
elements of the picture, necessarily omitted,
or but partially offered in more compre-
hensive painting.
But while Miss R. has, with admirable
ilial devotion to the memory of her distin-
guished ancestor, thus served rare enter
tainment to her readers, she has, at the same
time, laid the present generation of youth
under lasting obligations for the instruction
supplied by her work. With modesty
characteristic of her sex, and yet not always
characteristic of female authors, she has ex-
ecuted her labor of love in such manner
as to form an excellent example of this mode
of compiling a Biography. The reader
never finds Miss R. or any of the cotempo-
rary relations of Mr.. j., obtruded on atten-
tiOn. She and they only appear now and
then, Ito revert to figure already used) as
the agents, in exhibiting the panorama;
AID so absorbed in the effort to constitute
and preserve its pleasing relations to the
spectators, as to demand but little, and at
tract even less, of their attention.
But the domestic Life" is itself replete
with valuable instructions, especially to youth
aspiring to distinction and eminence.
1. Mr.. Jefferson's early career was that
of diligent student. His patrimony was
ample and many of his country and college
associates were not the most favorable to en-
courage studious life, on his part. What
ever may be ascribable to the demoraliza,
tions of the war, or the intimate connexions
of our people with French society, which it
inaugurated, andsucceeding events increased,
it is by no means true, that the Immediately
ante-revOlutiOnary period was specially dis
tinguished for society, eminent for moral
virtues. The one vice of card playing, with
its concomitant evils, prevailed to such an
extent, very much under the example and
associates of Gov, Fauquier, as to form the
subject of paragraph in Burke's History
of Virginia; and the bad character of the
clergy of the Established Church has never
found successful apOlogist or advocate
regarding them as a clasS-amOng the most
jealous adherents of their faith. Yet the
young Jefferson, though born to fortune and
beset by temptation, sedulously pursued his
studies, and laid broad and deep the foun-
dation of his future success and fame.
2. Mr.. Jefferson, though by no means de-
6cient in natural talent, was mosss indebted
to his ardent thirst for knowledge, united
with untiring diligence and application, than
to genius, for that rare scholarship, which
at once attracted the admiration and won
the esteem of leading men in the first Con-
gress, with whom he associated as equal to
all and superior to many, though their aca-
demical advantages had been somewhat bet
ter. Nor must it be forgotten, that while
many of his own and of succeeding times,
have enjoyed as he did, the benefits of illus
trious examples, he was one of the few, who
knew how to appreciate fully, and follow
successfully, the patterns of excellence set
before him.
3. He never ceased to be student. This
is one of the best results of thorough ac-
QUESTION, in early life; and yet one, which
many forfeit, as well fitted as he to secure
it, by reason of yielding to the pressure of
public duties, the allurements of pleasure, or
the pursuits of gain or ambition. However
occupied and wherever his lot was cast, Mr..
J. was ever student, not merely of books,
but of things; not merely of thoughts and
opinions, but of men and measures.
4. The reader of this book cannot we'll
resist the conviction, that Mr.. J. was sincere
in his reluctance to engage in public life,
and that he really did so at the sacrifice of
private interest. Professions of such views
are often made, but these letters, displaying
as they do, their author in the undress of a
father, brother or near friend, deeply i'm
press the reader with belief, not only Of
his true patriotism, but of his unaffected re-
pugnance to public life. That he had the
ordinary ambition is doubtless true; but it
was unusually unselfsh; an ambition, rather
to serve than to be served. And as he de-
MED himself his home interests, both of
pleasure and profit, so he most strictly and
conscientiously refrained from the least ten
dency to favor his kinsmen-carefully refus-
ing to confer Office on one in any way al
lied to him by natural ties. What rebuke
and what an example for our day!
5. Mr.. Jefferson is a rare example OF
what the code of morality, which is rather
indispOsed to acknowledge Bible origin,
however really indebted to Bible civiliza-
ton, can effect. His equanimity, under af-
Fiction and reverses, his magnanimity to-
wards his political opponents, and his regu-
larity of useful habits, must command ad-
miration. The one great blemish, which
other Biographies unfold, his prejudice
against Presbyterians and his injustice to
their principles and their conduct cannot be
overlooked, though it may charitably be
ascribed to an ignorance, for which his age
and the current literature of his age are
more to be blamed than he was himself