I hope such misstatings as may happen in your presence will be
rectified." Early in June, 1777, as well on account of his health as for
the purpose of rebutting the charges circulated against him, Mr. Lee
returned home; and having been elected to the assembly from
Westmoreland, he repaired to Richmond and demanded an enquiry into his
conduct.

Mann Page, Jr., and Francis Lightfoot Lee, owing to the proceedings of
the house of delegates against Richard Henry Lee, condemning him in his
absence without opportunity of defence, addressed a letter from
Philadelphia, dated June tenth, to the speaker, tendering the
resignations of their seats in congress.

The demand made by Richard Henry Lee for an enquiry into his conduct was
acceded to, and the senate on the occasion united with the house of
delegates. Several persons were examined, and Mr. Lee was heard in his
own defence. It appeared that he had first proposed to make the
alteration in the payment of his rents from money to tobacco at a fixed
valuation, as early as August, 1775, when the tenants on account of the
association could not sell their produce, and when but little paper
currency had as yet been issued for the war of Revolution, and,
consequently the alteration could not have been proposed for the purpose
of depreciating a currency which did not then, to any sensible extent,
exist. When in March, 1776, the alteration in the rents was actually
made, very little paper money had yet been issued. And it appeared that
in August of that year the tenants of Loudoun County themselves
petitioned the convention to have their money-rents changed to produce.
The truth was, as Mr. Lee declared, certain evil-disposed men hated him
for the same reasons on account of which he was devoted to destruction
in the British camp, which were, because he had faithfully served his
country, and, in concert with other generous friends to human liberty
and the rights of America, had contributed to the defeat of the enemy
and to the raising of America triumphant over its cruel and vindictive
foes.

As to the second charge, that Mr. Lee opposed the laying the proceedings
of the secret committee of congress before that body, for the purpose of
concealing embezzlement of the public money, it was well known that he
had no sort of connection whatever with any commercial business, and,
therefore, could not propose to himself any advantage from any such
source. But it was very probable that those