this execrable commerce: and that this assemblage of horrors might want no fact of distinguished die, he is now exciting those very people to rise in arms among us, and to purchase that liberty of which he has deprived them, by murdering the people upon whom he also obtruded them."

In consequence of his great exertions to procure a declaration of Independence, and his able support of the freedom of his country, Mr. Lee was exposed to the more immediate and implacable hatred of the king of England and his ministers. It is asserted that, had the arms of England prevailed, the surrender of Washington and Lee would have been demanded as a preliminary to any treaty. The rudeness of individuals cannot be charged upon their nation, yet, that men, in the garb and rank of gentlemen, could not refrain from expressing, to the sons of Mr. Lee, then at school in St. Bees, "the hope that their father's head might soon be seen on Tower hill," may serve to show the light in which he was viewed by the royalists of that day. The desire of the enemy to cut off by any means so able a supporter of the rights of America, was only equalled by the solicitude of his fellow citizens to secure his safety and happiness.

During his absence from Congress, a British captain of marines, with a strong party of men from vessels of war then in the Potomac, broke into his house at midnight, and by threats and bribes endeavoured to prevail on his domestics to betray their master, for, it was understood that Mr. Lee was in the vici

nity. Honourably deceitful, the servants assured the party, that he had already set out for Philadelphia, although he was then only a few miles from his farm. The solicitude of his friends for his safety was evinced by their constraining him to forego the melancholy pleasure of a visit to General Charles Lee, then a prisoner in New York. Mr. Lee's reply to the invitation of the general, is marked with the brevity of deep feeling and with the language of manly grief, which swells the bosom, when it cannot serve a friend in the time of necessity.

"My dear friend,

"My feelings are not to be described. I would go to every extremity to serve my friend and the able friend of liberty and mankind. But here my power fails. I have not the smallest idea of personal danger, nor does this affect the present question.

"Farewell, my dear friend, may you be as happy as you deserve, then the cause of humanity will have nothing to fear for you.

RICHARD HENRY Lee."

The absence of Mr. Lee from Congress continued till the beginning of August, 1776; but immediately on his return, he was appointed on the most important committees. He took a distinguished part in preparing a plan of treaties with foreign nations, and in reconciling the people to the almost dictatorial powers of Washington; he furnished instructions for our mi

nisters to foreign states, and many of the letters addressed by Congress to these ministers, are the productions of his pen.

From his return to Congress till June, 1777, he continued to sustain the great weight of business which his talents and persevering industry drew upon him, and walked through the same luminous path of glory as in the former Congress. But in such dazzling brightness of fame, not to have cast some shade would have argued him more than man. The malice of the envious and the monarchists, or the meritorious vigilance of pure republicans, charged Richard Henry Lee with toryism, and disaffection to his country; his receiving rents in kind and not in colonial money, was the fact, on which they rested so odious an imputation. From whatever motive the accusation proceeded, it gained strength in its progress, and suspicion, which in such periods almost ceases to be a vice, caused it to be generally believed.

Regard for his reputation, as well as to his health, which continued anxiety for the welfare of his country had impaired, induced Mr. Lee to solicit leave of absence and to return to Virginia. He there demanded an inquiry by the assembly into the nature of the allegations against him. The senate attended, and their presence gave additional solemnity to the scene. The result was, that in pursuance of a resolution of the house, the venerable George Wythe, while the tear of deep feeling stood in his eye, addressed Mr. Lee in these words.

"It is with peculiar pleasure, sir, that I obey this command of the house, because it gives me an opportunity while I am performing an act of duty to them, to perform an act of justice to yourself. Serving with you in Congress, and attentively observing your conduct there, I thought that you manifested in the American cause a zeal truly patriotic; and as far as I could judge, exerted the abilities for which you are confessedly distinguished, to promote the good and prosperity of your own country in particular, and of the United States in general. That the tribute of praise deserved, may reward those who do well, and encourage others to follow your example, the house have come to this resolution: That the thanks of this house be given by the speaker to Richard Henry Lee, esq. for the faithful services he has rendered his country, in discharge of his duty as one of the delegates from this state in general Congress."

The candour and justice of the house in this investigation was not undeserved, for the motives of Mr. Lee were pure although the assertions had some foundation in truth. When the non-intercourse regulations were generally adopted, and the want of markets lessened the demand for produce, Mr. Lee, probably at the request of his tenants, received his rents in kind; but during the war the quantity of produce was diminished and the demand increased, while the issues of paper money by the states and Congress, impaired its real value; so that the contract became then more beneficial to Mr. Lee than rents in money

would have been. Inattention in one or both of the contracting parties, or the arduous duties of Mr. Lee in Congress, prevented any new agreement till the assembly, by omitting his name in the list of delegates, furnished a motive and leisure to him, to cause inquiry into the affair and to justify his conduct.

Mr. Lee, on the resignation of Mr. Mason, was appointed to fill the vacancy in Congress, and continued with his usual devotion to his country, to discharge all the duties of his station. His health, however, daily declined, and finally forced him, during the sessions of 1778 and 1779, to withdraw at intervals from the overwhelming business which he could not longer sustain. It has been remarked by Dr. Shippen, in whose house he lodged, that " Mr. Lee's labours were not confined to those subjects referred to his consideration, and that there was a constant progression of members repairing to his chambers to consult about their reports."

No subject of more importance to the United States had yet come before Congress, than the instructions necessary to be given to ministers, who were to negotiate treaties with foreign powers. The firmness and enlightened views of Mr. Lee were peculiarly conspicuous in the debates on that subject. No sectional jealousy nor individual state interest could affect his mind: the prosperity of the east, the grandeur of the west, received alike his solicitude and care. The right to the fisheries, and navigation of the Mississippi, were by him thought necessary to