Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 09.djvu/842

* HENRY. 778 HENRY. in some of the editions. For many years this was the stand;ird c-omiiientary on the Kible. It lias been often reprinted ; e.g. hy Burder and Hughes, with additional matter Iroui Henry's nianu.scripts (6 vols., London, 1811). Besides his conmien- tary, Henry published numerous volumes, as well as sermons and tracts. His miscellaneous worlcs were republished in London in 1830. For his life, consult: Williams (London, 1805) ; DUirics and Letters of Philip Henry (his father), «dited by Lee (ib., 1883). HENRY, Patrick (1730-99). An American orator and statesman, born in Hanover County, Va., May 29, 1730. His father was a native of Scotland, and a cousin of Robertson, the cele- brated historian. Patrick was unpromising as a scholar, and when he was fifteen years old he va.s placed to work with a country tradesman. .fter a year's apprenticeshi]) he was set up in business -n-ith his brother William, but before the end of a year the undertaking had to be aban- doned. He was slovenly in dress, and showed no aptitude for business of any kind. At the time that he married the daughter of a farmer, a Miss Sheltnn, his business had collapsed, and he was ■wretchedly poor. He next tried farming for two years, but had neither perseverance nor knowl- edge, and after one more of many failures he opened a store and failed within the next three years. When no customers appeared he would elose his store and go fishing. But at intervals he read such books as he could find, and man- aged to gain a fair idea of Latin and Greek. Having utterly failed in farming and in trade, be made an attempt at the law, and after a period of reading said to have extended over only one month, had the boldness to ask for license to practice. This was granted in 1700, on the condition that he would extend his studies before undertaking to practice. In 1703 he leaped into immediate prominence in his profession. He was then engaged in the place of a more experienced advocate, who refused to continue the defense in a celebrated case known as the 'Parson's Cause,' and by an unexpectedly brilliant speech aroused such intense excitement that the au- dience seized him and bore him in triumph on their shoulders. (See Parson'.s Cause.) There- after his practice was enormous and his pros- perity assured. But he was not satisfied with his legal profession. In 1705 he became a mem- ber of the House of Burgesses. At the critical period of the Stamp Act excitement he was com- paratively luiknown to the Assembly, and the rich planters were scandalized at his presump- tion in offering to the House the brief resolutions which set forth that the burgesses and the Gov- ernor had the exclusive right and power to lay taxes and imposts upon the people of the Colony, and that not alone the Stamp Act, but all acts of Parliament which encroached upon the rights of the Colonies, were unconstitutional and there- fore void. A storm of opposition from the con- servative members naturally followed, and the resolutions were denounced as extreme, impolitic, and dangerous. In the debate he startled even the radicals by his historic outburst: "Ciesar had his Brutus, Charles the First his Cromwell, and George the Third — " [here he was interrupted by the presiding oflicer and members with cries of "Treason! treason!"] — "may profit by their example," calmly said the orator, completing the sentence, adding, "If this be treason, make the most of it." The resolutions were adopted by a very small majority. He was now a power in the Colony, replaced the vacillating planters in the leadership, and became the authorized representative of the people against the aristo- cratic element. In opposition to Parliamentary imposts and in preparing the articles of as- sociation to discourage the use of British mer- chandise, Henry was one of the leaders. He continued his legal business, and, though deficient in legal education, was wonderfully successful before juries. At this time he took an active part in the movement for securing the rights of the Dissenters, which finally culminated in the Religious Freedom Act of 1785, by which the Church of England was disestablished in Vir- ginia. Patrick Henry, with Jeft'erson and others, was ready to precipitate an open rupture with England. He was especially active in the House of Burgesses, and in May, 1774, took a leading ■ jjart in those acts of the House with reference to the Boston Port Bill which led to its immediate dissolution by Lord Dunmore. Upon the fol- lowing day (Jlay 27th) was held the historic meeting of the former burgesses in the Raleigh Tavern, as a result of which came the first Revo- lutionary convention of Virginia (August, 1774), of which Henry was a member, and by which he was chosen a delegate to the first Continental Congress. In that famous assembly he was hailed as the champion of constitutional liberty, and his wonderful eloquence was at once recog- nized. He served on the Conmiittee on Trade and Manufactures, on the committee to prepare an address to the King, and on that appointed to draft a statement of the rights of the colonists. Returning thence to Virginia, his prominence was still further enhanced by his work in the Provincial Convention of March, 1775, where he introduced resolutions to organize the militia and put the Colony in an attitude of defense, which met with great opposition. He replied by a speech in which, according to one version, occur the words: "There is no retreat but in submission and slavery. Our chains are already forged. Their clanking may be heard on the plains of Boston. The next gale that sweeps from the north will bring the clash of resounding arms. Our brethren are already in the field. Why stand we here idle? What is it that gentle- men wish ? What would they have ? Is life so dear or peace so s«cet as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it. Almighty God! I know not what course others may take, but as for me, give me liberty or give me death ! " Without an opiiosing voice the resolutions were adopted, and a committee, with Henrj' as chair- man, was appointed to prepare a plan for the defense of the province. Soon thereafter the royal Governor, Dunmore, caused to be removed on shipboard much of the province's supply of powder. The peo])le took up anus, and being told that the powder would be returned, they at once disbanded. Henry, however, seized the favorable moment, gathered a force of militia, and marched upon Villiamsburg to demand the powder or compensation. An agent of Dunmore's met him and paid him £300 for the powder. Henry was denounced for stirring up sedition : but it was too late to talk of loyalty: the province was aroused, and in Jime Dunmore took refuge on a man-of- war. A convention assembled at Richmond and appointed a committee of public safety with most