Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1817-11-28
tCoMNuNICaTED.
LIFE OF PATRICK HENRY.

Towards the conclusion of his ninth
section, oar author las given MS several
amusing anecdotes OF the powers OF Mr..
Henry at the bar, Sin The comic line"
They serve 10 shew The versatility of his
talents, by which he could at pleasure
Convulse his audience with laughter, or
dissolve them into tears Indeed he seems
tn have had most perfect control oftheir
feelings, and to have been able To excite
passions of the most opposite nature, in
ibe shortest possible time, by the wiiche-
r. ci i;is almost supernatural eloqucnce.
lie ciDseS this section with The follow
ing observations
Lit was in the year 1901, that he mr. Hen
ryl babe inai adieu 10 his profession amd re-
tired to the bOSom OF his own family. lie rrtir-
ed, loaded with honOurs public and pa ofession
al and carried with rim, the admiration, the
gratitude, the confidence, and the love OF his
country No man had ever passed through so
long Il lie OF public service, with a reputation
more perfectly inspected. Nor had MIR. Hen
ry on any occasion. sought security from cen.
sure. by that Kind of prudent silence and ten.
porzins neutrality, which politicians so fire.
quentiy observe. On the contrary his course
had been uniformly active, bold. intrepid and
independents. On every great subject of pub.
lie interest. Tie part which he had taken was
open, decided, manly his country saw his mo-
tveS, heard his reasons approved his conduct
rested upon his virtue, and hi, vi.rour AID cor
1enpiaieO with anazcinent the evolution and
unienItted display of his Iran.cendanf talents
Far more than thirty Years he had now stood
before that country--Open TO the scrutiny and
the censurc Of the Invldious- vet lie retired
not only without spot OT b!emish but with al!
his lduTcis blooming ini and fresh uoon him
followed by the blessings OF his almost aduyiug
c0untrymen, aud Checred by that most exoui-
site OF ali earthly poSsesSons-ihc conscious.
ness OF having III deed and in truth piaysI ioeH
his parf. lie had HOW too become diScn,har
a q ia
lie eigoHed ia his retirement, that east aud dir-
Dlty, whichn0 man ever more richly deserved"
In the beginning OF tile tenth section we
are introduced TO d more intimate knowl-
elge of Mr. HIS private character than
our author had before had an opportunity
ofimpartBg. Hitherto we have seen him
TIC leader OF popular assembly, the or
nanlent of a liberal profession, or the no
liIicai head OF d great and powerful state.
az all The blaze of public lie-coyered
with the veil of official rank Now we az
company him to his own home, amidst
tile circle OF his iriends-in the bosom of
his iamiy-tlIrowing aside the caution
and reserve of station, and discllargilg
with noble simplicity the social aud do,
inestic duties. Ia this new li.l,t, if he is
not SO brilliant, he lsat least as attractive.
We see linn under his i" large walnut tree
hig
summer evenings, surrounded by his affection-
ate and happy family, and by circle of NEIGH.
bors who loved linn almost TO idoIatry Uera
lie would disport himself will S'5 the careless
galety OF Infancy. Here too, he would some.
times warm ibs 6os0ns of the old. aud sfrike
lire from the eyes of his younger hearers Inv
accounting the takes Of other times bv * efcIi.
ing, with the b6ldness of a masters hand those
great historic incidents IN which lac had borne
q part aud by drawing 10 the life. aud placins,
before his audience, ia cOlOgs rs fresh and
strong rs those OF nature, the many ilIustrious
men ~ every quarter of the continent will
Tnon ne bad acted part n1he public stage.
Here too, he would occasionally discourse with
al the wisdom and all the O!Oquence Ola Gre
cian sage, Of the various duties and Offices of
tHt ana pour forth those lessons of practical
uuhty, win winch long experience and obser.
walton had stored lass mind"
2" But Continues unr author) il yyasin tl,c bo
SOM OF iis o"n family, where the eye OF every
VISITOR ana even every neigibOT was shat ont
where neither Tie love Of fame nor The fear If
ceusnfe. could he suspected of throwing a C;,lse
light upon bis characterize was 10 thai ver,
scene, IN Which Il has been SAID that no mar,
Is 4 hero" that Mr.. Heurys lernism shone
with The nO,t engaging brauiy. II was 10 his
wife, 10 his children, 20 his servants, that his
tfus character was hest known to this CRATE
fuI, devoted, happy cIrric. were best known
the patient and ten,l iorheaTlucc, The kind
Indulgence, the forsyipg nilinpss, aud sweet
ness OF hiS spirit, those pure and warm aflec-
HONS, witch were always inOkinz ont for tie
means OF improving their feUcifv and that
WdtchiH Prudence and Instrumentation. which
guarded trcm from harm What cau be more
amiab'e il1n Tie pi1yinl tenderness viii which
he lOineG ne Tie sports OF bis iittc children.
aHd Tue b"un"ic5s bcHls ehce Witi witch Ec
fcceiYeo AMI returned their Carcsscsy IFS.
vlsiors." sass one ef my corrcsnnndenfs
F" have not uufgcquenilV caught hin, lsle, OF,
ihe tioof, Wlh a groug Of these nt.e ones
e"m9ins over ham ~ every afeenon or dane.