Page:Sketches of the life and character of Patrick Henry.djvu/80

 o6 SKETCHES OF THE

veneration. They regarded him as a sturdy and wide spreading oak, beneath whose cool and refreshing shade they might take refuge from those beams of aristocracy, that had played upon them so long, with rather an un- pleasant heat.

After this victorious sally upon their party, the former leaders of the house, were not very well disposed to look with a favourable eye, on any proposition which he should make. They had less idea of contributing to foster the popularity and pamper the power of a man, who seemed born to be their scourge, and to drag down their ancient honours to the dust. It was in this un- propitious state of things, after having waited in vain for some step to be taken on the other side of the house, and when the session was within three days of its expect- ed close, that Mr. Henry introduced his celebrated resolutions on the stamp act.

I will not withhold from the reader a note of this transaction from the pen of Mr. Heniy himself. It is a curiosity, and highly worthy of preservation. After his death, there was found among his papers one sealed, and thus endorsed: " Inclosed are the resolutions of the Virginia assembly in 1765^ concerning the stamp act. Let my executors open this paper. ^^ Within was found the following copy of the resolutions, in Mr. Henry^s hand-writing.

Resolved, That the first adventurers and settlers of this, his majesty's colony and dominion, brought with them, and transmitted to their posterity, and all other his majesty^s subjects, since inhabiting in this, his ma- jesty's said colony, all the privileges, franchises, and im- munities, that have at any time been held, enjoyed, and possessed, by the people of Great Britain.

Resolved, That by two royal charters, granted by

�� �