THE Biography of this most distinguished and honored Statesman is eminently fraught with encouragement and hope for aspiring youth—especially for those who enter upon the stage of active life, unportioned and unheralded by the partial voice of powerful friends and kindred. Henry Clay was one of the many among our eminent men who, besides the disadvantages of poverty and obscurity, were fated to encounter that of early orphanage. Yet his subsequent career emphatically teaches that no one who is conscious of possessing the requisite qualities need ever apprehend that humility of origin or obscurity of position will deprive him of opportunities to serve and honor his country. The work here presented is intended to trace clearly the career of Mr. Clay, from his entrance on the stage of public life down to the period of his death—mainly by the right of his own lofty, persuasive, and impassioned eloquence. Mr. Clay’s parliamentary efforts, clear, direct, and vigorous, embody all the illustration that is needful to their full understanding—the great importance, variety, and indestructible interest of the topics he generally discussed—the character and ability of the orator, the direct and exact bearing of his arguments on the controversies and interests of the times—all combine to render his speeches among the most valuable contributions of Patriotism and Genius to the enlightenment and elevation of the American people. LEARY & GETZ, Publishers, _No._ 138 _North Second Street_, _Philadelphia_. * * * * * LIVES OF GREAT AND CELEBRATED CHARACTERS, _Of all Ages and Countries_; COMPRISING HEROES, CONQUERORS, STATESMEN, AUTHORS, ARTISTS, EXTRAORDINARY HUMORISTS, MISERS, MOUNTEBANKS, KINGS AND QUEENS, JUGGLERS, AND OTHER Curiosities of Human Nature. COMPILED FROM AUTHENTIC MATERIALS. ILLUSTRATED BY Several Hundred Engravings. ► This work will be found to be one of the most interesting character, bringing, as it does, all classes of mankind in a single view before the mind of the reader. It will be found to be as instructive as it is entertaining and amusing. _The work is beautifully printed_, _on fine white paper_, _and is elegantly bound_, _forming a beautiful large Octavo volume of nearly_ 800 _pages_, _embellished with numerous Portraits of the Men and Women whose Biographies it contains_. Price only Two Dollars and Fifty Cents.