iiopes rested on the people's favour. He, therefore, adhered to them with unshaken fidehty. He retained their manners, their customs, all their modes of life, with religious caution. He dressed as plainly as the plainest of th^m; ate only the homely fare, and drank the sim- ple beverage of the country; mixed with them on a footing of the most entire and perfect equality, and con- versed with them, even in their own vicious and deprav- ed pronunciation.*
If this last were the effect of artful compliance, as has been strenuously affirmed, it was certainly caiTy- ing the system farther than dignity would warrant. Mr. Henry should have been the insti'uctor as well as the friend of the people, and by his example, have correct- ed, instead of adopting their errors. It is very certain, that by this course he disgusted many of those whom it was often his business to persuade; not because they considered it as a proof of vulgarity and ignorance, but because they regarded it as a premeditated artifice to catch the favour and affections of the people. That it was so, I am not disposed to believe. I think it much more probable, that those errors of pronunciation were the effect of early and inveterate habit, which had become incurable before he was informed of his mis- take. He had no occasion to resort to such petty arti- fices, either to gain or to hold the affections of the peo- ple. He held them by a much higher and a much firmer title; the simplicity of his manners; the bene-
- Governor Page relates, that lie once heard him express the following
sentiments, in this vicious pronunciation: " J\'aiieral parts is better tlian all the lamin upon yearth ,•" but the accuracy of Mr. Page's memory is ques- tioned in this particular, by the acquaintances of Mr. Henry, who say, that he was too good a grammarian to have uttered such a sentence, although they admit the inaccuracy of his pronunciation, in some of the words imput- ed to him.
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