Daily Richmond times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1849-1850, 1850-05-21
SYBILLINE LEAVES.

The very interesting "reminiscences of Patrick
Henry, by the venerable DR.. Archibald Alexander
of Princeton, which we published yesterday, for
chilly remind us of the singulary felicitous and
eloquent sentiment proposed by John Quincy
Adams, on some public occasion, designed to do
honour to the surviving patriots of the Revolution
AIRY War. We do moi perhaps recall its precise
ph4aseology, but he said, in substance, "Ihey are
the Sybii1le leaves of The Repotutio1l." 1t is truly
sad reflection that these leaves are now nearly
exhausted and the great volume of oral history
which they composed will soon be closed forever
The melancholy announcement, of "Anoher Re-
evolutionary Hero gone,' has at last become infre-
quent, and in a few years more, it will altogether
disappear from the public journals. There are
yet living, however, scattered remnant of those
memorable men, whose undying honour it will
ever be that they served in the great cause of
American liberty under the command of George
Washington. And we still see moving amongst
the present generation, larger though rapidly
diminishing, number of aged men, who were toe
young to be actors themselves in the revolution
airy era, but who retain personal recollection Of
many OF its events and its prominent characters.
DR.. Alexander is one of this interesting class of
men. Having attained an age at which he is the
acknowledged patriarch Of one of the principal re-
hgious denominations of the country, he presents
very remarkable instance of the perfect preser-
walton of the intellectual powers, notwithstanding
the necessary infirrnities of advanced years His
earliest labours in the Christian ministry were laid
In that part of Virginia, the people of which were
familiar with the person and oratory of Patrick
Henry. We have heard old persons declare, that
next TO Mr.. Henry's, his eloquence was the most
effective they ever heard. Its character, however,
was very different, its highest quality being a
touching responsiveness which subdued the feel
1ngs OF his hearers and drew them irresistiby to
assent to the truths he proclaimed No minister
was ever more successful in Virginia, except per-
haps Samuel Davies. The recollectons of such
a man, concerning the manner and matter of Pa
trick Henry's speeches, cannot but be regarded as
peculiarly valuable They serve, in great de-
gree, to rescue from oblivion, the impressions
which those wonderful speeches produced upon
the men of the tme and to explain to posterity the
secret of the great orators magical influence.
DIR. Alexauder's example, in writing out thest
"reminiscences for the press, is one which might b
followed by many old men, with great advantage
to those who are now forming their characters
and will soon be called upon to fill the various re
sponsible stations of society If the sentiment OF
revolutionary Virginia that frequent recurrence
10 fundamental principles is essential TO liberty
is true, we believe it is not less true that FREE
quent recurrence 10 the high examples of the
founders of our institutions will tend to elevate
the aspirations of the young, and diffuse amongst
the people proper conceptions of the responsible
ties of citizenship.