New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-01-17
PATRICK HENRY.
A NOBLE BIOGRAPHY.

PATRICK HENRY. Life Core pondencc and sp"echce
nv William Writ Henry. Two Volumes. svo PIP
G22 and C5o. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons
The life Of Patrick Henry offers one Of the most
attractive and inspiring studies OF American hi
ograpby The frst sketch Of lis career was made
by William Writ. and has remained 10 this day
one of the best as il was also one Of the earliest
achievements Of Nationa! biography Other vol
umes were based upon that standard work, and
Dr. Moses Colt Tyler recently prepared an admira-
bic biography containing much additional nforma-
ton and illuminated by critical estimate Of the
genius of the patriot and orator and Of his services
To the Nation in the revolutionary epoch What
ever was lacking in these two earlier works IS sup
piled by these new volumes, for which much fresh
information has been supplied from family records
and private correspondence previously unpublished
This biography embodeS a full, sympathetic and
exhaustive study Of q noble life. IL is published
in almost sumptuous style, with heavy paper.
large type, ample margins and most tasteful bind
ing.
TIE opening chapter contains the best account
ever given OF the patriots youthful struggles.
With Yorkshire and Scotch blood in his veins.
Patrick Henry began active life at the age OF
fifteen as a clerk in a Vrginian country store.
Marrying before he was nineteen, lie made a bad
start in business for himself lost his house by fire
poverty and necessity 10 make living in some
other wa. Borrowing Coke upon Littleton' and
a. Digest Of the Virginia Acts he studied law
for several weeks, and riding 10 williamsburg aI-
pesred before the Board Of Examiners as All appli-
cant for a license His choice of a profession was
largely determined by his losses in farming and
business; and his entrance upon public life was
the result Of fortutOus circumstances. The House
of Burgesses at the opening Of its session in
1903 received the resignation Of an obscure
member who had been elected coroner. This
resignation created a vacancy which was filled
bv the election of Patrick Henry An event 30
unimportant as the choice of a coroner brought
TO- the front one OF the leaders OF the American
Revolution in tho Stamp Act. Before he had been
in his scat three days The young orator made his
first speech and rallied about him members who,
like himself, represented the ycomanry of the
colony The leaders Of the House, while thrown
into CONSERVATION by the intelligence Of the
passage Of the Stamp Act. were not disposed TO
offer resistance TO it, He was of different mind
His wonderful political sagacity, often displayed
afterward convinced him that submission to the
Act would be fatal TO the liberties of the colonies
and that a bold move might have the effect Of
uniting the people in a determined opposition 10
it's execution the only hope Of preventing it's dis
astrous consequences. So believing, he wrote on
the blank leaf OF an old copy of Coke upon
Littleton" his famous resolutions against the Act
lie offered them OH his twenty-ninth birthday.
1t is singular proof Of the orators prophetic
discernment OF political forces that while markedly
careless of the preservation OF papers touching
upon his public life, he should have kept the
original draught of these resolutions under seal.
and left 1t, along with his will, to the special