Page:Sketches of the life and character of Patrick Henry.djvu/206

 18^ SKETCHES OF THE

exerted for the real interest of the united colonies, in support of the glorious cause in which they have en- gaged. This, accompanied with the extraordinaiy ex- ertions of colonel Christian, and other officers present, happily produced the desired effect; the soldiers reluct- antly acquiescing; and we have now the pleasure to assure the public, that those brave fellows are now pretty well reconciled, and will spend the last drop of their blood in their country's defence/'

This is the man who has been sometimes branded as a turbulent, seditious^ factious demagogue! Had he been of this character, what an occasion was here to have provoked it to action! This love for the man and the officer, and this resentment of the indignities to which he had been subjected, was not confined to the camp at Williamsburg; they pervaded the whole army, and were felt and expressed by the following address, signed by upwards of ninety officers at Kemp's landing, and Sutfolk, (in colonel Woodford's camp) as well as at Williamsburg; and printed by their desire in Purdie's paper of the 22d March, 1775.

'' Sir,

" Deeply concerned for the good of our country, we sin- cerely lament the unhappy necessity of ) our resignation and with all the warmth of affi^ction, assure you, that, whatever may have given rise to the indignity lately offer- ed to you, we join ivith the general voice of the people^ and think it our duty to make this public declaration of our higli respect for your distinguished merit. To your vigilance and judgment as a senator, this united conti- nent bears ample testimony; while she prosecutes her steady opposition to those destructive ministerial mea- sures which your eloquence first pointed out and taught

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