n who had deliberately
shot down a neighbor; who moreover lay under the odious
suspicion of being a Tory, and who was proved to have
refused supplies to a brigade of the American army."[430]

Passing now from these general descriptions to particular instances,
we may properly request Dr. Alexander to remain somewhat longer in the
witness-stand, and to give us, in detail, some of his own
recollections of Patrick Henry. His testimony, accordingly, is in
these words:--

"From my earliest childhood I had been accustomed to hear of
the eloquence of Patrick Henry. On this subject there
existed but one opinion in the country. The power of his
eloquence was felt equally by the learned and the unlearned.
No man who ever heard him speak, on any important occasion,
could fail to admit his uncommon power over the minds of his
hearers.... Being then a young man, just entering on a
profession in which good speaking was very important, it was
natural for me to observe the oratory of celebrated men. I
was anxious to ascertain the true secret of their power; or
what it was which enabled them to sway the minds of hearers,
almost at their will.

"In executing a mission from the synod of Virginia, in the
year 1794, I had to pass through the county of Prince
Edward, where Mr. Henry then resided. Understanding that he
was to appear before the circuit court, which met in that
county, in defence of three men charged with murder, I
determined to seize the opportunity of observing for myself
the eloquence of this extraordinary orator. It was with
some difficulty I obtained a seat in front of the bar, where
I could have a full view of the speaker, as well as hear him
distinctly. But I had to submit to a severe penance in
gratifying my curiosity; for the whole day was occupied with
the examination of witnesses, in which Mr. Henry was aided
by two other lawyers. In person, Mr. Henry was lean rather
than fleshy. He was rather above than below the common
height, but had a stoop in the shoulders which prevented him
from appearing as tall as he really was. In his moments of
animation, he had the habit of straightening his frame, and
adding to his apparent stature. He wore a brown wig, which
exhibited no indication of any great care in the dressing.
Over his shoulders he wore