CHAPTER III. THE repeal of the stamp act having restored harmony between the mother country and the colonies, particularly the southern colonies, nothing occurred, during the short administration of Lord Rockingham, to excite any sensation sufficient to call into public action the talents of the leading men in Virginia. Mr. Lee, though now living more retired from public employment, still gave a close attention to the political affairs of Great Britain. He cultivated his acquaintance with gentlemen of intelligence in England, and obtained from them the earliest information on American affairs. This information he was active in communicating to his fellowcitizens by letters, conversation, and by publications. Feeling a conviction that the opinions of British statesmen, no less than the wants of the British exchequer, would lead to a repetition of the late violation of the rights of the colonies, he endeavoured to prepare the minds of the most influential men for effectual resistance. His biographer, in tracing Mr. Lee's public course during the years 1765 and 1766, had no appropriate place in which to mention an incident in his life, of great and durable interest to himself, and of no little moment to the public good. This was his first acquaintance with the celebrated patriot and orator, Patrick Henry. From the character and principles of these two men, the reader will have anticipated the mention of the fact, that a mutual admiration of each other quickly followed, and that a warm friendship and hearty coalition on public questions soon existed between them. This was the certain consequence of the intercourse of men of such congenial feeling and similar principles. This friend ship and harmony of principle existed until their death. Two such men, during the period which followed, acting in close and active concert, must have had a powerful influence on the public opinions and proceedings of their native state. And, indeed, to the genius, integrity, and eloquence of these great men may be attributed, in a very considerable degree, the confessedly distinguished part which Virginia acted in the revolution. They aroused their fellow-citizens to a sense of their danger; they cheered and animated them in the dark hours of war and desolation; suggested the most efficient means of resistance; and directed the patriotism, they found so generally existing, to the wisest ends. The only subjects on which they differed, in after times, were the payment of British debts, and the necessity and propriety of making paper money a legal tender for debts contracted on the expectation of payment in coin. This difference, however, produced no abatement in their friendship, while it gave occasion to debates in the Virginia assembly, which exhibited as splendid and beautiful specimens of eloquence, as ever excited the admiration and controled the proceedings of any deliberative body, ancient or modern. Mr. Henry observed to a son of Richard H. Lee, who had the pleasure of serving a session some years afterwards with him, "your father, sir, and myself always agreed upon the great principles of freedom. We differed on some questions of internal policy, but liberty we alike fondly loved." He was not a member of the Assembly of Virginia when Mr. Lee moved the address to the king, the memorial to the lords, &c. which have been mentioned. Mr. Lee, therefore, had not his aid in carrying, through the House of Burgesses, that measure which was indisputably (at least south of Massachusetts) the first legislative opposition to the right of the mother country to tax America. Mr. Lee, although a member of the House of Burgesses in 1765, had not reached Williamsburg when Mr. Henry introduced his famous resolutions against the stamp act. He, however, heartily concurred in the propriety of , adopting them, although doubts were entertained by all the older members of the house. Both of these men were remarkable, for that decision of character which led them, thus early, through opposition and danger, to advise resistance to the mother country. The internal concerns of the colony, at this time, engaged the attention of the House of Burgesses. The leaders of the patriotic party were anxious to weaken, by all the means in their power, the weight and influence of the court party. The office of speaker of the house and treasurer of the colony had long been united in the same person. This circumstance had always given great influence to the person holding these places, who was always an adherent of the British court, Mr. Lee, therefore, determined to make an effort to effect the separation of the two offices, and accordingly moved, "that the two offices be now separated, and be henceforth filled by different persons." His motion met with vehement opposition; he resolutely urged it, Mr. Henry advocated it, and, after a long and animated debate, the motion was adopted. This measure essentially aided the popular cause, and removed a serious obstacle to the patriotic resistance made, shortly afterwards, to the further violation of American rights. At this time the great earl of Camden, then Lord High Chancellor of England, was known to be opposed to the principles on which the English ministry were endeavouring to impose taxes upon America. He was known, too, to cherish the most friendly sentiments towards the American people, and had always been a supporter of the popular features of the British constitution. The great and commanding talents of Lord Camden, exerted in the support of such sentiments, had endeared him to the colonies, and rendered him more popular than even Lord Chatham. With a view to strengthen the good opinion, and to ensure the exertions of this eminent statesman and lawyer in behalf of America, Mr. Lee suggested, to his friends in Westmoreland, the idea of procuring a meeting of the people of the county, to ex press their thanks to Lord Camden for his opposition to the stamp act, and to ask his aid in opposing all similar attempts. He also proposed to them to subscribe money enough to procure a likeness of Lord Camden, and to ask his lordship to sit for it. It was intended to place this portrait in the court-house of the county. A meeting was called and numerously attended, and Mr. Lee's propositions were unanimously adopted. The requisite sum was quickly raised, and Mr. Lee was appointed to address Lord Camden, and inform him of the resolutions of that meeting. The following is his letter to that nobleman. ઃ WESTMORELAND, VA. "MY LORD-Wonder not, that the people, in this remote part of his majesty's dominions, revere your lordship's character; and since there is no part of the British Empire, which does not feel the influence of Lord Camden's virtues, America in particular, must ever regard your lordship, as the patron of its liberty, best possession of human nature. Prompted by gratitude, they entreat your lordship to accept their humble thanks, and to favour them with permitting your likeness to be taken, that it may remain a memorial to posterity, of their veneration, and of the inestimable benefit derived to British America, from your lordship's protection. I have the honour to be, my lord, your lordship's most obedient and devoted servant, RICHARD HENRY LEE. To the Rt. Hon. CHARLES LOrn Camden, Mr. Lee was appointed to carry into effect the wishes of the people. He accordingly wrote to Mr. Edmund Jennings, a gentleman in London, of great virtue and respectability, and a friend to the colonies. His letter to that gentleman, while it shows the devotion of Mr. Lee, to the rights of America, evinces his predilection for the natives of his country. In this letter is contained, the earliest mention, which the author recollects to have seen, of our famous countryman, West. CHANTILLY, VA. JUNE 1, 1767. "DEAR SIR-I hope your goodness will pardon me, for the trouble I am going to give you. The gentlenfen of Westmoreland, having a great veneration for the character of Lord Camden, particularly for his honourable support of America's liberty against the stamp act, wish much to have his lordship's picture to grace their court house. For this purpose, they have paid into my hands 761. Ss. for which, I enclose you two bills of exchange, and beg the favour of you, to wait on Lord Camden, with the enclosed letter; which intreats his lordship's permission, to the taking of his picture. This being obtained, I must leave to your judgment, the choice of a limner, only observing that the gentlemen would prefer Reynolds, unless you think his difference in price, greater than his superiority in painting. Indeed, I cannot help observing for my part, that I think Mr. West being an American, ought to be preferred in this matter, if his skill should approach near to that of the best limner, as I am told it does. I must again entreat your forgiveness, for troubling you in this affair. I thought you would not be displeased, at this testimony of our esteem for the patriot, whose virtue has saved our common country. I am with much esteem, dear sir, your affectionate and obedient servant, To EDMUND JENINGS, RICHARD HENRY LEE. at his Chambers, Lincoln Inn, London." Mr. Jenings delivered Mr. Lee's letter, and the resolutions of the people of Westmoreland, to Lord Camden, who promised to comply with their request; but he deferred it so long, and on such pretences, that Mr. Jenings thought, that he deemed it prudent not to VOL. I.-G |