of his duty, as one of the delegates from this state in general Congress.**

To which, Mr. Lee answered:

'MR. SPEAKER-I thank the House for this instance of candour and justice, which I accept the more willingly, as my conscience informs me, it was not undeserved. I consider the approbation of my country, sir, the highest reward for faithful services, and it shall be my constant call, to merit that approbation, by a diligent attention to public duty.

My thanks are particularly due to you, sir, for the obliging manner in which you have been pleased to signify the vote of the House, and I pray you, sir, to receive my grateful acknowledgments accordingly.'

The result of this investigation, having thus honourably dispelled the clouds, which, for a moment, obscured the political character of Mr. Lee, he was fully restored to the confidence of his fellow-citizens. In the course of the session, George Mason having resigned his appointment as a delegate, Richard Henry Lee was nominated, and appointed, in his room. The thanks of the Senate had, in the most flattering manner, been added to those of the House of Delegates."

Notwithstanding this honourable testimony of respect and gratitude, which the Assembly had borne to Mr. Lee's public services, those men who had injured, continued to hate him. So true is the remark of Tacitus, "proprium est humani ingenii, odisse, quem læseris." They continued, for some time, to slander him in private, and to harass him by their votes, at the annual election of delegates to Congress. Although they never afterwards succeeded in leaving him out, yet, on one occa

* It is said, that Mr. Wythe shed tears, while addressing Mr. Lee.

sion, (1778) they so far succeeded in the gratification of their malignity, as to put him lower in the delegation than he had before been, or ever afterwards was. The following letter of Patrick Henry to Mr. Lee, alludes to these circumstances. It will give the reader some idea of the vigour and vehemence which characterized his speeches.

"WILLIAMSBURG,

......

.... 18th, 1778. MY DEAR SIR-Both your last letters came to hand to-day. I felt for you, on seeing the order in which the balloting placed the delegates in Congress. It is an effect of that rancorous malice, that has so long followed you, through that arduous path of duty, which you have invariably travelled, since America resolved to resist her oppressors. Is it any pleasure to you, to remark, that at the same æra in which these men figure against you, public spirit seems to have taken its flight from Virginia? It is too much the case; for the quota of our troops is not half made up, and no chance seems to remain for completing it. The Assembly voted three hundred and fifty horse, and two thousand men, to be forthwith raised, and to join the grand army. Great bounties are offered, but I fear, the only effect will be, to expose our state to contempt, for I believe no soldiers will enlist, especially in the infantry. Can you credit it; no effort was made for supporting, or restoring public credit! I pressed it warmly on some, but in vain. This is the reason we get no soldiers. We shall issue fifty or sixty thousand dollars in cash, to equip the cavalry, and their time is to expire at Christmas. I believe, they will not be in the field before that time. Let not Congress rely on Virginia for soldiers. I tell you my opinion, they will not be got here until a different spirit prevails. I look at the past condition of America, as at a dreadful precipice, from which we have escaped, by means of the generous French, to whom I will be everlastingly bound by the most heartfelt gratitude. But I must mistake matters, if some of those men who traduce you, do not prefer

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the offers of Britain. You will have a different game to play now, with the commissioners. How comes Governor Johnson there? I do not see how it comports with his past life.

Surely Congress will never recede from our French friends. Salvation to America, depends upon our holding fast our attachment to them. I shall date our ruin from the moment that it is exchanged for any thing Great Britain can say, or do. She can never be cordial with us. Baffled, defeated, disgraced by her colonies, she will ever meditate revenge. We can find no safety but in her ruin, or at least, in her extreme humiliation, which has not happened, and cannot happen, until she is deluged with blood, or thoroughly purged by a revolution, which shall wipe from existence, the present king with his connexions, and the present system, with those who aid and abet it.*

For God's sake, my dear sir, quit not the councils of your country, until you see us for ever disjoined from Great Britain. The old leaven still works. The flesh pots of Egypt, are still savoury to degenerate palates. Again we are undone, if the French alliance is not religiously observed. Excuse my freedom. I know your love to our country, and this is my motive. May Heaven give you health and prosperity.

I am, your's affectionately,

PATRICK HENRY."

Mr. Lee returned to Philadelphia, in August '78, and resumed his seat in Congress, on the 12th of that month.

*This was written in moments of exasperation, in the midst of war and carnage. No man more thoroughly detested the French jacobins, who tried a revolution on these principles, than Patrick Henry. In the enjoyment of independence and peace, he acknowledged that England could, with George III. at her head, maintain the relations of peace and amity. He lived to hear of the reply of George III., when introduced to the first minister of the United States to his court. "I was the last man, sir, in my kingdom, to acknowledge the independence of your country; I shall be the last one in it, now, to question it." Considering the circumstances, it is worth all the splendid sayings recorded of kings.

་

On his return to that city, he had the pleasure of being introduced to the Marquis de La Fayette, and the Baron De Kalb, who had now generously proffered their services to Congress. With both of these distinguished foreigners he became intimate, and the friendship between them, ever afterwards continued. The reader will peruse the letters of the former, accompanying this Memoir, with that interest which his name inspires in all who remember his early and warm attachment to America. He still remembers her struggle, and rejoices in her prosperity.

These gentlemen were introduced to Mr. Lee, by Mr. Carmichael, secretary to the commissioners to France.

"SIR-As your brother, Arthur Lee, Esq., is not on the spot, I take the liberty, in consequence of his request, to inform you of his health; he is now at Burgos, in Spain, where he remains in consequence of the request of the Spanish ministry, to negotiate on behalf of the United States. From what he writes me, I hope he will at least get some money on our account. Your brother, the Alderman, as I am just informed by a gentleman from London, is well.* I take the liberty of introducing to your notice and protection the Marquis La Fayette, and Baron De Kalb. The former is of the first distinction, for birth, fortune, and family here: the other, of the highest reputation in the service, and strongly recommended by the Marshal De Broglio, and the Marshal De Mallabois. The former's family, are our strong support. His uncle is ambassador at the court of London, and from his representations, we hope to bring on a war, much sooner than it would otherwise happen. I hope he, (the Marquis,) will have every reason to think favourably of the country.

* William Lee, who had been an Alderman in London, and who was a commissioner in '79, of the United States, to the courts of Holland and Germany.

I have the honour to be, with much respect, your obedient servant,

Hon. R. H. LEE."

WILLIAM CARMICHAEL,

PARIS, MARCH, 1777.

In consequence of the friendship and intimacy which existed between Mr. Lee, and the Marquis La Fayette, the French officers always sought his acquaintance and patronage. The gratitude which Mr. Lee felt towards France for her assistance, and to the French officers who volunteered their services in our army, made him, on all occasions, their avowed and warm friend. He always supported their application for commissions, wherever they possessed merit to make it at all prudent to employ them. The author has found among Mr. Lee's manuscripts, many communications from the French, and other foreign officers who had come to America. They seemed to have conceived for him the most exalted respect, and to have considered him a friend not of America only, but of mankind.

When the Baron de Kalb returned to France, before the close of the revolution, he found in Paris two sons of Mr. Lee, who had been sent to France to finish their education. He took these youths with him on a visit to the "Hotel de Noailles," the residence of the Marquis La Fayette, and introduced them to the marchioness, in these words: "I have the honour to present to you, madam, the sons of Richard Henry Lee, of America ; the friend of the Marquis La Fayette, and of all the French officers, who have gone to America.”*

In the year 1777, there were numerous applications made to Congress, by foreign gentlemen for commissions in the army. In several instances, Congress found great difficulty, and suffered no little perplexity, in ex

* The author received this anecdote from one of the gentlemen, who was then a youth. He distinctly recollects the words of De Kalb, and the person and manners of the marchioness, and her kindness to him and his brother.