er_.

[326] Peyton, _Hist. Augusta Co._ 211.

[327] Peyton, _Hist. Augusta Co._ 211.

[328] Randall, _Life of Jefferson_, i. 352.

[329] _Jour. Va. House Del._ 15.

[330] _Jefferson's Writings_, viii. 368; Wirt, 231; Girardin, in Burk.
_Hist. Va._ iv. App. pp. xi.-xii.; Randall, _Life of Jefferson_, i.
348-352.

[331] _Calendar Va. State Papers_, ii. 152.

[332] MS. _Hist. Va._

[333] _Jour. Va. House Del._ for Nov. 27.

[334] _Jour. Va. House Del._ for Dec. 21.

[335] For example, _Bland Papers_, ii. 51; Rives, _Life of Madison_,
i. 536; ii. 240, note.

[336] _Jour. Va. House Del._ 42.

[337] John Tyler, in Wirt, 233, 236.

[338] John Tyler, in Wirt, 237-238.

[339] Howe, _Hist. Coll. Va._ 222.

[340] MS.

CHAPTER XVII

SHALL THE CONFEDERATION BE MADE STRONGER?

We have now arrived at the second period of Patrick Henry's service as
governor of Virginia, beginning with the 30th of November, 1784. For
the four or five years immediately following that date, the salient
facts in his career seem to group themselves around the story of his
relation to that vast national movement which ended in an entire
reorganization of the American Republic under a new Constitution.
Whoever will take the trouble to examine the evidence now at hand
bearing upon the case, can hardly fail to convince himself that the
true story of Patrick Henry's opposition to that great movement has
never yet been told. Men have usually misconceived, when they have not
altogether overlooked, the motives for his opposition, the spirit in
which he conducted it, and the beneficent effects which were
accomplished by it; while his ultimate and firm approval of the new
Constitution, after it had received the chief amendments called for by
his criticisms, has been passionately described as an example of gross
political fickleness and inconsistency, instead of being, as it really
was, a most logical proceeding on his part, and in perfect harmony
with the principles underlying his whole public career.

Before entering on a story so fascinating for the light it throws on
the man and on the epoch, it is well that we should stay long enough
to glance at what we may call the incidental facts in his life, for
these four or five years now to be looked into.

Not far from the time of his thus entering once more upon the office
of governor, occurred the death of his aged mother, at the home of his
brother-in-law, Colonel Samuel Meredith of