The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1815-08-26
EXTRACTS.
CH.fR.4CI'ER OF PATRICK REARY.


CH.fR.4CI'ER OF PATRICK HEN RY.
To Patrick Henry the first place is due as being
tue hrst "hobIoHe the key stone OF the arch of
what was called the arist0cracy Little and IL .be AS
WAS, ami incapable oil daring To any privilege
cashng with the rights of the people At large. il was
no small eNcrtion M him t9 surprise them with the
fact, that new path opcnel the temple ol ho-
nor, besies that winch passed through the favor ofthc
King. He wasrespectsble in his parentagc; hut the
patimonv OF his ancestors ard of himself was too
scsnty To feed pomp or luxury. From education he
derived those manners which lonsed To the real
Nireinan Planter, aud which were his ornament i,
no less dls'isning ahridgenert of personal indie
pendaee, than IN observing every decorum, in,erwo.
ven with the comfort and courtesy of society. With
his years the unbougt OF popularity increased
Identified with the people, lie was clothed with the
confidence # = tavo-iJe SON
Until ts resolutions on the stamp act, he lad been
nnknown, except to those with whom he had assoea-
tea m tie hariy sports the field amidst tn. avo~ed
neglect OF literature. Still he dill not escape notice
as occasionally retiring with! himself in silent refec,
non, and sometimes descan,ingwth peculiar emphasis
on the martyrs in the cause oil liberty
his enthusiasm nourished by his partality n
the 0isSeDters from the established church. lie otte1
istened TO them, while they wsSng their steady,
aud finally etectua against the bulthens of that
church, and from repetition Of his sympathy with
history OF their suitcfngs, desrSat,lns, IA uaoek-
ed the human heart aud transferred into civil discus
slnns, many of The bold lcencrs, which pr.va lei IN
religious II he was not, probably he was not
hesrer aud amirer of that stap n,iOIs master nj thc
human passions, George Whitfield, he W s - fol-
lower and devoter vi some of his powerful dis
sipes.
All these advantages Mr.. Henry supported by
oeTneanor nohensivc, c1nciiiating and aboundne in
good humcur. Fora shore time ne hal practsed tht.
Law II al humble sphere, too humble for the real
height o. his powers. SIC then took seat at the bIr
OF the General Court, the Supreme triluna Of Viri
MIS-, &mong constellation OF eminent y.rs and sco-
lars, and was IN great request even on ues ions for
which he he'd not been prepared by much previous
he of i,o,r H..
tered regardless of that criticism, which was proiusey
bestowed on his Language, pronunciation, and gesture
Nor he absolutely exempt from an irreeuarity in
hts language, certain home-spun pronunciaton and
sdegree Ot sw&wardness IN the cold comm G
gesture. But the corresponding looks and emotions
OF those whom he Addressed speedily announced that
Ishguase may be sometimes peculiar and quaint
%hIleN IS expressive, and even appropriate that
pronui ciaon, which nigh disgust IL a drawing room
may yet find access TO the hearts of popular 9qsero
by and that gesture at first too much tire creature
OF mdolence may expand Set in the progress of eli
cry into forms, which would b. above the rule aud
compass, and yet within the prompnss of na,rre--
Compared with Of his more rrfined co1ternpo-
Iar S. and rivals, he by hs imagination, which panied
to tie soul, eclpsed The spar mgs Of art and know,
ing whit chord Of the heart would sound in unison with
ms immediate purpose and the strength or peculiarly
with which ought 10 be touched, he had scarcely ever
langl5hed IN minority at the 'iue lD TO which hi,
character Is now brought Cutrast,d with the mas.
reno"ncs OF British orators de elder Willan PIT
nc was not interior 10 him ~ tic nirepditv OF meta
Pho LEt lam, he possessed vein OF spo tive riti.
eule, but not OF dicta'c,i - uaiig ity
III Henry eHOrd;Tn, there vas a s;fol,licitv and e.
ven carel ssness, which aver, WHO hs,, never
before heard hIiG pi0nisci little formal divis,,r
oi lis intended discours he ney rn.de bur eve,
the hrs distance "ic he took from his man ob,c,
was MT 20 remote obscure IT, or 10 require any
DISCRETION ol his course, to reach IT,. With an eve
"bcS Pcsrss.d neither positive duty anr acrteDcse
aud which be ixed upoi, t'c cfa rraai, or moderator
OF the assembly,, he never suaycd in q'cst Of applause
lie the focus, TO Which every person present was