The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-12-25

,
the most important collections of his
torical letters ever sold by auction in
this country was dispersed yesterday
by Stan V. Henlsels in two sessions.
The top price of the autograph sale
was paid for the original draft of Pat
rick Henry's celebrated resolution in
the Virginia House of Bursesses in
May. 1866, with a lengthy memorandum
on the back, in his handwriting, eX-
planning how he came TO offer the reso-
luton. This, after u spirited competi-
ton with Luther Livingston, of Dodd
& Livingston, went to Il collector MIR.
Hamilton, for S1,400.
In addition 10 the autographs there
We're miniatures and an Oil painting by
Sully of Patrick Henry, the latter
bringing the top price of the sale, ST.
500. There were also numerous relics
of Patrick Henry.
Included in the collection We're all
Patrick Henry's letters and papers,
during the Revolutionary War and up
to the time of his death, preserved by
his family, and a number of relics OF
him. one of the interesting items was
copy of the famous receipt, dated
May i. 1II5, which he gave to Governor
Dunmore's rcceiver-Gencral Richard
Corbin, for the gunpowder which was
taken from the Powder Horn at Will
liamsburg, Va, on April %, 1915, to
arm Henry's company OF patriots. It
is signed ''P. Henry, Jr." 1t was
knocked down to the Virginia State
Library for 500,
/ Among the items of greatest interest
in the evening session were the origi-
nal ivory miniature portrait of Pat
IL
by a French artist, at the time Henry
was arguing the British debt cases in
the United States Court at Richmond,
Va. the life-sized bust portrait of
Henry painted in oil by Thomas Sully,
of Philadelphia, from the ivory minfa-
ture portrait; a fine long autograph
letter signed of Martha Washington:
n. 5. of George Washington, about the
defence of Red Bank, \. j., and two
page folio document signed by Wash
ington and dated January IL, 1877. The
miniature IS oval, in gold mounting,
and with ring.
1t was painted only eight years be-
fore Patrick Henry's death. ana ma
turally represents him as an old man,
with deep wrinkles on both sides OF
the mouth, and wearing an oldfash-
toned wig. For a long time this minia-
only recently that Stan. " Henkles
found 1t in the possession of John
Symc Fleming, a descendant of Patrick
IIenry's half brother, John Syme, to
whose wife Henry gave this, the only
likeness which was ever taken of him
during his life. 1t recently has been
asserted that Sully's oil portrait was
only an altered portrait of the cele>
brated Captain Cook between whom
and Henry there is much resemblance.
This story was generally believed, al
though the Henry family have always
insisted that the Sully portrait was
copied from the miniature painted by
a French artist. The chief competitors
were Messrs. Chapman and Parker,
the latter obtaining 1t for $3.50
The Sully portrait was painted by
Sully for William Writ, the biographer
of Patrick Henry. and it was engraved
by Leney for Wirt's book. The portrait
hung for many years on the wall of
the state Department at Richmond. Va.
Sully copied the miniature, but, at the
suggestion Of Chief Justice Marshall
so that Henry would not look SO old.
did away with the wrinkles, altered the
wig somewhat and added the spec
tacles resting on the forehead. At
$4,000 1t was knocked down to Jim
whose identity was not revealed
An autograph draft signed. two
pages folio, of Henrys letter, Long
Island, Campbell Co., October L. 1895.
TO President washington, refusing the
Office OF Secretary OF War in reply to
Washington's letter Offering 1t to him.
brought $l20 tHamiltonl; letter from
Siias Deane TO Patrick Henry, sis
pages folio, Weth.rsfield, Conn, jan
uary ?, l775-''Thc town OF Boston con-