coelo_.'" Whatever else Randolph may have said in his speech, whether
important or otherwise, was spoken under the disadvantage of a cold
and a hoarseness so severe as to render him scarcely able to "utter an
audible sentence." Furthermore, Patrick Henry "made no reply, nor did
he again present himself to the people."[475] There is, however, a
tradition, not improbable, that when Randolph had finished his speech,
and had come back into the room where the aged statesman was resting,
the latter, taking him gently by the hand, said to him, with great
kindness: "Young man, you call me father. Then, my son, I have
something to say unto thee: keep justice, keep truth,--and you will
live to think differently."

As a result of the poll, Patrick Henry was, by a great majority,
elected to the House of Delegates. But his political enemies, who, for
sufficient reasons, greatly dreaded his appearance upon that scene of
his ancient domination, were never any more to be embarrassed by his
presence there. For, truly, they who, on that March day, at Charlotte
court-house, had heard Patrick Henry, "had heard an immortal orator
who would never speak again."[476] He seems to have gone thence to his
home, and never to have left it. About the middle of the next month,
being too sick to write many words, he lifted himself up in bed long
enough to tell the secretary of state that he could not go on the
mission to France, and to send his dying blessing to his old friend,
the President. Early in June, his eldest daughter, Martha Fontaine,
living at a distance of two days' travel from Red Hill, received from
him a letter beginning with these words: "Dear Patsy, I am very
unwell, and have Dr. Cabell with me."[477] Upon this alarming news,
she and others of his kindred in that neighborhood made all haste to
go to him. On arriving at Red Hill "they found him sitting in a large,
old-fashioned armchair, in which he was easier than upon a bed." The
disease of which he was dying was intussusception. On the 6th of June,
all other remedies having failed, Dr. Cabell proceeded to administer
to him a dose of liquid mercury. Taking the vial in his hand, and
looking at it for a moment, the dying man said: "I suppose, doctor,
this is your last resort?" The doctor replied: "I am sorry to say,
governor, that it is. Acute inflammation of the intestine has already
taken place; and unless it is removed, mortification will ensue, if it
has not already commenced, whic