them at times tossed by the storms of faction, and again awed to the stillness of despotism. The love of rational liberty, thus excited, was strengthened by the beautiful portraits of her in the ancient authors, while defects in their systems were discovered by the strength of his own reflections, aided by the liberal views of the philosophic Locke. To studies calculated to form the character of a firm patriot, an enlightened statesman and an elegant scholar was his attention devoted, free from the restrictions which professional duties impose.

Ethics, in its most extensive meaning, and the philosophy of history were his favourite pursuits; the manuscript systems of which, compiled from his reading, or deduced from his own thoughts, are yet in existence to prove the force of his intellect, the closeness of his application, and the depth of his research, by the judicious views and lucid arrangement which these extensive notes of study exhibit. In the retirement of his brother's family, where he had access to a well chosen library, these were composed with persevering industry, between the time of his return from school in his nineteenth year, and that period when the cries of the frontier settlers, under the tomahawk and scalping knife of the Indians, pierced the hearts of the Virginians in the low countries, and the volunteers of Westmoreland invited him to lead them to protect the living and avenge the dead; this was in his twenty-third year.

Henceforth the sketch of Mr. Lee's life ought to be the annals of his country; his actions are recorded in the archives of the nation; yet allusion must too frequently supply, the full detail which the nature of this work excludes, and the development of causes be sought for in histories more diffuse.

France, in the war which preceded the peace of Aix, teaching the dire lesson, which England in our contest for Independence, with rancorous aptitude practised, had roused the savage Indian against the frontier colonists, and exterminating warfare was carried on, long after the ratification of peace by the courts of Versailles and Saint James. The terms of this peace were, to return to the situation which the parties held before the war; but this had never been accurately defined. The merit of having formed the Ohio company is claimed for the father of Richard Henry Lee; it was composed of the most influential men in the colony and rich merchants in London, for the two-fold purpose of commerce and extension of territory. The French, desirous of connecting their northern and southern colonies, claimed and seized territory which they considered the property of this company. Already had Virginia attempted to expel from her boundaries the invading foe, and to protect her sons from savage warfare, under the command of the father of his country, then a Major in her service; but routed at the Little Meadows, the retreating army was followed by the wives and orphans of the white settlers, and Virginia was trembling to her

centre, when General Braddock, with reinforcements from England arrived, and summoned the governors of the colonies to meet him at Alexandria, in Virginia, to devise means for the public safety.

Thither Mr. Lee led the troops of his native county, and tendered his own services with those of the gallant band who had volunteered in the cause of their country, but the blind courage of Braddock could not see that their assistance was necessary, or his insolent contempt of provincials induced the belief that it would be useless; his death in the first battle was the forfeit of his presumption or his ignorance, while Mr. Lee returned to his home and to those civil duties which have given him a place in history and his name to the remotest posterity.

As death approaches, the solicitude of a parent for his children's welfare frequently absorbs that which a rational creature might be supposed to feel for himself, when touching the confines of a new and untried existence; it is often so intense, that the excitement which it gives to the powers of the intellect has been thought the result of an approximation to the omniscient mind, in more intimate communion. To many in such moments, the integrity, the knowledge and the influence of Mr. Lee, so strongly recommended him, that even at this early age he was selected by them for the guardian of the fatherless and protector of the helpless. For such employments, and for the cultivation of his mind, his independent fortune afforded him sufficient leisure, till in 1757, the voice of

the people attracted the attention of the government, and he was appointed justice of the peace for the county; but his election to the house of burgesses, which happened in the same year, was derived from a more legitimate source of power. The petition of the other magistrates to the governor, praying, that the commission of Richard Henry Lee might be so dated, as to permit his election to the office of president of the court, before the time which his appointment legally allowed, proves if not his fitness for office, their conviction, that he had discharged his duty in an efficient and satisfactory manner. Not to mention, that the county courts of Virginia were then without limit to their jurisdiction, both in law and equity, might induce some to undervalue this appointment, but to develop their powers would be to digress from the subject of this memoir.

Want of confidence, induced by philosophic research and solitary study, or dissatisfaction, from the manner in which business was done in the house of burgesses, retarded Mr. Lee's advancement as an orator or leader of a party, but not his progress in knowledge or his attention to the interests of his constituents. With the resources and revenues of the colony, and the state of the treasury, he became thoroughly acquainted in the first session after his election, and the result of his investigation proved to him, that in the council his services would be more productive of advantage to his country. At present, he who would obtain an office ought to show him

VOL. IX.-C

self a good citizen, and able to discharge the duties of it, and condescend to no other solicitation; at that time patrons bestowed it, and it was requisite even for Richard Henry Lee to engage the interest of his friends in London in his behalf; but the only motive which he urges for this purpose is, "his laudable ambition to do his country service." The motive was weak, or the influence of his friends ineffectual, and he was left in the house of burgesses till conflict with his colleagues removed his natural diffidence, till the strength of his mind was excited by the important duties of his station, and he acquired for himself the well merited title of the Cicero of America.

The first debate in which he took an active part, was on the limitation of slavery; a subject which has since threatened to shake the union to its centre. The evil of slavery was entailed on us by our forefathers; it is the only stream of bitterness, from the fountain of kingly power, which has not been made sweet, by throwing into it the tree which the Lord God has shown to us, the tree of liberty. The classic purity, conciseness and strength of argument which this speech exhibits, may justify, perhaps, its introduction here, as the first and one of the few, which survive him who is said to have spoken a nation into existence.

The question before the house was, "to lay so heavy a duty on the importation of slaves as effectually to stop that disgraceful traffic;" and Mr. Lee