Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1817-11-25
RICHMOND, NorEuBER Is.
tcoNNrNIcAIE ED.
LIFE OF PATRICK HENRY.
TX CONTINUATION.

with much elegance and perspicuIty The
progress df the revolution in It's early sia-
yes. This account is connected so close
~ with the life of Henry, and seems TO a
rise so naturally out Of il. that the work
wonld he incomplete without it,, Biogra-
pliers irequ ihIy use the incidents Of a
mans life for no other purpose than to i'm
troduce their own speculations, u,derhis
name. Their digressions are so nump-
rous and so little connected with their
subject. that the reader often luses sight
OF The main parsonage in attending to the
authors episodes, Several notable exam
Piles might he mentioned where one may
read half a volume of biography. before
the unfortunate man whose LIFE it pur-
ports To be, can be said, like Tristram
Shandy) 10 be fairly born. From the slen-
aerest materials, The author conirives
with the assistance of this wire-drawing
system, 10 exc out Il rondcrous volume;
taking care all the while 10 keep, as in AN
injndicious painting, ms principal figure
IN the back ground, and to bring forward
every subordinate one with osteniatious
parade. Thus you are Just able dimly TO
discover tue portrait YOU are seeking, i'm
the midst OF fifty other objects placed so
prominently on The canvas as 10 induce
beliet that They were intended to obscure
aud hide 1t. Mol so with our author ;.
ms digressions are always easy, natural
aud unaffected /; tending TO illustrate his
subject, and not TO darken or confuse it;
Keeping steadily in view The deveIopcment
OF Mr.. Henrys private and public char
acter, aud the displaying il, in various at
siiutles, as il happened TO be influenced
and affected by tile circumstances in
which he was placed. These circums STAN
ces, IN order 10 give due effect TO The pic
fnTe, he is OF course obliged to explain !;
and as Mr.. Henry acted a most conspicu-
Gus part III our revolutionary struggle, he
is led by the easiest graduation 10 speak of
rs moSi prominent features.
Governor Dunmore having abandoned
he palace and sought security from ina
SiaarS dangers Oil board British ship
hmgat Yorktown, the people seemed 10
chnsidcr Tins act as ri7tnaf db,icatiOa of
fhe gonernment. In this posture Of things.
the convention met in The city of RicI-
mend on The 2ith July, l775 One of
tDeif rrst measures was To raise aud en-
body. two regiments of regulars and TO
appoint officers 10 command them.
"The lofty stand which Mr.. Henry had ia.
Men M the American cause, his increasing DO
rniarity and the prompt and eneretic move
inent which lie had made in the affair Of the
gunp0wder, brought him strongly before the
view OF the house and lie was elected the CO.
lionel OF then regiment, ana the Cpmm ander of
dIfhe forces raiss.i, and to be raisrd for the DE-
fence O The colony. Mr.. William Woodfort. who
Is SAID TO have distinguished himselrin the
French and Indian war, was appointed to lie
command or the second regiment"
The former soon entered actively and
zealously upon the duties Of his new Of
fice-but in the course of a very few
months, threw il up i'm disgust al the
Sights and notifications he met with. Gt
would seem without any sufficient reasom
from various quarters. Whilst he held the
command he had no opportunity to dis
iingusi himself for Col. Woodford had
been sent by the committee of safety in
pursuit of Dnnnore, and fought The bat
tie o! the Great Bridge, the only one of
any note that took place during Mr. lis
military life.
What iigure, (says oar author,) he might
have made III war, had the opportunity been
allowed him, can now be only matter of specu.
iatist. His personal bravery, 50 far as have
heard, has never been called in question or
lit has, il has been without evidence and
neither his drdOr in the public cause or his
strong natural sense, can with auv colour of
justice be dispnted. II we snperaild tc these
Tuaiities that presence OF mind that prOmpt;.
Jude, boldness, and novelty Of view-tnat dex.
ferrous address. aud fertility of expedent. for
which lac was rcmarkabIel can see no reason
TO donbt, That lie would have justified the
81 he
been permitted TO command the expedition
which lie cOnrted."
The expedition alluded TO was the one
assigned to Col. Woodford.
Immediately upon his resignation he
was again elected delegate TO theconyen
ton from the county Of Hanover. Bv
this time, the war had assumed a repli-
lar and settled form; blood had been pro-
fusely shed in various parts of the CONT
nent, and reconciliation had become
Hopeless The social compact which
lad united the monarch with his subjects
was at an end" the colonial constitution
dissolved, and all Tie rights and powers
OF government reverted Of necessity. TO
their source, tie people" The conyen-
tIoa which was elected expressly to take care
Of tie republic, met in Williamsburg on the
9th May, 1875. On the 18TH Of tile same
month, Mr.. Carey reported from the
committee of The whole house OH the
state of tlIe colony, tie following pream-
bic and resolutions, which were unani-
Dtonsiy adopted
4" Forasmuch as all the endeayonrs of the u
nited Colonies, by the most decent rspresei,-
tations and petitions to The king and parlia-
inent OF Great Britain, 4" restore peace and
security to America uudei the British govern.
meat, and r." sniOn With that people upon
Just and liberal terms, INSTEAD of u redress of
grievances, have prohnccd, from an imperious
aud Vlndicuve administration, increased in
sliit. 0ppTeSslou, and a vigorous attempt 10 ct
rect our tOtN destruction. By late act ali
these colonies ave declared to be in rebellion
ana 0ut OF The protection Ofthe British crown
aiir properties subjected 10 cOutiscaiion; orr
people when captivated, compelled to ioin in
tie murder and plumber Of IheIr relations and
COantrymen and al former fapinc and op-
preston OF Americans declared legal aad lust
Fleets and armies re raised aid the aid of
foreign troops engaged 10 assist these destriic.
tive purposes. Tie kings repre- sentative in
lMls clLnnY hLlh MOT only lYIlllhnll nll ie M COZ.