Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1817-11-28

imagine the wonderful talents Of those two
men united in the same individual aud trans
icrrcd from scenes offiction. 10 the business OF
real life. and lie will have formed just con-
cepton OF the powers of Patrick Henry. In a
word, he was one of those perfect prodigies of
nature. of whom very few have been Produced
since the foundations of the earth we're laid !;
ana OF MN, may II be said, as truly as of any
one that ever existed,
:" tie wasanap. take him for all In all.
We ne'er shat look RPon his IKE, asdis."
In tue course of our account of this
work we have omitted 10 give several proofs
OF Mr. flenry's political foresight and in :.
iultiye knowledge of men, Which fully es--
tab iS!i The truth OF our authors observa-
lions on this part of his character. We
now supply that omission, by presenting
our readers with the following anecdotes
! OF him. See p.g3.
lie first is contained in letter from
Mr.. Pope TO cur author, in the follow Ing
/ words:
| am informed by col. John Oyerton. that
! before cue drop of blood was shed in our con-
! test with Great Britain, he was at col. Samuel
| ONerton s,in company with MIR. Henry, col
| Morris, John Hawkins, and col. Samuel Over
ton, when the last mentioned gentleman asked
| Mr.. Henry, whether he supposed Great Bril-
| tain would drive her colonies 10 extremites
Aud il she should, what he thought would be
the issue OF the war; When Mr.. Henry. after
| looking ronnd To see who were present, OK
pressed himself confdcutaliy to the company
| IN the following maDnrr. She nil drive n,
| to extremilics-no accommodation UW take
place-hostilities will soon commpucc-aud a
| desperate aud bloody touch it will be- But
SAID col. sanuel OvertOn, do yom think MIR.
Henry, that an infant nation as are, without
| discipline, arms, ammunition, ships of war,
money TO procure them-dO you think il posi-
| bic, thus circnmstanced. TO oppose successfully
| the fleets ana armies of Great Britaims' 4
WI be candid with you, replied MIR. uenry.
oonbt whether we shall be able, alone, to
| cope with so powerful nation. But cnntinu.
| ed he (rising from his chair with great ANNA
| uon,) where IS France? Whete is Spain?
| Were Is Holiandf the natural enemies of
Great Britain-N here will they be, all this
w.iIc' Do yOu suppose they will stand by,
| IDLE and indifferent spectators of the coniest1
VIII LoniS the WI. be asleep all this time
| Believe me, no! When Louis the XVI. shall
| De AtliNiIed by our serious opposition, and our
Dteisrdtion Of Independence, that all pros ect of
| reconciliation is gone. then, aud NOT till then,
| VIII he furnish us with arms, ammunition, and
| clothing and not with these only, bnt he will
| send his fleets and armies to fight our battles
| for us lie viii form with us a treaty offensive
ana defensive, against oar unnatural mother.
| Spais and Holland viii join the confederation
| Our independence will he establisheh and we
| shall take our stand among the nations of the
| earth Here he ceased; and col. John Over
| ton SAYS, ne shall! never forget the voice and
prophetic manner with whlcu these predic-
| tons were uttered, aud which have been since
| so Literally verified. Col. Overton SAYS at the
| woru HiaepfndeRce, the company appeared 10 be
| startled; for they had never heard any thing
| OF the kInd before even suggested"
| The neXtis To be found in p. ID ofthe
work before us.
| When MIR. Henry returned from the first
congress, he was as was natural, surrounded
| by his neighbours, who we're eager 10 hear not
| only what had been done, hut what kind of
| men HAD composed that iliustrious body. He
| answered their enquiries with all his wonted
MI,
| by one of them" whom lac thouehI the greatest
| man in congress" he replied-'' If YOU speak
| OF eloaucnce, MIR. Rutledge of South Carolina
Spy ilr tie greatest orator bat if you speak
| OF solid informant ion and sound Judgment, colo
mel " aShington, Is unquestionably, the greatest
| naau on that floor"
Another instance of his prescience oc-
ours IN speech ofhiS just after the close
OF The war, Ill which be uses these express
| sionS:
! Encourage the husbandmen theme chanics,
| the merchants of the old world To come and
settle IN this land OF promise-make il tile home
| ot tie skIiiul, the industrious, the fortunate
| aud happy. rs welt IA the gsYl um of the dis
| tressed-hii up the measure of your population
| as speedily as you can, by the means which
Heaven hath placed in your pewer-and ven
! tare TO prophecy there are those now living
| who will see this favored land amongst the
| most powerful on earih-able, sir, to take care
OF herself. without resorting TO that policy
| Which Is always 50 dangerous, though e.
| times unavoidable, of calling in foreign aid
| Yes, sir-tkcy VIII see her great i'm arts and i'm
! arms-her golden harvesis waving over fields
OF unreasonable eNtent-her commerce pene-
tratlug the most distant seas, and her cannon 81.
eAc'ng the oain boasts ofthose, ,cio ao,U proudiy
! dgecs TO rule the icdrCs.'
Again, i'll p. 400 we have the following
Mr. Gallatin came to Virginia when a verv
| young man lie obscure and unknown
| aud spoke the English language so badly. that
| II was with difficulty he could be understood
| iie was engaged M some agency which made
| ~ necessary 10 present petition 10 the assem-.
| biy, and endeavOured TO interest the leading
| mem Deis IN itS tate, by attempting to explain
| out OF doors. its merits and Justice. But thew
! could not understand him well enough To fell
| any interest either for him Of his PETITION In
| thiA hopeless condition he waited on Mr.. Hen
~, ana soon felt that he was in different hands
| Mr. merry on MS part, was so delighted with
| the interview, that he poke OF Mr. (iaIlatin ev
| cry where in rapturGs|' he declared him ,yith
| out hesitation or doubt, TO be the most sensible
aud best Informed man be had ever conyerseJ
Witn-he IS 10 be sure, said he, Is most aston.
| fShing man !! The reader we'll knows how eIui-
| neitiy Mr. Gailatin has since fulfilled this cha
| racter and considering the very dsadvanta
geous circumstances under which lie was seen
of hi'. iiehIy, II is certainly asriking proof
| OF tue superior ssgacity ofihe observer"
And lastly, this anecdotc, in the words
OF MIR. Pope, p. 40:
;t;i In me year i70s, after Bonaparie lad an
| minated fiVe Austrian armies, and flushed with
victory, was carrying away every thing before
nun, heard Mr.. Henry in public company.
observe Shaking his head after his impressive
mannerl-it won't all do! the present genera
non 10 France is so debased by long despo.
usu, they possess 50 few of the virtues that
constitute the lie aud soul OF republcanism
.uat they are incapable of forming correct
aug Just estimate Of rational liberty. Their re-
| VOIutIon VIII terminate differently from what
| You sXpeet.-iheir state of anarchy will be sue
| ceeded by despotIsm and should NOT he s,,r