a brown camlet cloak. Under this
his clothing was black, something the worse for wear. The
expression of his countenance was that of solemnity and deep
earnestness. His mind appeared to be always absorbed in
what, for the time, occupied his attention. His forehead was
high and spacious, and the skin of his face more than
usually wrinkled for a man of fifty. His eyes were small and
deeply set in his head, but were of a bright blue color, and
twinkled much in their sockets. In short, Mr. Henry's
appearance had nothing very remarkable, as he sat at rest.
You might readily have taken him for a common planter, who
cared very little about his personal appearance. In his
manners he was uniformly respectful and courteous. Candles
were brought into the court-house, when the examination of
the witnesses closed; and the judges put it to the option of
the bar whether they would go on with the argument that
night or adjourn until the next day. Paul Carrington,
Junior, the attorney for the State, a man of large size,
and uncommon dignity of person and manner, and also an
accomplished lawyer, professed his willingness to proceed
immediately, while the testimony was fresh in the minds of
all. Now for the first time I heard Mr. Henry make anything
of a speech; and though it was short, it satisfied me of one
thing, which I had particularly desired to have decided:
namely, whether like a player he merely assumed the
appearance of feeling. His manner of addressing the court
was profoundly respectful. He would be willing to proceed
with the trial, 'but,' said he, 'my heart is so oppressed
with the weight of responsibility which rests upon me,
having the lives of three fellow citizens depending,
probably, on the exertions which I may be able to make in
their behalf (here he turned to the prisoners behind him),
that I do not feel able to proceed to-night. I hope the
court will indulge me, and postpone the trial till the
morning.' The impression made by these few words was such as
I assure myself no one can ever conceive by seeing them in
print. In the countenance, action, and intonation of the
speaker, there was expressed such an intensity of feeling,
that all my doubts were dispelled; never again did I
question whether Henry felt, or only acted a