Jefferson, attack their opponents with imputations, no doubt, "equally unfounded. In all party-proceedings, neither reason nor justice can be expected from either side, and very seldom "strict morality, with respect to the means employed to serve "the favourite cause: one cause alone appears good; every thing "besides is deemed bad, nay criminal, and probity itself serves to mislead probity. Personal resentments assume the colour of public spirit, and frequently, when the most odious acts of injustice have been committed, and the most atrocious calumnies spread; but few members of the party are in the secret, and "know that they are the effusions of injustice and false repre"sentation. The truth of these observations being evident to all "men who have lived amidst parties, should lead to mutual-to"leration and forbearance.

66

"In private life Mr. Jefferson displays a mild, easy, and oblig-. ing temper, though he is somewhat cold and reserved. His con "versation is of the most agreeable kind, and he possesses a stock "of information not inferior to that of any other man. In Eu"rope he would hold a distinguished rank among men of letters, "and as such he has already appeared there; at present * he is "employed with activity and perseverance in the management of "his farms and buildings; and he orders, directs, and pursues "in the minutest detail, every branch of business relating to "them. The author of this sketch found him in the midst of "harvest, from which the scorching heat of the sun does not pre"vent his attendance. His negroes are nourished, clothed, and "treated as well as white servants could be. As he cannot ex. pect any assistance from the two small neighbouring towns, every article is made on his farm; his negroes are cabinet"makers, carpenters, masons, bricklayers, staiths, &c. The "children he employs in a nail-manufactory, which yields al"ready a considerable profit. The young and old negresses spin "for the clothing of the rest. He animates them by rewards "and distinctions; in fire, his superior mind directs the manage"ment of his domestic concerns, with the same abilities, activity, "and regularity, which he evinced in the conduct of public af"fairs, and which he is calculated to display in every situation "of life.

་་

* June, 1795.

Such is the character and life of this great and good member of society; and it would be highly criminal to wish him separated from the bosom of his amiable family, to any other end than those important services to his fellow-creatures, for the porformance whereof nature has bestowed on him such an exalted capacity.

MR. BUSHROD WASHINGTON.

THE agitation of the popular mind of America, and the circumstances which have contributed to call this young gentleman forward so immediately after the decease of his late yenerable uncle the General, (of whom much has been already said, but of whom more yet remains than language can express) has induced us to transmit some information which the public will doubtless expect concerning a candidate for the exalted station of Vice President of the United States of America.

Mr. Bushrod Washington is 'now about thirty-. five years of age, of small stature, and comely or rather handsome person, having much of that placid yet manly firmness in his countenance for which his uncle was so truly remarkable. My informant had an early and suitable opportunity of noticing and pointing out to others, present, several traits of future greatness which were discovered in this young man's deportment, before he was publicly known to be a Washington. His remarkable attention to the long and interesting cause of Vaudruil against.

Randal,

Randal is one instance here alluded to; that remarkable trial which so greatly excited the public curiosity in Philadelphia in the year 1783.

We are particular in citing this early instance of juvenile assiduity, in as much as it applies to the basis of a character which is self existent; which has already been mistakenly tacked to family interest, and the intrigue of faction, in periodical prints; and which is very delicately placed on a more conspicuous ground of responsibility and difficulty in comparison with the exalted personage whom he was born to represent.

It is certainly saying a great deal for the man we are about to introduce, when we recite, from General Washington's will, that unlimited confidence which devised the family seat of Mount Vernon, with the private and public papers of the inestimable testator;+ * For breach of marriage, &c.

Many people suppose General Washington to have been educated in England, but we are positively assured that he never was out of America, or the American seas. The family seat, Mount Vernon, in Fairfax county, Virginia, was (as we understand) named thus by an elder brother of the General's, who served in the expedition carried into the Gulph of Mexico by Admiral Vernon, and in honour to that officer. We are not certain whether the General (then young) was on that service with his brother.

Item, To my nephew Bushrod Washington, I give and bequeath all the papers in my possession, which relate to my civil and military administration of the affairs of this country: 1 leave to him also such of my private papers as are worth preserving; and, at the decease of my wife, and before, if she is not inclined to retain them, I give and bequeath my library of books and pamphlets of every kind."

but

but Mr. Washington has stronger claims than this to public patronage; he is one of those valuable citizens whom society esteem for their own sakes. Nature gave him a head and heart which stood in no need of party influence; and in America, or in any other country, where men dare to be free, and to spurn the artifice of corruption, he would be called upon to perform the duties of some important func

tion.

In 1783, he was a student at law in Philadelphia, At the remarkable trial which we have cited, he was one of the few of his age who were capable of a four day's fixed attention to a case (which produced laughter in others) without an unbecoming smile from Master Washington; a case, indeed, which excited many an indecorous titter from men of riper years, who should have given a more exemplary proof of their prudence. The absence of my informant, for several years afterwards, denied to him an opportunity of detailing this gentleman's progress, Suffice it to say, that he found him, on his return, distinguished in the highest practice at the bar of the Courts of Juftice in Virginia; where, even, the present able Secretary of State, among others, will chearfully surrender the palm of defence to his abilitics.

The testimony of his uncle's will* is an incontro

vertible

* "And now, having gone through these specific devises, with explanations for the more correct understanding of the meaning and design of them, I proceed to the distribution of the more

important

nour.

vertible evidence of his claims upon the estate at Mount Vernon, without derogating from the wisdom or justice of the donor. We do not, however, find him preying upon this claim, or courting the interest of a popular obaracter, who, with every thing in his power, might have done any thing with hoThe self-denial of General Washington had shut his hand against family promotion, preferring only those who promised service to his country in its posts of trust and profit, without submitting to the temptations of relative respect. Independent of these we find Mr. Washington succeeding on the strength of native talents; and even this among strangers. He removed at an early period to the city of Richmond, where he settled, and where the comforts of competency, with an amiable and exemplary wife, rendered him happy and beloved.

His truly domestic and benevolent partner for life is the daughter of a Mr. Blackburne, a gentleman of respectability, and of one of the principal families on the river Potowmack. In this instance of social connection he seems to have shared in the good forimportant parts of my estate, in manner following: First, to my nephew Bushrod Washington, and his heirs (partly in consideration of an intimation to his deceased father, while we were bachelors, and he had kindly undertaken to superintend my estate during my military services, in the former war between Great Britain and France, that if I should fall therein, Mount Vernon (then less extensive in domain than at present) should become his property. I give and bequeath, &c."

Richmond is 110 miles from Mount Vernon, and 262 miles from Philadelphia, where General Washington necessarily re

sided most.

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