The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1856-12-12


at nine. From that time till dinner lie is
in his library, excepting that i'll fair weather
he rides on horseback from seven to four
teen miles. nines at four, rcturncs to the
arawingropm at six, when coffee is brought
III, and passes the evening till nine in con
vcrSation. Ills habit Of retiring at that
hour is So strong that it las become essential
to his health and comfort. Iii, diet is simple
but he sc"nss restrained only by his taste.
ills breakfast is tea and coffee, bread al.
ways fresh from the oven, Of which hc does
not seem afraid, with sometimes Il slirlt
accompaniment of cold meat. He enjoys
his dinner well, taking with lis meat
large portion Of vegetables. lie has a
strong preference for the winss,afstLe Con
tincnt, OF which he has man Sfsex-
ccl'ent quality, having bee9s Div
successful in his mode Q - and
preserving them. Among ~ ound
the following, which are verys4el4eFfh this
country, and apparently not at all injured
by transportation: l. lidnau, Muscat. Sal
mian, and Banchct,c dc Limoux. Dinner
is served in half Virginia, half French stvIr,
IN good taste and abundance No wine is
put on the table till the cloth is removed.
In conversation, Mr.. Jefferson is easy and
natural, and apparently not ambitious; it is
not loud, as challenging general attention,
but usually addressed 10 the lrrSon next to
linn. The topics, " hen not selected to suit
the character and feelings Of his auditor,
are those subjects with which his mind
seclns particularly V occupied and these, at
present, may be said to bc science and let
tiers, and especially the University of Vir-
y'nIii, Which is coming into existence al
most entirely from his cXcrlions, and will
rise, it is to be hoped, to usefulness and cred
II wider his continued care. When We
were will, him, his t:.vol;,r subjects were
Greek aud Angio-Saxon, historical recuI-
srclons Of the iinies and events Of the Rev
o!uti"n. and Of his residence III France
i'll from 1884 to 1880.
Mn. JEFFEEsoH's ACCOUNT or rArp1c.;
HENRY.
Patrick Henry wa, ori yiualy bar-keep-
or. lie was married very Young, and going
Into some business, on his own account.
was hank'up. before the year WIS out.
When | was about the age Of fifteen | left
the school here 10 the college at Williams
burg. / stopped a few days Il, Il friends in
the county OF Louisa. There | first saw
and l'ccame acquainted with Patrick Hen
ry. Having spcntthe Christmas holidays
there, proceeded to Williamsburg. Some
question arose about my admission, as nv
preparatory studies had not been pursued
at the school connected with that institution.
Tht delayed my admission about a fort
night, at which time Henry appeared in
Williamsburg and applied fora license to
practice law, having commenced the study
OF it at or subsequently to the time Of nv
meeting him i, Louise. There were four
examiners, Wythc, pcmllcton, Pcvton Ram
lolph, and John Randolph. Wy,he and
pcndIelon at once rejerlcd his Il plication.
The two l;andolphs, by his importantly,
were prevailed upon to sign the license
and, having obtainch their signatures, he
applied again to PendIeton, and after much
cntrca,y and many promises of future study,
succeeded in obtaining his. He then turn
cd out for practcng lawyer. The
first case which brought linn into notice
was a contested election, in which he ap-
peared as counsel before a committee of the
House Of Burgesscs. His second was the
Parsons cause, already well known. These
and similar efforts soon obtained for him so
much reputation that he was elected
member of the Legislature. lie was as
well suited to the times us any member cv-
er was, and it is not now easy to say what
we should have done without Patrick Hen
ry. He WAS far before all in maintaining
the spirit of the Revolution. Ills influence
was not, extensive with the members from
the upper counties, and his holiness and
their votes over awcd and controlled the
more cool or the more timil aristucratic
gentlemen of the lower part Of the State.
His cloquences was peculiar, If indeed it
should be called eloquence for it was i'm
pressive and sublime, beyond what can be
imagined. Although it was difficult when
he had spoken to tell what he had said, vet,
while he was speaking it always seemed di-
rectly to the point. When lie had spoken
in opposition tony opinion, had produced
a great effect, and myself been highly de-
lighted and moved. have asked myself
when he ceased, "What the devil has lie
said Z" | could never answer the inquiry.
His person was of full size, and his man.
ner and voice free and manly. His utter
ance neither very fast nor very slow. His
speeces generally short, from quarter to a
half an hour. His pronunciation was vul
gar aud yicious, but it was forgotten while
h he was speaking. He was man Of very
little knowledge of any sort $, he read no.
thing, aud had no books. Re.urping one
Noyenber from Albermarle cout, lie bor
xowed Of me Hume's, Essays, in two vol
umes, saying he should have leisure in the
winter ter reading. In3the sp1ng hs,. ss-
flSf,ed them and dectSvsfl I,a ks;$r M, Esa,,