Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1856-12-05
WILMINGTON. c.. FRIDAY MORNING. DECEMBER s.
Jefferson's Opinion of Henry.

The following sketch of Patrick Henry by his Co.
temporary, Mr.. Jefferson, will be found interesting
1t is taken from the advance sheets of work soon
to be issued by Boston publisher. containing the
private correspondence of Daniel Webster In 1924
Mr. Webster visited Jefferson at his home a, Month
ce TO- and afterwards wrote out the following opinion
of Henry, expressed by Mr.. Jefferson at the time
Patrick Henry was originally bar.keeper. He
was mari led very young, and going into busi-
ness, on his own account, bankrupt before the
year was out. When was about The age f fifteen,
lett the school here, 10 60 10 tie college at Williams
burg | stopped few days at friends in the coun-
ty of Louisa. There first saw and became acquaint-
ed with Patrick Henry. Having spent the Christ
mas holidays there, | proceeded to Williamsburg -
Some questions arose abou my admission as my pre-.
paratoy studies had not been pursued at the school
connected with that institution. This DELAYED my
admission about fortnight, at which time Henry
appeared at Williamsburg and applied for a license
to practice law, having commenced the study of it at
or subsequently to the tine of my meeting him at
Louisa. There were four examiners. Wythe, PEN
dleon, Peyton Randolph and John Randolph
Wythe and Pendeton at once rejected his applica-
ton. The two Randophs, by his importantly were
prevailed upon to sign the license and having OBJ.
tanned their signatures, he applied again to Pende-
ton, ana alter much entreaty and many promises
of future study, succeeded in obtaining his.
The first case which brought him into notice was
contested election, in which he appeared as counsel
before committee of the House of Burgesses. His
These and similar efforts soon obtained for him sc
much reputation, that he was elected member oil
the Legislature. He we'll suited TO the times
as any man ever was, and it is not easy to say
what we should have done without Patrick Henry
He was far before all in maintaining the spirit oi
the Revolution His influence was most extensive
with the members from the upper counties and hs
bOldness and their votes overawed and controlled the
more cool the more timd aristocratc gentlemen o
the lower part of the State. His eloquence pc
cuIiar, if indeed it should be called eloquence for
was impressive and sublime beyond what can bt
imagined. Although it was difficult when he haC
spoken to tell what he had said yet, while be was
speaking, it always seemed directly TO the point
When he had spoken in opposition to my opinion
had produced great effort, and myself been highly
delighted and moved, have asked myself when he
ceased What the devil has he said o. | coulc
never answer the inquiry. His person was of full
size, and his manner and voice free and manly. Hi
utterance neither very fast nor very slow. Hi
speeches very Short from quarter to half hour
His pronunciation vulgar and vicious, but it wa
forgotten while he was speaking.
| He of very little knowledge Of an,
sort he read nothing, and had books. Returning
one November from Albemarle Court, he borrowed O
me Hume's Essays. in two volumes, saying he shou'
have leisure in the winter for reading. In the Sprn
he returned them, and declared he had not been abl
10 20 further than twenty or thirty pages in the frs
volume. He wrote almost nohng--he could nc
write. The resolutions of rs which have been as
crIbed to him, have been by many supposed to hav
been written by Mr.. johnson, who acted as his sec
ond on that occasion: but if they written b
Henry himself, they not such to prove an
power of composition. Neither in politics nor in hi
profession was he of business he was a ma
for debate only. His bographer says he read PIT
tarch every year. dou BIT whether he ever read
volume OF it in his life. His temper was exceIlen
and he generally observed decorum in debate
On one or two occasions | have seen him angr
and his anger terrible; those who witnessed
were not disposed to rouse it again In his opinio
he was yielding and practicable and not disposed
differ from his friends. In private conversation
, was agreeable and facetious, and, while in gente
society," appeared to understand all he decencies an
propreties of it; bu in his heart, he preferred 10
society, and sought it often as possible He woul
hunt IN the pine woods of Fluvanna with overseer
and people of that description, living in camp for
fortnight at time without change of rament
have often been astonished at his command of pro-
er language how be attained IA knowledge of it
never could find out, he read so little and conve
sed little with educated men. After all it must
allowed that he our leader in the measures
the Revolution in Virginia. In that respect more W;
due to him than any other person. II we had M
had him, we should probably have got prel
well, as you did, by a number OF men of near
equal talents, but he left us all far behind His bi
grapheS sent the sheets of his work to me as tht
were printed, and at the end asked for my opnio
, told him it would be question hereafter, whet
er his work should be placed the shelf of hslo
or panegyric.