PASCAL, the deepest of thinkers, and acutest of mathematical reasoners, whose scientific development of the proofs of Christianity, or rather the demonstration of its truths, is marvelous in its clearness and resultiveness, declares "common sense is superior to genius." Besides being possessed of such admirable judgment, he was a man of iron will, and, with his keen activity of mind and body, out of place under the new order of things, since he could not stoop to court popularity, as public men are compelled to cringe and bow to obtain it in these days. Nevertheless, although he shrunk from office, he was called upon to fill several positions of dignity and importance.

He was the last Royal Recorder of the city of New York; was a Member of Congress in 1793-'5; was thrice unanimously elected Speaker of the 14th, 15th, and 16th Sessions of the New York Legislature January, 1791, January, 1792, and November, 1792 —and was Judge of Westchester county, 1802-'8, etc. Disgusted at the measures resorted to by his political opponents-measures founded on hereditary antagonism which has outlived the competitors-he withdrew from public life, as he deemed no position worthy an honest man's efforts which compelled him to pander to the meanest prejudices of the mob to win their votes. Thenceforward his attention was devoted to the care of his large estate and the vast interests confided to him.

Young PHILIP KEARNY inherited a great many of the peculiarities of his grandfather, his generosity, energy, determination, love of horses, and wonderful horsemanship, for at the age of eightyseven, when most old men are incapable of any exertion, Hon. JOHN WATTS was not only a splendid, but a venturesome, rider. Upon one occasion a horse-dealer brought him an animal to try, which turned out to be a violent and unbroken colt, which sprang into the air, rearing and plunging as soon as Mr. WATTS was in the saddle. Through all its struggles he sat unmoved, and when the animal had become quiet, dismounted as calmly as if nothing had occurred.

When a boy, young PHIL KEARNY was a reckless rider and a perfect horse-killer. He rode just as fearlessly over the worst as over the best roads. Upon one occasion, often adverted to in the family, while quite a little chap, eight or nine years old, he frightened his father almost to death, galloping his horse furiously for miles over an old corduroy road full of holes and inequalities. It

must have been an extraordinary feat and escape, since it was often referred to by men who were too bold riders themselves to dwell upon anything which was not something astonishing in its display of daring.

Neither PHILIP KEARNY, father nor son, were residents or citizens of New Jersey, in the strict sense of the word. The father inherited a country house near Newark, but his home was in New York. About the year 1820 he had a house at Greenwich, on the North River, about the foot of the present West Twentieth street. General KEARNY's mother, SUSAN WATTS, at that time, was in very delicate health. She was a lovely character, and a charming, handsome woman. She died while the General was still quite young. About 1827, PHILIP KEARNY, Senior, lived on the east side of Broadway, nearly opposite to Morris street, then called Little Beaver Street or Beaver Lane. His nephew, who furnishes the facts, thinks that Mrs. KEARNY died here, but she must have died long before this, for the writer, who can recall facts and faces farther back than that date, has no recollection of her.*

At one time it is likely the KEARNY family lived in Greenwich street, just in the rear of No. 3 Broadway, doubtless on made lots, part of the river front belonging to the WATTS' property, whose garden extended originally to the river. In fact, the waves at high tide and during a storm broke over an extension of the back piazza, thrust out to the west like the stem of a 1, about midway the present block, between Broadway and Greenwich streets.

While PHIL KEARNY was still in college, his grandfather, seeing his inclination for the army, offered to secure to him $1,500 a year, a very handsome allowance in those days for a young man, if he would study for the ministry. "Mr. WATTS thought the ministers had a good, safe time," and as he had lost all his sons, he did not wish the eldest of his only two grandsons to be exposed to the vicissitudes of a career which had cost him the most brilliant of his own sons, GEORGE. PHIL KEARNY declined his grandfather's liberal offer, and as he was compelled to choose a civil profession, selected, much against his will, the Law, and fulfilled the usual course in the office of the Hon. PETER Augustus Jay.

Thus, it will be seen, that one of the most dashing officers that ever lived came very near being made a clergyman. The same

* "She died in March

1823." G. H. K. for E. K. July 11, 1868.

BREVET FIRST LIEUTENANT GEORGE WATTS,

1st U. S. Light Dragoons.

Aid de Camp to BRIG. GEN. WINFIELD SCOTT, at Chippewa, etc., 1814-'15.

thing occurred with regard to HOOKER, who was destined by his father for the Church. A strange coincidence that "Fighting Joe" and "Fighting PHIL" soldiers born, generals by instinct, commanders of rival divisions in the same corps, narrowly escaped an exchange of the uniform of the army for the robes of the Churchmilitant. HOOKER often alludes with humor to the overthrow of his father's cherished plans, when he received his appointment as a Cadet to prepare himself for the saddle instead of the pulpit.

Having alluded to GEORGE WATTS, this would seem to be an appropriate place for presenting a sketch of this distinguished officer, who was a perfect type in everything, form, feature, disposition, mind and service, of his nephew, General PHILIP KEARNY, like him destined a generation afterwards to fill his place as Aid to General SCOTT, and serve with him in another war equally glorious to both.

On the 18th March, 1813, he was appointed from New York Third Lieutenant of the 1st U. S. Light Dragoons, and promoted to a Second Lieutenancy 13th August, the same year. Shortly afterwards General Scort selected him as an aid-de-camp, and as such he acted in the campaign of 1814. He was breveted First Lieutenant for "gallantry and distinguished service in the battle of Chippewa, 5th July, 1814, and for distinguished service in BROWN'S Sortie from Fort Erie." When the cavalry was reduced after the war, he was retained, May, 1815, in the 1st United States Infantry, but being a "horseback-man" by nature, he could not stand the pedestrian service, and resigned the 15th January, 1816.

The following conversation, had with Lieutenant-General SCOTT 15th April, 1865, taken down at the time, afterwards submitted to and approved by him, is all-sufficient testimony of that distinguished General's estimate of his two aids-de-camp, uncle and nephew, who not only looked alike, but were alike in every quality which makes and adorns a soldier:

"Lieutenant GEORGE WATTS, of the United States Dragoons, Major, by courtesy, was my aid-de-camp during the campaign of 1814. He was of a very affectionate nature, and a very brave man-it might be said the bravest of the brave. He looked very like PHILIP KEARNY, his nephew, likewise, subsequently, my aid-decamp. If one man is more brave than another, PHILIP KEARNY Was that man. He was the bravest man I ever knew, and a perfect

soldier.