h might amount to a prohibition, have been hitherto defeated
by his majesty's negative; thus preferring the immediate advantage of a
few British corsairs to the lasting interests of the American States and
to the rights of human nature deeply wounded by this infamous practice."

In consonance with these opinions, the convention adopted the following
resolution: "After the first day of November next we will neither
ourselves import, nor purchase any slave or slaves imported by any other
person, either from Africa, the West Indies, or any other place."

Mr. Jefferson's pamphlet displays a thorough knowledge of the history
and constitutional rights of the colony; it breathes a fiery spirit of
defiance and revolution, and the rhythmical splendor of elevated
declamation in some of its passages is hardly inferior to Junius. If
some of its statements and views are extravagant or erroneous, yet it is
bold, acute, comprehensive, luminous, and impressive. This pamphlet, it
is said, found its way to England, was taken hold of by the opposition,
interpolated a little by Edmund Burke, so as to make it answer
opposition purposes, and in that form it ran through several editions.

FOOTNOTES:

[572:A] May twenty-fourth.

[573:A] The Raleigh tavern, a wooden house, is upwards of a hundred
years old. There was formerly a bust of Sir Walter Raleigh in front of
the house. The ball-room in the Raleigh was styled "The Apollo." There
was a tavern in London called "The Apollo" in 1690.

[575:A] August eleventh.

[575:B] Life and Works of John Adams, ii. 360.

[575:C] To be found in Amer. Archives, published by Congress, fourth
series, i. 690, and in the Congress edition of Mr. Jefferson's works.
See also Memoir and Correspondence of Jefferson, 100, 116.

CHAPTER LXXV.

Richard Henry Lee--Congress at Philadelphia--Henry--Proceedings
of Congress--Washington--Military Spirit in Virginia.

RICHARD HENRY LEE was born at Stratford, on the Potomac, January 20th,
1732, his father being Thomas Lee, and his mother, Hannah, daughter of
Colonel Ludwell, of Greenspring, near Jamestown. Richard, second son of
Richard Lee, was of the council, and an adherent of Sir William Berkley;
and Thomas Lee, third son, was some time president of the council. He
was one of the majority of that body who persecuted the dissenters.
Richard Henry Lee's maternal relations were conspicuous for their
wealth, influence, and public stations. Colon