mself up in his office for three days, during which
he did not see his family; his food was handed by a servant through
the office door."[421] Of all this preparation, not unworthy to be
called Demosthenic, the result was, if we may accept the opinion of
one eminent lawyer, that Patrick Henry "came forth, on this occasion,
a perfect master of every law, national and municipal, which touched
the subject of investigation in the most distant point."[422]

It was on the 14th of November, 1791, that the cause came on to be
argued in the court-house at Richmond, before Judges Johnson and Blair
of the Supreme Court, and Judge Griffin of that district. The case of
the plaintiff was opened by Mr. Counsellor Baker, whose argument
lasted till the evening of that day. Patrick Henry was to begin his
argument in reply the next morning.

"The legislature was then in session; but when eleven
o'clock, the hour for the meeting of the court, arrived, the
speaker found himself without a house to do business. All
his authority and that of his sergeant at arms were
unavailing to keep the members in their seats: every
consideration of public duty yielded to the anxiety which
they felt, in common with the rest of their fellow citizens,
to hear this great man on this truly great and extensively
interesting question. Accordingly, when the court was ready
to proceed to business, the court-room of the capitol, large
as it is, was insufficient to contain the vast concourse
that was pressing to enter it. The portico, and the area in
which the statue of Washington stands, were filled with a
disappointed crowd, who nevertheless maintained their stand
without. In the court-room itself, the judges, through
condescension to the public anxiety, relaxed the rigor of
respect which they were in the habit of exacting, and
permitted the vacant seats of the bench, and even the
windows behind it, to be occupied by the impatient
multitude. The noise and tumult occasioned by seeking a more
favorable station was at length hushed, and the profound
silence which reigned within the room gave notice to those
without that the orator had risen, or was on the point of
rising. Every eye in front of the bar was riveted upon him
with the most eager attention; and so still and deep was the
silence that every one might hear the throbbing of his o