CHAPTER XIX.

THE CHARACTER OF WASHINGTON.

THE various sketches contained in the foregoing chapter, will enable the attentive reader to form a conception of the character of Washington, in the main, accurate and just. That a strong partiality guided the pen of the writers may be readily admitted. The feeling was alike honourable to both the parties. It was a tribute justly due, and herein freely paid, to virtue seldom surpassed. Few persons have lived in our world, whose endowments of every kind were more worthy of admiration, or whose services better deserved a grateful remembrance, than those by which the noble subject of their eulogy had been distinguished and adorned.

The mental and moral constitution of Washington was of the most excellent kind. He possessed faculties and affections in such peculiar combination, as to place him almost alone in that respect.

His mind was of the very best order. The structure thereof was plain, but on a scale of unusual strength and greatness. Its basis seems to have been strong common sense. To this was superadded a discernment

clear and penetrating; a memory of great tenacity; and a judgment as sound as man ever possessed. Imagination had but little place in his mind. His materials of thought were first truths, together with such facts and events in life as were worthy of attention. These he carefully marked and compared with one another, noting their relations with a cool and enlightened comprehension; viewing them in all their aspects and bearings, weighing them in the balances of the mind, till conducted to the safest and soundest conclusions of

reason.

He was alike happy in his moral constitution. Here the elements were mixed up in the finest and most admirable proportions. They were in perfect harmony with the higher powers of the mind. The equipoise was rare and excellent. From hence, in a great degree, arose the force and effectiveness of his intellectual efforts. The action of his mind encountered no hindrance from the waywardness of his affections, or the turbulence of passion. These never cast obstacles in the way of his judgment, or embarrassed its decisions by a conflict between inclination and conviction. With feelings unusually healthy, his understanding, ordinarily, had free and unimpeded course. Unbiassed by mere emotions of the breast, he always regarded objects presented for his consideration, with a steady eye and serene contemplation. No delusive vapour ascending from a selfish bosom, shut out from his mind the bright rays of truth. His perceptions were clear, because in him were united a sound head, with an honest and single heart.

The moral qualities in him were mingled and held

together in a combination so admirable, that they all tended with the utmost harmony to the formation of a character so remarkable. He united in himself affections, dis positions and tempers, which are never looked for in the same person, being regarded in the light of antagonist and contending qualities. They are often found to exist separately, but not unitedly, proving in their ordinary operation, destructive of each other. But in him they appeared to exist in a concord, as complete, as it was marvellous. Each filled with energy its own assigned sphere, whilst the whole were promptly combined, when the union was necessary for the effectuation of great and important objects.

The unequivocal developments of his character, exhibit him as possessed at the same time of such opposite qualities as courage and caution; of ardour and selfpossession; of decision and moderation; of self-esteem and humility. He had modesty without diffidence; benevolence without ostentation; humanity without weakness. In him frugality was unattended by parsimony; temperance by austerity; the love of praise, by the fear of censure. He was dignified, yet condescending; had gravity without moroseness; seriousness without gloom. Quick in discerning defects in men, he was yet kind to all; alive to offence and insult, he was tolerant and ready to forgive. He was of incorruptible integrity; had the highest and purest sense of justice; his truthfulness was rigid; and his faithfulness to principles and engagements, unwavering. He loved peace, yet was ready for war, when duty called. He was patriotic without ambition; industrious without covetousness. He was affectionate to his family

and kindred; kind to his neighbours; obliging to friends; courteous to associates; compassionate to servants, and merciful to animals. By nature he had an excitable temper, and a mind subject at times to fierce illapses of passion. When the severity of the trials to which his patience was often exposed, is considered, the wonder is, not that he should have been sometimes carried away by them, but that he should have so frequently resisted them with success. Under many and great provocations, he was usually calm, calling in to his aid that self-command, of which experience had taught him the necessity, and conscience the propriety. Few persons so constituted as he was in this respect, have done themselves, or others, so little injury thereby.*

The personal and domestic habits of this remarkable man, were in perfect keeping with the rest of his life. In them is seen the same fixed and settled principles of conduct, which governed him in the higher spheres of action. So happily do they accord with the more public and prominent displays of his character, that they serve to present him to the view,

"Full orbed, in his whole round of rays coinplete."

He usually arose from his bed at 4 o'clock in the morn

* The following occurrence will serve to furnish an example of his habitual self-command.-Returning to his house one day, from a ride over his farm, on arriving at the yard-gate, he found his overseer in the act of chastising severely one of his servants. Indignant at the sight, as being in the mode or degree contrary to his orders, he dismounted hastily, and advancing towards the overseer with his horsewhip in his hand, the affrighted man retreated towards the fence, exclaiming, "Remember your character, General; remember your character." The General immediately stopped, and reprimanding him for disobeying his commands, admonished him to beware of again correcting his people in a manner so cruel.

ing, summer and winter. From the chamber he went to his study, with a candle in his hand, remaining there a longer or shorter time, according to the season As to his employment there, no room for doubt exists. It was certainly his time for devotional exercises. The weather permitting, he rode out daily upon his farm, inspecting the agricultural operations of his managers and servants. When enaged at home he never suffered himself to be interrupted by visitors, except on very special occasions. But his business being over, he gave himself with cheerfulness to their society.

In his enjoyments, he was very temperate. His breakfast usually consisted of two or three small hoe cakes, with honey; and as many cups of tea. He generally dined on a single dish, drinking after dinner seldom more than two glasses of wine, and finishing the repast with a few nuts, of which he was especially fond. Business again employed him in the afternoon. He drank his favourite beverage, tea, before sun-down, spent the evening with his family, and retired uniformly when he had no company, to his study at nine o'clock. There he usually spent an hour before retiring to rest.

Mrs. Washington sometimes went into his study during the day, when he was there. He would then lay down his book or his pen, and well-pleased, yield himself to the charm of her pleasantry, or to any communications of business, until she thought proper to leave him.

On Sunday mornings, as the hour for church ap. proached, he was accustomed to go into his wife's chamber, and sit there till she was ready to go,