Literary cadet, and Saturday evening bulletin. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1826-1827, 1826-04-22

hTal VI tt AtoNitS bhN' " tt se1h NI''eSs
who turned their attention to the extensive regions
west of the Alleghanies. Having employed an en-
gineet OF eminence from England to explore them,
he, in conjunction with many others, under the
name of the Ohio Company, took up an extensive
tract Of land on the Ohio river. The Company
never b. wing obtained a patent from the Crown,
their title was vacated at the Revolution. An an
ecdote related of the sumo person strongly illus
| trates his political foresight. He used to say, that
he had no doubt America would declare herself in
dependent of q .'eat Britain, and that the seat Of the
| new government would be near the little falls Of the
Potomac. So conh lent was he in this persuasion,
that he acquired possession of large tracts Of land
around these falls, which TIL lately were In the
| possession of his descendants.
Richard Henry Lee, like most of the young men
of wealthy families, was sent home, as 1t was
| called, that is, to England, for his education, and
was placed in the Academy Of Wakefield in York.
shire. No particular accounts are given OF his pro-
gress at school but the style of his eloquence, in
| after life, shows him TO have been we'll grounded in
classical and general literature. He returned to
Virginia at about the nineteenth year OF his age,
two years after the decease Of his father, and took
up hi. abode with an elder brother. Though he
did not devote himself to any professional pursuit,
he passed his time in extending his acquaintance
with the higher branches of political and moral sci
ence, and particularly in the study Of the %constitu-
ton and laws of England and America. For the
pursuit Of these digniGed studies, his fathers well
stored library afforded him ample facilities.
Honorable and seductive as this leisure was, he
stood ready to leave it at the first call OF his country.
The inroads of the French and Indians on the wes-
tern frontier, in the seven years war, called aloud,
and at length successfully, for the interpostion of
England. In 1855, General Braddock was sent with
a body of troops from England, to protect the de-
fenceless settlement on the west. Upon the arrival
Of the General at Alexandria, volunteer companies
of militia, which had been raised in the lower parts
Of Virginia, offered their services to him, to join the
regular army in this hazardous service. Lee, the
captain of one of these companies, was among the
number that fastened to Alexandria, and there had
the modification TO be contmpetuously refused per-
mission 10 enter the service The General would &C
cept the aid of none of the provincial troops. Gen.
sral Washington, who had two years before been
employed as a special agent by the Governor of Vir-
ginia on a mission to the French Governor in the
west. was attached to General Bradock as an aid
de-camp.
Lee inherited from his ancestors the habit Of pune
tuality and despatch in business. He was very ear
ly solicited to act as guardian of the estates OF the
children OF his friends, and at the age Of twenty-five
in capacity Of justice Of the peace, he distinguished
himselfas an active and leading member ofthe coun-
ty court, a tribunal at that period Of extensive jnris-
diction. So distinguished was his usefulness in this
sphere, that a petition was addressed to the Govern
or and Council, by several of the magistrates OF the
| county. OTuY1nX Eflut DIS COUliulS5lOu might W ~ ui-
te-datel, that he might act as president Of the court.
The same year he was elected a member for West
moreland to the house of Bdrgesses, and from this
time to hi, death, a period of thirty-three years, he
scarcely ceased for a moment, to he in the active and
public service of his country. During the first year
of his service in the house Of Burgesses, he had to
struggle against a diffdencc, which he began to de-
spair of ever being able to conquer. IT was long be-
fore he could trust himself to engage in extempora-
neous discussion. II is probable that more than one
session passed, before he took any part in the debates.
His first speech, as far as can be ascertained, was on
a motion ito lay go heavy a duty on the importation
Of slaves, as efectually to put an end to that inlqui~
tous and disgraceful traffic, within the colony of Vir-
ginia.' His speech on this subject was short and
premeditated. II contains the strength Of the argu-
ment against the slave trade, but does not appear to
have produceda very decided conviction ofthe pow
er of its author. This was yet to receive its devel-
opement.
On the passage of the act in 1854, declaratory of
the right to tax America, Mr.. Lee expostulatcd on
the ~illegality of this measure, in letters addressed to
disting uished character in England. His brother,
DR.. Arthur Lee, wa, at this time Colonial Agent of
Massachusetts, residing in London; and from him
the earliest intelligence of political movements was
conveyed to Richard Henry, in America. On the
motion of the latter in the House Of Burgesses, and
after great deliberation, a special committee was APP
pointed to prepare an address to the King, Il memo
rlak 10 the House OF LOTus, uuu d uio dice =
the House of commons against the policy which die
tated the declaratory act. Mr.. Lee was placed on
this committee, and the address to the King and the
memorial to the Lords are still extant in this hand
writing. On the passage Of the Stamp Act the fol-
lowing year, Mr.. Lee was among the most active In
the resistance which it every where met in Ameri-
ca. Under his auspices an association was formed
to prevent the use Of stamped paper and it was in
no small degree by his efforts and Influence, that the
same tone was given to Virginia, and through her TO
the south, which in Massachusetts, was inspired by
Samuel Adams and his associates. At this period
commenced his acquaintance with his distinguished
countryman, Patrick Henry; and to the strong sym
pathy and hearty cooperation OF these kindred and
mighty minds, may, nodoubt,. in fairness, be ascribed
Il full proportion Of the concert and energy with
which the nsble Virginian phalanx moved forward
to the Revolution.
On the destruction of the Gaspee sloop Of war
at Providence, and the consequent sensation
throughout the Colonies, Mr.. Lee opened a cor
respondence with Samuel Adams, which was kept
I'D till his death. Among the letters Of the most
distinguished patriots and Statesmen Of the revo-
lutionary epoch, which form a considerable part Of
the work before US, those Of Samuel Adams are
the most interesting, and increase the desire which is
already so general, that the rich deposit Of the pa.
pers Of this great republican sage may before long
be spread before the world. On the arrival Of the
Boston Port Bill, the assembly Of Virginia ordered
a fast TO be observed on the day when the port bill
was to 60 into execution. The next day it was
the intention of Mr.. Lee to propose q series Of re-
solutions expressive, in very strong and indignant
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