Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1868-02-04
.l,,, ,Iohn Henry-Rev. Samuel Davies.

John Henry-Rev. Samuel Davies.
5s "A late number Of the Norfolk Journal con
t4ined handsome notice Of John Henry, the
Youngest sontof the great orator Of Virginia,
whose death recently occurred at Red Hill, his
patrimonial seat, in the county OF Charlotte,
at the age of seventy-twc. The JournaI says.
He was the. youngest child of the illustri-
Gus man whose voice, more justly than that OF
James Otis. may be said to haye called Il na-
ton into existence, andlwho, according to Fox,
was more Dreaded by George the Third than
any other man of his generation. At The
deathof Patrick Henry, his son John whose
death mas just occurred, was only two years
old, aud he retained no recollection OF his la
ther: but to his dying hour he cherished an
ardent affection tor his memory, preserving all
the relics OF the patriot with religious care,
and defended it against all the miSrepresenta-
tions which the heated partizans OF an era sub
sequent to the Revolution were disposed to lay
at his door. Among those relics we remember
q small penknife which ths-uncle of the orator
gave him when he was boy, aud which he
wore in his Waiscoat pocket to his dying day !;
and his tee books, in which he recorded the
small ices Of that day long since discarded by
the profession, mingled now and then with
,honorarium (which brought up his annual ear
ming to respectable sum.
1t was not the disposition of Mr.. John Henry
to engage in the turmoils OF public life. ln
the empIoyments of bis beautiful plantation,
in the rearing OF large and intelligent family,
and in the gentle and generous pursuits of lite
rature he spent peaceful and honorable ite
Just before his death he. had the qualification
toread from the pen of his oldest son an able
and conclusive vindication OF his father 5 mem.
ory from all the charges which, In time OF
unusual party rancour, had been cast upon 1t,
and feel that the honored name which be bore
might receive fresh illustration In coming
years. - ,g8
We may mention in this connection famous
pulpit orator of Virginia, from whom 1T IS not
unlikely the great Henry learned his first lessons
in that matchless oratory which made him the
wonder OF the day-the Rev. Samuel Davies; a
most interesting sketch OF whom was recently
published in the Richmond Christian Observer,
under the heading Prince Of the American
Pulpit. - Mr. Davies was Presbyterian min
lister, and of. Welsh descent; he was born in
Newcastle, Delaware, 1923; was educated at
the school Of the Rev. Samuel Blair, in Fagg $
Manor, Pennsylvania, and entered upon the
ministry in Hanover county, Va. where he
resided for ten years, preaching to church
about twelve miles from Richmond, but ex-
tending his clerical labors over: a wide region
His simplicity Of, character and fervent plcty
gained him the confidence and love OF the peo'
pie, while his personal intrepldlty, his scholar
ship and splendid genius commanded universal
admiration. During the French and Indian
wars, be delivered many stirring appeals
Some Of these patriotic sermons were delivered
in Patrick Henry's neiyhborhood, and pro
duced effects says biographe1r, 'sas power
full as those Of Demosthenes. He was coca
sionally before the courts, where he defended
himself with mantulness, a power of logic
tible. @S e.r, E.s.a @1
After. Braddock's . defeat, he preached ser
mon, in which he spoke of Washington as
''that heroic youth, Colonel Washington,
"whom [ cannot but hope Providence has
hitherto preserved in so signal manner tor
'ssome important service to his country:. He
was sent on a mission to England with Iii lbert
Tennent, to, collect funds for the college OF
New JERSEY, in 1853, which was emlnently
successful. The first Presbytery in Virginia
was established through his exertlons,ln 100.
In 1853 he, was chosen to succeed Jonathan
Edwards as President OF the college OF New
Jersey, which, after much hesitaucy, he aceep-
ted q he died at Princeton, New jersey. Feb
ruary 4th, l76l.s Nine editions of his SER
mons had been printed prior to the year lS0o.
Dr.. Alexander, in his work, The Log Col
'1ece." pronounces him 1.-THE first OF Amerl-
"can preachers and in the estimation OF the
most competent Judges, he was second only
ifsecond at all, to the great Whitfield,
The fact that the annals OF one county II =
Virginia are illustrated by the names OF such
wonderful orators as Davies, Henry and Clay
shows how fertile the old Commonwealth has
been in men of genius, and how rich she is II
historic treasures. Richmond Wing.
A TUMoR WEIGHING Six POUNDS
young lady, thirty-one years Of age, living IL
Elenville, N. j., has just. undergone an oper
alton both remarkable and dangerous. Twt
months ago she Vas startled with feelings OF In
tense pain at times in the abdomen, at the let
side. She consulted physician, who told be-
uDOD examination that .tumor had crown II