Daily Richmond times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1849-1850, 1849-08-28
KENNEDYs LIFE or WRIT.

we copy from the Literary world the following
extract from Mr. Kennedy's forthcoming biography Of
William Writ, shortly to- be issued by Lea Blanchard
Philadelphia. As understand that all OF Mr.. Wits
papers have been submitted TO Mr. Kennedy, are led to
expect much and interesting matter with many on
gma letters in Mr. Wrt's lively and agreeable style
Inc one which present to readers describes wildly
some OF the pains and the cnnu OF authorship experienced
during the preparation OF the Lille OF Patrick Henry
Nat. Int
PERPLExITIEs OF A BIoGRAPHER.
AT this time the biography of Henry was resumed with
stout resolve to bring 10 conclusion. We have album
dan evidence that this had already grown to be most
irksome labor.
The following letter Carr, payully presents the diff
cnltes of this undertaking, and shows how reluctantly
Writ struggled with his task 1t contains also an aluson
to Dabney Carr the father OF his friend and the compatriot
OF Henrya gentleman most avoraby known in the short
Legislative career to which have heretofore advered
and whose early death had bghted the promise Of fair
renown.
Mr. James Webster, of Philadelphia, to whom also this
letter has reference, already engaged as the pub
Usher of the forthcoming volume, and had made some an
nouncements of to the public, which, ii will be seen had
served to augment the authors dselish Of his enterprise
William Writ to Judge Carr
RICHMOND, August 30, 1915
My DEAR FRIEND y Now for Patrick Henry
have delved my hundred and seventh page-,1p
hill all the way and heavy work, promise you and a
heavy and unleavened lump tearme will be. work it as
may can tell you sir, that is much the oppres
sye literary enterprise that ever embarked in, and be-
gin TO apprehend that shall debar from it without
rafting ropes and rending sails" | write in storm and
worst tempest, fear will follow its publication. Let me
give you some idea Of my difficulties lmprimis, then:
always thought that Bozzy raned in complaining SO hea-
Willy OF the infinite difficulty and trouble which he had to
encounter in fixing accurately the dates Of trivial facts
but now know by woful experience that Bozzy right
and IN addition to the dates have the facts themselves
collect Thought had them all ready cut and dry, and
sat down with my statements OF correspondents spread
Out before me-, pile OF old journals my right and
tner OF OLD newspapers on my left thinking that had
tnng else to do but Lingo says to saddle Pegasus
and ride up damascus Such shortsghtedness there in
all the schemes mice and men," for found at every
tn Il Lett
OF letters over the State in all directions collect dates
and explanations and try to reconcile Contradictions
Meantime, until they arrived, 81 kept sowing on
In the next place, this business Of stating facts
with rigid precision, not ot more or less than the
truth-what the deuce has lawyer to do with truth? To
tell you truth. however, find that it is entirely new
business to and proportonaely awkward at it. for
after have gotten the facts accurately they are then be
narrated happily and the style Of narrative fettered by
scrupulous regard to real facts, is me the most d
ficut in the world 1t is like attempting to run tied u in
bag My pen wants perpetuay to career and frolc it
away But it must not be | must move like Sternes
tall, and that too, without vintage rolic with Ma
nette on the green or even the relief OF mulberry tree to
stop and take pinch OF snuff at. very sensible
when | began, that was not in the narrative gait I
tined over and again, almost often Gibbon did
to hit the and without his success determined
therefore to moveforward in no ea that my parey would
get broke by degrees and learn bye and bye to obey the
slightest touch Of the snafe; but now as said in
my hundred and seventh page, which, by an accurate
computation on the principles of Cocker, taking tweny
four sheets to the qure and four pages each sheet YOU
will find to exceed qure by eleven and vet am as far To
seek as ever Tor the lighsome lucid, simple gracee
OF narrative You may think this affectation if Won
please, you may think it JEST but the dying confession
Of a telon underline galows mo disparageent to hn1
is not more true or much more mortifyng;
Iertio The incidents OF Mr. Henrys life are e1tren,e
y monotonous 1t sall speaking, speaking speaking -
Ills true he could talk Goods how he could tall but
there's no acting the while" From the bar to the Lee
nations resebed good deal those of some one FORGET
whomperhaps some Of our friends Tristra's charac-
ters om the kitchen to the paror and from the parlor
to the kitchen" And then, to make the matter worse
from 1853 10 1885, covering all the bloom and pride of his
life OF his speeches lives print writing or
ry All told is that such and such occasion
he made distinguished speech Now keep saving this
ovel and over and again, without being able to give
any account OF what the speech waswhy sir what is it
but vast open, sunburnt field without spot of shade
or verdurel My soul is weary OF it, and the DAYS have
come in which can say that have pleasure in them
have sometimes notion of trying the plan of Botta who
has written an ACCOUNT OF the American war and made
speeches himself tor his prominent characters initiating
in this the historians of Greece and Rome: but think
with Polybus that this making free with the sancJ
ty OF history Besides, Henrys eoquence was all so com
petey SUI geners to be nimabe by any other; and
to make mig chance OF initiating him still worse never
say or heard him Even the speeches published in the
Correspondents not to be his but fall far short of his
strength and beauty Yet, in spite of all this monotony
and restitution OF materials we have fellow coming out
IN the Analectc Magazine or the Baltimore Commercial
Advertiser forget whchtor both have been atit-exc
ting the public expectation on this very ground among
others OF the copousness and variety of the materials
within my reach, Those pufts mean me well but could
wish them little more judgment.
Again there are some ugly traits in HIS character and
Some pretty nearly as ugly blanks. He was blank mill
tafy commander blank governor, and blank politician
IN all those useful points which depend composition and
detail Ia short, it is verify hopeless subject as man
could well desire have dug around it, and applied all
the plaster OF Paris that could commands but the g-tree
IS still barren and every bud upon indicates death instead
OF life Then surely you mean to give it up?" On the
contrary, assure YOU sir have slept in SO deep that
nhaih IN TT
like Duncan should bawl out to me, 'Sleep no more p'
do not mean that am determined to publish No sir,
spirit which have never yet been able to do shall never
see the light; Mr. Websters proposals TO the contrary
Notwithstanding. But what have determined uaon is to
go rapidly can, to enlbody all The facts Then, re-
viewing the whole, TO lay it of into sections by epochs
on Middletons plan and taking up the first section to
to make last and dying effort upon it, per If fail,
| surrender my sword; if otherwise, | shall 90 forth
secuon alter section, conquerng and to conquer Andif
the public forgive me this time, | will promise never to
make similar experiment on their good nature again
From TExAs-By the arrival here last evening" Of the
steamship E. A. Ogden, Capt. Havand fifty hours from
Houston, we have received Galveston papers to the 10Th
inst.
The election returns received at Galveston show that
Belstll leads Wood for Governors Miles is nowhere Hen
deson hasa large majority for Lieutenant Governor Will
hanson and Howard are thus far ahead for Congress
We clip The following item from the San Antonio Yves
tern Texas:
As small party of Mexican traders are in town from
Laredo and other points They encountered no Indians
but, saw plenty Of Indian sign" II the frontier
well protected convinced that the commercial
munity would drive profitable business with our Mex
can neghbors-N. 0. Pic. Aug 49,
.....n.-.....-.-...
The Danvie Register states that $40 counterfeit noteso
the Bank of Georgetown, S. G., are in circulation in
Pitsyvana county One othem seen by the editor was
on thin imsy paper engraving but well enoughex-
ecued to deceive the unwary. 1t is dated Aug A. 1886
payable to A. G. Rose and signed J. w Coachman
Prest., all which filings up weren the same handwriting