Page:Sketches of the life and character of Patrick Henry.djvu/109

 duce on the reader at this distance of time, it is not very difficult to conceive what must have been their ope- ration on the people of that day, already goaded to mad- ness by previous injuries.

It is not my purpose to record the series of measures which led to the dismemberment of the British empire. This is the function of the historian. My business is only with Mr. Henry; and, for my purpose, nothing more is necessary than to recal the general character of the contest, for the purpose of showing the part which he bore in it. The revolution may be truly said to have commenced with his resolutions in 1765. From that period not an hour of settled peace had existed between the two countries. It is true, that the eruption produced by the stamp act, had subsided with its repeal; and the people had resumed their ancient settlements and occu- pations; but there was no peace of the heart or of the mind. The rumbling of the volcano was still audible, and the smoke of the crater continually ascended, mingled not unfrequently with those flames and masses of ignited matter, which announced a new and more terrible explosion.

These were ^'the times that tried the souls of men;^^ and never, in any country or in any age, did there exist a race of men, whose souls were better fitted to endure the trial. Patient in suffering, firm in adversity, calm and collected amid the dangers which passed around them, cool in council, and brave in battle, they were worthy of the cause, and the cause was worthy of them.

The house of burgesses of Virginia, which had led the opposition to the stamp act, kept their high ground during the whole of the ensuing contest. Mr. Henry, having removed again from Louisa to his native county.

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