Page:Sketches of the life and character of Patrick Henry.djvu/415

 means. Upon the whole, it would seem more liberal, more consonant to the high character of Mr. Henry's mind, with his time of life, and with that distant and feeble connexion which he now considered himself as holding with politics, and indeed with the world — to be- lieve that he looked, without passion or prejudice of any kind, on the course of the administration, approving or condemning, according to his own judgment, without reference to the pleasure or opinions of either side: or if we must suppose him under personal influence of any kind, would it have been unpardonable in him, to have been influenced by the opinions of that man, who had ever stood first both in his judgment and affections, and whom all America acknowledged as the father of his country?

Other natural causes too, may be fairly considered as having united their influence in producing this differ- ence of political sentiment, between Mr. Henry and the majority of his state. In the year 1797, his health began to decline, and continued to sink gradually to the moment of his death.* He had now passed, through a stormy life to his sixtieth year, and the vigour of his mind, exhausted more by past toils than by years, began to give way. Those energies which had enabled him to brave the power of Great Britain, and to push for- ward the glorious revolution which made us free, existed no longer in their original force. The usual infirmities of age and disease, began to press, sorely and heavily, upon his sinking spirits. He was startled by that clash of contending parties, which rang continually around him, and invaded, with perpetually increasing horror, the stillness of his retreat. His retirement cut him offi

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