Page:Sketches of the life and character of Patrick Henry.djvu/61

 must have been, was not sufficient to inspire him with a thirst for the learning of his profession. He had an insuperable aversion to the old black letter of the laio books, (which was often a topic of raillery with him,) and he was never able to conquer it, except for prepa- ration in some particular cause. No love of distinction, no necessity however severe, were strong enough to bind him down to a regular course of reading. He could not brook the confinement. The reasoning of the law was too artificial, and too much cramped for him. Whilst unavoidably engaged in it, he felt as if manacled. His mind was perpetually struggling to break away. His genius delighted in liberty and space, in which it might roam at large, and feast on every variety of intellectual enjoyment. Hence he was never profound in the learning of the law. On a question merely legal, his inferiors, in point of talents, frequently embarrassed and foiled him ; and it required all the re- sources of his extraordinaiy mind, to support the distinc- tion which he had now gained.

The most successful practice in the county courts, was in those days, but a slender dependance for a fa- mily. Notwithstanding therefore, the great addition to his business which we have noticed, Mr. Heniy seems still to have been pressed by want. With the hope of improving his situation, he removed, in the year 1 764, to the county of Louisa, and resided at a place called the Roundabout. Here I have learned nothing re- markable of him, unless it may be thought so, that he pursued his favourite amusement of hunting with in- creased ardour. " After his removal to Louisa,"' says my informant, " he has been known to hunt deer, fre- quently for several days together, carrying his provision with him, and at night encamping in the woods. After

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