Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1817-11-28
FROM THE RICHMOND ENQUIRER,
sietches of the tife and character Of Pat
rick Hurry. Printed at Philadelphia,
pp. AT.
CONTINUED

Our author in his next section details
with much elegance and perspicuity the
progress Of the revolution in its early sta
ges. This account IS connected so close
/, with the life Of Henry, and seems to
arise so naturally out Oft, that The work
would be incomplete without it. Biosra.
piers frcqucaty use the incidents of a
mans life for no other purpose than to
introduce Their own speculations, under
his name. Their digrcssions are SO nu-
merous and so little connected with their
subject, that the reader often loses sight
of the main parsonage in attending TO
the authors episodes. Several notable
examples might be mentioned where nne
nay read half volume Of biography. be.
fore the unfortunate man whose LIFE il
purpurts to be, can be said. IIike T!;s-
tram SANDY to be fairly born. From
the slender ct materials, the author con
trives with the assistance Of this wire.
drawing system, to exc Uut a ponderous
volume taking care all the while to keep.
as in an injudicious painting, his princi.
pal figure in the back ground, and 70
bring for ward every subordinate one with
ostentations parade. Thus you are inst
able dimly TO discover the portrait YOU
are seeking, in the midst of fifty other
objects placed so prominently on the CAL
vas as to induce. belief that they were
attended TO obscure and hide it. Not so
with our author-His disressions are al
ways easy, natural and unaffected; tend =.
ing to illustrate his subject, and not to
darken or confuse it keeping steadily
in view the developement Of Mr.. Henry's
private and public character, and the
displaying it, in various attitudes. as it
happened TO be Influenced and affected
by the circumstances in which lie was
placed. These circumstances, in order
TO give due effect to the picture, he is Of
course obliged to explain and as Mr..
Henry acted most conspicuous part in
our revolutionary struggle, lie is led by
the easiest graduation 10 speak Of its most
prominent feature.
Governor DunmOIe having abandoned
the palace and sought security tom ina
slnary dangers Oh board British ship
lying at YORKTOWN, the people seemed to
consider this act as r!rfua! GjaicatiCR
Of the government. In this posture oI
things, the convention met in the city q!
Richmond Oh The cath July, l775. One
of their first measures was 70 raise and
embody two regiments OF regulars and to
appoint officers TO command them.
The lofty stand which Mr.. Henry
had taken in the America cause, his in
creasing popularity and The prompt and
energetic movement which he had made
IN the affair Of The ganpon der, brought
him strongly before the view Of the house
and he was elected the colonel of the
first regiment, and the commander Of al.
the forces raised, anito be RAISED for the
defence of the colony. Mr.. VIM. Wood
ford, whois said to have distinguished
himself in the French and Indian war
was appointed to the command Of the &C.
cond regiment"
The former soon entered actively and
jealousy upon the duties Of his new Of
iiGe-but in the course OF very few
months, threw it up in disgust at tn,
sights aud notifications he met with
lit would seem without any sufficient rca
SOM tgo,l varioas quarters. Wills, III
held the command lie had no opportunity
to distinguish himself; for col. Woo, az,
had been sent by the committee OF safety
in pursuit OF DunInorc, ard fought IN
battle u the Great bridge, the only or
OF any uote that tovk p!ase during Mr.
If'S military life.
What figure, (says our author,) h
nisht have made in war, had the oppof
tanI'y bern allowed ailr, Gil, now be ont,
s.atlsr Ut speculation. His pefsona