the same year a Judge of the High Court of Chancery and subsequently Chancellor. A more impartial judge never graced the Bench. Nothing could induce him to swerve from strict justice. He was a profound jurist and a lucid expounder of the law. He graced the law professorship in the College of William and Mary until other duties compelled him to resign. He was a member of the legislature when Virginia sanctioned the Federal Constitution.

He put in full practice his principles of Liberty by the emancipation of his slaves and providing them with the means of support. He tried the experiment of education upon one so far as to teach him Latin and Greek when he suddenly died. He was extremely anxious to see a development of African intellect that its calibre might be more clearly known.

Chancellor Wythe died suddenly on the 8th of June 1806, believed to be from the effects of poison administered by George Wythe Sweny, a grandson of his sister, for the purpose of arriving immediately at the enjoyment of a part of his estate which was fortunately prevented by a codicil made just before his decease. Although there was not proof to convict the ungrateful demon, circumstances were so strong against him that the public verdict stamped upon him the damning stigmamurderer.*

In his private character Chancellor Wythe was amiable, modest, charitable and humane. He sought to improve the society in which he moved and used great exertions to guard young men against the purlieus of vice. He was industrious, temperate, frugal but liberal and proverbial for charity and a practical Christian.

Jefferson, in delineating the character of his law instructor-remarks"No man ever left behind him a character more venerated than George Wythe. His virtue was of the purest kind-his integrity inflexible and his justice exact. Of warm patriotism and devoted as he was to Liberty and the natural and equal rights of men he might be truly called the Cato of this country without the avarice of a Roman, for a more disinterested person never lived. Such was George Wythe-the honor of his own and a model for future times.”

ROBERT YATES.

TIME is wasted by many persons as if it had no limit and they were to live for ever. But few place a proper value upon it-but a small portion of these reduce it to an advantageous system. If every person

* After publishing my first edition, I was credibly informed the poison was only intended for two emancipated slaves, who were legatees in the will, both of whom died a few hours before their benefactor. Mortification, from being co-heir with them, is the cause assigned for the murder.-AUTHOR.

realized that time is money" and ends in eternity-it would be used very differently by many-not by all. The instances are very rare where a man of fifty can look back upon his career and not see that he has squandered a large portion of his time in senseless vacuity or improper appropriation. If he then realizes its full worth he will gaze upon the past with keen regret and vainly wish he could live his life over again-a wish that the illustrious Washington said he did not indulge. If no one of the human family wasted or improperly used time, earth would be a Paradise-Pandemonium a fable. If all would assign a due portion of time for each class of incumbent duties-rigidly adhere to the one and promptly perform the others-a harmony in action and an amount of labor would be produced that would effect a change in the social, religious and business departments that would astonish the most visionary theorist of system and order. Profligacy of time too often commences in childhood-increases in youth and is made bankrupt in manhood. Let all feel more deeply the importance of a judicious arrangement and wise improvement of precious TIME. Its whirling wheels are rolling us on rapidly to "that country from whose bourne no traveller returns." It is a boon from our Creator-to Him we must render an account of every hour from the moment our reason assumed and presided over its empire. Let all be prepared to render that account with a joy that shall increase in ecstacy through the ceaseless ages of ETERNITY.

In perusing this history of the Sages and Heroes of the American Revolution the reader has learned that all of them were industriousseveral of them bright models of perfect system in the distribution of their time. No one was more diligent in the performance of his duties than Robert Yates who was born in the city of Schenectady, N. Y. on the 27th day of January 1738. The early developments of his mind were of unusual solidity and free from that frivolity that too often retards the course of boys in their preparation for manhood. Let my young readers remember this and become men in conduct during your minority. You will then be prepared to appear upon the stage of action with credit to yourselves and usefulness to our common country. Improve your minds by storing them with useful knowledge. If the tree has no blossoms in spring we gather no fruit in autumn. If your youth is barren of healthful culture-if the vain allurements-the trifling amusements of this deceiving world exclude from your immortal minds salutary improvement-your mental powers may darken with age and rush you into the murky waters of lasting disgrace-perhaps ruin you for ever. Soon the mighty concerns of our country will devolve on you.

In your hands will be placed the destiny of our nation. Some of you must fill up the swelling ranks of the professions-the arena of politics and posts of honor and profit. Let these reflections raise you above the trifles that amuse without benefitting you. Learn to be men when you are boys-you may then be intellectual giants when you reach manhood. Remember your Creator-study the Bible and let it be deeply impressed upon your minds that to become eminently great you must be truly good.

Robert Yates commenced his classical education in the city of New York and completed it at an early age. He then read law with William Livingston of that city and became an ornament to the profession. He located at the city of Albany-obtained a lucrative practice-the high esteem of his numerous acquaintances and a title of honor too rare and priceless-" THE HONEST LAWYER." An additional proof of his good sense was exhibited by his leading to the hymeneal altar the amiable Miss Jane Van Ness who proved worthy of the noble man of her judicious choice. They sailed buoyantly, prosperously and joyfully on the flood tide of domestic felicity until the angry elements of an oppressed people were concentrated by British oppression and raised the rough storm of the Revolution. Mr. Yates was a whig of the first water-bold, fearless, calm, prudent and firm as the iron mountain of Missouri. No one better understood the relative condition of the two countries-the powers and rights of each and the law of nations. He was conversant with the liberal principles of Magna Charta as granted by King John and as improved and confirmed by King Henry III. in the ninth year of his reign. He was familiar with the provisions of the British Constitution-the Charters of the Colonies and the various declaratory Acts of Parliament defining the rights of the American people which had grown sacred by long and peaceful enjoyment. To see them now rudely trampled upon by a venal ministry roused the patriotism and indignation of Mr. Yates. He wrote and published several pungent essays exposing the usurpations of the British Cabinet. He took an active part in the public meetings of the people that prepared them to strike for LIBERTY. At that time he was a member of the corporation of Albany and attorney for that board. He was a leading member of the Committee of Safety when it was virtually the supreme government of the empire state. The tories greatly feared and most sincerely hated this bold champion of equal rights. His ardent zeal was tempered with a discreet moderation and equal justice to all. He never passed the orbit of legitimate power nor hesitated in performing his whole duty regardless of consequences. He was an active member of the first Provincial Congress of New York

chairman of the committee to organize the military and did much towards producing a concert of action against the invading enemy. In 1777 he was an efficient member of the Convention that framed the first constitution of his native state. Under that constitution he was appointed a judge of the Supreme Court. His acceptance raised him to the zenith of rebellion in view of the creatures of the crown. He was menaced by them and threatened by the tories. He promptly assumed the duties of his responsible station and boldly performed them. Stern justice, tempered with charity, directed his course. Officially he favored no friend-persecuted no enemy. His courts were held in the midst of bitter foes. No dangers could intimidate-no threats deter him from the faithful discharge of all the duties devolving upon him. When tories were arraigned before the court the overcharged zeal of jurors sometimes paralyzed their sense of right. On one occasion he sent out a jury of this kind four times with a direction to change their verdict of "guilty" which was not warranted by the testimony. The legislature talked loudly of calling him to an account for this act but on a sober second thought wisely determined to permit the old Roman to pursue the even tenor of his ways. His salary was far below the income of his practice. at the Bar. To advance the interests of his country was above all pecuniary considerations. His salary for one year was paid in paper apology for money which depreciated so much in a few days that it took the whole to buy a pound of tea. This did not disturb his equanimity or abate his zeal in the glorious cause of Independence.

After the close of the Revolution Messrs. Robert Yates, Alexander Hamilton and Chancellor Livingston were chosen to represent the state of New York in the Convention that framed the Federal Constitution. His services on that important occasion were highly appreciated. He was opposed to some features of that sacred instrument but voted for its adoption when it came before the Convention of his own state. When it became the supreme law of the land he was one of its firmest supporters. In his first charge to the grand jury after it had been legally sanctioned he used the following language which I implore the reader to ponder well and let it come home with all the force of living truth proclaimed from the tomb of a departed patriot.

"The proposed form of government for the Union has at length received the sanction of so many of the States as to make it the supreme law of the land. It is not therefore any longer a question whether or not its provisions are such as they ought to be in all their different branches. We, as good citizens, are bound implicitly to obey them. The united wisdom of America has sanctioned and confirmed the act

and it would be but little short of treason against the Republic to hesitate in our obedience and respect to the Constitution of the United States of America. Let me, therefore, exhort you gentlemen-not only in your capacity as grand jurors but in your more durable and equally respectable character as citizens-to preserve inviolate this Charter of our national Rights and safety-a Charter second only in dignity and importance to the Declaration of our Independence. We have escaped, it is true, by the blessing of divine Providence, from the tyranny of a foreign foe-but let us now be equally watchful in guarding against worse and far more dangerous enemies-DOMESTIC BROILS AND INTESTINE di

VISIONS."

Would to God this patriotic language of Judge Yates could be written in flaming capitals of living fire raised in bold relievo on plates of burnished gold and suspended in every court room, legislative hall, church, school-house and public place in our land. It should be circulated by every press in our country and committed to memory by every child. Judge Yates was one of the Commissioners to settle the boundary question between New York and the States of Massachusetts and Connecticut. He was subsequently employed to prosecute claims of his native State against Vermont. In 1790 he was appointed Chief Justice of the Empire State and presided with great dignity until the 27th of January 1798 when his age reached the constitutional limit and closed his long, useful, arduous and brilliant judicial career. He had been an ornament to the Bench for twenty-one years. Not a stain had soiled his official ermine. He then resumed the practice of law and was appointed by the legislature of his state to settle disputed titles in the military tract which office he held until the Act creating it expired.

In comparative poverty and peace he glided down the stream of time until the 9th day of September 1801 when an arrow from the quiver of death pierced the shining mark-released his noble soul from its earthly prison and returned it to its original home of enduring bliss. He had exemplified primitive Christianity-his last hours were bright with hope, strong in faith, calm, peaceful and happy. He was greatly beloved in life-deeply mourned in death. In the performance of all the multiform duties of public and private life he stood approved by his friends, his country, his conscience and his God. He was an admired model of system in all the concerns of life-arranged his time judiciously, improved it wisely and earned a lofty fame that will endure while virtue is esteemed and patriotism lives. In the hands of such men our Republic will continue to rise in majesty sublime until its burning light shall illuminate the world and become too brilliant for the vision of all those who do not love and support our UNION.