Page:Sketches of the life and character of Patrick Henry.djvu/431

 of men, than Mr. Henry was for that of books — " Wliat, Mr. Wormley/' said he, "still buying books ?'^ " Yes/^ said Mr. Wormley, " I have just heard of a new work, which I am extremely anxious to peruse.^^ " Take my word for it,^^ said he, " Mr. Wormley, we are too old to read books: read men — they are the only volume that we can peruse to advantage.^^ But Mr. Henry might have perused both, with infinite advantage, not only to himself, but to his country, and to the world; and that he did not do it, may, it is be- lieved, be fairly ascribed, rather to the indolence of his temper, than the deliberate decision of his judgment.

Judge Winston says, that " he was, throughout life, negligent of his dress: but this, it is apprehended, ap- plied rather to his habits in the country, than to his appearance in public. At the bar of the general court, he always appeared in a full suit of black cloth, or velvet, and a tie wig, which was dressed and powdered in the highest style of forensic fashion; in the winter season, too, according to the costume of the day, he wore over his other apparel, an ample cloak of scarlet cloth; and thus attired, made a figure bordering on grandeur. While he filled the executive chair, he is said to have been justly attentive to his dress and appearance; " not being disposed to afford the occasion of humiliating comparisons between the past and present govern- ment."'

He had long since too, laid aside the offensive rusti- city of his juvenile manners. His manners, indeed, were still unostentatious, frank, and simple; but they had all that natural ease and unaffected gracefulness, which distinguish the circles of the polite and well bred. On occasions, too, where state and ceremony were ex-

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