ny of his predecessors, who
finished every hair. In like manner Mr. Henry, by a few
master-strokes upon the evidence, could in general stamp
upon the cause whatever image or character he pleased; and
convert it into tragedy or comedy, at his sovereign will,
and with a power which no efforts of his adversary could
counteract. He never wearied the jury by a dry and minute
analysis of the evidence; he did not expend his strength in
finishing the hairs; he produced all his high effect by
those rare master-touches, and by the resistless skill with
which, in a very few words, he could mould and color the
prominent facts of a cause to his purpose. He had wonderful
address, too, in leading off the minds of his hearers from
the contemplation of unfavorable points, if at any time they
were too stubborn to yield to his power of
transformation.... It required a mind of uncommon vigilance,
and most intractable temper, to resist this charm with which
he decoyed away his hearers; it demanded a rapidity of
penetration, which is rarely, if ever, to be found in the
jury-box, to detect the intellectual juggle by which he
spread his nets around them; it called for a stubbornness
and obduracy of soul which does not exist, to sit unmoved
under the pictures of horror or of pity which started from
his canvas. They might resolve, if they pleased, to decide
the cause against him, and to disregard everything which he
could urge in the defence of his client. But it was all in
vain. Some feint in an unexpected direction threw them off
their guard, and they were gone; some happy phrase, burning
from the soul; some image fresh from nature's mint, and
bearing her own beautiful and genuine impress, struck them
with delightful surprise, and melted them into conciliation;
and conciliation towards Mr. Henry was victory inevitable.
In short, he understood the human character so perfectly;
knew so well all its strength and all its weaknesses,
together with every path and by-way which winds around the
citadel of the best fortified heart and mind, that he never
failed to take them, either by stratagem or storm."[429]

Still further, in the way of critical analysis, should be cited the
opinion of a distinguished student and master of eloquence, the Rev.
Archibald Alexander of Prin