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charge。 It was only with the assistance of a servant； and by leaning
his hand heavily on the iron balustrade； that he could slowly and
painfully ascend the Custom…House steps； and； with a toilsome progress
across the floor； attain his customary chair beside the fireplace。
There he used to sit； gazing with a somewhat dim serenity of aspect at
the figures that came and went； amid the rustle of papers； the
administering of oaths； the discussion of business； and the casual
talk of the office； all which sounds and circumstances seemed but
indistinctly to impress his senses； and hardly to make their way
into his inner sphere of contemplation。 His countenance； in this
repose； was mild and kindly。 If his notice was sought； an expression
of courtesy and interest gleamed out upon his features； proving that
there was light within him； and that it was only the outward medium of
the intellectual lamp that obstructed the rays in their passage。 The
closer you penetrated to the substance of his mind； the sounder it
appeared。 When no longer called upon to speak； or listen； either of
which operations cost him an evident effort； his face would briefly
subside into its former not uncheerful quietude。 It was not painful to
behold this look； for though dim； it had not the imbecility of
decaying age。 The framework of his nature； originally strong and
massive； was not yet crumbled into ruin。
To observe and define his character； however； under such
disadvantages； was as difficult a task as to trace out and build up
anew； in imagination； an old fortress； like Ticonderoga； from a view
of its grey and broken ruins。 Here and there； perchance； the walls may
remain almost complete； but elsewhere may be only a shapeless mound；
cumbrous with its very strength； and overgrown； through long years
of peace and neglect； with grass and alien weeds。
Nevertheless； looking at the old warrior with affection… for； slight
as was the communication between us； my feeling towards him； like that
of all bipeds and quadrupeds who knew him； might not improperly be
termed so… I could discern the main points of his portrait。 It was
marked with the noble and heroic qualities which showed it to be not
by a mere accident； but of good right； that he had won a distinguished
name。 His spirit could never； I conceive； have been characterised by
an uneasy activity； it must； at any period of his life； have
required an impulse to set him in motion； but； once stirred up； with
obstacles to overcome； and an adequate object to be attained； it was
not in the man to give out or fail。 The beat that had formerly
pervaded his nature； and which was not yet extinct； was never of the
kind that flashes and flickers in a blaze； but； rather； a deep； red
glow； as of iron in a furnace。 Weight； solidity； firmness； this was
the expression of his repose； even in such decay as had crept untimely
over him； at the period of which I speak。 But I could imagine； even
then； that； under some excitement which should go deeply into his
consciousness… roused by a trumpet…peal； loud enough to awaken all
of his energies that were not dead； but only slumbering… he was yet
capable of flinging off his infirmities like a sick man's gown；
dropping the staff of age to seize a battle…sword； and starting up
once more a warrior。 And； in so intense a moment； his demeanour
would have still been calm。 Such an exhibition； however； was but to be
pictured in fancy； not to be anticipated； nor desired。 What I saw in
him… as evidently as the indestructible ramparts of； Old
Ticonderoga； already cited as the most appropriate simile… were the
features of stubborn and ponderous endurance； which might well have
amounted to obstinacy in his earlier days； of integrity； that； like
most of his other endowments； lay in a somewhat heavy mass； and was
just as unmalleable and unmanageable as a ton of iron ore； and of
benevolence； which； fiercely as he led the bayonets on at Chippewa
or Fort Erie； I take to be of quite as genuine a stamp as what
actuates any or all the polemical philanthropists of the age。 He had
slain men with his own hand； for aught I know… certainly； they had
fallen； like blades of grass at the sweep of the scythe； before the
charge to which his spirit imparted its triumphant energy… but； be
that as it might； there was never in his heart so much cruelty as
would have brushed the down off a butterfly's wing。 I have not known
the man； to whose innate kindliness I would more confidently make an
appeal。
Many characteristics… and those； too； which contribute not the least
forcibly to impart resemblance in a sketch… must have vanished； or
been obscured； before I met the General。 All merely graceful
attributes are usually the most evanescent； nor does Nature adorn
the human ruin with blossoms of new beauty； that have their roots
and proper nutriment only in the chinks and crevices of decay； as
she sows wall…flowers over the ruined fortress of Ticonderoga。
Still； even in respect of grace and beauty； there were points well
worth noting。 A ray of humour； now and then； would make its way
through the veil of dim obstruction； and glimmer pleasantly upon our
faces。 A trait of native elegance； seldom seen in the masculine
character after childhood or early youth； was shown in the General's
fondness for the sight and fragrance of flowers。 An old soldier
might be supposed to prize only the bloody laurel on his brow； but
here was one； who seemed to have a young girl's appreciation of the
floral tribe。
There； beside the fireplace； the brave old General used to sit；
while the Surveyor… though seldom； when it could be avoided； taking
upon himself the difficult task of engaging him in conversation… was
fond of standing at a distance； and watching his quiet and almost
slumberous countenance。 He seemed away from us； although we saw him
but a few yards off； remote； though we passed close beside his
chair； unattainable； though we might have stretched forth our hands
and touched his own。 It might be that he lived a more real life within
his thoughts； than amid the unappropriate environment of the
Collector's office。 The evolutions of the parade； the tumult of the
battle； the flourish of old； heroic music； heard thirty years before；…
such scenes and sounds； perhaps； were all alive before his
intellectual sense。 Meanwhile； the merchants and shipmasters； the
spruce clerks and uncouth sailors； entered and departed； the bustle of
this commercial and Custom…House life kept up its little murmur
round about him； and neither with the men nor their affairs did the
General appear to sustain the most distant relation。 He was as much
out of place as an old sword… now rusty； but which had flashed once in
the battle's front； and showed still a bright gleam along its blade…
would have been； among the inkstands； paper…folders； and mahogany
rulers； on the Deputy Collector's desk。
There was one thing that much aided me in renewing and recreating
the stalwart soldier of the Niagara frontier… the man of true and
simple energy。 It was the recollection of those memorable words of
his… 〃I'll try； sir！〃… spoken on the very verge of a desperate and
heroic enterprise； and breathing the soul and spirit of New England
hardihood； comprehending all perils； and encountering all。 If； in
our country； valour were rewarded by heraldic honour； this phrase…
which it seems so easy to speak； but which only he； with such a task
of danger and glory before him； has ever spoken… would be the best and
fittest of all mottoes for the General's shield of arms。
It contributes greatly towards a man's moral and intellectual
health； to be brought into habits of companionship with individuals
unlike himself； who care little for his pursuits； and whose sphere and
abilities he must go out of himself to appreciate。 The accidents of my
life have often afforded me this advantage； but never with more
fulness and variety than during my continuance in office。 There was
one man； especially； the observation of whose character gave me a
new idea of talent。 His gifts were emphatically those of a man of
business； prompt； acute； clear…minded； with an eye that saw through
all perplexities； and a faculty of arrangement that made them
vanish； as by the waving of an enchanter's wand。 Bred up from
boyhood in the Custom…House； it was his proper field of activity；
and the many intricacies of business； so harassing to the
interloper； presented themselves before him with the regularity of a
perfectly comprehended system。 In my contemplation； be stood as the
ideal of his class。 He was； indeed； the Custom…House in himself； or；
at all events； the mainspring that kept its variously revolving wheels
in motion； for； in an institution like this； where its officers are
appointed to subserve their own profit and convenience； and seldom
with a leading reference to their fitness for the duty to be
performed； they must perforce seek elsewhere the d