Part 17 (2/2)

Not long before the close of the governor's second term in office, he had occasion to write to Richard Henry Lee two letters, which are of considerable interest, not only as indicating the cordial intireat rivals in oratory, but also for the light they throw both on the under-currents of bitterness then ruffling the politics of Virginia, and on Patrick Henry's attitude towards the one great question at that ti the previous autuinia, froed by the 23d of January, 1778, as to be then reelected to Congress, to fill out an unexpired terainst hiinia once overnor, thus inforain traduced by a certain set who have drawn in others, who say that you are engaged in a scheton I know you too well to suppose that you would engage in anything not evidently calculated to serve the cause of whiggism But it is your fate to suffer the constant attacks of disguised Tories who take thisfor your welfare, I pray for that of my country, to which your life and service are of the last moment”[287]

Furthermore, on the 30th of May, the General asseress for the following year Lee was again elected, but by so small a vote that his na this stinging slight, he appears to have spoken in his next letters to the governor; for, on the 18th of June, the latter addressed to hi, this reply:--

MY DEAR SIR,--Both your last letters ca the order in which the balloting placed the delegates in Congress It is an effect of that rancorous h that arduous path of duty which you have invariably travelled, since America resolved to resist her oppressors

Is it any pleasure to you to reainst you, public spirit seeinia? It is too much the case; for the quota of our troops is not halfit The assembly voted three hundred and fifty horse, and two thousand rand army Great bounties are offered; but, I fear, the only effect will be to expose our state to contempt,--for I believe no soldiers will enlist, especially in the infantry

Can you credit it?--no effort waspublic credit I pressed it waret no soldiers

We shall issue fifty or sixty thousand dollars in cash to equip the cavalry, and their time is to expire at Christmas

I believe they will not be in the field before that tiinia for soldiers I tell you ot here, until a different spirit prevails

In the next paragraph of his letter, the governor passes fro topic in national affairs Lord North's peace co to win back the Americans into free colonial relations with the mother country, and away from their new-fory Patrick Henry was prepared to reject all these British blandishments, may be read in the passionate sentences which conclude his letter:--

I look at the past condition of America, as at a dreadful precipice, froenerous French, to whoratitude But I must mistake matters, if some of those men who traduce you, do not prefer the offers of Britain You will have a different game to play noith the commissioners How comes Governor Johnstone there? I do not see how it coress will never recede from our French friends

Salvation to A fast our attachment to theed for anything Great Britain can say, or do She can never be cordial with us Baffled, defeated, disgraced by her colonies, she will ever e

We can find no safety but in her ruin, or, at least, in her extreme humiliation; which has not happened, and cannot happen, until she is deluged with blood, or thoroughly purged by a revolution, which shall wipe fro with his connections, and the present system with those who aid and abet it

For God's sake, my dear sir, quit not the councils of your country, until you see us forever disjoined from Great Britain The old leaven still works The fleshpots of Egypt are still savory to degenerate palates Again we are undone, if the French alliance is not religiously observed Excuse my freedom I know your love to our country,--and this is ive you health and prosperity

I am yours affectionately, PATRICK HENRY[289]

Before co to the end of our story of Governor Henry's second ter this period did the General assembly confide to him those extraordinary pohich by many were spoken of as dictatorial; first, on the 22d of January, 1778,[290] and again, on the 28th of May, of the sareat trust in his hands, and so efficiently had he borne hih office, that, on the 29th of May, the House of Delegates, by resolution, unaniovernor for a third term,--an act in which, on the same day, the Senate voted its concurrence On the 30th of May, Thoovernor of his reelection, reported to the House the following answer:--

GENTLEMEN,--The General asseovernor of this conal honor I trust that their confidence, thus continued in entlerateful acknowledgment for this fresh instance of their favor towards me; and to assure them, that ood, in that station to which they have once more been pleased to call me[292]

FOOTNOTES:

[284] Of the official letters of Governor Henry, doubtless many have perished; a few have been printed in Sparks, Force, Wirt, and elsewhere; a considerable number, also, are preserved in manuscript in the archives of the Departton Copies of the latter are beforethe stateust 30, 1777; of October 29, 1777; of October 30, 1777; of December 6, 1777; of December 9, 1777; of January 20, 1778; of January 28, 1778; and of June 18, 1778

[285] _Writings of Washi+ngton_, v 495-497; 512-515

[286] _Jour Va House Del_ 131

[287] Given in Grigsby, _Va Conv of_ 1776, 142 note

[288] _Jour Va House Del_ 27, 33

[289] Lee, _Life of Richard Henry Lee_, i 195 196