Semi-weekly herald., 1913-02-24
CHARACTER or
WASHINGTON.

think knew General Washington
intimately and thoroughly, and were |
called on to delineate his character,
il should be in terms like these:
His mind was great and powerful,
without being of the very first oriei
his penetration strong, though not sd
acute as that of Newton, Bacon or
Locke; and as far as he saw, no judg-
ment was ever sounder. 1t was slow
iE operation, being little aided by in
vention or imagination, but sure in
conclusion. Hence the common re-
mark Of his officers, Of the advan.
tage he derived from councils of war
where hearing all suggestions, he Sc.
lected whatever was best; and certain
iy no general ever planned his bat.
lies more judiciously But if derange,
during the course Of the action, il ans
member of his plan was dislocatod Dy
sudden circumstances, he was slow in
re-adjustment. The consequence was
that he often failed in the held, and
rarely against an enemy in station
as at Boston and New York. lie
was incapable of fear, meeting per
sonal dangers with the calmest un-
concern. Perhaps the strongest fea-
ture in his character was prudence
never acting until every circumstance
every consideration, was maturely
weighed; refraining If he saw doubt,
but, when once decided, going through
with his purpose, whatever obstacles
opposed. His integrity was most pure
his justice the most inflexible | have
ever known, no motives Of interest OF
consanguinity, of friendship or hatred
being able to bias his decision. He
was indeed, in every sense Of the
words, wise, a good, and greai
man. His temper was naturally irrit.
able and high-toned; but reflection
and resolution had obtained firm and
habitual ascendency over it. II ever
however, it broke its bounds, he wal
most tremendous in his wrath. 1,
his expenses he was honorable, bul
exact; liberal in contribution to what
ever promised utility; but frowniDr
and unyielding on all visionary pro-
ects. and all unworthy calls ON hi
charity. His heart was not warm il
its affections; but he exactly calcu
lated every mans value, and gave hin
a solid esteem proportioned 10 it. Hi
person, you know, was fine. his stat
ure exactly what one could wish, hi
department easy, erect and noble; th'
best horseman of his age, and tn,
most graceful figure that could b.
seen on horseback Although in tn
circle of his friends, where he nigh
be unreserved with safety, he took
free share in conversation, his colo
quial talents were not above medioc
rity, possessing neither copiousness o
1 ideas, nor fluency Of words. In pub
| lie, when called on for sudden opin
barrassed. Yet he wrote readily
rather diffusely, in an easy and cor
rect style. This he had acquired b,
conversation with the world, for hi
education was merely reading, writ
ing and common arithmetic. to whic
he added surveying at later day. Hi
time was employed in action chiefly
reading little. and that only in agri
culture and English history. His cor
respondence became necessarily exter
sive, and, with journalizing his agri
cultural proceedings, occupied most O
his leisure hours within doors. o
the whole, his character was, in II
mass. perfect, in nothing bad, in fe'
points Indifferent; and 1t may trul
be said, that never did nature an
fortune combine more perfectly I
make a man great, and to place hiI
in the same constellation with what
ever wortbiss have merited from ma
an evsraas1iAU ssnembrance. For hi
was the singular destiny and meri
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