Part 21 (1/2)

[332] MS _Hist Va_

[333] _Jour Va House Del_ for Nov 27

[334] _Jour Va House Del_ for Dec 21

[335] For example, _Bland Papers_, ii 51; Rives, _Life of Madison_, i 536; ii 240, note

[336] _Jour Va House Del_ 42

[337] John Tyler, in Wirt, 233, 236

[338] John Tyler, in Wirt, 237-238

[339] Howe, _Hist Coll Va_ 222

[340] MS

CHAPTER XVII

SHALL THE CONFEDERATION BE MADE STRONGER?

We have now arrived at the second period of Patrick Henry's service as governor of Virginia, beginning with the 30th of Nove that date, the salient facts in his career seeroup themselves around the story of his relation to that vast national anization of the American Republic under a new Constitution

Whoever will take the trouble to exa upon the case, can hardly fail to convince himself that the true story of Patrick Henry's opposition to that great movement has never yet been told Men have usually ether overlooked, the motives for his opposition, the spirit in which he conducted it, and the beneficent effects which were accomplished by it; while his ultimate and firm approval of the new Constitution, after it had received the chief amendments called for by his criticisross political fickleness and inconsistency, instead of being, as it really was, aon his part, and in perfect har his whole public career

Before entering on a story so fascinating for the light it throws on theenough to glance at e may call the incidental facts in his life, for these four or five years now to be looked into

Not far froovernor, occurred the death of his aged mother, at the home of his brother-in-law, Colonel Saovernor, dated Nove illness which had preceded the death of the venerable lady, and especially of the strength and beauty of her character:--

”She has been inof that time to the end, her life appeared to me most evidently to be a continued reat share of good sense as rendered her areeable to all ere so happy as to be acquainted with her Never have I known a Christian character equal to hers”[341]

On bringing his family to the capital, in Noveovernor established them, not within the city itself, but across the James River, at a place called Salisbury What with children and with grandchildren, his faliiven us in the memorandum of Spencer Roane In deference to ”the ideas attached to the office of governor, as handed down froovernment,” he is said to have paid careful attention to his costu abroad except in black coat, waistcoat, and knee-breeches, in scarlet cloak, and in dressed wig Moreover, his family ”were furnished with an excellent coach, at a time when these vehicles were not so coenteelly, and associated with as polished society, as that of any governor before or since has ever done He entertained as enteel a style; and when, at the end of two years, he resigned the office, he had greatly exceeded the salary, and [was]

in debt, which was one cause that induced hi his two years in the governorshi+p, his duties concerned matters of much local importance, indeed, but of no particular interest at present To this rees of friendly correspondence between the governor and Washi+ngton,--the latter then enjoying the long-coveted repose of Mt Vernon In January, 1785, the asseton certain shares in two coation of the James and Potomac rivers[343] In response to Governor Henry's letter coton wrote on the 27th of February, stating his doubts about accepting such a gratuity, but at the saovernor as a friend to assist him in the matter by his advice Governor Henry's reply is of interest to us, not only for its allusion to his own domestic anxieties at the time, but for its revelation of the frank and cordial relations between the two men:--

RICHMOND, March 12th, 1785

DEAR SIR,--The honor you are pleased to do me, in your favor of the 27th ultimo, in which you desirethe act enclosed you lately, is very flattering to me I did not receive the letter till Thursday, and since that randson, a fine boy indeed, about nine years old, lays at the point of death Under this state of uneasiness and perturbation, I feel some unfitness to consider a subject of so delicate a nature as that you have desired hts on Besides, I have some expectation of a conveyance more proper, it may be, than the present, when I would wish to send you some packets received from Ireland, which I fear the post cannot carry at once If he does not take them free, I shan't send them, for they are heavy

Captain Boyle, who had them from Sir Edward Newenham, wishes for the honor of a line froive you the trouble of hearing from me next post, if no opportunity presents sooner, and, in theyou to be persuaded that, with the most sincere attachment, I am, dear sir, your most obedient servant,

P HENRY[344]