Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1856-01-31
X &c III VI O y ID w IIIG.

PROFESSOR HOLCOMBE'S Discourse BEFORE
THE VIRGINIA HISTORICAL SOCIETY
We have heretofore alluded Thu discourse in term.
OF praise and take pleasure in LAYING b.i,r, our
rras- the following sketch furnished by correspondent
OF the Petersburg Express:
The orator nt the occasion. James L IInlcnm,e -,
Law Prut---or at the University Of Virgins. a.. ,'
-Inr"'i t. the audience nnl prOc-i II to deliver or
"i tnr most Thoughtful and eloquent di-con-ses 10
winch ~ Wts ever c,HII firttit. q, listen Ext,,v.
-ulogy ar 80, Frequently apylii I a.
pf-ss no~a-dtNs t" mediocre performances ;i,a, ca,
hl'k ct no nJ-"uvc- th are not almost meaning ,--
hiied To express my opinion OF this effort But when
say to you that the length the discourse was two
hours and twenty minute- and that LETT the ruou
before ~ conclusion, manifested tire slightest
during ~. delivery Sil hesitate believe tho,
was production OF no ordinary character The subject
"a- novel at lrs-t to y- being the Documentary Ia-
''"rc "i the Revolutionary period. The treatise, Of
winch am a~arc, that Of this branch oi his
~lcaI rr-tirci, i Pr,Scott- Diplomatic History
81 III" American Revolution aud uiis sork r..
lrr- u papers more Immediately connected with
the Govrfumcnt than sucl ~ NJ Hnlcombe up5c,
TOOK to nve-tsais The latter gentleman sought to lpbt
rn up the narrative of struggle Tor Independence Win
information derived from coutcmporancous p,urIl,ecs
'n both sides OF the Atlantic. Thus Dr. Johusou tory
-u'- we're passed IN review aud the newspaper articles
o Jefferson aud John Adams. Gidsden and Paine ina,.
"- ue cn"urS 10 resistance came Up for notice Th.
-trougst point made by the gifted the vindic,.
zion Of history from the ptrve~iOns OF New England
vewers. who in the North American and Other veLicl
81 Addressing the public have attempted Ia how tL,t
virginia part in the contest secondary one and
hat I" nt> and h brother patriots of Massachusetts. W.,
NE tr immortal honor 81 commencing the bloody bu
glorious war Mr. Hnlcombc established bv the most ire,
ia=ihe proof that the who OF all other did most Il;
prrcpitate the conflict with the crown were Thou. Js
"n aud Patrick Henry and his sketch of Henry was the
otst i"lin-atiou OF hi- moral and intellectual stature
i has ever been written passage in the lite of tia,
Wonderful man by WHIT presents sikng an anaysi. OF
Ms nInd or pury- hs genius in cnlors vivid ana per
manvnt In the conclusion Df his discourse Mr. Holcon
'lG"d with great feeling 70 the relative positions of Ma
-lc1u>et's amt Virginia n go aud at the present tiu
Wd invoked the -iut Of patriotism dormant under th,
-haio" oi Bunker Hill Monument. reauuate the heart.
~ the descendants Of t" Pilgrims. There could be no
tnion, he Justly sand without equality of rights be
.Nevn it, member aud he ioudly hoped that rcrnin In
just >cr-e Of their duties the Constitution and the
country ihe people Of Massachusetts, might place that mo-
'e old Commonwealth by the side Of Virginia IN the a
nonal hrmamcn where, the anceut consultations ot
Castor and Poiux when in conjunction. gave hone
10 the mariner tossed upon the stormy seas tiry rit
~ 'r'v"r ne The eyes OF nations through the darkness
and gloom o: time.
ave gwen only mearre and un satisfactor
'~'tch 81 Mr iocoubes discourse aud am s,usib. tht
have dcnc 10 great i utcc A. argument il was .ki
iN con>tucci historical treatise il was of great
value; but as literary composition was beyond and
ih"'r All praise Richly adorned with illustrations from
Ens,l poc>y, 1t had super huous establishment and
though proias OF happy iances i; did not employ mere
torert 20 delight the Of listener Disdainng the
modern articles Of rhetoric he took for his models tbos
magnificent masters OF FL glsh prose who dealt in long
caches O expression. ana lis most highly finished pas
-ag'- seemed slowly wrought an accumulation of
materials, enchanting AL who heard by their rhvthnica
dow, until the climax OF delight was attained in cadence
' supprrssing melody.