The Literary echo, and Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1851-1854, 1854-04-20
Original.
Eloquence of Patrick Henry.

| mat fatrlcK Henry was one OF the
greatest of orators, there is but little
reason to doubt. That noble power
which others have seldom gained by
laborious effort and potent perseverance,
he seems to have possessed as free
gift from the hand of nature. Not like
others did he toll up the rugged sum-
NIT, by carefully removing here and
there an obstacle, grasping hold of this
prominence and that, as be slowly raised
himself from one crag to another but
with one giant stride, be leaped from
the base to the summit, where be had
the opportunity of looking back at the
toilsome progress Of those behind him
The first time that he ever address an
audience on public occasion, his natural
eloquence displayed itself with all the
irresistible force of that of veteran
orator. Such tremendous influence
did he exert upon the minds of his
audience, that, dissatisfied with express
ing their emotions in any ordinary man.
ner, they actually seized upon his person
and bore him about upon their shoulders
amidst deafening shouts of applause.
On any occasion which was sufficiently
important to call into exercise the various
powers of his mind, his whole appearance
was interesting in the extreme. When
be first arose, his manner was somewhat
unnatural. But as he advanced and
became more absorbed in his subject, bis
attitude became erect, dignifed and
lofty: Every gesture which he made,
whether by the motion of his finger or
the movement of his body, was 50 nat
ural and expressive that it served to
carry home its accompanying thought
with an irresistible power. Every
movement of his eye, whether it glanced
like the mcteor's flash, or glowed with
tenderness and affection, arrested as with
magic influence, the attention of his
hearers. His voice was susceptible of
the most varied meditation. At one
time it was like the gentle dew of eve
ming, as it descends and rests upon the
dropping leaf of the tender plant. At
another it was like the autumnal tenn
pest, pouring forth its floods of waters
upon barren hill or thirsty plain.
Perhaps one of the most remarkable
instanceswhen his varied powers of mind
and body were exhibited with the greatest
effect, occurred in his celebrated speech
at the commencement of the revolution
The tremendous obstacles over which his
eloquence triumphed on that occasion
are perhaps without a parallel. Let
the reader in imagination turn his atten-
ton to the convention of 1775, assem-
bled at the old town of Richmond. Va.
The meeting is an important one, for
on the result of its proceedings hangs
the fate OF America. AS you look over
that assembly you behold some of the
most learned and influential men in the
nation. You see them as they arise one
after another, to resist with all their
powers of eloqucncc, the resolutions
proposed by Mr.. Henry for the imme-
diate defense Of the colonies. On the
one hand they represent iu glowing
language, the favorable reception of the
late petition. On the other hand thew
paint IN awful prospective, to the prob
able results of protracted war, waged
against weak and defencelcss colonies.
I" Behold" sly they, {" the resources of
England her armies victorious on every
land, and her navies triumphant on every
sea. To commence war under such
circumstances would be inevitable de-
Now look. for moment at Henry.
He rises slowly, yet maiestically from
bis seat There is nothing of terror or
of confusion visible upon his s.countenance.
All is calm and serene. He casts his
eyes over the audience, his perfect
knowlege of human nature informs him
at once the powers he must call into
exercise, to reach and effect minds so
various. He begins. His exordium is
h,Jt u