The Columbus journal. (Columbus, Neb.) 1874-1911, 1911-04-05
THINGS PATRICK HENRY
WROTE.

WROTE.
The Patrick Henry papers, portraits
and relics, and fine line of historical
autographs Of the Colonial and RevO-
lutionary periods were sold at auction
in Philadelphia recently.
The original ivory miniature por-
trait of Patrick Henry, painted from
life by a French artist in 1891, while
the orator was arguing the British
debt cases in the United States court
at Richmond, Va, brought $500. 1t
was presented by Henry to the wife Of
his half brother, John Syme, and is
said to be the only portrait of Henry
painted from life that exists. The
life size bust portrait of him, painted
in oil by Thomas Sully Of Philadelphia
from the French artists miniature
portrait, was sold for $500. For
many years this bust portrait hung on
the walls of the state house at Rich.
mond, Va. Sully painted it for VIM.
Writ, Henry's biographer, who had it
engraved by Leney for the Life of
Patrick Henry"
The original draft of Henry's ccle.
bra:ed resolution in the Virginia house
of burgcsses in May, 1863, against the
Stamp Act. with lengthy mcmoran-
dunn ON the hack in Henry's hand
writing aud signed by him. explaining
how he came to offer the resolution,
went for sl,lOO. A copy Of the
famous receipt by Henry, May 4,
l776, for the gunpowder he took
April II, l775, from the Powder Horn
at Williamsburg. Va, to arm the
company of patriots he had raised, was
purchased by the Virginia State Ii
brary for slOO, which also obtained for
s1O5 his Fec Book, 177O.l797, con-
sisting Of l76 folio pages, all in his
handwriting, and with an index. On
the inside of one of the covers in his
autograph is Patrick Henry, His
Book"
The walnut drop leaf secretary, used
by him during the greater part Of his
life, was sold for $500. The walnut
roundabout leather seat, his favOrite
chair, and the one in which he died.
brought 1928. Two hundred dollars
bought an antique solid silver caster,
with three silver peppers and two cut
glass cruets, each of the peppers hav
ing engraved upon it the initials "P.
H., III" The same bidder obtained
for SIC pair of polished steel shoe
buckles, which Henry is said to have
worn when he made his speech against
the Stamp Act.
Included in the Henry letters were
the following, addressed to Richard
Henry Lee, signer of the Declaration
of Independence: March %, 1777,
accusing Robert Morris of speculating
in army supplies, s25; September ~,
1777, rejoicing over the capture Of
Burgoyne, $3.50; April l, 1777, say.
ing that Lees enemies are traducing
him by stories that he is in scheme
to discard General Washington, $50,
and August IS, 17s9, Directing to the
uncontrolled powers of the President
in the Constitution, $50. An auto
graIh draft of his letter to President
Washington, October IL, 1875, declin-
ing the tender of the office of Secretary
of War. went for $40.
The following historical letters of
Richard Henry Lee to Patrick Henry
were sold: April 20, 1776, advocating
All instant declaration of independence,
$40; December ;, 1916, describing
Washington's retreat across New Jer-
sey, pursued by Howe's army, sS5;
January 3, 1777, giving an account Of
WashiDgton's victories over the Brit.
ish and Hessians at Trenton and
Princeton, 500; April z, 1777, men.
tioning the success of the American
commissioners (FraDklin, Deane and
Lee at the Court IF France. s75: