Page:Sketches of the life and character of Patrick Henry.djvu/73

 his attic wit, his stores of rare knowledge, his capacity for business, and the real power of his intellect, not only raised him to great eminence in public, but ren- dered him a delightful companion, and a most valuable friend.

But Richard Hemy Lee was the Cicero of the house. His face itself, was on the Roman model; his nose Cassarean; the port and carriage of his head, leaning persuasively and gracefully forward; and the whole contour noble and fine. Mr. Lee was, by far, the most elegant scholar in the house. He had studied the classics in the true spirit of criticism. His taste had that dehcate touch, which seized with intuitive cer- tainty, every beauty of an author, and his genius that na- tive affinity which combined them without an effort. Into every walk of literature and science, he had carried this mind of exquisite selection, and brought it back to the business of hfe, crowned with every light of learning, and decked with every v^Tcath, that all the Muses, and all the Graces, could entwine. Nor did those light deco- rations constitute the whole value of its freight. He pos- sessed a rich store of historical and political knowledge, with an activity of observation, and a certainty of judg- ment, that turned that knowledge to the very best account. He was not a lawyer by profession; but he understood thoroughly the constitution both of the mother country and of her colonies; and the elements also, of the civil and municipal law. Thus, while his eloquence was free from those stiff and technical restraints, which the habits of forensic speaking are so apt to -generate, he had all the legal learning which is necessary to a statesman. He reasoned well, and declaimed freely and splendidly. The note of his voice was deeper and more melodious than

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