in our dedication as "the honest man, the Christian citizen, the patriotic magistrate and enlightened statesman."

143.-MAJOR-GENERAL FRANCIS PRESTON BLAIR, JR.

General Blair was born at Lexington, Kentucky, February 19, 1821, and is now in the forty-eighth year of his age. His father, Francis P. Blair, was the confidential and trusted friend of General Jackson, and established and long edited the Globe at Washington. As a political writer he had no superior. His mother was a Miss Gist, the descendant of a distinguished revolutionary family, the equal of her husband in talent and energy, and possessed all those qualities which adorn the female character. Both still live. They proved their love of country when, on their wedding-day, with his bride's consent, Mr. Blair started for the tented field in the war of 1812. But for a nearly fatal illness on the way, rendering him unfit for future service, he would have participated in the fatigues and hazards of a soldier's life with the brave Kentuckians who distinguished themselves on the western frontier. The true spirit of the Blair family was manifested, when the eldest son, Montgomery, who had relinquished his commission in the army, withdrew, with the consent of all its members, his resignation, and repaired to Florida and helped fight out our Indian war. Their son James was voluntarily appointed midshipman by General Jackson, after witnessing some fearless exploits of his near the Rip Raps when he was there. He sailed around the world with Wilkes in his celebrated exploring expedition. Such was his courage, daring, skill and good conduct that he soon rose to be a Lieutenant. He stood deservedly high in the Navy at the time of his death, some years since, in California. Their only daughter is the wife of Acting Admiral S. P. Lee, of our Navy. The General is their youngest child. When a boy he was made a leader in all their sports, by other boys, many of whom were much older than himself. If there was a feat of daring, he was the first to engage in it. As a boy, he was noted for the clearness and accuracy of his acquirements, and great energy, and manly honesty.

At the age of twenty, he graduated at Princeton College, and shortly joined his brother, Montgomery, at St. Louis, where he