Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1825-10-21
RICHARD HENRY LEE.

The Natona Gazette furnishes the following Notice
Of the Biographical Memoir Of RIcuAnD Henry i.rr
which his grandson, of tic same name, of Lees
burg, Virginia, has just given 10 the world,
"This large aud valuable contribution 10 American
history has afforded pleasure like t.at which VIC
found in MIR. Quncy's precious volume Il has been
made rot only with ial piety, but love Of country,
with Judgment and moiesty; and, think with atlc-
luac success Tor all his excellent purposes tic has
fully established the truth that his llustrous ancestor
thorough man 0f business well as 4 brilliant |
orator and principal guide III The Revolutionary com
ellis, both OF Virginia ard the United Colonies He
has traced the ana dey eoped tie character OF
profound and efficient statesman, and truly yirtuous
citizen, learned. acute, resoutc energetic. and most
patT lotto and eloquent; whose cxeruns ami qualities
inspire strong and salutary admiration and whose
cinpoymcns, connexions and correspondence inter
his history with that OF the nation during the
whole period CT her struggle for freedom and indepen
! dencc
Mr. Lee has placed in the Memoir Itself several i'm
portat and curious letters of his grand father and other
nj worthless; but he has properly separated as an
AppenjlX, the body of the important and interesting
documents of various kinds which descended 10 him or
which ic procured from survivors Of the Revolution
Tie Appendix occupies share OF his Erst and tho
whole Gi his second volume, aud embraces 4 !,ii;inr
and instructive part of the correspondence OF such per
sonagos - WasGlngtcn Lafayette, Arthur Lee Fat
rick Henry, Dr. Rush, j. Dickcnson Sar.l,cl Adams
Wilkes, CCloHol Barre, 81. THIS collection has
brought again ana powerfully minds the rc.c.
hon how desirable It that tc relatives and friends OF
the leading Revolutionary patriots Should preserve and
oaiody that portion ut least Of their papers, which
might serve 70 enlarge and Ieciiy the annals of The
Republic, besides gratifying ,audatle curiosity which
in all Likelihood, will be common ard eager wth
Americans CT the next aud future generations than i;
! Is with Cur contemporaries
We scarcely need 10 mention who and what Richard
Henry Lee II general his is conspicuous and
GoFiuis III every account Of the eyout;cn-il is that
ri interchangeable, infcxible downright ,Dcraliye
rebel" from the outset; Who twin coaiin. III ?arick
ienry, swayed and prompted Virginia viii. the deep
est sensihty and the lofuest aluqacnct who served
with the utmost usefulness and distinction in all the Re
volnonary Congresses; who composed their rle,.ora
bic addresses to the British governm nj pcopi who
Iao0eI and uureInngly sustained the Declaration of
independence; who prepared the articles OF confcdcra
Ton Who became President of Congress in 1884, who
oHJoyec throughout period OF Njri years the conf
dence and hcnoTs Of his native state Sc. Ills ,icsccn
dant does not, perhaps, speak strongly when he Oh
serves at bis o!ica! letters member of the Commit
ice OF correspondence fer the Congress OF I77 that
they contain more complete account OF the state of
american affairs at the era, than can elsewhere be
iound. " cannot undertake to furnish even an out
nc OF his political abors, 20 sketch his talents as q
speaker Of the latter, much is told tsour. 10 tao
magnificent strain for any modern orator by Mr.
Writ IN ms i1iie Of Patrick Henry. On this head his
Igrahdson has quoted some observations OF Dir, Rush
which !nvolYe an cnPiabc panegy rc- never l,ne,y
50 great an orator." remarked that accomplished indrc
whose speeches were short. Indeed might almost
say that ne could not speak long He conceived his
SUBJECT so clearly, and presented immediately to
has hearers, that there appeared nothing more tn no
said about it. He dill not use figures to ornament die
course, but made them lie vehicles OF argument D.
" ohid that such praise applicable to the Vircin
amor 70 ce American oratory Of our tines anil that the
FaircTs Ct discourscs and books could initiate the exam
'p'e 'Th'ci e0T'7 cities IA The following passage.
i.s'' spent thee years 81 has Ecug aes seven O.
ms 'eo e!csi ana eleven or twelve iis ,acls. IN
CEN 'nE iAe sefant ci these thre= works dictated
seycTsF of-the Y,vs. IN IeIfa4f sF AMI s3s n a rai
u inc Iay IN corIec ing them tat = to sa la reinc
tNeIn .o sTad uumucT. II e compared himself 10 .
sue Ccr which lies her cubs into shape Cum Geor-
gica scroeFet, tradiiur Guodie editaos ano pluIi-
HOS versus d!ctare sCun, &C per tcun diem retrac
tando al paucss!os redgsrc non absi,re carmen So
his2 more parcre disentem ct anbendo dernun elm
gere."
! Richard Henry Lee classical scholar n rigid
inoraiiat ami ali earnest Christian; and upon tue two
last traits Lis grandson LAYS that stress which becomes
the bogfapher and his subject In the Legislature al
Virginia. IN opposition TO his old auxiliary and dear
lIiend, Patrick Henry, ne scnuousv resisted the pro
lects Of making deprecated paper money tender ,,r
debts and ccDscaiiGg impeding debts due by citizens
of the state 10 British merchants. He declared that
under no extremity, no state necessity, would he con
sent 10 legislative violation Of the principles If homes
ty and Faith between men, adding. that it woui ayc
been better to remain 'Gnest slaves of Great Britain
;Lan u become dishonest recrneu.D In CoIorpss h.,
always TeProbated The laws making paper money a g!
tender which had been passed IN some Of the states
"a member oi that body, who had adv coated them wien
''N'|''Iil1 il,
alter had been discussed by antagonists n o, mo,
ana moe attached s the fraudulent policy fee began
an answer 70 him thns-'M Mr. Speaker did not won
der iat the honorable gentleman pleased with this
'cae'ne ''tel in the bui; bat as(onished ihat he
SrasPs at Tee fri blo,ca injgtfy.n
Lee exposed lis life in military movements against
ihc enemy in Virginia. Tic incident which we have
quoted m our first page illustrates the minute vigilance
ana SohcH"de Of bis patriotism; and his feelings may
raphy.
''Anothcr anccdOe may be related of Mr. Lee which
serves 70 show tie unccasing interest he took in the
Puoiic affairs, whnl in the retirement Of private lie
" een intelligence reached we n0rclaud o! fic arrival
OF me freHch iieet under Count dc Gragsc, OF orioIk
W.. Lee was at home. lie Immediately formed U,n
iHea OF supplying il with fresh provisions ,yi,ic! he
knew would be grateful To both scainen ard officers
alter so long voyage. He in person through The
country aad procured subscription of such aetic!es as
cac" person conli most conveniently give Of live cat
e' P0anT}, butter vegetables, Sc. lie himself large
" CONTRIBUTED lie succeeded in procuring provisions
'nhc'ent TO load ecIoaocr. which he lreighed and
soni with a letter to toe Count
hf f..rg --t,t, &c.,.