moment
that it is exchanged for anything 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 connections, 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 forever disjoined from Great
Britain. The old leaven still works. The fleshpots of Egypt
are still savory 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 yours affectionately,
PATRICK HENRY.[289]

Before coming to the end of our story of Governor Henry's second
term, it should be mentioned that twice during this period did the
General Assembly confide to him those extraordinary powers which by
many were spoken of as dictatorial; first, on the 22d of January,
1778,[290] and again, on the 28th of May, of the same year.[291]
Finally, so safe had been this great trust in his hands, and so
efficiently had he borne himself, in all the labors and
responsibilities of his high office, that, on the 29th of May, the
House of Delegates, by resolution, unanimously elected him as governor
for a third term,--an act in which, on the same day, the Senate voted
its concurrence. On the 30th of May, Thomas Jefferson, from the
committee appointed to notify the governor of his reelection, reported
to the House the following answer:--

GENTLEMEN,--The General Assembly, in again electing me
governor of this commonwealth, have done me very signal
honor. I trust that their confidence, thus continued in me,
will not be misplaced. I beg you will be pleased, gentlemen,
to present me to the General Assembly in terms of grateful
acknowledgment for this fresh instance of their favor
towards me; and to assure them, that my best endeavors shall
be used to promote the public good, in that station to