The Placer herald., 1857-03-21
Mr.. Jefferson and Patrick Henry.


at his home in Virginia lie wrote at the
time description of the ex-President, and
kept notes of his conversation which are
given in the forthcoming 'private couespon-
dence of Daniel Webster" The following
is what Mr. jefferson said of Patrick Henry
Patrick Henry was originally bar-keep-
er He was married very young, and going
into some business on his own account, was
a bankrupt before year was out When
was about the age of fifteen, left the school
here, to 90 10 the college at Wiliamsburgh.
| stopped few weeks at friends in the
county of Louisa. There first saw and be-
came acquainted with Patrick Henry. Hav-
ing spent the Christmas holidays there |
proceeded to WilIiamsburgh. Some ques-
ton arose about my admission, as my pre-
paratory studies had not been pursued at the
school connected with that institution. This
delayed my admission about a fortnight, at
which time Henry appeared in Williams
burgh, and applied for license to practice
law, having commenced the study Of it at or
subsequently to the time of my meeting him
at Louisa. There were four examiners,
Wythe, Pendleton, Peyton Randolph, and
John Randolph. Wythe and Pendeton at
once rejected the application. The two
Randolphs, by his importantly, were prevail
ed upon to sign the license; and having OBJ
tanned their signatures, he applied again to
Pendleton, and after much entreaty and
many promises of further study, succeeded in
obtaining his. He then turned out for Il
practising lawyer. The first case which
brought him into notice was a contested
election, in which he appeared as counsel
before a committee of the House Of Burgess
es. His second was the Parsons cause al
ready well known. These and similar efforts
soon obtained for him SO much reputation,
that he was elected member OF the Legis-
lature. He was as well suited to the times
as any man ever was and it is not now easy
to say what we should have done without
Patrick Henry. lie was far before all in
maintaining the spirit Of the Revolution.-
His influence was most extensive with the
members from the upper counties, and his
boldness in their votes oEerawed and con-
troIled the more cool or the more timid
aristocratic gentlemen Of the lower part Of
the State. His eloqucnce was peculiar, if
indeed it should be called eloquence; for it
was impressive and sublime, beyond what
can be imagined. Although it was difficult
when he had spoken to tell what he had said,
yet, while he was speaking, it always seemed
directly to the point When he had spoken
in opposition to my opinion, had produced
great effect and myself been highly de-
lighted and moved, | have asked myself
when he ceased: "What the devil has he
said?' / could never answer the inquiry.
His person was Of full size, and his manner
and voice free and manly. His utterance
neither very fast nor very slow. His speeches
generally short, from a quarter to half an
hour. His pronunciation was vulgar and
yiscious, but it was forgotten while he was
speaking.
"He was a man Of very little knowledge
of any sort; he read nothing and had no
books. Returning one November from
Albemarle court he borrowed of me lIume's
Essays, in two volumes, saying he should
have leisure in the winter for reading. In
the spring he returned them, and declared
that he had not been able to 90 further than
twenty or thirty pages in the first volume.
He wrote almost nothing-he could not write.
The resolutions of rs, which have been
ascrbed to him, have, by many, been suppos-
ed to have been written by Mr.. johnson,
who acted as his second on the occasion; but
if they were written by Henry himself they
are not such as to prove any power of com
position Neither in politics nor in his pro-
fession was he a man Of business; he was a
man for debate only. His biographer says
that he read Plutarch every year. doubt
whether he ever read volume Of it in his
life. His temper was excellent and he
generally observed decorum in debate. On
one or two occasions | have seen him angry,
and his anger was terrible; those who wit
messed it were not disposed to rouse it again.
In his opinions he was yielding and practica-
bic, and not disposed to differ from his friends.
In private conversation he was agreeable and
facetious, and, while in genteel society ap-
peared to understand all the decencies and
proprieties Of it; but in his heart, he prefer
red low society, and sought it as often as
possible. He would hunt in the woods of