LIFE AND TIMES OF WASHINGTON.

THE current number of the Family Library commences a work on this interesting subject, from the pen of Mr. C. R. EDMONDS;

who has brought down his narrative to the battle of Monmouth, in June 1778. The author declares in his preface, that his book "pretends to no higher character than that of a compilation :"

and a clear and interesting compilation he has produced ; although affected by the same essential fault which we noted in Mr. TRE- VOR'S Life and Times of William the Third—a medley of history and biography. The character and exploits of WASHINGTON are too often lost sight of whilst the reader is informed of the designs of the British Ministry, and the spread of dissatisfaction in Ame- rica, and treated to copious extracts from such rare collections as the speeches of BURKE, Fox, and CHATHAM. A disposition to copy rather than compress, seems, indeed, a habit with Mr. ED- MONDS. It was quite right to give under WASHINGTON'S own hand any letters that marked his personal character, or strongly expressed the difficulties he had to contend with as Commander- in-Chief; but several are not of this nature, and many public documents quoted are state papers,—valuable and interesting, no doubt, but out of place in a popular work, where the statement of their substance would have sufficed.

These remarks apply to the career of WASHINGTON after the commencement of the differences with the Mother Country ; his early life has more unity. Mr. EDMONDS tells us slightly, but agreeably, of the General's boyish love for arithmetic and geometry ; Just notes his employment as a land-surveyor; and describes, from Mr. SPARKS, his military training in the Colonial wars against France, and the high opinion which his countrymen en- tertained of his abilities. He also touches upon his private life in his retreat at Mount Vernon ; but perhaps confines himself too much to the development of WASHINGTON'S professional character. It may he true, as Mr. EDMONDS asserts, that WASHINGTON "had no private history;" but we think Mr. SPARKS' collection would have furnished materials for the fuller exhibition of his "indivi- dual character."

In despite of all these drawbacks, and of a style too rhetorical and exaggerated, the book is readable; and will furnish a useful compendium of the American War, enlivened by the details of biography. With the account of the former we shall not meddle, but WO will take a few anecdotes from the latter.

WASHINGTON SURVEYING.

Since you received my letter of October last, I have not slept above three or four nights in a bed; taut, after walking a good deal all the day, I have lain down before the fire upon a little hay, straw, fodder, or a bear-skin, whichever was to be had, with man, wife, and children, like dogs and cats; and happy is he who gets the berth nearest the fire. Nothing would make at pass off tole- rably but a good reward. A doubloon is my constant gain every day that the weather will permit of my going out ; and sometimes six pistoles. The cold- ness of the weather will not-allow of my making a long stay, as the lodging is rather too cold for the time of year. I have never bad my clothes off, but have lain and slept in them, except the few nights I have been in Frederictown.

WASHINGTON'S FARMS.

On his estate at Mount Vernon, lie engaged himself extensively in the busi- ness of agriculture, and is said to have been remarkable for the judgment he displayed an the improvement of his lands. Every branch of business was con- ducted upon system. Exact method and economy were carried into every de- partment of his domestic concerns. He personally inspected the account of his overseers every week ; the divisions of his farms were numbered, and the expense of cultivation, and the produce of each lot were exactly registered; so that at one view he could determine the profit or loss of any particular crop, and ascertain the comparative advantage of various modes of husbandry, He be- came one of the largest landholders in North America. Besides other tracts of

great extent and value, his Mount Vernon estate consisted of nine thousml. acres, which were entirely under his own management; and from it alone he, in one year, raised seven thousand bushels of wheat and ten thousand of Indian corn. His establishments, agricultural and domestic, consisted of no fewer than a thousand persons ; and though the greater part of his far wing imple- ments were obtained from London, the linen and woollen cloth required in hie business were chiefly manufactured on the estate.

PRECISION.

It may be remarked that the habits of exactness to which reference has bean made, were sometimes carried to an eccentric and whimsical excess. One or two instances of this peculiarity may not be inappropriate in this place. On one occasion, General Stone, while travelling across the country with his family, found it necessary to cross a ferry belonging to Washington, and offered the fer- ryman a moidore in payment. The man refused it, saying that he bad no means of weighing it, which his master would most assuredly do ; and in case It should fall beneath the standard weight, the loss, as well as the displeasure of Washington, would be visited upon him. General Stone, upon this, offered the man threepence more to compensate for every possible deficiency of weight. The ferryman received and duly paid it to his employer. On weighing it, it was found to be below weight to the value of three-halfpence ; upon which Washington wrapped up the remaing three-halfpence, and remitted it to Gene- ral Stone. Ppon another occasion, while Washington was from home, a room in his house was plastered by his order. On his return, he measured the room; and on inspecting the workman's account, discovered that he had charged fif- teen shillings more than was due. Some time after the plasterer died, and his wife married another man, who advertised in the provincial newspapers that he was ready to pay and receive all that was due from or to his wife's former hus- band: Washington, on seeing the paper, immediately substantiated his claim for the fifteen shillings, and received the amount !

ORATION ON HIS APPOINTMENT AS COM MANDER-IN.CHIEF.

"Although," said be, "I am truly sensible of the high honour done me in this appointment, yet I feel great distress from a consciousness that my abili- ties and military experience may not be equal to the extensive trust. However, as the Congress desire it, I will enter upon the momentous duty, and exert every power I possess in their service, and for the support of the glorious cause. I beg they will accept nay most cordial thanks for this distinguished testimony of their approbation.

"But lest some unlucky event should happen unfavourable to nay reputation, I beg it may be remembered by every gentleman in this room, that 1 this day declare with the utmost sincerity, that I do not think myself equal to the coin.. mand I am honoured with. I beg leave, Sir, to assure the Congress, that as no pecuniary consideration could have tempted me to accept this arduous employ- ment, at the expense of my domestic care and happiness, I do not wish to make any profit from it. I will keep an exact account of my expenses. These I doubt not they will discharge, and this is all I desire."

There is not much abstract political speculation in this volume, buf we must warn the reader against what there is. Were we disposed for minute and microscopic discussion, the second para- graph in the book would afford ample opportunity. We scarcely remember to have met, in a work of character, so many false facts, or such false conclusions from facts, contained in so short a compass.