ceton, who, having more than once heard
Patrick Henry, wrote out, with a scholar's precision, the results of
his own keen study into the great advocate's success in subduing men,
and especially jurymen:--

"The power of Henry's eloquence was due, first, to the
greatness of his emotion and passion, accompanied with a
versatility which enabled him to assume at once any emotion
or passion which was suited to his ends. Not less
indispensable, secondly, was a matchless perfection of the
organs of expression, including the entire apparatus of
voice, intonation, pause, gesture, attitude, and
indescribable play of countenance. In no instance did he
ever indulge in an expression that was not instantly
recognized as nature itself; yet some of his penetrating and
subduing tones were absolutely peculiar, and as inimitable
as they were indescribable. These were felt by every hearer,
in all their force. His mightiest feelings were sometimes
indicated and communicated by a long pause, aided by an
eloquent aspect, and some significant use of his finger. The
sympathy between mind and mind is inexplicable. Where the
channels of communication are open, the faculty of revealing
inward passion great, and the expression of it sudden and
visible, the effects are extraordinary. Let these shocks of
influence be repeated again and again, and all other
opinions and ideas are for the moment absorbed or excluded;
the whole mind is brought into unison with that of the
speaker; and the spell-bound listener, till the cause
ceases, is under an entire fascination. Then perhaps the
charm ceases, upon reflection, and the infatuated hearer
resumes his ordinary state.

"Patrick Henry, of course, owed much to his singular insight
into the feelings of the common mind. In great cases he
scanned his jury, and formed his mental estimate; on this
basis he founded his appeals to their predilections and
character. It is what other advocates do, in a lesser
degree. When he knew that there were conscientious or
religious men among the jury, he would most solemnly address
himself to their sense of right, and would adroitly bring in
scriptural citations. If this handle was not offered, he
would lay bare the sensibility of patriotism. Thus it was,
when he succeeded in rescuing the ma