Fac-Srm1re of General Washington’s Hand Writing ; and 
sketches of his Private CHARACTER. 
It has been suggested tome, by several friends, that a 
FaAc-Simttr of Gen. -Washington’s hand writing, would be 
a curiosity to:such as are not acquainted with it; anda pleas- 
ing’ memorial to those who reverence his name and charac- 
ter. I have selected the shortest note. I can find, relating to 
agriculture ; and. solely on account of its brevity. I cannot 
lay my hands’on letters I received, more appropriate to the 
topic on which the “ Inquiries” are-written. He was in the 
habit of seeking information upon subjects of husbandry and 
rural affairs; which gratified and amused his few leisure 
hours. But he became so much engaged in public labours i 
and cares, that I was happy, at all times, to relieve him from 
the pressure, his agricultural correspondence occasioned. A 
long and sincere love for him, had ‘subsisted from an early 
period of my life; and he, without ceremony, required the 
slender assistance I cheerfully’ rendered. He would (as in 
matters of greater moment) correct, observe upon, and add 
to, any drait, or information, with a masterly hand: and on 
the subject of husbandry, he was peculiarly zealous and. intel- 
ligent. He generally gave more credit (never less) than they 
‘merited, to those who gave him assistance, which his situa- 
tion necessarily required, in.the small, as well as great con- 
cerns in which he was constantly occupied. His own mode 
of expressing his thoughts was (in my opinion) better, than 
that'in which any other person could clothethem. I often 
thought, that he was not ‘sufficiently conscious of this. His 
style was formed and perfected, by his own efforts. He began 
the bright career, which furnishes the first chapter in the his- 
tory of his public life, at an age, when those who have 
the. opportunities, are finishing a literary education. He 
had a plain and clear style ; natural, and peculiar to himself ; 
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