Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1817-11-18
RIcHNIONp, N0NEMBER Is.
Sketches of the life and Character ofP1T.
RICK HENRY. Printed at Phiiadef-

Sketches nj the Life aud Character ofP1T-
RICK HENRY. Printed at Phiiaciek
'Flia, PIP. 427.
Me are favored by friend with the follow
ips Review. From the confidence we repose
ar Ire integrity OF his Judgment, we are salts
ned tiatthc opinions lie expresses are the re-
salts OF his own unbiased understanding Vir-
gi,ila owes mach 10 Aii. Writ for the present
{. lie has i0w made TO her. u is one Of the most
beautiful and interesting works we have for :,
long iiiae perused. The author has done
yrlat1we Feiicv ed To have been .l,most innossi.
be. Heha raised the name OF Patrick Hen.
~ even in Virginia. Great as we ALWAYS
deemed Mr.. Henry To be- he has made us
has given us proofs ct the opinion we had form
ed OF him. We lad heard nnch of SIR Henry
low we kRo,c him. lie will spread the same
proofs throughout the United States aud Eu-
: rope sonluch was this record wanting, That
itwas-but the other day, n writer in Philadel-
: phia, enumerdting the great men whom Virgil
min had put forth during the Revolutions plac-
ed =. IiemrS next 10 the last Oh list of thir.
seen.
DEDICATION.
( - To the YOUNG MEN OF VIRGINIA.
5 thIswork is respectfully inscribed, BY the Au.
rhorP
LIFE OF PATRICK HENRY.
4 literary work from the pen of MT Uiit
which as we'll on account at the subject as The
wtsler, has excited no common interest in the
public niuti, IS AZ length submiitec, 10 The test
of criticism. The F" Sketches of The life and
character of Patrick Henry" has been pub,isL
; IN philadelphia and Baltimore and will soon
he IN The hands of every man of taste and lite.
nature Ia tile state of Virginia. What reception
1t may meet with from critics bv Drogessio1 we
viii not venture 10 anticipate ; fof that often
depends on other circumstances besides the
merit ola work but that those who read for
entertainment or instruction Will be highly
aratifed by the per,lsai OF these Sketclics .
Confidently 10
Our opinion is founded as we'll on the matter
as the style OF tins production--;,n opinion we
shall endsaVopr 10 maintain and illustrate, lJy
givinsIn the sequel a brief and general oAilin,,
oil its contents, aud some few extracts from tia.
work itself, which will on examination appsar
TO be fair specimens of the other parts OF it
IN uolng ms, however, we expressly disclaim
the prstension of furnishing thereby any AIDE.
qnate means of determining the merits 1f The
author We know, indeed. that many of our
countrymen form their opinions OF every new
Puoncahon, from the accounts gwen of il by
. the Reviewers !" but we haveOarseiyes been
too often misled by these partial and errinp
guides, nor 10 protest on all occasions against
the cenciuslNenesS of their authority. 10 the
work ltseli then, we refer all who wish 10 fhiuk
on tins subject for lhemseveS-Our object is
only 10 draw to II the notice OF the Dublic in
dong which, we consider il cur duty TO SPEAK
with importantly its merits or defects.
many persons entertain tue upirion that TO
narrdte the actions of Il mans life and asrar
tain themOtives which led TO them is no diff
cult undertaking. Butthey viii think very diff
serentiy, who reCoect how many havs atteu,nt.
et, anu now few succeeded IN, this department
OF literature ~ history itself there nave not
been SO many ta.iEres-Of the numerous bto.
graphies which (particui3rly in modern tmesj
have issued from Tue press we eau scarcely Sc
iect more ih3n four or five OF much intrinsic
eNcehence-- Iierest derive their interest from,
the incidents they relate and the cs,ractors
they describe: and tie saIne incidents and char.
acters would sill be iuterestia1 in apgJr.s< a..
unuer any form. We think therefore tLaf that
E6tire writer who does venture On airs usrii0Us
held, aIi whose daring IS croyued witt snr.ess
has very high claim TO the gratitude * aG,,ira
ton OF his counirymen--tor his laDors besides
their lmme d'aie good effects, in holding up 10
tie mutation OF the living the ijIaStrio,IS Gym
pie ofthe dead, raise our national cbsracfrrin
point where il has been most assailed. and
add the wreath Ofterature, TO the column al
ready ornamented with the trophies of our ma
val aud military slcry. We have lately soon n
very favorable specimen OF this kind OF writing
iii the life of Fulton from the pen of hir. cal
oen--asd we have now before US 4 work which
We tillhk VIII bear d comparison with Middle
IONS lie OF Cicero, so often referred 10 nv our
author; aud is nor very inferior TO Tie. nroto-
type which he evidently had before hiui-the
life of AsgicoIA by 1acituS.
There Is another reasvn why the appearance
OF a work like this, should be regarded Inv The
people OF the United States with interest and
affection. Every thing consistent with truth.
which tends 10 exait the charactcrof the ReNo
luton and OF the men who commenced aud
conducted IL TO its triumphant issue has a ham
Ply eileetin confirming our predictions in IA.
Yor OF the form of government they establish
ed and renderingit dearerto us by association.
We are thereby taught, to light our lamp at The
pure and holy flame OF the Revolution 10
draw thence, examples for our imitation and
rules for our cOuducttO place proper value
on the blessings we enjoy at the price of so ma
nysacriiices-an to recur frequently to those
first principles by whose test we ought ALWAYS
n n pfos., -.
measures of orr government. Considered I'm
tins point of view, these Sketches afford US the
most gratifying Information. Some of The pro
lnInent characters OF the Revelation, are pIa-
ced in new and brilliant ligbt-facts wliich
had been misunderstood are explained-strlk
ing anecdotes illustrative of some intere,tipr
periods of our history are given--and the mo-
yves and conduct of our people. under their
seyeTest trials, indicated. Indeed we Garner
but remark that it, as has been sOnewhe re said.
CuTrie lite OF Burns Is calculated 10 impress
thereader with very high idea ofthe inteIii |
Eence Of the Scottish peasantry for which
Scotland itself Is indebted 10 the writer tbe
present work Is no less calculated 20 increase
tie reputation of NirgiHans for which we
ought all to acknowledge our Obligations 10 |
Mr.. Writ
10 return however to the work itself-Pat. |
rick Henry, as or author informs as, was born
an the 2Jth fmay, l736, in the county Of iano
Yer. dis parents were not rich, but in easy |
circumstances and OF respectable CHARACTER
tle son seems 10 nave given 30 ms youth no |
evidences OF ilis future greatness. His com.
paDions rccohsct nothing that distinguished
him adgantageousIy flom other young men. I'M |
less certain propensity 70 observe and com.
meni upon the human character might be so |
resffded. He was uurtured in idleness, and
had none Of lie benefits OF a regular education
80 the age Of Is he was placed behind the
counter .Of cOuntry merchant and the next !
year was with his brother William" set uo in /
trade. THIS proved a most mIfOrtunate al. |
ia ft.
al catastrophe. st the axe Of siel,teen lie |
married Miss Shelton, tie daughter of !
an honest but needy farmer: aud Mr.. Henry |
ksad 20 delge ihe ground with bis own hands |