Richard Henry Lee to Patrick Henry

Having done myself the pleasure of writing to you by General Lee, I must now refer you to that letter,¹ and at present invite your attention to the most important concern of our approaching Convention.² Ages yet unborn, and millions existing at present, may rue or bless that Assembly, on which their happiness or misery will so eminently depend. Virginia has hitherto taken the lead in great affairs, and many now look to her with anxious expectation, hoping that the spirit, wisdom, and energy of her councils, will rouse America from the fatal lethargy into which the feebleness, folly, and interested views of the Proprietary governments, with the aid of Tory machinations, have thrown her most unhappily. The 12 years experience we have had of the perfidy and despotic intentions of the British Court, is still further demonstrated by the Kings speech, by the express declaration of every Ministerial Man in both houses of Parliament, by their infamous retrospective robbery Act, and by the intercepted letter from the Secretary of State to Governor Eden. All join in proving the design of the British Court to subdue at every event, and to enslave America after having destroyed its best Members. The Act of Parliament has to every legal intent and purpose dissolved our government, uncommissioned every magistrate, and placed us in the high road to Anarchy. In Virginia, we have certainly no Magistrate lawfully qualified to hang a Murderer, or any other Villain offending ever so attrociously against the State. We cannot be Rebels excluded from the Kings protection, and Magistrates acting under his authority at the same time. This proves the indispensable necessity of our taking up government immediately, for the preservation of Society, to effect the purpose of applying with vigor the strength of the Country to its present critical state; and above all, to set an example which N. Carolina, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and N. York will most assuredly, in my opinion, follow; and which will effectually remove the baneful influence of Proprietary interests from the councils of America. When this is done, give peremptory instructions to your Delegates to take every effectual step to secure America from the despotic aims of the British Court by Treaties of Alliance with foreign States, or by any means that shall be thought most conducive to that end. A slight attention to the late proceedings of many European Courts will sufficiently evince the spirit of partition, and the assumed right of disposing of Men & Countries like live Stock on a Farm, that distinguishes this corrupt age. St. Domingo, Louisiana, Corsica, & Poland indisputably prove this. Now Sir, I leave it with you to judge, whether, whilst we are hesitating about forming Alliance, Great Britain may not, and probably will not, seal our ruin by signing a Treaty of partition with two or three ambitious powers that may aid in conquering us³ - Upon principles of interest and revenge they surely will. When G.B. finds she cannot conquer us alone, and that the whole must be lost, will she not rather choose a part than have none, certainly she will, and to gain the necessary aid give up a part, and thus involve us, unaided, unassisted, in a very unequal destructive contest with three or 4 of the greatest States in Europe. Nothing in this world is more certain than that the present Court of London wd. rather rule despotically a single rod of earth, than govern the World under legal limitations. All this danger however, may be prevented by a timely alliance with proper and willing powers in Europe. Indeed we are a singular instance in Modern times, of a people engaged in war with a powerful Nation, without taking any steps to secure the friendship or even neutrality of foreign States - Leaving to our enemies the full opportunity of ingaging all. And we know with certainty that every maritime State in Europe has been interceeded with not to supply us with military Stores, and many States have been applied to for Troops to destroy us, as Russia, Hesse, Hanover & Holland. Is it not the most dreadful infatuation in us to remain quiet in this way and stir not until it is too late - But no State in Europe will either Treat or Trade with us so long as we consider ourselves Subjects of G.B. Honor, dignity, and the custom of States forbid them until we take rank as an independant people. The war cannot long be prosecuted without Trade, nor can Taxes be paid until we are enabled to sell our produce! which cannot be the case, without the help of foreign Ships, whilst our enemies Navy is so superior to ours. A contraband Sloop or so may come from foreign parts, but no authorized & consequently sufficiently extensive Trade will be carried on with us whilst we remain in our present undefined unmeaning condition. Our clearest interest therefore, our very existance as freemen requires that we take decisive steps now, whilst we may, for the security of America. It is most fortunate for us that the present quitrent revenue, with the impost on Tobo. & Tonnage will do more than defray all our expences of Civil government witht. fresh Taxes on the people, and the unappropriated lands will pay the expences of the war. The inclosed pamphlet on Government is the production of our friend John Adams.⁴ It is sensible and shews the virtue of the Man, at the same time that it proves the business of framing government not to be so diflficult a thing as most people imagine. The small scheme printed in hand bill I had written before I saw this work of Mr. Adams,⁵ and he agrees that the Council of State had better be a distinct body from the Upper house of Assembly, meaning the Upper house, their duration indeed may be too long, but it should be for a longer term than the lower house, in order to answer the purpose of an independant middle power. The sheriffs had better I think be appointed as now in Virginia, as by choice of the freeholders in each County.

The recommendation of Congress about taking Government is, as you see, of old date,⁶ and therefore it is said during the continuance of the present disputes. But it matters not much, for the Government taken up ought to be the best, whither it be for this, that, or another term of years. This I take to be the time & thing meant by Shakespeare when he says "There is a Tide in the Affairs of Men which taken at the Flood leads on to fortune - That omitted, we are ever after bound in Shallows" &c. Let us therefore, quitting every other consideration heartily unit in leading our countrymen to embrace the⁷ present flowing tide, which promises fair to waft us into the harbor of safety, happiness, liberty and virtue.

Perhaps some may endeavour to injure you on account of your concurrence in opinion with Mr. Glyn and others, relative to the right derived to the company of Wharton and others from their Indian grant of lands within the colony; but as I consider it meant only to say, that unappropriated lands had better be purchased from the Indians or prime occupants, not denying the propriety of paying dues accustomed to the colony in which such lands lie, and complying with its laws: the objection against such an opinion loses its force.

I am well pleased to hear that you are going into Convention, and I hope your powers will be fully exerted in securing the peace and happiness of our country, by the adoption of a wise and free government. I shall be impatient to know your thoughts on these great subjects, and hope you will inform me as early as possible.

Excuse the length of this letter, And believe me sincerely Yours,