Page:Sketches of the life and character of Patrick Henry.djvu/204

 180 SKETCHES OF THE

offered to him^ and immediately resigned that wiiicli lie held from the state. His resignation produced a com- motion in the camp, which wore at first an alarming aspect; and would probably have had an extremely un- propitious effect on the military efforts of the state, had it not been instantaneously quelled by his own patriotic exertions. The following is the notice of this trans- action from Purdie's paper of March 1st, 1776:

" Yesterday morning, the troops in this city being informed that Patrick Henry, esquire, commander in chief of the Virginia forces, was about to leave them, the whole went into deep mourning, and being under arms, waited on him at his lodgings, when they address- ed him in the following manner:

" To Patrick Henry, jun. esquire.

" Deeply impressed with a grateful sense of the obli- gations we lie under to you, for the polite, humane, and tender treatment manifested to us throughout the whole of your conduct, while we had the honour of being under your command, permit us to offer you our sin- cere thanks, as the only tribute we have in our power to pay to your real merits. Notwithstanding your with- drawing yourself from the service, fills us with the most poignant sorrow, as it at once deprives us of our father and general; yet, as gentlemen, we are compelled to ap- plaud yaiir spiiited resentment to the most glaring in- dignity. May your merit shine as conspicuous to the

officer, according to the rules and discipline of war, in pursuance of the trust reposed in you. This commission to continue in force until revoked by tlxis or a future congress. By order of the congi'ess,

" John Haxcock, President."

" Attest,

" Chatiles Thot.ison, Secretaiy.

« Philadelphia, Feb. 13th, 1776."

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