The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-11-27
SKETCHES OF soUrHERN pus1Ic Mrr

the popular vote of South Carolina ia omitted-
the lie gIslature of that State selecting the elect
Ors.
SKETCHES OF SOUTHERN PUBLIC MEN. :.
rHoA As JEFFERSON tgSJ DESCRIBED BY DANIEL
DECEMBER, 1924.
Mr.. Jefferson is now between eightyone and
eightl two, above six feet high, of an ample.
long I anne, rather thin and spare. His head,
which is not peculiar in its shape, is set rather
iorwa on his shoulders; and his neck being
long, here is, when he is walking or conversine.
an hantual protrusion of it. 1t is still we'll
covend with hair, which, having been once red,
ana 1'w turning gray, is of an indistinct sandy
color.
Hi, eyes are small, very light, and now uei.
Their brilliant nor striking. His chin is rather
long, ,ut not pointed. His nose small. regular
IN Its outline, and the nostrils little elevated.
bis outh is well formed, and still filed with
teetha 1t Is strongly compressed, bearing an ex.
preston OF contentment and benevolence His
compiexion, formerly light and freckled, now
bsars the marks of age and cutaneous affection.
His fmbs are uncommonly long; his hands and
feet Very large, and his wrists of an extraordi.
nary 9ze. His walk is not precise and military.
but e,sy and swinging. he stoops a little, not
so m ich from age as from natural formation.
Whel sitting, he appears short, partly from
raths. lounging habit of sitting, and partly from
the d.sproportionate length of his limbs
Hl dress, when in the house, is a gray sur
tout oat, kerseymere stuffed waistcoat, with an
unde one faced with some material of dingy
req: bis pantaloons are very long and loose,
and the same color as his coat. His stock
ing I fei woollen, either white or gray; and his
shoe OF the kind that bear his name. His
who} dress Is very much neglected, but not
sioVSaiy. lie wears common round hat. His
drest when on horseback, is a gray straight
bodn coat, and a spencer of the same material
bothsastened with large pearl buttons. When
we INST saw him, he was riding and, in add
ton , the above articles of apparel, wore round
his ,roat knit white woollen tippet in the
plac. OF cravat, and black velvet CATERS under
his antaloons. His general appearance indi
catet an extraordinary degree of health, viva
city, and spirit. His sight is still good, for he
needs glasses only in the evening. His hearing
is g. morally good, but number of voices in
animated conversation confuse it.
M Jefferson rises in the morning as soon
as can see the hands of his clock. which il
directly opposite his bed, and examines his
therI aometer Immediately, as he keeps regular
met orologicaldiary. Heemploys himselfcbieAy
In 1ting till breakfast, which is at nine. From
that time till dinner he is in his library, except
that in fair weather he rides on horseback from
sevs to fourteen miles. Dimes at four, returns
70 ae drawlng.room at six, when coffee is
DroI ght In, and passes the evening till nine in
CONDENSATION. His habit of retiring at that
hou is so strong, that it has become essential
to rs health and comfort. His diet is simple.
but be seems restrained only by his taste. His
bre' kfast is tea and coffee, bread always fresh
frot the oven, of which he does not seem afraid.
WITT. sometimes slight accompaniment of cold
me, {. de enjoys his dinner we'll, taking with
hiss neat large portion Of vegetables He has
81 ,ong preference for the wines of the Cont.
men,, of which he has many sorts of excellent
qu&htles, having been more than commonly sue
cesAful in his mode of importing and preserving
thea. Among others we found the following.
which are very rare in this country, and appa.
relly not at all injured by transportation:
Ii dnau, Muscat, Samian, and Blanchette de
Lis ;oux. Dinner is served in half Virginia and
hal, French style, in good taste and abundance.
NoSwine is put on the table till the cloth is re.
mo red.
IN conversation, Mr.. Jefferson is easy and
MAJ oral, and apparently not ambitious; it is not
loui, as challenging general attention, but usu.
alb addressed to the person next him. The
character
an feelings of his auditor are those subjects
wi, which his mind seems particularly occu.
picH and these, at present, may be said to be
science and letters, and especially the Universe
ty Of Virginia, which is coming into existence
alt iost entirely from his exertons, and will rise.
1t - to be hoped to usefulness and credit under
nj. continued care. When we were with him.
hp favorite subjects were Greek and Anglo.
Ss ton, historical recollections of the times and
ey nts OF the Revolution, and of his residence
Id. France from 1894 to 1889.
FsFFERsoN's ACCOUNT OF PATRICK HENRY.
Patrick Henry was originally a bar-keeper.
Hf was married very yonng and going into
some business on his own account, was bank
rp 1t before the year was out. When l was
al aut the age of fifteen, left the school here,
to go to the college at Williamsburgh. stopped
a. ew days at friends in the county of Louisa.
T!ere first saw and became acquainted with
r trick Henry. Having spent the Christmas
hi hdays there, / proceeded to Williamsburgh
~ me question arose about my admission, as
n preparatory studies had not been pursued
al the school connected with that institution.
L us delayed my admission about fortnight,
a@hicht time Henry appeared st Willamsburgh,
a d applied for license to practice law, hav-
IL commenced the study of it at or subsequent
l3othe time of my meeting him in Louisa. There
wpre four examiners-Wythe, Pendleton, Pew
ton Randolph, and John Randolph. Wythe
AID Pendleton at once rejected his application.
T3e two Randolphs, by his importantly, were
p evailed upon to sign the license and having
o stained their signatures, he applied again to
ksndleton, and, after much entreaty and many
Promises of future study, succeeded in obtain
il g his. He then turned out for practicing
\ wyer. The first case which brought him into
ftice was contested election, in which he ap-
Esared as counsel before committee of the
;ouse of Burgesses. His second was the Par
.ps cause, already well known. These and
( imilar efforts soon obtained for him go much
isputation, that he was elected member of the
Legislature. He was as well suited to the times
{ any man ever was, and it is not now easy
u say what we should have done without Pat.
tick Henry. He was far before all in maintain
Tag the spirit of the Revolution. His influence
rtas most extensive with the members from the
upper counties, and his boldness and their votes
syerawed and controlled the more cool or the
Jore timid aristocratic gentlemen of the lower
Part of the State. His eloquence was peculiar,
| indeed it should be called eloquence for it
.}as impressive and sublime, beyond what can
pc imagined. Although it was difficult when
lie had spoken to tell what he had said, yet,
Ahile he was speaking, it always seemed direct
W to the point. When he had spoken in op-
,osition to my opinion, had produced a great
! fleet, and myself been highly delighted and
aoyed, have asked myself, when be ceased,
What the devil has be said2" I could never
t.nsver the inquiry. His person was of full
/ ize, and his manner and voice free and manly
. dis utterance neither very fast nor very slow
His speeches generally short, from quarter to
j.. half an hour His pronunciation was vulgar