[352] _Secret Jour. Cong._ iv. 44-63. [353] Rives, _Life of Madison_, ii. 122. [354] Rives, _Life of Madison_, ii. 119-120. [355] _Jour. Va. House Del._ 66-67. [356] Madison, _Letters_, etc. i. 264. [357] Rives, _Life of Madison_, ii. 238-239. [358] R. H. Lee, _Life of A. Lee_, ii. 321. [359] Sparks, _Corr. Rev._ iv. 168. [360] _Madison Papers_, ii. 623. [361] _Madison Papers_, 627. CHAPTER XVIII THE BATTLE IN VIRGINIA OVER THE NEW CONSTITUTION The great convention at Philadelphia, after a session of four months, came to the end of its noble labors on the 17th of September, 1787. Washington, who had been not merely its presiding officer but its presiding genius, then hastened back to Mt. Vernon, and, in his great anxiety to win over to the new Constitution the support of his old friend Patrick Henry, he immediately dispatched to him a copy of that instrument, accompanied by a very impressive and conciliatory letter,[362] to which, about three weeks afterwards, was returned the following reply:-- RICHMOND, October 19, 1787. DEAR SIR,--I was honored by the receipt of your favor, together with a copy of the proposed federal Constitution, a few days ago, for which I beg you to accept my thanks. They are also due to you from me as a citizen, on account of the great fatigue necessarily attending the arduous business of the late convention. I have to lament that I cannot bring my mind to accord with the proposed Constitution. The concern I feel on this account is really greater than I am able to express. Perhaps mature reflections may furnish me with reasons to change my present sentiments into a conformity with the opinions of those personages for whom I have the highest reverence. Be that as it may, I beg you will be persuaded of the unalterable regard and attachment with which I shall be, Dear Sir, your obliged and very humble servant, P. HENRY.[363] Four days before the date of this letter the legislature of Virginia had convened at Richmond for its autumn session, and Patrick Henry had there taken his usual place on the most important committees, and as the virtual director of the thought and work of the House. Much solicitude was felt concerning the course which he might advise the legislature to adopt on the supreme question then before the country,--some persons even fearing that he might try to defeat the new Constitution in Virginia by simply preventing the call of a state convention. Great was Washington's satisfaction on receiving from one of his correspondents in the Assembly, shortly after the session began, this cheerful report:--