Sketches of Gen. Washington's Private Character. iti , 
of his country, was his undeviating bi and its wala Ait 
his. leading-star. ay 
Had I not prescribed to myself aning which I itl not 
overleap, I could trace, distinctly, through these letters, the 
the most prominent features of his farewell address. These 
do not appear so well matured, or expressed, as they finally: 
were. But the sentiments are substantially similar; though 
some may be said to be in a state of adolescence ;—if such 
an expression be allowable. . 
These letters, ifthere were none others, would convince any 
who candidly doubted on the subject, how? unnecessary 
literary assistance to him would: have been, for all useful 
and necessary purposes, had’ his leisure, or inclinations, 
permitted him to depend solely on himself. I am_ not at 
liberty (nor is it required in this feeble sketch of his private 
character) to adduce passages in frequent proof. I may, 
however, without regard to this point, and without any 
nice selection, mention an instance of his rigid adherence 
to duty, at the expense of his private accommodation and 
enjoyment. We who passed through the vicissitudes of 
our revolution, well recollect, that the years 1779 ard 1780, 
were among the most distressful zras, of the variegated pro-, 
gress through our contest. It was in the wixter of one of 
those years, that the occurrence happened, which I have 
mentioned in volume first, page 232. “4€ was pressed. by | 
many personal friends, and particulaly by one possessing 
his confidence, and to whom he a/dressed one of the letters 
I have noticed, dated “A/zddle 510k, December 12th, 1778,” 
to spend his winter in P¥tadelphia; where all would join 
in rendering his ‘time happy, and his situation personally 
‘accomodatory. He writes in reply, from the patriotic feelings 
of his heart;—~and without affectedly quoting the imapplicable 
examples of Hannibal and Capua ‘ee 
“Were I to give into private conveniency and amuse- 
“ ment, I should not be able to resist the invitations of my 
. 
cae a 
