e war, now raging
throughout the wide-extended continent, and in the
operations of which this commonwealth must bear so great a
part, and that from the events of this war the lasting
happiness or misery of a great proportion of the human
species will finally result; that, in order to preserve this
commonwealth from anarchy, and its attendant ruin, and to
give vigor to our councils and effect to all our measures,
government hath been necessarily assumed and new modelled;
that it is exposed to numberless hazards and perils in its
infantine state; that it can never attain to maturity or
ripen into firmness, unless it is guarded by affectionate
assiduity, and managed by great abilities,--I lament my want
of talents; I feel my mind filled with anxiety and
uneasiness to find myself so unequal to the duties of that
important station to which I am called by favor of my fellow
citizens at this truly critical conjuncture. The errors of
my conduct shall be atoned for, so far as I am able, by
unwearied endeavors to secure the freedom and happiness of
our common country.

I shall enter upon the duties of my office whenever you,
gentlemen, shall be pleased to direct, relying upon the
known wisdom and virtue of your honorable house to supply my
defects, and to give permanency and success to that system
of government which you have formed, and which is so wisely
calculated to secure equal liberty, and advance human
happiness.

I have the honor to be, gentlemen, your most obedient and
very humble servant,

P. HENRY, JR.

WILLIAMSBURG, June 29, 1776.[254]

FOOTNOTES:

[231] 4 _Am. Arch._ vi. 390.

[232] The journal of this convention is in 4 _Am. Arch._ vi.
1509-1616.

[233] 4 _Am. Arch._ vi. 406.

[234] 5 _Am. Arch._ i. 95-97. Campbell, in his _History of Virginia_,
645, 646, commits a rather absurd error in attributing this letter to
Thomas Nelson, Jr.

[235] 4 _Am. Arch._ vi. 1524.

[236] Randolph's address at the funeral of Pendleton, in _Va. Gazette_
for 2 Nov. 1803, and cited by Grigsby, _Va. Conv. of 1776_, 203, 204.

[237] _S. Lit. Messenger_ for 1842; thence given in Campbell, _Hist.
Va._ 647, 648.

[238] _Works of John Adams_, iv. 201.

[239] 4 _Am. Arch._ vi. 462.

[240] 4 _Am. Arch._ vi. 1524.

[241] _Works