Page:Sketches of the life and character of Patrick Henry.djvu/71

 that expression of unclouded intelligence and extensive reach, which seemed to denote him capable of any thing, that could be effected by the power of the human mind. His mind itself, was of a very fine order. It was clear, comprehensive, sagacious and correct; with a most acute and subtle faculty of discrimination ; a fertility of expe- dient which could never be exhausted; a dexterity of address which never lost an advantage and never gave one; and a capacity for continued and unremitting appli- cation, which was perfectly invincible. As a law3/-er and a stateman, he had few equals; no superiors. For par- liamentary management, he was without a rival. With all these advantages of person, manners, address and in- tellect, he was also a speaker of distinguished eminence. He had that silver voice^ of which Cicero makes such frequent and honourable mention — an articulation un- commonly distinct — a perennial stream of transparent, cool and sweet elocution; and the power of presenting his arguments with great simplicity, and striking effect. He was always graceful, argumentative, persuasive: never ve- hement, rapid, or abrupt. He could instruct and delight ; but he had no pretensions to those high powers which are calculated to  shake the human soul.^ George Wythe, also, a member of the House, was confessedly among the first in point of abilities. There is a story circulated, as upon his own authority, that he was initiated by his mother, in the Latin classics.! Be this as it may, it is certain that he had raised upon the original foundation, whencesoever acquired, a supeistructure of ancient literature which has been rarely equalled in this coun- try. He was perfectly familiar w ith the authors of Greece


 * Vox Argnntea, see the Bi-utus, [ic.sum.

1 1 heard it from the late judge Nelson, his relation.

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