ABRAHAM VAN VECHTEN.

This distinguished lawyer and statesman, was the youngest son of Teunis Van Vechten and Judith Ten Broeck, and was born at Catskill, December 5, 1762; was married May 24, 1784, to Catharine Schuyler, daughter of Philip P. Schuyler and Anna Wendell; and died at Albany, on the 6th January, 1837.

men.

Few men have been called to so extensive a sphere of usefulness and filled it so long and so well as ABRAHAM VAN VECHTEN. He entered upon the scenes of active life shortly after the Revolutionary war. He received his elementary education at a public school in Esopus, which has been the nursery of many of our distinguished He pursued his professional studies under the direction of the late Chancellor Lansing, and began the practice of law in the county of Montgomery, but was soon invited to occupy a more extensive field in the city of Albany. The high places at the bar were then filled by a gifted race of advocates, among whom were Hamilton, Harrison, Jones, Burr and Livingston. But the brilliancy of the bar could not cast young Van Vechten in the shade. He soon ranked among his illustrious seniors as an equal and a competitor for the highest professional eminence. Untiring in his efforts, the powers of his highly gifted mind were continually developed and expanded. His intellect was formed to grapple with the most abstruse and difficult subjects of judicial investigation; and he early inured himself to the most intense application of mental industry. In acuteness and the ready comprehension of any subject presented for his investigation, he had few equals. And nature seemed to have furnished him with powers eminently adapted to the illustration of legal principles. He made no display of legal lore, his learning seemed to be incorporated with his thoughts. What he had once read was well digested and remained ever ready for application. A large portion of his life was spent in the discussion of legal questions in our highest tribunals of law and equity; there he was always listened to with profound attention by our most eminent judges. His arguments were calculated to elucidate and instruct, and greatly to aid the tribunals to which they were addressed in forming correct conclusions. His style was remarkable for purity, perspicuity and strength. His train of thought was always logical and correct. In his manner he was usually calm and unimpassioned, yet earnest and forcible. His talents were too conspicuous to allow him to confine his efforts to the bar. He was repeatedly chosen to represent his fellow citizens in both branches of the legislature. The senate chamber was the theatre of some of his highest intellectual efforts. As a member of the court for the cor

rection of errors he has left behind him enduring monuments of his legal wisdom. For a number of years he filled the office of attorney general with distinguished ability. At an early period of his life a seat on the bench of the supreme court was offered to him by Gov. Jay; a similar offer was made to him at a later period. He declined these proffered honors, preferring the labors of the tar as more congenial to his habits and his feelings. The causes in our books of reports in which he took a part as counsel, numerous as they are, give but a faint idea of the amount of professional labor performed by him. For more than half a century his brilliant mind was constantly shedding its light over the jurisprudence of the state. The bar had long delighted to accord to him the highest honors they could bestow. To the younger members of the profession he had greatly endeared himself by his kindness and courteous manners; and by all he was venerated as an illustrious model of professional excellence. In his daily consultations with his clients he was emphatically a peace maker. It was his constant habit to advise to the settlement of disputes whenever it was practicable. He allowed no sordid motives to influence his advice, or to bias his mind in giving his opinions. He was recorder of the city of Albany from 1797 to 1808; state senator from 1798 to 1805, and from 1816 to 1820; member of assembly from 1805 to 1815; attorney-general of the state for the year 1810, and was again appointed in 1813, and served two years; and was a member of the constitutional convention of 1821.

His character as a citizen in the private walks of life afforded a model of excellence. He constantly displayed in his intercourse with his neighbors and acquaintances the most amiable social qualities which adorn the human heart. To his other traits of character was added one which is justly deemed of far the most importance; he was a sincere believer in the Savior of the world and a venerated member of the Dutch Reformed Church. In her judicatories his paternal counsels were listened to with reverence, as eminently calculated to promote the peace and prosperity of the Church. His disinterestedness was a prominent feature in his character and was the foundation of that unbounded confidence which was reposed in him by all who knew him. In his domestic circle he was remarkable for kindness and affectionate attention to the feelings and wants of those who were dependent upon him.

ALBANY.

The following communication, exhibiting the actual condition of our city, its prospects and advantages, is from a source, it will be perceived, that entitles its statements to entire credit. We lay it before our readers with the more pleasure, as the present indications point not only to the continued prosperity of the city, but to the prevalence of a spirit among us that must lead to a far higher appreciation of the advantages of this most favorable location for all the purposes of extensive business and profitable adventure. The growth of Albany has been steady, and in all respects substantial. At the head of one of the most noble rivers in America—at the confluence of the river and a chain of internal communication stretching west from the Hudson to the Mississippi and north to the St. Lawrence-the recipient of the products, not only of our own west, with its abundance and fertility, but of all the extended and rapidly improving country bordering upon and lying between the two great points referred to its destiny can not be mistaken. It must become one of the largest cities of the Union. This result will be facilitated by the measures now in progress for opening a direct communication, via Stockbridge and Worcester, to Boston; and particularly by the fresh spirit and energy with which our citizens have entered into that and other improvements.

This communication has been issued in the form of a circular, and addressed to such persons in the adjacent states, as will be likely, from their character, standing and relative situation, to view the matter with interest, and give it circulation among those for whose information it is designed.-Albany Daily Advertiser, 1835.

Albany, the capital of the state of New York, is near the head of navigation on the Hudson river, where the