It now pressed upon them with overwhelming force, and when the organization of the House was completed, a long and silent pause followed, which Henry was the first to break. Rising slowly, as if borne down by the weight of his theme, he faltered through an impressive exordium, and then gradually launched forth into a vivid and burning recital of the Colonial wrongs. We have no space for the details of his speech; it is sufficient to say that the wonder-working power of this, as of his other speeches, of which no exact report has come down to us, is proved by the very exaggeration of the accounts that are given of them. As he swept forward with his high argument, his majestic attitude, the spell of his eye, the charm of his emphasis, the 'almost superhuman lustre of his countenance,' impressed even that august assemblage of the most eminent intellects of the nation with astonishment and awe. As he sat down a murmur of admiration ran through the Assembly. The Convention, now nerved to action, shook off the incubus which had weighed on its spirits; and Henry, as he had been proclaimed to be the first speaker in Virginia, was now admitted to he the greatest orator in America."—Oratory and Orators, p. 304.
"He was passionately addicted to the sports of the field. When the hour of school arrived he was scarcely ever to he found. He was in the forest with his gun; or over the brook with his angle rod. He would spend whole days and weeks in this occupation. His person is represented as having been coarse; his manner uncommonly awkward; his conversation very plain; his aversion to study invincible. No persuasion would bring him either to read or to work. On the contrary, he ran wild in the forest, like one of the aborigines of the country."—Wirt's Henry.
One of the best places to train sound, hardy, self-reliant, manly men; fit to face any difficulty, any danger; and to lead men against even a haughty nation. Plainly that life trained his body. It could not help it.
