Page:Sketches of the life and character of Patrick Henry.djvu/434

 410 SKETCHES OP THE

which made it necessary to present a petition to the assembly, and endeavoured to interest the leading mem- bers in its fate, by attempting to explain, out of doors, its merits and justice. But they could not understand him well enough to feel any interest either for him or his petition. In this hopeless condition he waited on Mr. Henry, and soon felt that he was in different hands. Mr. Ilemy, on his part, was so delighted with the interview, that he spoke of Mr. Gallatin every where in raptures — " he declared him without hesitation or doubt, to be the most sensible and best informed man he had ever conversed with — he is to be sure,^^ said he, " a most astonishing man^ The reader well knows how eminently Mr. Gallatin has since fulfilled this cha- racter; and considering the very disadvantageous cir- cumstances under which he was seen by Mr. Hehry, it is certainly a striking proof of the superior sagacity of the observer.

In relation to his political foresight^ the following anecdote is in Mr. Pope's own words: '^ In the year 1798, after Buonaparte had annihilated five Austrian armies, and flushed with victory, was carrying away every thing before him, I heard Mr. Henry in a public company, observe (shaking his head after his impres- sive manner)— It won^t all do! the present generation in France is so debased by a long despotism, they pos- sess so few of the virtues that constitute the life and soul of republicanism, that they are incapable of form- ing a correct and just estimate of rational liberty. Their revolution will terminate differently from what you expect— their state of anarchy will be succeeded by despotism; and I should not be surprised, if the very man at whose victories you now rejoice, should Ca^sar- like, subvert the liberties of his country. All who

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