Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1818-03-25

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lance he studiously prepared himseli Tor
debate. He knew when and how Ia be
disluse and copious. hut sireng'h and con;.
essences were tie characferi.tics of his
eloqneEce." To this let ne add the o.
pinion of DIR. Rush, who had listened 10
him with admiration on cccasiors Of tie
leepest interest. Speaking Of X. II.
Lee, he says, q" I never krew so great an
orator whose speeches were So short: II,
deed, right almost say that he could
not sPesk long. file conceived his sub
ject so clearly. and presented il so i'm.
mediately 10 his hearers. that there ap.
peared nothing more TO be said about il.
He did not use figures to ornament dis
course, but made them the vehicles #
argument" You will perceive a differ.
ence between these sketches and your
own. But do not complain of any in.
| correctness in the character vcu have
given Us Of r. n. Lee as an orctor The
friends of that greet man feel gratfpd
that your pen has sle'ched a character
OF Tin in one Of IFS finest efsirts. com.
plain OF irjustice don, h.uI as practical
statesman.
In page I0s Of your work. you say.
1t IS due, however, to hi.toric truth to
record that the superior powers of these
great men we're manifested only in de-
bate. When called down rom the
heights of defamation TO the seyerer
tests OF intellectual excellence, the DE-.
tails o! business. &c they we're con-
pleteiy thrown into the shade" This
AIN inclined to think is not in general
true OF Henry, ard Ikno,c is untrue os
X. ii. Lee. As composer he was emf.
nentiy successful. Many of tie most
eloquent, classical and vigorous dUcu.
ments OF The old congress are from b,
pen, adopted by that body without the
alteration Of a word. This can be sub.
subs'antiated by MSS. now in the pos.
session Of hIs family Had the journal
Of the old congress by me, | could point
out several specimens which have met
with the highest encomiums. The sub.
ject Of one receliect, which will enable
an enquirer to find it by a reference 10
the indey-it is resolve of thanks (. |
the Livery Of London, for a petition Of
that body to parliament in behalf OF their
fellow subjects in America That r. i
II. Lee was great in details. Infer from
the tact that Tor several successive wears,
years too OF our gIoomiest prospects, he /
was the chairman Of the military comuit-
tee, and OF other important committees.
The high estimation in which general
Washington. a. well as congress, is
known 10 have considers Ell him as char. I!
man of the military Committee, sufficient.
ly proves hce iar h" was great H. d.tGiLs. n
Authentic Mss. can here too be appealed III
to. Charles Thompson, The clerk Of con. IN
z ess, always sp' Ike in strong terms Of III
lis astonishing talent for difficult ard II
perpls xirg bus ness 1t is here remark II,
iu,tice which would BY no means sup.
pose intent nalIy Committed. Wien the
pubic demands smother edition Of yog.
egi nt neu NOR, viii seek the pleasure El
81 personal interview, and lCn urtr IA
ristle evidence pr0Ye that il i due 70 {
historic truth TO record" that X II. L,t E]
whether in arranging dry detail. or rou:, Il
ing indignation at the wrongs Of Iii coUr III
try, was equally and wonderfully grea. Ii
Permit NE DOW, sir. 10 call your after Il
ten TO the great and good Henry. VII
deep regret. | assure you, this call q EE
made. have said you have done biz q
intsntiona, injustice. You have, ,ir.er 81
deavoured to s'utnfy that mamHOc X
champion Of law and liberty. You haW w
endeavoured to cast ever that mind d 3
light. the mists Of dotage-oyer thf| N
firm and erect soul, the weakness Of v. bDE
nifty: 10 present to US " in dim eclipa HG
disastrous twilight shedding" that 81 Y
/" whose settirg splendour," 10 use so |{x
own words, @wfre beautiful and toucbin! Ia
and that too, "Whie the west was St
in blaze by his descending glory" III
This you will say is defamation
Now Tor facts You have successive 81
Henry from the charge Of
postacy, by showing the suprostion
be aDfOunded, that he had IS previou. III
committed himself to the democratic
to any other party. except the great
merIcan party Of liberty and republics
ism !" But where was the dignity, N
independence of the biographer. when!a
asor to prove Henry d0tard. bec'rs
conviction, to which powerful mind rs
ed him, enlisted him in the wears l.?
and 1899, on tie side of the genera g
'ernment ; enlisted him, tassIn to q
your own words) in company With y
'ather OF his country" Was ER too
dotard, E" an ibfirm old man." You raj'
this unwarrantabIe attack on Henr
mind thrnuoh Lis hnhr PAGE col. n