Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1817-11-25

dispatches from Gen. Peter 3. Porter
Major Fraser is still in the c:y. The
utmost harmony prevailed between the
commissioners, and there is reason to
hope that the business has, or will, ter
inmate 70 the satisfaction Of bath pdr-
ties. E7sat!9.
+ A letter from Antwerp. dated Oct. S.
says, "The ship America, Beco,en, with
Cargo of 100000 lbs. ofrice. ha' arri-
we'd at Amsterdam, from Batavia more
is expected from that quarter, which wall
tend TO deVcss the article. Bengal aud
Surat cotton % TO 80 cents; some car
goes are looked for in the sprlns." t6iG.
FROM TIE RICHMOND ENQUIRER.
SSetches Of tie ift and character Of Pat
rick Henry. Printed at Philadelphia
PIP. Az.
CONTINUED
In the year 17t6 Mr.. Henry was a.
gain member Of the house OF delegates (;
but the speaker having at the opening of
the session announced the repeal OF the
stamp act, no occasion was offered him.,
of displaying his transcendant powers,
except On motion {" separate the Offices
of treasurer aud speaker, which he SUP
ported with "hi. usual ability" and
carried. From that penod to the year
l775, altho' he continued a member ui
the house-and although f m and ten.
perate opposition was kept up to the Bri-
tlsh ministry, as appears from the strong
resolutions which were on more than one
occasion adopted, yet nothing is record
ed OF him by our author, Distinguishing
him in particular manner from the other
members Of the house This interval
Mr.. ". has very judiciously laid hold of
to brins US acquainted with Mr.. u. as 4
lawyer. g." Alter having tried his strength
lsays hey for several years on the Iegis-
lative toOr against some of the brightest
champions Of the bar, Mr.. HeEry came
III the year 1863 to the bar itself OF the
general court" Here he seems never to
have attracted much nOlUriety for his ar
guments on " mere questions OF law"
" lie wanted that learning who.e place
no spendor OF genius can supply to TIE
lawyer; aud he wanted those habits of
steady and persRveri"g application with
out which hat learning Is not to Ie aC-
CURED" Yet even here " on questions
turing on the laws Of nations, aud even
On the maritime law whose basis is uatur-
al reason and justice, his Sisor Of mind
made him occasional very great" II
was, however, says our author, son
questions before e jury, that he was in
his natu.a! element"
I" ! mere, bis intimate knowledge OF
human nature. ind the rapidly 10 well
as business Of his differences, from the
Fitting expressions Of the cOuEtensnce.
as 10 what was passing in the hearts Of
his hearers, ava led him fully. The jury
might be composed j. entire strangers.
vet he rarely failed TO know thea, man
By man, before the evidence was olcsd
There was no studied fixture of features,
that could long hide the character fem
his Iiercing aud experienced view. The
slishtc.t uuguardcd urn Of counteaanCe,
ar mution of the eve, let him at once into
the soul of the man whom he was OBJ
serving, Or, if he doubt;d whether his
c"Dclusirns we're correct, from the exhi-
bitions OF countenance during The nara
ton Of the evidence, lie had mode OF
playing prelude as it were, upon the
Jury, in his cyOrdium, which never failed
to wake into lie each silent string"
and shew him the whole compass as well
as pitch Of the instrument. his sly ie uf
address, on these occasions, is said TO
have re:embled very much that Of the
scriptures. II was strongly marked with
the sawe simplicity, the same energy,
the same gathos. lie sounded no alarm /;
he made no parade, to put the jury Oh
their guard. 1t was all so natural, SO
humble, so unassuming, that they were
carried imperceptib!y aiung, and attun-
ell to his purpose, until some master
touc' dissolved them into tears. His
language OF passion was perfect. His
voice, toe, had a wonderful effect. lie
had singular power Of iufusIng il into a
jury, and mixing lis notes with their
nerves, in a manner which it is impOssi-
Die to describe justly; but which pro-
duccd thrilling excitement, IN the hap
picst concordance with his designs. No
man knew so well as I've did what kind
of topics 10 urge to their understandings /;
nor what Kind Of simple imagery to pre-
sent To their hearts. dis eye, which he
kept rvetted upon them, assisted the
process OF fascination, and at the same
time Informed him what theme to press,
or at what instant to retreat, il by rare