The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-04-17
father of his country. "r'''"e
1914 jefferson said:


1914, jefferson said:
M mind ,r.s orc.t and powerful without
being OF tho very first ORDER bis pehe"Sx.on
strong, though not so acute as that oi We"
ton. Bacon or Locke. and. as far As nc saw no
judgment was ever sounder. IL 70" 49,
, oncration. being little aided by Invention OF
imagination but sure in conclusion, ncnco
the common remark Of his ofncers, Vi 'S' a
vantage he derived from councils VI ""';
,,hare hearing ALI suggestions. he selected
whatever was best: and certainly no eenerai
800 MANNED his battles more judiciously But
~ deranced during tho course OF the actioh' IL
a,v member OF his plan was dislocated py SUD
den circumstances, no was slow In reaoJus'-
ment. ~ <,,a T.,
THO consequence was that he often failed In
the field and rarely against an enemy ih s'a,ion
as nj Boston and York. lie was lncapaoie Vi
fear. meeting personal dangers with ,he caini-
eat unconcern. Perhaps the strongest io".o
In bis character was prudence, never acting
I'll o,,or, circumstance. every consideration
WAS maturely weighed; refraining II ne saw
n donbt. but when once decided going through
With his nurnose whatever obstacles opposed.
His integrity was most pure. his justice INC
most innexible have ever known; no motives
of interest or consanguinity. Of friendship or
hatred being able TO bias his decision. lie was,
indeed in every sense OF the WORDS n "ise'a
GOOD and great man. His temper WAS
naturally irritable and high toned, but re-
Election and resolution had obtained firm ana
habitual ascendancy over it. II ever, however.
IL broke its bonds, he was most tremendous
In his wrath In his expenses he was honor
oble. but exact; liberal in contributions TO
whatever promised utility, but frowning and
unvielding on all visionary projects and all
unworthy calls on his charity.
His heart was not warm in its affections, but
he exactly calculated every mans value ana
gave him solid esteem proportoned 10 H.
His person, you know, was fine. his stature ex-
actlv what one would wish, his department
easy. erect and noble the best horscman of his
ore and the most graceful figure that could be
coon ON horseback Although in the circle OF
his friends. where he might be unreserved with
safety he took free share IN conversation,
his colloouial talents were not above medioc-
ritv. possessing neither cOpiousness OF IDEAS
nor nuency OF words. In public, when called
ON for A sudden opinion, he was unready, short
and embarrassed. Yet he wrote readily, rather
dif1usely. in an easy and correct style. This he
had acquired by conversation with the world,
for his education was merely reading, writing
and common arithmetic, to which he added
surveying at a later day
His time was employed in action chiefly,
reading little, and that only in agriculture and
English history. His correspondence became
necessarily extensive, aud, with Journallzing
his agricultural proceedings occupied most OF
his leisure hours within doors. On the whole
his character was, in its mass, perfect; in moth
ing bad, in few points indifferent, and 1t may
trulv be said that never did nature and fortune
combine more perfectly to make a man great
and TO place him in the same constellation
with whatever worthless have merited from
man an everlasting remembrance.
For his was the singular destiny and merit
of leading the armies Of his country success
fully through an ardu0us war for the estab-
lshment OF its independence; OF conducting It's
councils through the birth Of government,
new in its forms and principles, until II had
settled down into quiet and orderly train,
md of scrupulously obeying the laws through
,he whole of his career, civil and military, OF
which the history of the world furnishes no
other example.
These are my opinions of General Washing
ton. which ! would yOuch at the judgment seat
OF God. having been formed on an acquaint-
ance Of thirty years. | served with him Ia the
Virginia legislature rom 1863 to the Reyolu-
tionary war, and again short time in con-
gress until he left Us 10 take command OF tho
army. During the war, and after II, we cor
responded occasionally. and IN the four years
of my continuance in the Office of secretary OF
stale our intercourse was daily confidential
and cordial.
After | retired from that Office great and
malignant pains were taken by our federal
monarchists. and not entirely without effect,
10 make him view me as theorist holding
French principles of government, which would
lead infallibly to RIGHTEOUSNESS and anarchy
And 10 this he listened the more easily from
my known disapprobation Of the British
treaty. never saw him afterward, or these
malignant insinuatons should have been dis
sipated before his just Judgment as misis be-
fore the sun. | felt. on his death. with my
countryfnen. that Verify a great man hath
fallen this day in Israel"