Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1817-11-21

ing account oil The steps taken bv the
British ministry against the colonies i'm
mediately after the repeal of the stamp
act, and The nature and degree of the OPP
position on lheirpari, which he closes in
page IS wiihihe following observations
1t is not my purpose TO record the series of
measures which led TO the Acknowledgement of
the Briiisl, empire. This is The function IT
the historian My business is only with hlr
Henry aud. for my purpose, nothing more IL
necessary than TO recall the genssai character
II the contest, for the purpose OF showing the
sc truly said TO have commenced with his reSo-
lutiomS in i7S5. From that period not AN hour
of settled ,ieace had existed between the two
countries. IL is true. that the eruption pioduc-
eel by the stamp act. had s,ibsided with its
repeal and the people bad resumed their an
Gent settlements and occupations but there
was no peace ofthc heart or OF the miAd. The
rumsliug at the Volcano was still audible and
the smoke of the crater continually assembled,
mingled not untrequerily with those flames
aud masses OF ignltcr matter. which announced
new and more terrible explosion.
These were the times that tried the seuls
OF men; and Aeyer, in any country or i'll any
age. did there exist a race of men, whose souls
were better lifted 10 endure the trial Patti
ent IN suffering, firm in adversely, calm and
collected amid the dangers which pressed IL
round them, cool in council and brave in hat
tic, they were worthy of the cause, and the
cause was worthy ct them"
In the session of 1873 the" house had
the merit OF originating that powerful en-
gile OF resistant e, corresponding com
mittecs between the legislatures of The
different colonies" measure which il
was anticipated would lead eventually To
Il congress. The recommendation 10 this
effect on the part oftllose WHO composed
the house of burg sses, was brought about
IN May IVA, by circumstance detailed
very satisfactorily by our author, and ON
The first of August following the first con
vcnilon of Virginia delegates having met
at Williamsburg. hlcssrs. PeN ton Ran
dolph, Richard III. Lee, George Wash
in9iOn, Patrick Henry, Richard Bland.
Benjamin Harrison and Edmund Pendle-
ion, were appointed deputies 10 congress
and furnished with an able and spirited
letter OF Instructions, which is given at
large in the volume before us. OF tile
congress Itself, aad the part sustained in
!, bN Mr. ii tie aJ!iiur gives the follow
ing account:
" On the fourth of September HI, that We
nerabie body, the Old continental congress Of
| The Cnitcd States towards whom every Amc.
iican heart Will bow with piuHs homage, while
the name OF liberty shall be dear i'll our land
| met for the FIRST time, 1T Carpenters Hall.
III me citvoi Philadelphia. Pcyton Randolph
| house was organized for business, with all the
soiemnIteS OF a regular Legislature.
" The most eminent men of the various colo
Eles, were now Tor the hrSt time, brought to-
gether. They were known to each other b
| fame, but they were personally strangers. The
meeting was awiully solemn. The object which
HAD called them together, was OF iiicalculable
magnitude. The liberties of 40 less than three
millions OF people, with that of all their pOste-
rity, were Staked GA the wisdom and energy of
| their councils. No wonder, then at the LONE.
and deep silence which Is said To have fellow
ed upon their organization; at the anxiety
| WIN when tiie members looked around upeI
each other; aud tile reluctance which every
| individual felt 10 open Business SO fearfulIy
nopeutuus. In the midst of this deep * death
\ Ike silence, and just when II was beginning,
To become painfully embarrassing, Mr. Henry
| arose slowly, as if borne down nv the weight III
4 the subject After idai;erIug accsrJnr to
\ ms hnbii, thToggha most impressive exoTsllsm
| III Which he merely echoed back the consci
business OF every other heart, IN deplnring his
Inability 10 do Justice TO the occosion he
\ launched gIadnaiS into recital OF the coIori
al wrongs. Rising, as he advanced with tho
| grandeur OF his subject. and glowing at len ,th
| WIZ all he mAjesty and expectation Of The &C.
caSlon, his speech Seemed more than that of
mortal man. Even those who had heard him in
| All ms glory, IN the house OF burgesses of Vir
gina, were aStonished at the manner in which
DIS talents seemed 70 swell and expand them
serves 20 MI ne vaSter theatre in hiclI he was
no labour OF the underSlandiiig-no strainiua
OF tue yoice-no confusion of the ntterance
niscoiihteHance was erect-his eyes steady
MS acto9, hoOle-his enuncIaton clear and
hLn--his innld poised on its centre--his views
OF ms subject comprehensive and @reat-and
ms Imagination cOTruScating with maeni
ncence and variety, which struck even thar
aiNSeihhiy with aniazement aud awe. He sat
GOWN amidst murmurs of aSLouiShment and an
plauSe; aud as he had been before proclaimed
tie greatest orator of Virginia, he was now an
every hand, admitted to be the first orator of
America" 70
Here ends the Sd section of the work.
Our authC: commences his fourtl, by ac-
huowledging tIat MIR. Henry had NOT the
same laleDis for writing as for speaking
which leads him into an examination OF
the question, whether there be really. as
some have imagined, any imconcruitv IL,
their union-fle decides in the negative.
and traces tile rareness of the occurrence
to = defective education, taking this word
IN IFS larger, Roman sense" elf (says
he) the genius of the orator has been pro-
perry trained III bis youth to both pnr-
suits, instead OF being injured, it will.
apprehend, be found 10 derive additional
grace, beauty, and even sublimity, from
the discipline. His flights will be al least
as bold-tlIey will be better sustained
and whether lie chooses to descend in
majestic circles, or to stoop on headlong
wing, his performance will not be the
worse for having been taught to Ay."
Bat while, (be adds with reference to mis-
own fame and the lasting benefits which he
might have conferred on The world, we laInent
has want OF literary discipline, il is not impos-
sible that, for the times IN which he lived, and
tor the mote Immediate purpose of The Aneri-
can revolution, the popular opinion may be
correct. The people seem TO have admired
nun the more for his want OF discipline. {" His
genius, they say, " was uBbroken, and too fun
OF nre 10 bear the cub of composition. lie
rent and to scale tue mountain and support.