His subsequent career has been such as to teach emphatically to the youth of Amer. ica this lesson-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 volumes herewith presented are intended to trace clearly the career of Mr CLAY from his entrance on the stage of public life down to the present time-mainl by the light of his own lofty, persuasive and at times impassioned eloquence. circumstantial original Memoir is prefixed, while a slender thread of narrative a companies, for the most part, the Speeches, with the view of elucidating the by a simple setting forth of the time, place and occasion. On this, howeve no great stress is placed. Mr. CLAY's parliamentary efforts, clear, direct a vigorous, generally embody all the illustration that is needful to their full understa ing, a few words only suffice to set forth their bearing on the spirit and history the times. The great importance, variety and indestructible interest of the to he mainly discusses; the character and ability of the orator, the direct and often es bearing of his arguments on the controversies and interests of our own time, combine to render his Speeches among the most valuable contributions of Pat ism and Genius to the enlightenment and elevation of the American People. No labor has been spared to render this edition not only far more complete t any former one has been, but so perfect that there shall exist no necessity for on come after it. The work is stereotyped, so as to afford opportunity for correct any errors which may hereafter be detected, and to admit of the addition from ti to time of the Speeches which Mr. CLAY shall make hereafter: so that he who b this work may complete it up to any future period without extra expense. It is ho that this plan will receive the hearty approbation and support of the public, and pecially of the numerous and thick-gathering friends of the Great Statesman of West. The PORTRAIT which embellishes this volume is copied from an original paint by GEORGE LINEN, and was recommended by Mr. CLAY, as an excellent and faith likeness. The View of the BIRTH PLACE OF HENRY CLAY was copied from a drawing ma on the spot. New-York, 1842. |