The Port Gibson reveille. (Port Gibson, Miss.) 185?-1857, 1853-07-06
Anecdose of Patrick Henry.
nY WV. wRIr.

Hook was a Scotchman, man Of wealth,
and suspected Of being unfriendly to the
American cause. During the distresses Of
the American army, consequent to the joint
invasion Of CORVALLIS and Phillips in 1871,
n Mr. Yenable, an army commissary, had ta-
ken two Of Hooks steers for the use Of the
troops The act had not been strictly legal !;
and on the establishment Of peace, Hook, on
the advice Of Mr. Cowan, gentleman Of some
distinction in the law, thought proper to bring
an action Of trespass against Mr. Venable. in
the district court Of New Lond0a. Mr. Hen
ry appeared for the defendant and is said to
have disported himself in this cause to the
infinite enjoyment Of his hearers, the unfortu-
nate Hook always excepted. After Mr.. Hen
ry became animated in the cause, says a cor
respondent. he appeared to have complete
control over the passions Of his audience
at one time he excited their indignation against
Hook; vengence was visible in every face.
Again, when he chose to elax, and ridlcule
him, the whole audience was in a roar Of
laughter. lie painted the distresses of the
American army, exposed almost naked, to
the rigors Of winters sky, and marking the
frozen ground over which they trod with the
blood Of their unshod feet. Where was the
man, he said, who had an American heart in
his bosom, who would not have thrown open
his fields, his barns, his cellars, the doors Of
his house, the portals Of his breast, to have
received with open arms the meauest soldier
in that little band Of furnishing patriots !!
Where Is the man? There he stands, but
whether the heart Of an American beats in
his bosom. you gentlemen, are yet ID judge.
lie then carried the jury by the powers Of his
imagination 10 the plains around York, tue
surrender of which had followed shortly after
the act complained Of hc depicted the sur
render in the most glowing aud noble eolors OF
his oloquenee. The audience saw before their
eyes the humiliation and detection Of the Bri-
tish as they marched out Of their trenches
they saw the triumph which lighted up every
patriot face, and heard the shouts Of victory,
and the cry Of " Washington and Liberty T"
as it rung and echoed through the American
ranks, and was reyerberated from the hills
and shores Of the neighboring river" but,
bark what notes Of discord are these. which
disturb the general JOY aud silence aud accla-
nation Of yictory-they are the notes Of John
Hook, hoarsely bawling through the Ameri-
can camp, Bret, Bcef!, Beeft!""
The whole audience were c6nyulscd. A
particular incident viii give better idea Of
the effect, than any general description. The
clerk Of the court, unable to command him.
self, and unwilling TO commit any breach Of
dccorum in his place, rushed out Of the court
and threw himself on the grass in the most
violent paroxysm Of laughter where he was
rolling when Hook, with very different feel
inrs. came out for relief into the yard also,
Jenny Steptle." said he to the clerk, "what
ails We man - Mr.. Steptoe was only able to
saw he c0uLd nat hekpit Never mind We,
said Hook, "wait till Billy Cowan gets up
he II show him the Ia" " Mr. Cowan however,
was so completely overwhelmed by the tor
rent which bore upon his client, that when he
rose to reply to Mr.. Henry, he was scarcely
able to make an Ineligible or audible remark.
The cause was decided almost by acclamation.
The iury retired for forms sake. and instant
" returned with a verdict for the defendant.
Nor did the effect Of Mr.. Henry's speech stop
here The people were highly excited by the
audaeity Of such tory suit, and Hook began
TO hear around him a cry more terrible than
that Of Jeef, it was the cry Of tar and fcG-
thcrS; from the application Of which, It is
said that nothing saved him but precipitatc
fight and the speed Of his horse.
i