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he disregarded all the advantage which his vote would and did afford to his opponents at the impending election, because it came in competition with his sense of duty. To find another example of such heroic virtue we must go back to the annals of our revolution, or we must search the lives of some of the stern sages of the old Roman Senate. Col Trumbull afterwards in a portrait of Judge Platt, very happily immortalized this illiberal proceeding on the part of the senate, by giving the exact date of the vote, and adding

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Justum et tenacem propositi virum

Non civium ardor prava jubentium
Mente quatit solida.*

'General Platt, in the same session, and on the 12th of March, introduced, and supported, by an appropriate speech, a proposition to appoint commissioners to explore the route, and report on the practicability of a canal from Lake Erie to the Hudson. This was the first legislative measure that was taken on the subject of the Erie Canal, and it was suggested by him to his friend Thomas Eddy, and, on consultation with De Witt Clinton, it was promptly and warmly espoused by him, and he consequently seconded and supported General Platt's motion. For this noble specimen of profound forecast, fruitful in such magnificent results, who can deny to Judge Platt his title to a proud niche in the temple of fame?

'In February, 1814, he was appointed a judge of the Supreme Court, and our judicial annals afford abundant proofs of the intelligence, learning, integrity and diligence which he brought to bear upon the administration of justice. No bench in the Union surpassed, either in merit or in reputation, the character of our Supreme Court during the nine years that he contributed his full share of efforts to sustain and adorn it. In 1823, he was unjustly and unwisely reformed out of office by the revolutionary measures of the New York Convention of 1821. He was then thrown back upon the resources of his profession in the decline of life, and with impaired fortune. He settled at

'Colonel Trumbull, who had fought in the battles of the revolution who had enjoyed the confidence and warm friendship of "the Father of his country," and been called by him to a station in his military family — and who, subsequently to the war, had executed a high and delicate diplomatic trust abroad with such success, as to save many millions to our country, was so much wounded and disgusted by this narrow-minded party conduct of the legislature, that, we believe, he has never since offered a ballot at an election.'-Ed. Com. Adv.

Utica, and resumed the practice of the law with his customary diligence and an anxious concern for the support of his family. He continued there until the spring of 1826, when he removed to this city. Within a couple of years thereafter, while he was pursuing his professional business in the first rank at the bar, with increasing success, he was afflicted with the Angina Pectoris, a fatal disease, which broke down his constitution and endangered his life. He was eventually compelled to abandon his profession, and retire with very moderate means to the quiet and more healthy occupation of agricultural employment. He settled on a small farm in the town of Peru, on the shores of Lake Champlain, where he resided the four last years of his life, in dignified and charming simplicity, diffusing around him the brightness of his character and the benign influence of his example.

'Judge Platt's conduct was always pure and honorable. No folly disgraced him, no temptation led him astray, not even in the gay and sanguine season of youth, when the passions are warm and visions are bright and alluring. Before he had entered into public life his mind had been led to the study and contemplation of those great and fundamental truths of Christianity which relate to our future destiny, and are undoubtedly the most momentous that can engage the attention or command the reverence of mankind. He gave them his unqualified assent, and sustained his religious profession and faith with a steadiness and unostentatious deportment that threw an air of sanctity over his whole character. He had sense enough to be a Christian without fanaticism, and to unite at the same time the liberal manners of a gentleman with the moderation of a philosopher. His wisdom was "pure, peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated; full of mercy and good fruits." He lent his efficient aid and powerful sanction to the religious and charitable institutions of our country, and he was a prominent member of those which are most distinguished. One of his last public acts was a speech (since printed) giving his decided support to the cause of temperance in the limited and humble society in which he had placed himself.* He was for giving by every reasonable means, an effectual check to the vice of intemperance, and almost every person with his experience has

* In July last, he also appeared at a public meeting, as a firm and unwavering friend of the American Colonization Society, and drafted, with his own hand, a series of very able and pointed resolutions in favor of that noble object of benevolence.-Ed. Com. Adv.'

perceived or known, in a thousand cases, noble and generous minds, whose bosoms were naturally formed to beat high to the calls of honor and the dictates of patriotism, cut down prematurely by that devouring pestilence.

'I will only add that Judge Platt preserved his accustomed serenity and cheerfulness amid the misfortunes, difficulties and infirmities that pressed heavily upon his declining years. Though possessing the most tender and acute sensibility, they were not able to subdue his fortitude. They could do no more than sober his views and chasten his expectations. Nothing of that kind was able to sour his temper, or diminish his kindness, or shake his confidence in the wisdom and goodness of Divine Providence.'

Dr. Wigglesworth's Table of the Expectation of Life, and Mr. 1. Bowditch's Corrections.

It has been suggested to us that a publication in the Jurist of Dr. Wigglesworth's Table of the Expectation of Life, would be convenient to the profession in estimating the value of life estates. This table was originally published in the Memoirs of the American Academy, vol. 2, p. 133, and is copied in Oliver's Conveyancing, p. 88. It has been adopted by the Supreme Court of Massachusetts in estimating the value of life estates.

v. Hapgood, 10 Mass. R. 313.

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-5.85

-3.73

Mr. Ingersoll Bowditch has recently communicated a memoir

to the same society, Transactions Am. Acad. V. 1, N. Series, p.

345, in which, from a calculation on the census of 1830, he estimates that the results agree pretty nearly with Dr. Wigglesworth's Table. His results, for the ages of 20, 30, &c., are as follows:

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Opinion of Sir Bartholomew Shower. The following opinion of Sir Bartholomew Shower was found among the papers in the office of the Secretary of State of Connecticut. Our correspondent, who communicates it to us, says: 'While looking over some old papers the other day, in the Secretary's office, I found an original opinion of Sir Bartholomew Shower. That part which expresses the opinion and the signature, are undoubtedly his autograph: the statement of the case is in another hand. I send you a copy for the Jurist, if you think it worth an insertion. It is principally valuable as an antiquarian curiosity. I doubt whether our courts, especially at that day, would have decided in the same way.'

'John Siven of New London, in New England, being possessed and seised of a personal and real estate, by his will gives as follows, viz.

'I give and bequeath to my wife after my decease one third part of all my estate personal and real, during her life and at her decease the real to revert and return to the ministry; and the personal to be at her dispose.

'Item. All the remainder of my estate both real and personal not above disposed of, I give and bequeath to the ministry of New London, to be improved for their use from time to time by my executors.

'Note. The minister of New London is a minister of a presbyterian congregation, which is the religion generally professed

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