Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1852-07-05
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SKETCH or HENRY CLAY'S LIFE.

From the New York Snu rspl5!tsh the following in
ctents in M Clays early lc which will be Pec ry in
tetsng young and old 10 this vicinity. His history Is
admirably calculated 10 encourage l:GIabe ambition in
The rising gcneroon whGm under blessed Republic,
The highest honors oen hc rewnrds of indus
iry, talents and uprisht bearings:
Mr.. Clay was bvrn A.l H. III, in Hanover county,
VIRGINIA in neinhbohuud called tho "S1shs, term in
ccang district Of country that "5'unGe in low swamny
grounds From this circId nnre Arose The epitnt 50 often
,upussiy applied Ei"Thr al!ii boy If the Sashes y
is father the Rev. John Clay, Baptist CI.rgyman. and
is mother Elzlcth tnison, were both narrs Of Virgil
ni Tic paIcna ancestors OF MI Clay were English and
removed i:snia after The establishment oi The cGi-
uny. The Hu4.on ani!y also cniarared from England in
the early part Of The last cenuTy Henry Cays father is
described ." great igor Of character and Of
plary virtue and His mother Is ulso described as
female virtues and Interesting herself
IN hc. run 10 the close nf go,d OH aye.
Mr. Clays father did in ISL leaving his widow little
else Than the charge children, Henry beinl the
.cn,h and then only about four years oil Mrs Clay was
married second time Capt. Henry Watkins, an sstima.
bic man, and who 10 have taken fathrry interest In
The family but especially in Henry In 1871 lnc future
statesman taken nto tie store ol Mr. Rich
ard Denny Of Richmond Va 10 do the usual duties ol bows
heh;nd the counter Up that iie Ecn"s education hid
neen entrusted Peter Deacon, E@elIshtn,n VINO
vas no, and who ind left h!s cUuary uner cir
cnmsances not explained does h"' appss t.t me SUI
aes pursued under Peter Deacon OF extensive
character or high order bat Henry exhibited talent and
application enough convince his sepataer that lie was
ed for higher vocation hln retailing goods rom behind
| A counter. -
Captain Watkins had friend, Colonel Thomas Tinsley,
member Of the Virginia House o. Burgesses whose brother
Peter Tnscy Esq Clerk Of the high Court Of Chance
ry Of Virginia Through the agency OF these gentlemen
desk criSshp in the Office Of ,hs Court was procured Tor
Heny after he had served in MI Dcnnys store about
vpar Some amusing ci.lraCerrslc incidents c"nntctG
yi,h his installation, IN his ocCG,aton nsrratcd
Il. neither handsome by, nor of polished nann'5+
Jul when The clrks commenced 10 make him Is ha't o
ier fun they discovered tat hc had only onGnr
but good srnsr ard he rapidly gained III their esrca hf
hours rh= other boys spent in seeking aHusctnents
| Henry spent rradirg IN! Study.
Wnlr in Ibis Uc Henry attracted the attention OF Ch'n
rcor Wythe in whum he found father and an excellent
instructor Still the instruction. did not assume Tue ~
tcc,ati form and Mr. Clay afterwards. descrd H. ne mac
m n,orcvc HE nercctei e,;cgiiuni hy his irregu!a
exernrs" Eur such education as Mr. Ciny received and
IS he gave hiif s Of Tie best and ;nst Sevlccane hn
,yc pass over III: incidents in M Cl,ys lie in ciond
w the exception Of Noticing mat he "fe became 'he en
ing AMI ng siti! OF r!ci9cu society, comprising
lie names Vi persons no ads rose IL enlnence
Ate. yrXrs study of the law with Atiutne; 1ene'i
g,oukr who had been Governor Of lhr Stale, Mr. Clay "ai
admitted Practice in 1871, by the Vilsnit C"n' OF ap
peas l., November cf lie snme yelr he removed 70 Ia
lpg;nn Kentucky establish himself in the profession
he a being Ilrn t"cny-ono years OF age lie wal
pennylsas and wtnou patrons, without Inc maans OF pay
ing his beard, and in the midst OF oat hhco"ony l"
In .pses made at Lexington, in Jane lsl2. Mr. Clay
ssii: Il remember comfortable thought shouiu os
coud make ore hundred pounds Yrgn. money per year
md viii. what dcl:gat received my frst fifteen snlng
fee NY hopes tnan realized. lmn,olltel
rushed into successful and lncTstvc practice. " WI
pursue l3 poIiicn 1 ms He ursnsr itls u;seeSA
/ 10 eui,ciz- Mr.. Gays 'Gisn,s ue III aavocits -
In tp,l 1893 aoonl year and hal after Mr. Clay e
moved 20 Hca,uckr ho marrie! Lucrr;a Ea dadihter
Colonel Tncmas Har:, 2eni.enan ni h'sh stanoins
Lexington. Mrs. C.g born in l7Sl ai hlse'so"
M.r.,nd, being four ytsis his Ii"!or MS LAY t'' |
vys, .nd il is sait but con.!ad!ced that sue never accom-
panied n-f ha..aad Washingon She - rel Iesea'sa
5,ng the esH'ble o ~oen IN al' me rtsaDhs an
duties OF life mf. Clty's family consisted 81 eleven en-
dren siy daughters and five but death cut some oil
ai4acy some The spI:ag Of life ard som" in peT year
an5 oie-a youth Of great p:onse- -Heny ei eai'an.I
6hng his couutrys battles in Mexico The daughter. ar
sll dead several the still Lies and two OF tnen nav
Tor some rnc bean attendants the couch OF their gyms
and now departed, parent.