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may be necessary to correct the inadvertency of the author of the life of Patrick Henry.

Mr. Lee was a member of the leading committees of this session; to prepare an address to the king of England, to the people of Britain, and to the colonies. The committee for the first were Messrs. Lee, Adams, Johnson, Rutledge and Henry, they reported a draught of a petition on the twenty-first of October, which was recommitted for the purpose of embodying proposed amendments, and Mr. Dickenson was added to the committee. The amended petition was brought in on the twenty-fourth, and finally adopted. Mr. Lee is supposed to have been the writer of the original, and it is thought improbable that Mr. Dickenson in the interval between the two reports of the committee, could have written and proposed to them a new address, especially considering his sense of propriety and the character and abilities of the gentlemen of that committee. Messrs. Lee, Livingston, and Jay, were the committee to prepare a memorial to the people of British America and an address to the people of Great Britain; in the committee it was agreed that Mr. Lee should prepare a draught of the former, the first in order and importance, and that Mr. Jay should sketch the other, which was accordingly done. On the twenty-first of October, the committee reported a draught of the memorial; it was debated by paragraphs, and with some amendments approved. It has always been believed, that the memorial was written by Mr. Lee,

nor have any reasons to doubt it come to our knowledge. Messrs. Cushing, Lee and Dickenson were appointed to prepare an address to the people of Quebec, and it has often been said and never contradicted, that this address was written by Mr. Dick

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The committees to state the rights, and grievances of the several colonies and to devise the most effectual means, of carrying into effect the resolation of non-intercourse with Britain, were not less important than the foregoing committees, and of these Mr. Lee was also a member. He knew, that in the convulsion of states, courage and vigorous enterprize give safety; in such periods inactivity is certain destruction, while bold temerity is often crowned with success; he believed that to linger in doubt in such a state of affairs, might be ruin to their cause, and in this belief, he proposed the following resolutions. "Resolved, that, as we find the reason, declared in the preamble to the act of parliament for raising a revenue in America, to be for supplying the civil government, the administration of justice, and for protecting, defending and securing the colonies, the Congress recommend it to those colonies, in which it is not already done, to provide constitutional, competent and honourable support for the purposes of government and administration of justice, and that as it is quite unreasonable, that the mother country should be at the expense of maintaining standing armies in North America for its defence, and that administration

may be convinced, that this is unnecessary and improper, as North America is able, willing and under providence determined to defend, protect and secure itself, the Congress do most earnestly recommend to the several colonies, that a militia be forthwith appointed and well disciplined, and that it be well provided with proper arms.". This motion was not carried in the form here given, the manuscript from which it is taken is in the handwriting of Mr. Lee, with the following memorandum superscribed," A motion made in Congress by Richard Henry Lee to apprize the public of danger, and of the necessity of putting the colonies in a state of defence; a majority had not spirit to adopt it.??

Mr. Lee hailed with joy the spirit which pervaded the Suffolk, resolutions, and cheered under their sufferings the inhabitants of Boston; with the feelings of a man for whom property, and home, and life, have no allurements, when destitute of that which gives a charm to them all, the possession of liberty, he moved, "that the Congress are of opinion that it is inconsistent with the honour and safety of a free people, to live within the control and exposed to the injuries of a military force, not under the government of the civil power." The moderation of Congress, however, enabled them to see the evils, which had arisen to other governments from too much legislation, hence they rejected. Mr. Lee's resolution, believing that it was a subject on which the people of Boston ought to have an unprejudiced choice.

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When the first Congress dissolved itself on the twenty-sixth of October, 1774, the impression which remained on the public mind, concerning Richard Henry Lee was, that in him elegance of manners was united with the strictest honour, and unshaken fidelity; that he was proof against temptation; firm, upright and void of ambition; that with great ardour of feeling, the boldness of his spirit was under the curb of reason and discretion.

Not to have returned Mr. Lee to the next assembly of Virginia, in 1775, would have argued in the people of Westmoreland, blindness to their own interest or ignorance of his character: their unanimous suffrage, however, was a grateful tribute to his merit and gave him a renewed opportunity, of serving his country. The proposal of Patrick Henry, to arm the militia of the colony, met, with opposition in this assembly, but the coldest nature must have been animated, the firmest prejudice moved, even the strongest reason shaken, had reason been in opposition, by the rapid communication of the passion for liberty, through the eloquence of a Henry and a Lee. "Give me liberty, or give me death," the concluding sentiment of the mover of the resolution, rung through the assembly, and the cords of every heart were vibrating in unison; the choice, however, was not made, till his friend and supporter assured them on the faith of holy writ," that the race was not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, and if, (said Mr. Lee,) the

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language of genius may be added to inspiration, I will say with our immortal bard,

Thrice is he armed, who hath his quarrel just,
And he but naked, though locked up in steel,
Whose conscience with injustice is oppressed.

They then became impatient of speech, their souls were on, fire for action, the motion was carried, and Washington, Henry, and Lee, with others, appointed to prepare the plan called for by the resolution.

The second Congress met on the tenth of May, 1775; to it Mr. Lee was deputed by the convention. of his native state, having first received their thanks "for his cheerful undertaking and faithful discharge of the trust reposed in him during the session of the last congress." About this time the fond hope of peace and reconciliation, which the timid had hitherto cherished, fled; and preparation for a vigorous resistance was seriously desired by all. Washington had been called to the command of the armies, by the unanimous voice of Congress; and his commission and instructions were furnished by Mr. Lee, as one of a committee appointed for that purpose. To prepare munitions of war; to encourage the manufacture of saltpetre and arms; to devise a plan for the more rapid communication of intelligence, were all works of vast importance, and the wisdom of Congress availed itself of the knowledge and intellect of Mr. Lee, by appointing him on each of the committees to carry these measures into effect.

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