Page:Sketches of the life and character of Patrick Henry.djvu/282

 25S SKETCHES OP THE

These remarks are not foreign to oui* story; in the fall of 1 786, while yet a year remained of his constitu- tional term, Mr. Henry was under the necessity of retir- ing from the office of governor. There never was a man whose style of living was more perfectly unosten- tatious, temperate, and simple; yet the salary had been inadequate to the support of his family; and, at the end of two years, he found himself involved in debts which, for the moment, he saw no hope of paying, but by the sacrifice of a part of his estate. Let it be remembered, that this occurred in the year 1786; and let it be further remembered, that the salaiy was then very nearly what it still remains!

In consequence of Mr. Henry^s declining a re-elec- tion, the legislature proceeded to appoint his successor; and then, on the succeeding 25th of November, the house of delegates came to the following resolution:

^' Resolved, unanhnously, That a committee be ap- pointed to wait on his excellency the governor, and present him the thanks of this house, for his wise, pru- dent, and upright administration, during his last appoint- ment of chief magistrate of this commonwealth; assur- ing him that they retain a perfect sense of his abihties.

��debt, harassed by his creditois, with the certainty before him of dying poor and involved ; and leaving his posterity, if he have any, on the parish ! How forcibly does it remind us of that pathetic exclamation of Wolsey : —

" O Cromwell, Cromwell, Had I but serv'd my God, with half the zeal I serv'd my king, he would not, in mine age. Have left mc naked to mine enemies!"

Is it in reference to the warm and generous state of Virginia, that these reflections can be made, and made too with tmth and justice ! ! !

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