Semi-weekly herald., 1914-02-23

consequence was, that he often failed
IN the field. and rarely against an
enemy In station, as at Boston and
New York. He was incapable of fear.
meeting personal dangers with the
ealmest unconcern. Perhaps the
strongest feature in his character was
prudence, never acting until every
circumstance, every consideration was
maturely weighed; refraining if he
saw doubt, but, when once decided.
gong through with his purpose, what
ever obstacles opposed. His integrity
was most pure, his justice the most
inflexible | have ever known. mn mo
tiVes oil interest or consanguinity, of
friendship or hatred, being able TO
bias his decision. He was, indeed. in
every sense of the words. wise. a
good and great man. His temper
was naturally irritable and high ton
ed; but reflection and resolution had
obtained firm and habitual ascend
ency over 1T. If ever, however, it
broke its bounds, he was most tre-
mendous in his wrath. In his ex-
penses he was honorable, but exact:
liberal in contribution to whatever
promised utility; but frowning and
unyielding on all visionary projects,
and all unworthy calls on his charity.
His heart was not warm in It's affect
ions; but he exactly calculated every
mans value, and gave him a solid
esteem proportioned to it. His per-
son, you know, was fine, his stature
exactly what one could wish, his de-
pertinent easy, erect and noble; the
best horseman of his age, and the
most graceful figure that could be
seen on horseback. Although in the
circle Of his friends, where he might
be unreserved with safety, he took q
free share in conversation, bis Ssalo-
I dnaf tafents WE'RE NJ - ~ "a
Gritty, possessing neither copiousnsssI
of ideas, nor fluency Of words. In|
public, when called on for 4 sudden|
opinion, he was unready, short And|
embarrassed. Yet he wrote readily,
rather diffusely. in an easy and cor-|
sect style. This he had acquired by|
conservation with the world, for his|
education was merely reading, writing|
and common arithmetic, to which he|
added surveying at later dag. His|
time was employed in action chiefly, !
reading little, and that only in aRri-
culture and English history. His corr
respondence became necessarily ex-|
tensive, and. with journalizing his ag-|
ricultural proceedings, occupied most|
Of his leisure hours within doors. ON
the whole, his character was, in ita|
mass, perfect, in nothing bad, in fewI
points Indifferent; and It may truly
be said, that never did nature and
fortune combine more perfectly to,
make man great, and to place himl
in the same constellation with what
ever worthless have merited from mari
an everlasting remembrance. For his
was the singular destiny and merit
Of leading the armies Of his country,
successfully through an arduous wan
for the establishment of its independ1
ence: of conducting its councils thru
the birth of a government, new in it'd
forms and principles, until it had set
tied down into quiet and orderly
train; and of scrupulously obeyina|
the laws through the whole Of hid
career, civil and military. Of which
the history of the world furnishes nd
other example. These are my
opinions of General Washington
which | would vouch at the Judgment
seat of God, having been formed or|
an acquaintance of thirty years.
served with him in the Virginia legI
islature from 1863 to the revolutionj
ary war, and again. short time il
congress, until he left us to take com|
mand Of the army. During the wal
. and after it we corresponded occasI
ionally, and in the four years Of mi
{ continuance in the office of secretar}
Of state, our intercourse was daily
!, confidential and cordial. After | ri
= tired from that office, great and ma
lignant pains were taken by our fed
{ eral monarchists, and not entirelj
? without effect, to make him view n
Y as theorist. holding French prime
Z pies Of government, which would lsaI
n infallibly to Righteousness and a.
: archy. And to this he listened a.
7 more easily. from my known dinaI
:, probation of the British treaty.
= never saw him afterwards. or thsd
: malignant insinuations should hay
IS been dissipated before his just ~
; ment, as mists before the sun. Al
= on his death. with my countsypc
IS that "verily great man hath M
3, this day in Israel" III
'e' THOMAS JEFFER1pa