Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1858-01-15

whether native Virginian who moves freely In 80
eety could even at this lato day venture to write
full and fearless life of the author Of the Declaration
of Independence.
But what we could not do for ourselves has been
done for US by another. Jefferson has not indeed,
been without biographer. His own writings pub.
lished by his grand son, though incomplete no.
BILE biography in themselves. A life has also been
written by gentleman who was the personal freno
Of the statesman, and who upheld the policy o' n''
Administration. Professor Tucker has nnques'lon
ably performed HE task with ability his "ofk IL
we'll and faithfully written, and written IN proper
spirit of appreciation of his suo)ecs' iue oo'A
which could convert Lord Brougham from ah ehe
INV - . ,-;o,d os .Je8srsou, has claim to immor-
,,l;,v mot e.sy 10 be set aside and we regret that
~. vanarsbs author has allowed It to disappear from
tbe sbe,ves of the book seller But excellent as is
the work Of Professor Tucker, it is essentially lite OF
the politician rather than life Of the man. Ii ap
peals almost wholly to the;potical economist and TO
the politician; and though 6ing place from which
1t can never be removed, it is comparatively above
the taste of the general reader Nor even in politics
did Professor Tucker 90 far, and as aggressvely
q, WAS practicable, and even necessary. This work
hear, the same relation to Jefferson, that MarshaIs
life besrs to Washington. Both Of these great works
will live and will be sought after by posterity but
those who wish to view the many.sided relations OF
Washington will seek the pages OF Irving and those
who are eager to have the personal and political pro-
press of Jefferson, must contemplate the wide and
admirable panorama which Randall has opened to
our view.
We have mentioned in frst article, the sources
from which Mr. Randall has drawn his information
respecting Jefferson individual. Itis not going
too far to say that every manuscript in possession
of Jefersons descendants has passed under the eye
of his present biogrspher. Some important papers
have been discovered and used by him, which Jefer
son in the preparation of his own memoir seems to
have forgotten, and which throw new light on his
subject. Some OF these manuscripts strikingly
illustrate the character of Jefferson in domestic
aspect Who would have supposed that the States.
man who drafted the Declaration Of Independence,
who had appeared with unrvaIled ecat in the salons
of Paris, who was at the time engaged in those
difficult and perpexing questions which the beliger.
ent relations of Great Britain and of France forced
upon him. would have been the earliest vister in the
Washington market, and had recorded, for eight
anxious years. the first and last appearance of every
vegetable there exposed for salei Mr.. Randall has
properly published fac ssile Of such record, and
allowed the reader to peruss it for himself He has
also given fne engraving Of Jefferson from
Stuarts painting, view of Monticello, fac simle
OF spage of Jefersons pocket account book, in which
all expenditures down to penny are strictly noted,
fac sle of the original draft Of thu Declaration Of
Independence, specimen of Jeherson's handwriting
when his right wrist broken, and fac snrie o.
one of those charming letters to his daughters which
Jefferson always found time to write and which are
now published for the first time.
In our previous article general outline of the frst
volume of the life has been sketched. The running
titles of the pages are we'll calculated to excite curl
osy Jefferson at school and at College, his habits,
morals, favorite studies and attanments, his early
reading his love OF Ossan which be shared with Ma.
poleon, his industry in his studies his conduct as
lover, his personal appearance, habits and manners
these and similar topics treated of at length, not
by vague representations, but by records and proof.
from contemporaneous eources that are perfectly
satisfactory. Then comes the account Of the debate
in the House Of Burgesses on the resolutions Of
Henry against the Stamp Act, with some views by
Jefferson of the character Of Henry, never before
published. We have also clear proofs Of Jeffersons
standing as lawyer, Of his fondness for minute de-
tails Of bis conscientious precision Of the peculiarly
Of bis Conversations and copy Of the lctter address
ed to Bernard Moore, prescribing masters outline
Of the studies to be pursued BY the student before
entering on the study of the law. Then follow two
important events in the life of Jeerson-the laying
of the cornerstone of Monticello, and his entrance
into the House Of Burgesses In presenting view
gives several pages Of the Gardening Book kept for
several years, in which the operations Of the garden
are mentioned in detail.
The third chapter, in which the author ushers in
the great drama of the Revolution, and which in.
cudes parts Of the years l773 and l5, exhibits an
excellent synopsis of the history Of Virginia during
that period. 1t begins with the session Of the House
of Burgesses in the former year. and concludes with
an account Of the final overthrow Of the royal govern
ment in Virginia; giving account, by the way, of
the famous resolutions Of the freeholders Of Abe
marie, drawn by Jefferson, and the answer written by
Jefferson to the ooncliatory propositions Of Lord
North, the perorstion of which is published entire.
The fourth chapter deepens in interest. 1t exhibits
Jefferson on his first entrance into Congress, and de-
tails the causes which led to his brilliant reception by
that body. The author, with laudsbe m;nuteness,
describes the mode Of travelling at that time. Jefer-
set out in his own phaeton, with two spare horses
and was ten days in reaching Philadelphia. Such was
the uncertainty of the roads that Jefferson was COM
PEELED to employ guides occasionally, whose fees are
regularly noted in the pocket account book. This
chapter presents curious and instructive intell.
gence Of the state of parties in Congress- No sooner
was Jefferson seated in Congress than bis pen, the
fame Of which had preceded him, brought into re-
qusition On the 22nd of July, l775 Congress elect
ed by ballot committee to prepare report on Lord
North's propositions, and Jefferson, was chosen &C.
cond on the list, Franklin occupying the first place,
John Adams the third, and R. II. Lee the fourth
As was his fate or fortune throughout his parliament
ary career, he had to write the report which was ap.
proved by the committee, adopted by the Congress,
aud cent abroad The concluding paragraphs Of this
report published by Mr.. Randall, and justify the
favorable reception which it received at the time
Congress adjourned on the 3st Of July, and Jeffer
son returned to Virginia in his carriage taking
Col. Harrison with him.
The author discusses in this chapter, the question
as to the precise time when the subject of indepen
lence seriously engaged the attention of leading
and, by able and conclusive argument,
settles it most satisfactorily, justly observing 'that he
tired of hearing the intensity Of the patriotism Of
our fathers vndicaed at the expense of their decent
egard for truth" In the of his argument he
vas led to allude to the backwardness Of Patrick
Henry in supporting declaration of independence
~ the Virginia Convention, and to state that Henry
be did not oppose, did not sustain the declaration,
This charge or rather fact, mentioned by Mr. Ran
la argumentativey will strike most of our readers
Is something strange. That Henry was neutral or
ent when independence was in question, sounds
1ery like charge that John Hampden, after all his
'rofe ssed efforts to resist the evying Of shipmoney
Fas at heart, In favor of the measure. Lest we
should misrepresent Mr.. Randall, We quote bis words
IN three several occasions. He says, rather doubt.
ngly, tpage 1881: "Would Writ have claimed for