The writings of George Washington; being his correspondence, addresses, messages, and other papers, official and private, selected and published from the original manuscripts; with a life of the author, notes and illustrations. By Jared Sparks.

JAT. G67.] LIFE OF WASHINGTON. 535
A Christian in faith and practice, he was habitually devout. His reverence for religion is seen in his
example, his public communications, and his private
writings. He uniformly ascribed his successes to the
beneficent agency of the Supreme Being. Charitable
and humane, he was liberal to the poor, and kind to
those in distress. As a husband, son, and brother, he
was tender and affectionate. Without vanity, ostentation, or pride, he never spoke of himself or his actions,
unless required by circumstances which concerned the
public interests. As he was free from envy, so he had
the good fortune to escape the envy of others, by standing on an elevation which none could hope to attain.
If he had one passion more strong than another, it
was love of his country. The purity and ardor of his
patriotism were commensurate with the greatness of its
object. Love of country in him was invested with the
sacred obligation of a duty; and from the faithful discharge of this duty he never swerved for a moment,
either in thought or deed, through the whole period
of his eventful career.
Such are- some of the traits in the character of
Washington, which have acquired for him the love and
veneration of mankind. If they are not marked with
the brilliancy, extravagance, and eccentricity, which in
other men have excited the astonishment of the world,
so neither are they tarnished by the follies nor disgraced by the crimes of those men. It is the happy
combination of rare talents and qualities, the harmonious union of the intellectual and moral powers, rather
than the dazzling splendor of any one trait, which constitute, the grandeur of his character. If the title of
great man ought to be reserved for him, who cannot
be charged with an indiscretion or a vice, who spent
his life in establishing the independence, the glory, and