debate on Mr. Henry's motion: "It is the substance, (says that author) of a statement made to the chief justice, (then an ardent youth, feeling an enthusiastic admiration of eloquence, and panting for war,) by his father, who was a member of the convention. Mr. Marshall (the father,) after describing Mr. Henry's speech, as being one of the most bold, vehement, and animated pieces of eloquence, that had ever been delivered; proceeded to state that he was followed by Mr. Richard Henry Lee, who took an interesting view of our real situation. He stated the force which Britain could probably bring against us, and reviewed our own resources and means of resistance. He stated the advantages and disadvantages of both parties, and drew from the statement, auspicious inferences; but he concluded by saying, "that admitting the probable calculations to be against us, we are assured in holy writ, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong; and if the language of genius may be added to that of inspiration, I will say with our immortal bard.

Thrice is he armed, who hath his quarrel just,

And he but naked, tho' locked up in steel
Whose conscience with injustice, is oppressed.""

Mr. Henry and Mr. Lee were first named on the committee appointed to prepare a plan for arming the militia, and putting the colony in a state of defence.

Mr. Lee was again appointed by the convention, one of the deputies to the Congress, which was to meet at Philadelphia in May; and the convention having provided for the election of new members of its own body, he was returned from Westmoreland county.

The removal of all the arms and other military stores, from the magazine at Williamsburg, by order of Governor Dunmore, had occasioned great excitement, throughout the colony of Virginia. During this state of feeling, intelligence of the battles of Lexington and Concord arrived. These were occasioned by an attempt of General Gage to secure the military stores de

posited at the latter place. A concerted design to disarm the colonies seemed evident, and the inhabitants were convinced that their subjugation was intended. The volunteer, or independent companies, in many parts of Virginia flew to arms. Those of the upper part of the Northern Neck of Virginia, actually commenced their march to Williamsburgh, and to the number of six or seven hundred men, arrived at Fredericksburgh on the same day with Mr. Lee, then on his journey to the continental Congress. A council of war was held, in which he was invited to preside.* But a letter having been received, stating that the governor had assured the citizens of Williamsburgh, that the powder, &c. should be restored, it was determined that the volunteers should return to their homes. Mr. Lee warmly approved of their activity and decision, and exhorted them, in animated terms, to continue to be ready to fight and fall in defence of their rights. They responded to his harangue, and gave cach other a pledge to re-assemble, and "by force of arms, to defend the laws, the liberties, and rights of this, or any sister colony from unjust and wicked invasion."

The second continental Congress met in Philadelphia, on Wednesday, the 10th May, 1775. The aspect of affairs was more gloomy than when that venerable body had assembled in the precedent November. Among the first acts of this session, was the following resolution: "That as the present critical situation of these colonies renders it highly necessary, that ways and means should be devised for the speedy and secure conveyance of intelligence throughout this continent, a committee of six be appointed to consider the best means of establishing posts for this purpose." Mr. Lee was one of this committee.†

* See Life of Washington vol. 2. p. 194.

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† See Jour. 109. The author mentions many committees on which Mr. Lee acted, to show that he was considered a man use. ful in "the dry details of business." His talents in this way have been undervalued; indeed, denied. See page 108 of this work.

On the second of June, a letter was laid before Congress, from the provincial convention of Massachusetts Bay, which stated the difficulties under which they laboured for want of a regular form of government, and requested Congress to favour them "with explicit advice, respecting the taking up and exercising the powers of civil government, &c." On the third instant, the foregoing letter was taken into consideration; and it was Resolved, "That a committee of five persons be chosen, to consider the same, and to report what in their opinion, is the best advice to give to that convention." One of the persons chosen, was Mr. Lee.*

On the same day four committees were chosen to draught papers. The committee whose business it was to draw up an address to the people of England, was composed of three members, viz. Messrs. Lee, R. R. Livingston, and Pendleton. On the tenth instant, it was Resolved, "That it be recommended to the several conventions and committees of the colonies, to collect all the saltpetre, sulphur, and other munitions of war, and to encourage the manufacture of saltpetre and gunpowder." Five persons were chosen on the committee appointed," to devise ways and means to introduce the manufacture of saltpetre, into these colonies;" one of whom was Mr. Lee.‡

On the fifteenth instant, it was Resolved, "That a general be appointed to command all the continental forces, to be raised for the defence of American liberty." George Washington was unanimously elected.§ On the sixteenth instant, a committee was appointed to draught a commission and instructions for the General. This committee consisted of Messrs. Lee, E. Rutledge, and J. Adams. On the following day the draughts of these papers were reported and adopted. The original draught of the commission by which General Wash

*Jour. p. 110. † Ib. p. 111. ‡ Ib. p. 116.

§ R. H. Lee therefore voted for him. In the life of Green, he is stated to have been unfriendly to General Washington.

Jour. p. 121.

ington was constituted general and commander in chief of the American armies of the revolution, with an endorsement of his name on the back of it, was long in the possession of Mr. Lee's family. On the nineteenth instant, it was Resolved, "That Messrs. Lee, E. Rutledge, and J. Adams be a committee, to prepare a form of a commission, for the major and brigadier generals and other officers in the army. ""* On the twenty-first, General Washington addressed certain queries to Congress, which being read and debated, it was Resolved, That a committee of five be appointed to prepare proper answers." Of this committee Mr. Lee was one.† On the sixth of July, it was Resolved, "That a letter be prepared to the lord mayor, aldermen, and livery of London, expressing the thanks of this Congress, for their virtuous and spirited opposition to the oppressive and ruinous system of colony administration adopted by the British ministry." It was ordered that the committee appointed to prepare an address to the people of Great Britain, do prepare this." On this day the address to the people of Great Britain was further considered and adopted.

It will be recollected, that at this time blood had been shed. The "immedicabile vulnus" (as Lord Chatham predicted it would be) had been inflicted! It had now become obvious, almost to every one, that war was inevitable, if freedom was worth the dangers through which alone it could be obtained and secured. There were few in America, and probably none in Congress, who made a question on this subject. One part of a great, and hitherto a prosperous empire, seemed now compelled to separate from the other! Even the firmest minds could scarcely bear the anticipations of the untried horrors of a civil war. Fellow-citizens, who a few years ago were united by similar interests; who boasted of the same freedom, and gloried in the same fame, were shortly to be arrayed in arms against each other. Fathers, sons,

* Jour. p. 122.

† Ib.

P. 124.

† Ib.

P. .148.

and brothers, were to fall, perhaps, by each other's hands. The deep gloom, the awful anxieties of such a crisis, can be, in some degree, felt by the reader. The dignity of the reproaches of this last address to the people of Britain; its bold and exalted sentiments of reliance on heaven, and the sword drawn in self-defence; the eloquence of its expostulations; the deep pathos of its parting warnings, do justice to the occasion, and to those in whose name the draughtsman wrote! This address is, indeed, an imperishable monument to the genius and eloquence of Mr. Lee.*

"The twelve united Colonies, by their Delegates in Congress, to the Inhabitants of Great Britain.

FRIENDS, COUNTRYMEN, AND BRETHREN!

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By these, and by every other appellation that may signate the ties which bind us to each other, we entreat your serious attention to this our second attempt to prevent their dissolution. Remembrance of former friendships, pride in the glorious achievements of our common ancestors, and affection for the heirs of their virtues, have hitherto preserved our mutual connexion`; but when that friendship is violated by the grossest injuries; when the pride of ancestry becomes our reproach, and we are no otherwise allied than as tyrants and slaves; when reduced to the melancholy alternative of renouncing your favour or our freedom; can we hesitate about the choice? Let the spirit of Britons determine.

*The family of Mr. Lee were long in possession of his original draught. The author learnt from a son of R. H. Lee, from whom he received the manuscripts of Mr. Lee, that this manuscript had been lost-that he had had it in his hands for many years-that it was in his father's hand-writing, with an endorsement, in the same writing, that it was the original manuscript draught drawn for the committee. This is the information the author has received. The son of Mr. Lee has written on the margin of the pages of the copy of the Journals from which he copies the address," written by R. H. Lee-the original in the possession of F. L. Lee." It has been seen that Mr. Lee was the chairman of the committee.