Page:Sketches of the life and character of Patrick Henry.djvu/331

 LIFE OF HENRY. SOT

have never been a favourite with that monarch, v^hose gracious smile he has had the happiness to enjoy /^ He pursued this contrast of situations and engagements, for fifteen or tw^enty minutes, without a smile, and without the smallest token of resentment, either in countenance, expression or manner. " You would almost have sworn,'^ says a correspondent, '' that he thought himself making his apology for his own awkwardness, before a full drawing-room at St. James'. I beheve there was not a person that heard him, the sufferer himself ex- cepted, who did not feel every risible nerve affected. His adversary mean time, hung down his head, and sinking lower and lower, until he was almost conceal- ed behind the interposing forms, submitted to the dis- cipline as quietly as a Russian malefactor, who had been beaten with the knout, till all sense of feeling was lost^^

The documents reported and adopted by the house of delegates, in consequence of the foregoing resolu- tions, are the following: — which are given because they are said to be from the pen of Mr. Henry.

" Resolved, That it is the opinion of this committee, th at an apphcation ought to be made, in the name and on behalf of the legislature of this commonwealth, to the congress of the United States, in the following words, to wit:

" The good people of this commonwealth,

" In convention assembled, having ratified the con- stitution submitted to their consideration, this legisla- ture has, in conformity to that act, and the resolutions of the United States in congress assembled, to them transmitted, thought proper to make the alTangement.*;

�� �