Page:Sketches of the life and character of Patrick Henry.djvu/211

 cause of liberty, we apprehend that envy strove to hxiry in obscurity his martial talents. Fettered and cmifined, with only an empty title, the m£fi^e echo of authaiity, his supeiior abilities lay inactive, nor could be exerted fm his honour, or his country's good.

" Virginia may truly boast, that in him she finds tb€ ahle statesman, the soldier's father, the best of citizens, and liberty's dear friend. Clad with innocence, as in a coat of mail, he is proof against evei^y serpentile whisper. The officers and soldiers, who know him, are rivetted to his bosom; when he speaks, all is silence; when he orders, they cheerfully obey; and in the field, under so sensible, so prudent an officer, though hosts oppose them, with shouts they meet their armed foe, the sure presages of victory and success.

" Let us, my countrymen, with grateful hearts, re- member that he carried off the standard of liberty, and defeated Grenville in his favourite stamp act

" while many dreaded, till with pleasing eye, Saw tyranny before brave Henry fly.

" I am, Mr. Purdie, your friend, and a well-wishen' to Virginia.

"An Honest Farmer."

It is very clear from the last piece, as well as from the address of the ninety officers, which has been already given, and which was published by their desire in a paper subsequent to tJmt which ccmtains the defence of the committee, that that defence had been by no means satisfactory; and that either the committee as a body, or what is more probable, some individual or in- dividuals of it, were still believed to have had a secret hand in planning and directing the series of indignities

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