people of Virginia, however, did not incline
to take that view of the subject. They had no faith any longer in
timid counsels, in hesitating measures. They believed that their most
important earthly rights were in danger. They longed for a leader with
vigor, promptitude, courage, caring less for technical propriety than
for justice, and not afraid to say so, by word or deed, to Lord
Dunmore and to Lord Dunmore's master. Such a leader they thought they
saw in Patrick Henry. Accordingly, even on his march homeward from
Doncastle's Ordinary, the heart of Virginia began to go forth to him
in expressions of love, of gratitude, and of homage, such as no
American colonist perhaps had ever before received. Upon his return
home, his own county greeted him with its official approval.[185] On
the 8th of May, the county of Louisa sent him her thanks;[186] and on
the following day, messages to the same effect were sent from the
counties of Orange and Spottsylvania.[187] On the 19th of May, an
address "to the inhabitants of Virginia," under the signature of
"Brutus," saluted Patrick Henry as "his country's and America's
unalterable and unappalled great advocate and friend."[188] On the 22d
of May, Prince William County declared its thanks to be "justly due to
Captain Patrick Henry, and the gentlemen volunteers who attended him,
for their proper and spirited conduct."[189] On the 26th of May,
Loudoun County declared its cordial approval.[190] On the 9th of June,
the volunteer company of Lancaster County resolved "that every member
of this company do return thanks to the worthy Captain Patrick Henry
and the volunteer company of Hanover, for their spirited conduct on a
late expedition, and they are determined to protect him from any
insult that may be offered him, on that account, at the risk of life
and fortune."[191] On the 19th of June, resolutions of gratitude and
confidence were voted by the counties of Prince Edward and of
Frederick, the latter saying:--

"We should blush to be thus late in our commendations of,
and thanks to, Patrick Henry, Esquire, for his patriotic and
spirited behavior in making reprisals for the powder so
unconstitutionally ... taken from the public magazine, could
we have entertained a thought that any part of the colony
would have condemned a measure calculated for the benefit of
the whole; but as we are informed this is the case, we beg
leave ... to assure that gen