The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1872-01-15
somesi,ing New abont Patrick e Monry.

tho Long Island Historical Society on Patrick
Henry, the great Virginia orator of the Revo-
luton. Mr.. Fontaine is descendant Of the
distinguished man Of whom he spoke, the
facts being compiled from unpublished family
documents, and correct many errors to be
found III the biographies which have already
appeared.
Rcv. Mr.. Fontaine said that ever since he
was seventeen years of age he had kept 4
journal, and all theanecdotes told him Of Pat
rick Henry by tho Oldest Of bis grandsons
| and three Of his daughters had been care
fully written down. From that source he
should draw the material for his lecture, and
at the same time endeavor to correct many
mistakes in what had been said Of him. The
! biography written of him by William Writ,
in 1857, had passed through fifteen editions,
but it aboundcd in mistakes, and some Of
them lie hoped to be able to correct.
TIE FATHER OF rATEIcK HENRY
was Colonel John Henry, of Aberdeen, in
! Scotland. who came to this country in the
year 1850 and settled in Virginia. He be
came I justice Of the peace, magistrate, and
was also colonel in the colonial forces. He
married Mrs. Sim, the widow of Colonel
Sim, of Winchester. She was formerly Miss
| Winston, and descended from the celebrated
| Welsh family Of that name. Patrick Henry
inherited the prudence Of his Scoth father
and the fire of his Welsh mother, and they
combined to make him an orator who spoke
rs Homer wrote. Although Patrick Henry
filled almost every position Of honor and
trust which it was in the power Of his fellow
citizens in Virginia to bcstow upon him,
lie WAS POOR MAN
when elected Governor for the fourth time.
| He declined the honor on account Of his po-
| VERY. The times, however, have changed
in that respect, for now men take their seats
| without being worth cent, and retire from
Office worth millions Of dollars. But the idea
never seemed 10 occur to him while the sword
and the purse Of Virginia were at his diSpo-
sal that he could aruasS wealth by judiciotls
use Of his patronage. Although he never
attended college lie received all excellent
| classical education from his uncle, and WAS
| also taught those principles which made Viz
ginia so great State. He was taught 'to'bc
true and just in all my dealings, to bear no
malice or hatred in my heart, to keep my
hands from picking and stealing, and to do
my duty in that state of life which it shall
please God to call me-" An error his been
| committed in regard to the statement put
forth Of tic apparent want Of preparation OF
his speeches, and from what Mr.. Writ has
said it might be supposed that there was no.
thing of the "smcll Of the lamp" about
| them. lie was, however, another Illustration
of the saying that poet is born, but an
orator is made" he had poetical abilities OF
carefully prepared.
| HIS PERSONAL ArrEAEAECE
was exceedingly striking: he was six feet in
height, had dark curly hair, and very corn-
handing countcnance. But hiomoSt re-
markaJlc feature was his eyes, Which were
deeply sci. and Of y hazel hue ; his organ Of
speech was perfect, and its tones were like
| hat Of some grand wind instrument, and
always under perfect control. lie had q
poetic temperament, and, although born a
poet, lie nlattc himself & great orator, and in
his speech on free trade lie said, :. F'ctter not
commerce. Let her be free as sir, and she
will return upon the four winds of Heaven to
bless the land with plenty" Those were
words which could not have been uttered by
any man unless he lad been
POET.
IL preparing for his work he spent one
hour every day in prayer, q practice which
is now very seldom Observed except bT min.
istcrs Of the gospel and cld-tasllioncd mel!
and woIrcn. Ill 1880 he retired from public
life very poor, and the next nine years nc
spent in securing 4 competency 1or lis iauil-
y. During that period he laid up III ample
fortune for each one OF his thirteen children,
and then, in 1895, finding tint his family was
iii easy circumstances, lie retired from tho
,racticc oi his profession, but with cOn$t!'
tuition sadly shattered by 4 complication q
diseases. not one, however, cf which had
accn brought Oil hy vice or excess of any
Kind. Mr. Writ had asserted that although
he was sincere Christian, it was after q
form OF his own; but it was mistake to 81!
that he was never attached, to any religious
society, for he lived and died and WAS at al
times an exemplary commitment Of the
PRESBYTERIAN Church. The characteristics O!
Patrick Henry as an orator, a patriot, a Chris
tian. and statesman, were then spoken OF
1t great length, and then Mr.. Fontainc Said
his last speech was made in April, 1888, only
three months before his death. lie was
then candidate for legislative honors, hay
ing been induced to return to political life III
order that he might use his influence to pre-
vent the secession Of Virginia, which she
had reserved the right 70 do during that
year.
Ills PROPHETIC CTTERANCFS
in regard to the dangers which were likely r.
bcsct the country wien the Federal Covers!
mcnr should have unlimited power 10 levy
taxes in the different St1tesWcre then $pokcr
Of, and the corruption which would follow
the appointment OF III army of ttX-ggathcrers
collectors, and inspectors, was set forth II
Patrick lIcnly'S speeches, and also in his pr
yate conversations, during which lie said that
when such things happened then the country
| al lcri 81
tue Republic would he no more. When lt
made his last speech John Randolph appear
ed ut the same place, (Charlotte county
made his first political speech; and on thai
occasion Patrick Henry recognized tho
Young mau's talents, and eXhorted his fcl.
low-citizcns to cherish him as one who
would do them good service. The pas
sage which had so often been quoted, SIS
peace so sweet, or life so dear, CO to be pur.
chased at the price Of Chains and slavery
God forbid it. / know not what course
others may take, but as for me, g1Te me lib
ertv or give me DEATH" had already cXcrted
vast influence on the fate Of mankind, ana
il was still ringing through the world and
welding power which nothing could With.
stand. IN conclusion Mr.. Fontaine said that
Patrick Henry WAS a greater orator than any
other. either in ancient or modern times
Neither Demosthcncs, Cicero, or the elder
Pitt, through their eloqucnce, could accom-
plish the objects for which it was eXerted,
while Patrick Henry always did. Loud ap
pla,tse.]
On motion, vote OF thanks was rendered
to Mr.. Fontains, and before the audience
dispersed the lecturer exhibited the last let
ter which had been written by Patrick Henry