learning go for nothing-His literary preparation for a dinner party—Al- ways falls on his feet-His opinion upon a will-Fee of one dollar—Im- posed upon-A hoax-Case in New Jersey-Offers for admission-Re- quired to be examined-Agrees, provided he may first examine the judges-Fees put in his hand while speaking, by A.-White witness to give color to case-Other amusing instances of his blunders, or his wit- Mr. Baize Newcomb-Argument of counsel-Best part of the case Repartees by Mr. Levy-Extraordinary sentences from his speeches- Mr. L. of Jewish extraction-Convert to Christian faith-Fifteenth De- cember, 1831, dies-Description of his person-Business diminished in latter part of his life-Lost none of his cheerfulness, or attachment to the bar-Always maintained that "lawyers were the salt of the RETROSPECT AND PROSPECT-Lights of the law-Their influence-Phila- delphia the centre of the Union-Purity of the bar-Familiarity and kindness to the young-They were the fathers of the bar-Great men, in great as well as small things-Had not reached the fast age, &c.— Exempt at that time from bad professional habits-Orators as well as lawyers-Tried cases, not so rapidly, but better than now-Mode of conducting cases-Departure from their examples-Quarrelsome and crafty men avoided-No American reports, except Kirby and Dallas- Founders and expounders of the law-They laid its foundations broad and strong-Not case lawyers-Drank from the fountain head-A blessing to their successors-Civil, but not servile to the court-Lewis's conduct towards Judge Chase-No more than others would have done -Mutual civilities between court and counsel-Harmony-When busi- ness commenced conversation ended-Demeanor of Supreme Court of United States-Effect upon the bar-Judges of State Courts-Deport- ment and dignity-Permitted no undue familiarity-Etiquette of courts necessary to be preserved-Strangers and loungers excluded-Remark of Lord Bacon-Former regulations better than the present-The pre- sent much to be condemned-Different in England-A reform sug- gested-Annoyance attributable to wretched court rooms-Better in Circuit and District Courts of United States-Better in the counties throughout the State-In approving the past we would not disparage the present bar-Defects in manner, not matter-Too much despatch- Adequate knowledge of the bar and the bench-Unless the evils noted be corrected they will increase, and lead to pernicious if not destruc- tive consequences-Old age enlisted with the past against the present- Retrospect magnifies the past, as hope in youth magnifies the future— APPENDIX A., 573 ANCIENT INDICTMENTS-George Robinson, butcher-Selling strong drink APPENDIX B., Record in Wilson v. Hill-Plea-Demurrer-Bills of exception. 582 Proem. AUTO-BIOGRAPHY, though sometimes necessary, is rarely agreeable, either to the Author or the reader. Even when written, as Cæsar wrote his Commentaries, in the third person, the first person is always reflected in the third, and imparts an egotism to the work that cannot be disguised. It has been thought proper, therefore, in order to avoid as far as possible this objection, to precede the present Work by a Sketch of the Life of the Author, chiefly taken from "Livingston's Biographies." But, it may be said, why not omit the Sketch altogether? the answer simply is, that as the publication relates to a professional experience of Forty years, the public has a right to know what opportunities or advantages were enjoyed by the Author, calculated to qualify him to speak of those occurrences which he professes to describe. This motive is offered as a candid apology, for what otherwise, would have been properly, and willingly avoided. VOL. I.-3 BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIR OF DAVID PAUL BROWN. THE subject of this Memoir was born in the City of Philadelphia, on the 28th of September, in the year seventeen hundred and ninety-five, and is now sixtyone years old. It matters little "to whom related or by whom begot;" it will, at all events, be sufficient to say, that his ancestors, who belonged to the Society of Friends, and who were rather remarkable for their piety than any worldly accomplishment, came from England with Lord Berkley, upon the first settlement of New Jersey, and resided at Berkley, in Gloucester county. The father of Mr. Brown, whose name was Paul, and who was born in 1767, removed to Philadelphia in the year 1790, and there, shortly after, married Rhoda Thackara, a native of Salem. David Paul Brown was the only son of this mar |