Sketches of Gen. TFashington'' s Private Character, vii 



I have often compared notes, with many who were fre- 

 quently with him, I never met with one who said he could 

 approach him, without some symptoms of insuperable and 

 respectful formality ; involuntarily transferring their own feel- 

 ings, to his character ; and yet he Had nothing chilling or re- 

 pulsive in his manner, or countenance ; on the contraiy, his 

 demeanor was polite and inviting. Though cautious and 

 circumspect, in great as well as smaller concerns, he was 

 guileless and candid. He was accurate, methodical, but 

 always inflexibly just, and often minute, in pecuniary and 



other arrangements, calling for this kind of attention. 



Yet he was liberal, benevolent, and charitable, when oc- 

 casions required his assistance. He was, naturally^ of a 

 warm temper ; which his general conductor appearance, did 

 not indicate. This shewed itself in smaller vexations, sud- 

 denly occurring ; but rarely (though it appeared sometimes) 

 in great matters. I have considered his victory over his na- 

 tural temperament, as one of the greatest he had obtained. 

 I have witnessed conquests of this kind, which have excited 

 my most unqualified admiration j and yet it has been thought, 

 that he was cold ; and without keen feelings or sensibility. 

 I heard a respectable foreigner assert (and, no doubt, he 

 carried the idea to his own country) that diplomatic and 

 other strangers, were not treated by the President with 

 easy and gracious receptions. He added, that he never saw 

 rudeness, but the politeness was cold ; and seemed to be un- 

 intentional, and owing to the natural temperament of the 

 man. All the reply I made, was, that I had not generally 

 perceived this. I knew (or at least I thought; as I did in se- 

 veral other cases) that, at that period^ the demeanor was 

 exactly proper, in the. instance cited ; though I do not pre- 

 tend to nice judgment in such matters. General character is 

 often drawn from particular instances, hastily, or uncandidly. 

 He knew well, that it was due to his station and himself, al- 

 ways to behave decorously j or, as it is commonly expressed, 



