The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1872-03-27
For THE CENTRAL PRESBYTERIAN,
PATRICK HENRY.
BY PROF. GEORGE E. DABNEY.

l. 1t is proper to give more particular
account of Patrick Henry who played so
prominent part in the Revolution. DR..
Camm indeed, in his account of "The Par
sons Cause called him san obscure attor-
ney, and even the excellent Mr.. Maury was
too much mortified by his defeat, to &C
knowledge the elOquence of the young man
whom he accuses of going "beyond his
depth" But he was no longer obscure, and
will ever occupy high place among orators
and statesmen.
2. His father was a well-educated Scotch
man, sometimes said to have been related to
DR.. Robertson, the historian, and his nephew
Lord Brougham. He came to Virginia be
fore 1870, and, as has been sometimes stated,
was patronized by Governor Dinwiddie; but,
as Dinwiddie did not become Governor until
1852, he must have made his way without
his aid for more than twenty years. He
was Colonel of Militia, County Surveyor,
and presiding Magistrate in Hanover, where
he settled, and prepared good map of Vir-
ginia, with short account of its condition,
published in London in ITO, and still in
existence few years ago. He was mem
Der of the Episcopalian Church, and is re-
presented by Mr.. Writ, in his sons life, as
very pious. But Campbell adduces circum-
stances, going to show that he had not
brought strict observance of the Sabbath
with him from Scotland, and was probably
more devoted to classical, than religious
reading. His brother, Patrick Henry, ST.,
was an Episcopal minister, and Rector, first
of church in Spottsylvania, and then of
st. Paul's in Hanover county.
8. Col. John Henry married lady, whose
maiden name was Winston, and who was the
widow of COL Syme. She is described as
"portly, handsome, lively, and cheerful,
and so hOspitable, as completely to have
charmed Col Byrd. Her brother Langaloo
William Winston possessed an eloquence al
most equal to that of his celebrated nephew.
Being Lieutenant of company, which, hav-
ing gone to the frontier soon after Brad
dock defeat, had become almost mutinouS
from hardship and starvation, he addressed
them with such power, that they abandoned
their idea of returning home, and begged
him to "lead them against the enemy.
4. Patrick, the second son of these pa
rents, after a short time spent a5 common
school, learned Latin, his Greek letters, and
some Mathematics from his father. At ff
teen, he quilted this school, and never af
forwards looked at Latin, although he be-
came so fond of Roman history, as to read
a translation of Livy every year. Mr.. JEFF
ferson is said to have doubted this, saying
that he scarcely ever read any book through,
which made his wonderful command of Ian
guage almost miraculous. He was GER
tainly, by no means studious, and loved
hunting and fishing as well as his uncle
William who has been mentioned.
5. His father set up Patrick, when not
more than sixteen, and an elder brother Will
liam, as country merchants. AS William
was dissipated and negligent, and Patrick
spent his time in playing on the flute and
violin, quizzing his customers, and studying
their characters, instead of getting their
money, it was not strange that this enter
prize completely failed. He is said, how
ever, at this time to have studied Geography
and the Colonial charters, and Soame Jenyns
and Bishop Butler on the evidences of Chris
tianity.
6. At eighteen, he married Miss Shell
ton, daughter of farmer, and himself be-
came farmer for year or two, on small
scale, and with no better success, than had
attended his mercantile operations. lie
tried merchandise again, and failed worse
than before. When thus thrown out of bu
siness, he lived, for a while, at Hanover
Court House, where his father in-law kept a
tavern, in which he sometimes aided him.
Z. At this period of his life, Mr.. Jefer
son, On his way to William and Mary Col
lege, spent the Christmas of 1859 with him
at Col. Dandridge's. Mr.. Jefferson thought
his appearance and manners rather coarse,
and found him not at all depressed, but
ready for music, dancing, and pleasantly.
There was man of science present, MIR.
John Campbell, who married sister of Col
cambridge, and who occasionally introduced
scientific subjects, but does not seem to have
drawn out young Henry. He may, per-
haps, have been acting in the spirit of a
speech, attributed to him by Governor Page,
= Naiteral parts as better than all the larnin
upon yeartk" Yet however careless his
pronunciation, the son and scholar of COL
Henry can scarcely have used such gram,
mar.
s. The broken merchant and farmer now
studied law, for period variOusly stated
from one month to nine months. 1t is GER
tain that he learned very little of his pro-
fession, and that of the lawyers whom he
asked to sign his license, George Wythe
absolutely refused, and Robert Carter
Nicholas signed reluctantly. The elegant
Attorney General John Randolph would, at
first, scarcely examine man so awkward and
addressed, but when he discovered his
genius, ingenuity in argument, and general
knowledge, he licensed and complimented
him, in spite of his ignorance of law. He
seemed to have got no practice from l76O
until his brilliant debut in 1868, and is said
to have known nothing of the most ordinary
orms of business. His success in "The
Cause, led to his being, at once, employed
in all like cases; but he could have gained
nothing but fame by them, as they were soon
after dismissed as fruitless.
He removed to Louisa county, and settled
1t place, called ''The Roundabout" where
ne devoted more time to hunting, than to
Black Letter law, which he disliked, and
never studied, except in preparation for par
icular cases. He is said to have often gone
20 court from his hunting expeditions in
oloodstained coat and greasy buck skin
oreeches, being always very plain in appear