he achieved for them, and bequeathed to them the blessings of peace and freedom, without injury to a single nation upon the face of the globe. In all other instances the elevation of the individual has cast upon succeeding generations a long and gloomy shadow of public adversity or political subserviency; but the greatness of Washington stands as under a vertical luminary, while the whole nation, of whom he was the centre, far and near, partake is genial warmth and rejoice in its reflected beams.

CYRUS READ EDMONDS was born at Exeter, England, September 14, 1809, and died near London, August 4, 1868. His father the Rev. Thomas Clarke Edmonds, M.A., was Pastor of a Baptist Church at Exeter, but removed soon after the birth of his son, to Cambridge, where he succeeded the celebrated divine, Robert Hall. Mr. Edmonds assisted his father in conducting a large school at Cambridge, having been privately educated by University tutors, -non-conformists being unable at the time to enter the University—and subsequently engaged in literary work in London. He afterwards lived for some twelve years at Leicester, as Head Master of the Leicester Proprietary Grammar School. Our extract is from his "Life and Times of General Washington," London, 1835-6. 2 vols., 18mo. The work is written with ability and impartiality, and the character of Washington, a small portion only of which we transcribe, carefully and judiciously considered.

JAMES GRAHAME.

1836.

THE nomination of a commander-in-chief of the American forces was the next, and not the least important, measure which demanded from the congress the united exercise of its wisdom and authority. Its choice (and never was choice more happily directed) fell upon George Washington.*

Nature and fortune had singularly combined to adapt and to designate this individual for the distinguished situations which he now and afterwards attained, and the arduous duties they involved. A long struggle to defend the frontiers of Virginia against continual incursions of the French and Indians,-the command of a clumsy, ill-organized provincial militia, prouder of being free citizens than effective soldiers, and among whom he had to introduce and establish the restraints of discipline, obliged with minute labor and constant activity to superintend and give impulsion to every department of the service over which he presided, to execute as well as order, to negotiate, conciliate,

"The congress at Philadelphia, who had assumed the title of Representatives of the united colonies of North America, appointed as commander-in-chief Washington, a member from Virginia, who had previously distinguished himself. He was one of those virtuous citizens, to whom the world refuses the credit of genius, because they are not gifted with a destructive restlessness, nor devoured with the ambition of domineering over mankind; but who really deserve the name of great, better than many others, because their number is rare." -FELIX BODIN: Resumé de L'Histoire D'Angleterre. Bruxelles, 1824.—ED.

project, command, and endure;-there could not have been a better preparatory education for the office of commander-in chief of the motley, ardent, and untrained levies that constituted at present the army of America. His previous functions and exertions, arduous rather than splendid, excited respect without envy, and, combined with the influence. of his character and manners, qualified him to exercise command and prepared his countrymen to brook his ascendency. The language and deportment of this truly great man were in general remarkably exempt from every strain of irregular vehemence and every symptom of indeliberate thought; disclosing an even tenor of steadfast propriety, an austere but graceful simplicity, sound considerate sense and prudence, the gravity of a profound understanding and habitual reflection, and the tranquil grandeur of an elevated soul. Of this moral superiority, as of all human virtue, part was the fruit of wise discipline and resolute self-control; for Washington was naturally passionate and irritable, and had increased the vigor and authority of every better quality of his mind by the conquest and subjection of those rebellious elements of its composition. Calm, modest, and reserved, yet dignified, intrepid, inflexibly firm, and persevering; indefatigably industrious and methodical; just, yet merciful and humane; frugal and calculating, yet disinterested; circumspect, yet enterprising; serious, virtuous, consistent, temperate, and sincere, his moral portraiture displays a blended variety of excellence, in which it is difficult to assign a predominant lustre to any particular grace, except perhaps a grave majestic composure. Ever superior to fortune, he enjoyed her smiles with moderation, endured her frowns with serenity, and showed himself alike in victory forbearing, and in defeat undaunted. No danger or difficulty

could disturb his equanimity, and no disaster paralyze his energy or dishearten his confidence. The same adverse vicissitude that would have drained an ordinary breast of all its spirit served but to call forth new streams of vigor from Washington's generous soul. His countenance and general aspect corresponded with the impression produced by his character. Fixed, firm, collected, and resolved, yet considerately kind, it seemed composed for dignity and high exploit. A sound believer in the divine doctrines of Christianity, he was punctual and devout in discharging every public and private office of Christian piety. Perhaps there never was another man who trod with more unsullied honor the highest ways of glory, or whose personal character and conduct exercised an influence so powerful and so beneficial on the destiny of a great nation.

JAMES GRAHAME was born at Glasgow, Scotland, December 21, 1790, and died in London, July 3, 1842. In 1812 he was admitted an advocate at the Scottish bar, and after fourteen years practice, settled on account of ill health in the South of England, and commenced his "History of the United States of America, from the plantation of the British Colonies till their assumption of National Independence," from which we make the extract. The first two volumes appeared in 1827, and a new edition, 4 vols., 8vo, in 1836, bringing the history to the year 1776. Republished in Philadelphia in 1845, with a memoir of the author by Josiah Quincy.

EDWARD C. M'GUIRE.

1836.

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 equipose 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