ical combination, and a retentive memory, laid the foundation sufficiently broad andstrong for those extensive acquisitions which he subsequently made. The mathematicswere his favorite study, and in them he particularly excelled. Nevertheless, hedistinguished himself in all the branches of education embraced in the establishedcourse of that college. To his devotion to philosophy and science, he united anexquisite taste for the fine arts. In those of architecture, painting, and sculpture, hemade himself such an adept as to be afterwards accounted one of the best critics ofthe age. For music he had an uncommon passion; and his hours of relaxation werepassed in exercising his skill upon the violin, for which he evinced an early andextravagant predilection. His fondness for the ancient classics strengthened continuallywith his maturity, insomuch that it is said he scarcely passed a day in after-life withoutreading a portion of them. The same remark is applicable to his passion formathematics. He became so well acquainted with both the great languages of antiquityas to read them with ease; and so far perfected himself in French as to become fluentwith it, which was, subsequently, of essential service to him in his diplomatic labors.He could read and speak the Italian language and had competent knowledge of theSpanish. He also made himself master of the Anglo-Saxon, as a root of the English,and "an element in legal philology." The acquaintances he happily formed in college probably determined the cast anddirection of his ambition. These were the first characters in the whole province, amongwhom he has placed on record the names of three individuals who were particularlyinstrumental in fixing his future destinies: viz., Dr. Small, one of the professors incollege "who made him his daily companion"; Gov. Fauquier, "the noblest man whohad ever filled that office, to whose acquaintance and familiar table" he was admitted;and George Wythe...
