Year: 1859

/ characteristic Incidence, but six weeks
study. He then presented himself for ex-
animation and license. The examiners
found him SO ignorant that they refused
his petition; but upon much pursuasion
and a promise that he would study farther,
granted the license. 1t was all the young
man wished. His buoyant spirit sustain
ed him, and he entered with good heart
upon the most laborious of professions, and
one of the most complex of sciences, with
an, unconqnerable idleness, and an igno-
rance of the plainest forms. He could not
write declaration or draw a deed. The
natural consequence was that he got no
business, and this i'll success came at mo-
ment when it was most unfortunate. He
was entirely without resources and indeed
would have suffered positive distress had
not Mr.. Shelton, his father in law, receiv-
ed him under his roof. Mr. Shelton was
then keeping the tavern in Hanover Court
House and in his absence. Patrick Hen
ry filled his place and attended to the wants
of the guests. This was the origin of the
statement, which even Jefferson believed,
that the great orator was originally a
bar keeper" That he kept the bar is in
one sense true, but at the time he was
licensed attorney. Still he found no one
who was bold enough-to employ him.
His idleness and ignorance Of the profes-
sion were we'll known The star of Henry
seemed about to be buried in the biackest
clouds. But the darkest hour had passed.
The future would be all the brighter for
the past gloom. The moment was at hand
when he would start upon the splendid
| career which thenceforth he was destined
to destined to pursue to the end of his life.
| In the year 1863, and when Patrick Hen
ry was twenty-seven years old, he was re
tanned in his first suit-the celebrated
Parsons cause This was an action
brought by Mr.. Maury, one of the Episco-
pal clergy against the Collector of Hano-
yer. The matter at issue was briefly as
follows : In 1855, the House of Bnrgesses
in view of the drought and failure of crops,
enacted that all debts payable in tobacco
should, for the space of ten months there
after, be payable either in kind or in mon
ey, at the rate of two pence for the pound
of tobacco. The legal salary of the Cler
| gyman of the Established Church was 16,
900 pounds of tobacco per annum, and as
the commodity had risen in value more
than 60 per cent, they were subjected, by
the law in question, to that amount of loss.
They did not resist, however; but when,
in 1853, similar law passed the Bur
gesses violent controversy arose. 1t was
referred TO the King, who decided in favor
of the clergy-whereupo suits were
brought by them in every part of the pro
| vince 20 recover the amount of the loss.
The test came first in Hanover, and the
Court sustained the clergy as 1t should have
| done The consequence was that the queS-
ton of damages only remained, and this a
jury would determine. The counsel of
the Collector retired from the case, and
the youth Patrick Henry was employed to
wind UP the affair. When he came to the
| Court House, from the tavern which was
near at hand, the array on the bench and
on the floor Of the building was enough to
terrify young beg ginner. More than TWEEN:
ty of the clergy were seated on the ros-
trum, near his own father, who presided
and many of these gentlemen were among
the most learned and famous in the colony.
When Henry arose to address the Court
his voice could scarcely be heard. He hung
his head, faltered, and appeared to be over
come with confusion. The crowd, who
were strongly opposed to the clergy, and
in favor Of the Collector, gave up the suit
in despair, and many turned 10 leave the
building.


They were arrested, however, by some
thing in the appearance and voice OF the
speaker. His confusion had disappeared !;
he no longer hesitated. His head, which
had sunk down toward his breast, as
though he desired to hide the bushes
which REDEEMED his cheeks, was raised al
most haughtiiy aloft. From the keen gray
eyes shot that fry glance which ever after
characterized Henry when fully aroused
and poured forth upon the astonlshed and
delighted listeners flood Of burning elo-
auence and passionate invective against
the clergy. which resembled boiling lava,
scorcning and excoriatng wherever 1t
flowed. The crowd hung, breadthless,
upon his lips and thrilled at the touch OF
,hhe master hand which for the first time
PLAYED upon the great instrument which
thenceforth it was to sway and dlrect-the
human heart The invec.ive OF the speak
er became finally so terrible, his denuncl-
alton of the vices and arrogance of the
clergy so withering. that parsons seated on
the bench precipitately left it, and disap-
neared from the Court House-moved to
the act either by Indignation or confusion.


Henry concluded his speech amid al
most insuppressibe excitement, aud the
Jury, scarcely retiring for a moment,
brought in verdict of one penny damages,
thus practically reversing the decision OF
the Courts, and deciding in favor OF the
Collector. The motion for new trial
was overruIed-the delighted Col. Henry,
with tears running down his cheeks at the
glory of his son, adjourned the Court, AMI
Patrick Henry was canght by the crowd
hoisted upon their shoulders. and borne
around the court-yard, like triumphant
hero. He had spoken with the voice Of
the people. In his tones of thunder they
{ had themselves seemed to throw down their
defiance to the Government and the rs
Enlistment From that time the un'
, known youth was dear the popular heart
. and ruled the masses at his will.


That the speech of Patrick Henry in the