Page:Sketches of the life and character of Patrick Henry.djvu/183

 the gunpowder, brought him strongly before the view of the house; and he was elected the colonel of the first regiment, and the commander of all the forces raised, and to be raised, for the defence of the colony. Mr. William Woodford, who is said to have distin- guished himself in the French and Indian war, was appointed to the command of the second regiment.

The place of rendezvous for the troops was the city of Williamsburg. Mr. Henry was at his post on the 20th of September, examining the grounds adjacent to the city, for the purpose of selecting an encampment; and the place chosen was at the back of William and Mary college. The troops were recruited and poured in with wonderful rapidity. The papers of the day teem with the annunciation of company after company, both regulars and minute men, with the highest enco- miums on the appearance and spirit of the troops; and had the purpose been offensive war, col. Henry was soon in a situation to have annihilated any force that lord Dunmore could at that time, have arrayed against him. But there was, in truth, something extremely singular and embarrassing in the situation of the parties in regard to each other. It was not war, nor was it peace. The very ordinance by which these troops were raised, was filled with professions of allegiance and fidehty to George the III. — ^professions whose sincerity there is th& less reason to doubt, because they are confined to the exercise of his constitutional powers, and stand con- nected with an expression of their firm determination to resist any attempt on the liberties of the country. The only intelligible purpose, therefore, for which these troops were raised, was a preparation for defence; and for defence against an attempt to enforce the parha- mentaiy taxes upon this colony. With respect to lord

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