I have felt myself warranted in asking it upon any common

occasion.

"Mr. Wirt had never been a member of either House of Congress. But if his form in marble, or his portrait upon canvass, were placed within these walls, a suitable inscription for it would be that of the statue of Moliere in the Hall of the French Academy Nothing was wanting to his glory: He was wanting to ours.'

"Mr. Wirt had never been a member of Congress; but for a period of twelve years, during two successive administrations of the National Government, he had been the official and confidential adviser, upon all questions of law, of the Presidents of the United States; and he had discharged the duties of that station entirely to the satisfaction of those officers and of the country. No member of this House needs to be reminded how important are the duties of the Attorney General of the United States, nor risk I contradiction in affirming that they were never more ably or more faithfully discharged than by Mr. Wirt.

"If a mind stored with all the learning appropriate to the profession of the law, and decorated with all the elegance of classical literature; if a spirit imbued with the sensibilities of a lofty patriotism, and chastened by the meditations of a profound philosophy-if a brilliant imagination, a discerning intellect, a sound judgment, an indefatigable capacity, and vigorous energy of application, vivified with an ease and rapidity of elocution, copious without redundance, and select without affectation-if all these, united with a sportive vein of humor, an inoffensive temper, and an angelic purity of heart-if all these in their combination are the qualities suitable for an Attorney General of the United Statesin him, they were all eminently combined.

"But it is not my purpose to pronounce his eulogy. That pleasing task has been assigned to abler hands, and to a more suitable occasion. He will there be presented in other, though not less interesting, lights. As the penetrating delineator of manners and character in the British Spy-as the biographer of Patrick Henry, dedicated to the young men of your native commonwealth-as the friend and delight of the social circle-as the husband and father in the bosom of a happy, but now most afflicted family—in all these characters I have known, admired and loved VOL. 2-37

him--and now, witnessing, from the very windows of this Hall, the last act of piety and affection over his remains, I have felt as if this House could scarcely fulfil its high and honorable duties to the country which he had served, without some slight, be it but a transient notice of his decease. The addition which I propose to the journal of yesterday's adjournment, would be such a notice. It would give his name an honorable place on the recorded annals of his country, in a manner equally simple and expressive. I will only add that, while I feel it peculiarly incumbent upon me to make this proposal, I am sensible that it is not a fit subject for debate and, if objected to, I desire you to consider it as withdrawn."

"The Chair stated that the rule in reference to the journal which had been read, referred to the duties of the Speaker when out of the Chair, not in it. The Speaker had not felt himself warranted to insert any further record in the journal of yesterday, than the simple fact of the adjournment: but if it was the pleasure of the House that the clause proposed should be added, the Chair would most cheerfully assent.

"Mr. J. K. Mann, of Pennsylvania objecting

"Mr. Blair, of South Carolina, enquired whether the pleasure of the House could be obstructed by the objection of a single member?

"The Chair said, that if a motion should be made, a majority of the House could, of course, have their journal modified to suit their own pleasure.

"Mr. Adams then observed, that he had hoped no objection would have been made; but as it seemed not to be sustained by the general sense of the House, he would renew his motion that the clause he had read be added to the journal of yesterday's proceedings.

"The question being put, it was agreed to without a division, by nearly an unanimous vote."

Whilst these scenes occupied those who sojourned in the Capital of the United States, the tidings which diffused through the country the knowledge of the loss it had sustained, were everywhere received with becoming expressions of respect and mourning. The Bench and Bar, in almost every State, paid the honors of a recorded testimony to their opinion of the merits of William

Wirt. A large circle of friends in Maryland and Virginia-the first, the land of his birth and latest residence, the other that of his most cherished associations lamented him, gone, with an affectionate remembrance which few men were able so profoundly to inspire; and that nearer group, which nature had allied to his blood and kindred, ever amongst whom, his "coming was a gladness" and his presence a centre of continual joy and love-bewailed his loss with a grief too sacred for the intrusive notice of these pages.

CHAPTER XXI.

HIS PERSONAL APPEARANCE.- MANNERS.-CONVERSATION. THE NIGHT OF THE SNUFF BOX.-HIS FONDNESS FOR YOUNG PERSONS.-SCENE AT ANNAPOLIS. REMEMBRANCE OF OLD FRIENDS.-LOVE OF MUSIC.-STORYTELLING. SCENES AT BERKELEY DURING THE CHOLERA.-DOGGREL VERSES. -EPIGRAM.-PROFICIENCY IN CLASSICAL STUDY.-SENECA.—PROFESSIONAL CHARACTER.-STYLE OF HIS ORATORY. HIS MANNER OF SPEAKING.— PREPARATION.-DISLIKE OF DINNER-TABLE SPEECHES.-HIS RELIGIOUS CHARACTER. EARLY IMPRESSIONS.-ACTIVE PARTICIPATION IN BENEVO. LENT SOCIETIES.-THEOLOGICAL STUDIES.-PREFACE TO RENNELL'S “REMARKS ON SCEPTICISM."-HIS RELIGIOUS TOLERANCE.-DISLIKE OF ENTHUSIASM.-SINCERITY OF CHARACTER.

In the prime of his life Mr. Wirt was remarked for his personal beauty. With a tall figure, ample chest and erect carriage, there was no great appearance of muscular strength, but a conspicuous ease and grace of motion. His head was large and in good proportion to his frame; the features of his face strongly defined. A large nose, thin and accurately formed lips, a chin whose breadth gave to his countenance an approximation to the square rather than the oval outline, clear dark blue eyes looking out beneath brows of widest compass, and the whole surmounted by an expanded and majestic forehead, imparted dignity and intellectual prominence to a physiognomy which the sculptor delighted to study. A curled, crisp and vigorous growth of hair,—in his latter days almost white,-clustered upon his front and gave an agreeable effect to the outline of his head and face.

Towards the close of his life, severe study and the infirmities of his constitution had made a visible trace upon his exterior. He lost somewhat of his firm and perpendicular port; his complexion became sallow; his eye faded into a lighter blue, though it grew even kindlier in expression.

His letters sufficiently indicate the character of his manners. They were gentle, courteous and winning. His voice was clear and sweet, and variously modulated by an ear of the finest musical perception. His laugh, never boisterous, was sly, short and full of the gaiety of his temper. Few men ever had a keener insight

of the ludicrous. It never escaped him, however little he might be on the watch for it. Sterne, for this reason, amused him, above all other authors in light literature. The quiet humor of Tristram Shandy and those exquisite drolleries which lie in ambush in every page, were the most familiar recollections of his reading. Many of them may be found covertly lurking through his letters.

His conversation was exceedingly attractive. It seldom fell into discourse, but played with all kinds of amusing topics. It was suggestive, provoking thought in others, and fortifying them with opportunity to contribute somewhat to the purpose, from their own reflection or memory. No man was more free from that odious habit of endeavoring to say "smart things" which sometimes mislead even persons of good repute for social talent.

Wirt's playfulness was contagious. It made his friends forget the time which was running by, and even the good cheer of a convival meeting. An amusing evidence of this occurred in Baltimore, before he became a resident of that city. He was returning one night, about ten o'clock, to his lodgings from a visit, when his friend Meredith met him in the street, and invited him to join a little family party, at his house, at supper. Wirt either doubtful whether his friend was in earnest-for the character of the intercourse between them often rendered this a difficult point to determine or struck with the incongruity of his challenge to a supper when he was about retiring to his bed, answered Meredith's invitation in a jocular way, saying, "yes, I'll come, and I'll give you enough of it." On Meredith's return home he found there Dr. Pattison, who was then a resident of Baltimore, now a distinguished physician of Philadelphia—and detained him to supper. Wirt had not come when the party sat down to table, and Meredith had ceased to expect him,-when, near the conclusion of the supper, he made his appearance. He took his seat, ate very moderately and drank less. The supper was removed, and Wirt gave an intimation to the ladies who were present, that, as it was bed time, they had better retire. They obeyed, and Meredith, the Doctor and Wirt, found themselves sitting at the table alone. The cloth was drawn, and a small residuum of a decanter of Scotch whiskey, perhaps, was the only drinkable before them. That remained untouched, and was finally taken away. A snuff box was placed on the table, and the party, as Meredith and VOL. 2—37*