[George Washington] Mini-Bio; #5

    There was indeed in this patriot some-
thing that all felt, but could not describe.
A strength of understanding, a keenness
of perception, a loftiness of thought, that
convinced without argument, and subdued
without effort. His language, like his car-
riage, was impressive, elegant and manly.
It had secured a grace beyond the reach
of rhetoric; it had created an illumination
beyond the coloring of metaphor. His in-
tegrity overruled persuasion; and his maj-
esty overawed sophistry. Corruption stood
abashed in his presence, and venality
blushed into shame. The administration
caught the character of their leader, and
seconded the energies of his irresistible
influence. --Joseph Story, 1800, Eulogy
on Washington, Delivered at Marblehead,
Mass., Feb. 22.

    There has scarcely appeared a really
great man whose character has been more
admired in his lifetime, or less correctly un-
derstood by his admirers. When it is com-
prehended, it is no easy task to delineate its
excellence in such a manner as to give to the
portrait both interest and resemblance; for
it requires thought and study to understand
the true ground of the superiority of his char-
acter over many others, whom he resembled
in the principles of an action, and even in the
manner of acting. But perhaps he excels all
the great men that ever lived, in the steadi-
ness of his adherence to his maxims of life,
and in the uniformity of all his conduct to the
same maxims. . . .His talents were such as
assist a sound judgment, and ripen with it.
His prudence was consummate, and seemed
to take the direction of his powers and pas-
sions; for as a soldier, he was more solicitous
to avoid mistakes that might be fatal, than to
perform exploits that are brilliant; and as a
statesman, to adhere to just prinicples, how-
ever old, than to pursue novelties; and there-
fore, in both characters, his qualities were
singularly adapted to the interest, and were
tried in the greatest perils, of the country.
--Fisher Ames, 1800, Eulogy Delivered
before the Massachusetts Legislature,
Feb. 8