, and rid themselves of the scent of tobacco, before
they ventured to approach him.... They protested that they
had not smoked, or seen a pipe; and he invariably proved the
culprit guilty by following the scent, and leading them to
the corn-cob pipes hid in some crack or cranny, which he
made them take and throw instantly into the kitchen fire,
without reforming their habits, or correcting the evil,
which is likely to continue as long as tobacco will
grow."[441]

Concerning another of his personal habits, during the years thus
passed in retirement at Red Hill, there is a charming description,
also derived from the grandson to whom we are indebted for the facts
just mentioned:--

"His residence overlooked a large field in the bottom of
Staunton River, the most of which could be seen from his
yard. He rose early; and in the mornings of the spring,
summer, and fall, before sunrise, while the air was cool and
calm, reflecting clearly and distinctly the sounds of the
lowing herds and singing birds, he stood upon an eminence,
and gave orders and directions to his servants at work a
half mile distant from him. The strong, musical voices of
the negroes responded to him. During this elocutionary
morning exercise, his enunciation was clear and distinct
enough to be heard over an area which ten thousand people
could not have filled; and the tones of his voice were as
melodious as the notes of an Alpine horn."[442]

Of course the house-servants and the field-servants just mentioned
were slaves; and, from the beginning to the end of his life, Patrick
Henry was a slaveholder. He bought slaves, he sold slaves, and, along
with the other property--the lands, the houses, the cattle--bequeathed
by him to his heirs, were numerous human beings of the African race.
What, then, was the opinion respecting slavery held by this great
champion of the rights of man? "Is it not amazing"--thus he wrote in
1773--"that, at a time when the rights of humanity are defined and
understood with precision, in a country above all others fond of
liberty, in such an age, we find men, professing a religion the most
humane, mild, meek, gentle, and generous, adopting a principle as
repugnant to humanity as it is inconsistent with the Bible and
destructive to liberty?... Would any one believe that I am master of
slaves of my own purchase? I am drawn along b