He wrote readily, with ease and correctness, as is exhibited in his extensive correspondence. In his more studied compositions, such as the Farewell Address, his style was clear, powerful, and parta king largely of his native judgment and dignity. His education had been plain, so that all his great acquisitions came rather from action than from books.
Nature had given Washington a high toned and irritable temper, which was habitually restrained by constant watchfulness. it was very rarely that his anger broVe bounds, but on those occasions the burst of wrath was tremendous. He was generous, charitable and merciful; a sincere and devout christian, without ostentation or vain exhibition.
His expenditure was honourably liberal, but al ways exact even to precision. lie contributed bountifully to all useful improvements and to the calls of distress, while ill-advised projects and false pretensions met with the severest reprobation. His integrity was the purest, his justice most in flexible: no motives ever swayed his decision be yond the merits of the subject. In the whole of his correspondence and life, Washington presents the extraordinary spectacle of a man and a chief magistrate whom guile was unknown, whose ends were always just, and means always honest, whose real and alleged motives for every act, public and private, were on every occasion equal and the same.
If Washington possessed the common feelings of ambition, no man has ever so controlled them by reflection and determination. His numerous hon ours were cast upon bim by his fellow citizens, almost against his consent; he accepted them as sacrifices to the public good, and they were regu larly laid down after the crisis had passed, as bur dens which it had ceased to be his duty to bear. Modesty was with him an innate virtue; and par taking of the general firmness of his mind's texture, it was never even tempted into indiscretion by the praises and homage of admiring millions.
The character of Washington as a warrior is best exhibited by the results of his military career. With the smallest means he attained the greatest ends. Almost always opposed to a superior enemy, he was never surprised, and no decisive victory was gained over his army. Now boldly he could strike at the errors and weakness of an adversary, was shown at Trenton, Princeton and York. No general ever planned his battles more judiciously; but, in the opinion of Mr. Jefferson, he was slow at re-adjustment, if any part of his project was sud denly dislocated. Such was Washington's com pleteness of preparation for all contingencies, that it would be difficult to point out many examples of this deficiency. His most striking characteristic was undoubtedly prudence, never deciding without. fully hearing all who were entitled to counsel, and never acting without mature consideration of every difficulty. Of fear he was incapable; his physical and moral qualities placed him far above the reach of such unworthy agitation.
The same qualities which distinguished Wash ington in the field, followed him into the cabinet of the statesman. His course was calm, advised
and firm. He was no party man, for he was above any exclusive attachment to individuals or systems, and he had no object but the public good. Dis trusting first impressions, he anxiously sought for light; his own judgment was always suspended while doubt remained; but when once fixed, he ad vanced to his end without regard to consequences. Popular favour was grateful to him, but he would never stoop to retain it by deserving its loss. Whenever duty required, he knew how to hazard all in the dangerous contest with temporary preju dices.
The political opinions of Washington were those of a sincere republican, who anxiously wished the people to enjoy the largest practicable share of self government. Though frequently classed among the federalists, we have Mr. Jefferson's testimony that he was no adherent to their party principles. His firm resolution was frequently expressed, that our constitution should have a fair trial, and that in support of it he would spend the last drop of his blood. The sovereignty of good laws appeared to him the first consideration; and he held mon archists and factious demagogues to be equally removed from true patriots.
If the greatness of human character is to be esti mated by the solid monuments it has raised, there is no name in all history to compare with Washing ton's. When it is asked how national independence was achieved—how the sickle of the husbandman could overcome the sword of the soldier—how our distressed armies could escape the foe's superiority, and finally triumph over his pride and power, all point to the valour and Fabian prudence of the commander-in•chief. The inquirer then turns to the birth of the American union, he admires the order that sprang from chaos, the firm foundations that were laid with crumbling materials, and he is again referred to the first president of the United States. To his virtue, firmness and wisdom is due the successful impulse of republican government, the benefits of which, like those of nature's sun, will be felt long after men have ceased to admire its splendour and wonderful conception.
Such was George Washington, " whose charac ter was in its mass perfect, in nothing bad, in few points indifferent; and it may truly be said that never did nature and fortune combine more per fectly to make a man great, and to place him in the same constellation with whatever worthies have merited from mankind an everlasting. remem brance." To this eloquent testimonial of Mr. Jef ferson, let us add that of his great political rival, John Adams. " The example of Washington is now complete; it will teach wisdom and virtue to magistrates, citizens and men, not only in the present age, but in future generations as long as our history shall be read. If a Trajan found a Pliny, a Marcus Aurelius can never want biogra phers, eulogists or historians."' LAUSSAT.