Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1857-04-10
INTERESTING EXTRACTS FROM
DANIEL wEBsTER's
NEWLY PUBLISHED WRIT
COnroIsafioEs teih Thomas Jc9erson--Ifis Personal
Ppearoncc-Pat,ick Henry.

]
dPpearanoc-Pat,7ck Henry.
DECEMBER, 1924.
/ Mr.. Jefferson is now between eighty-onc and
eighty-two, above six feet high, of an ample,
long frame, rather thin aud spare. His head,
which is not peculiar in its shape, is set rather
forward on his shoulders and his neck being
long. there is, when he is walking or convcrs-
ing. an habitual protrusion Of it. Il is still
well covered with hair, which, having been
once red and now turning gray, is Of anindis-
tinct sandy color
His eyes are small, very light, and now noi-
ther brilliant nor striking. His chm is rather
long, but not pointed. His nose small, rcgu-
lar in its outline, and the nostrils little ele-
vatcd His mouth is well formei and still
filed with teeth; it is strongly compressed.
bearing an expression Of contentment and
beneyolence His complexion, formerly light
and freclSled, bears the marks of age and Gu
taneous affection. His limbs are uncOmmony
long his hands aud feet very large, aud his
wrists Of an extraordinary size. His walk is
not precise and military but cas- I'D swing
ing. He stoops a little, not so much from
age as from natural formation When sitting
he appears short, partly from a rather loung-
ing habit of sitting, and partly from the dis
proportionate length Of his limbs.
His dress, when in the house, is gray
surtout coat kerseymere stuff waistcoat, with
an under one faced with some material Of a
dingy red. His pautaloons are very long and
/ loose, and of the same color as his coat His
stockings are wooden. either white or gray;
and his shoes of the kind that bear his name.
His whole dress is very much neglected but
not sloyenly. lie wears common round hat
His dress, when on horseback, is a gray
I .s,I.t l.. i Al
same material, both fastened with large pearl
buttons. When we first saw him he was rid
ing and, in addition to the above articles of
apparel, wore round his throat knit white
wooden tippet, in the place of cravat, and
black velvet CATERS under his pantaloons.-
His general appearance indicates an extraor-
dinary degree of health, vivacity and spirit
His sight is stil good, for he needs glasses
only in the evening. His hearing is generally
good, but a number Of voices in animated con-
yersation confuse it.
Mr.. Jefferson rises in the morning as soon
as he can see the hands of his clock, which is
directly opposite his bed and examines his
thermometer Immediately, as he keeps a reg
ular meteorological diary. He employs him
self chiefly in writing till breakfast, which is
at nine. From that time till dinner he is in
his library, excepting that in fair weather he
rides on horseback from seven to fourteen
miles. Dimes at four, returns to the drawing
room at six, when coffee is brought in, and
passes the evening till nine in conversation.
His habit of retiring at that hour is so strong
that it has become essential to his health and
comfort. His diet is simple, but he seems
restrained only by his taste. His breakfast
is tea and coffee, bread always fresh from the
oven, of which he does not seem afraid with
sometimes slight accompaniment Of cold
meat. He enjoys his dinner well, taking with
/ his meat large proportion of vegetables. He
has a strong preference for the wines of the
Continent Of which he has many sorts OF ex-
ovits7r- yrr'i> l--, '-v-gs ~ --,s.a--
monty successful in his mode of importing
and preserving them. Among others we found
the following, which arc very rare in this
country, and apparently not at all injured by
transportation L'Ednau, Muscat, Samian,
and Blanchctte De Limoux. Dinner is served
in half Virginian, half French style in good
taste and abundance, No wine is put on the
table tin 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 to the person next him.
The topics, when not selected to suit the
character and feeling of his auditor, are those
subjects with which his mind seems particu-
larly occupied and these, at present, may be
said to be science and letters, and especially
the University of Virginia, which is coming
into existence almost entirely from his exer-
tions, and Will rise, it is to be hoped, to use
fulness and credit under his continued care.
When we were with him, his favorito subjects
were Greek and Anglo-SaXon, historical rec
objections of the times and events of the Rev
olution, and of his residence in France from
/ 1884 10 7s9.
MR.. JEFFERsoN's ACCOUNT OF PATRICK
HENRY.
Patrick Henry was originally bar-keeper
He was married very young, and going into
some business on his own account, was
bankrupt before the year was out. When
was about the age of fifteen left the school
here to go to the college at Williamsburg. |
stopped few days at friends in the county
of Louisa. There first saw and became ac-
quainted with Patrick Henry. Having spent
the Christmas holidays there, proceeded to
/ Williamsburg. Some question arose about
my admission, as my preparatory studies had
not been pursued at the school connected with
that institution. This delayed my admission
about a fortnight, at which time Henry ap-
peared in Williamsburg, and applied for
license to practice law, having commenced
the study of it at or subsequently to the
time of my meeting him in Louisa. There
were four examiners-Wythe Pendleton,
! Peyton Randolph and John Randolph Wythe
and Pendleton at one time rejGAted his appli-
cation. The two Randolphs, by his impor-
tunity, were prevailed upon to sign the Ii
conse and having obtained their signatures,
he applied again to Pendleton, and after much
entreaty and many promises of future study,
succeeded in obtaining his. He then turned
out for practising lawyer. The first case
which brought him into notice was a contest
ed election, in which he appeared as counsel
before the Committee of the House Of Bur
gesses His second was the Parsons cause,
already well known. These and similar eff
forts soon gained for him so much reputa-
ton that he was elected a member of the leg
islature, 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. He was far before all in
maintaining the spirit of the Revolution His
influence was most extensive with the mem
bcrs from the upper counties, and his bold