Washington was childless, but most happy in his domestic relations. He was mourned even by his enemies and deserved the record: "First in peace, first in war, and first in the hearts of his countrymen." The following esti mate of the character and intellect of the great American patriot is from Pres ident Jefferson: mind was great and powerful, without being of the very first order; his penetration strong, though not so acute as that of a Newton, Bacon, or Locke; and, as far as he saw, no judg ment was ever sounder. It was slow in operation, being little aided by invention or imagination, but sure in conclusion. Hence the common remark of his officers of the advantages he derived from coun cils of war, where, hearing all sugges tions, he selected whatever was best; and certainly no general ever planned his battles more judiciously; but, if de ranged during the course of action, if any member of his plan was disarranged by sudden circumstances, he was slow in readjustment. The consequence was that he often failed in the field, but rarely against an enemy in station, as at Boston and York. He was incapable of fear, meeting personal danger with the calmest concern. Perhaps the strongest feature in his character was prudence, never acting until every circumstance, every consideration, was maturely weighed; refraining, if he saw a doubt; but, when once decided, going through with his purpose, whatever obstacles opposed. His integrity was the most
pure, his justice the most inflexible, I have ever known; no motives of interest or consanguinity, of friendship or hatred, being able to bias his decision. He was, indeed, in every sense of the word, a wise, a good, and a great man. His tem per was naturally irritable and high toned; but reflection and resolution had obtained a firm and habitual ascendency over it * * * * His person was fine, his stature exactly what one could wish. Though in the circle of his friends, where he might be unreserved with safety, he took a free share in conversa tion, his colloquial talents were not above mediocrity, possessing neither copious ness of ideas nor fluency of words. In public, when called on for a sudden opinion, he was unready, short, and em barrassed. Yet he wrote readily, rather diffusely, in an easy and correct style. He read little, and that only on subjects of agriculture and English history."