Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1828-01-30
PROVIDENCE
CHIEF JUSTICE MARSHALL.


has filed 40 small space in the public eye
For the sketch we are indebted to a very able
writer, whose productions not unfrequontly
grace the pages Of the North American Review,
but whose name is unknown TO US; since We
arc assured, that the article was not written
by The distinguished editor Of that far famed
and verr justly celebrated publication.
CHEZ JUSTICE MARSHALL, like the
FRANKLIHs, S~HERMANs ROGERS, RUr-
LcDGEs, WEIGHTS, HARPEss, PINcKN.Ys,
CLAss and a host Of other American States
men, philosophers and ~ju.ists. rose TO eminence
and to the first honors of The country, by the
force of his own genius; and was self educa-
tej self learned.
The example, which is afforded by the his
tory Of his life, should stimulate others and in.
idcc them 10 strain every nerve, to arrive at
similar posts Of honor; and those who read
the narrative Of his eventual career, should ru.
member, that in this country, there are no I'M
pcdimcnts to greatness, and that all who pro-
porly direct their talents and department, must
rise 10 tho higher places Of distinction.
an Chief Justice Marshall IS the son Of
the late Colonel Thomas Marshall, ana ..s
bern on the Gath OF Sept. 1855, in Fauqn.er,
then one Of the frontier counties Of the S'a's
of Virginia. lie is the eldest Of fifteen chill
dren, of whom seven arc now living; and we
have often heard it repeated By those, who
were well acquainted with the family, that all
the children, the females as well as the males,
possessed superior Intellectual endowmcnts
Ills father was a planter of a very small for.
tune, and had received n limited education.
Nature, however, had been very b~ount,ful to
him. His talents were Of a high order, and he
assiduously cultivated and improved them, so
that he maintained through life, the reputation
Of being an extraordinary man. No father cv-
er possessed more unboundedly tho admiration
and reverence OF his children. Wo have often
listened with delight TO the tribute of praise
bestowed on him by flial affection, and heard
the declaration from the lips Of orc Of The
most gifted sons, tina; his father was an ADLER
man than any of his clildrcn.
10 tho local position Of the family, almost
upon tho frontier settlements, it was Of course,
that the oarly educa' ion Of hrs children should
dovolvc upon its head. Colonel Marshall SUI
perinteaded The studies of his son, and gave
him an early and decided taste for history and
poetry At the age Of twelve ,ho had transcribed
Pope's Essay on Man, and also so,no of his
moral essays. The love for poetry, thus
awakened in his warm and vigorous mind, has
! never ccasd 20 exert over it a commanding in.
tuoncc. Unless we are greatly misInforrcd,
| the enthusiasm of his youth of en- engaged him
in the gay imaginings and fond indnlgcnces of
the muse; and throughout every period Of his
Life, he has read with intense interest the light
err as we'll as tho Ioftier productions Of tho d.
vine art. The contrast, indeed, is ssme what
singular between that close reasoning, which
almost rejects the aid Of ornament in his Iudi-
cial labors, and that generous taste, which de-
votes itself with delight TO the work Of fiction
and song. Z
There being at that time no grammar school
in the part of the country where Colonel Mar
shall resided, his son was sent, al tho age Of
fourteen, about a hundred miles from home,
and placed under the tuition ofA Mr.. Camp
bell, a clergyman OF great responsibility. lie
renamed with him q year, and then returned
home, and was put under tho care of Scotch
gentleman, who was just introduced into tho
p~aric+i, as pastor, and resided in his fathcr'ss
family. lie pursued his classical studies under
thus gsn,leman's direction, while no remained
in the family, which was about n year, and at
the termination Of it he had commenced read
ing Horace and Livy His subsequent masto-
! rs Of the classics was the result Of bis own ef-
forts, without any other aid than his grammar
! and dictionary lie ncvor had the benefit of
an education ut any college, and his attain
ments in learning have been nursed by the
solitary vigils of his own genius. HIS father,
however, continued to superintcnd his Eng
lIsh education, to cherish his love Of knowl-
edge, 10 give a solid cast TO his requirements.
| and to store his mind with the most valuable
materials. lie vas not merely a watchful pa
rent, but an instructive and affo ctionaie friend,
and soon became the most constant, as he was
almost the only intelligent companion Of his
son Tho time :e,t devoted TO his society was
passed in hardy athletic exercises, and pro5a-
bly, TO this circumstance is owing that robust
constitution, which yet seems fresh and firm in
n green old age,
"About the time when young Marshall en-
tered his eighteenth year. the controversy be-
tween Great Britain and her American colo
mes began to assume a portontors aspect and
engaged, and indeed absorbed tho attention
Of all tho coIonists. whether they were young,
or old, in private and secluded life, or in po-
| lltical and public bodies. He entered into II
with all tho zeal and enthusiasm Of youth, full
of love for his country and liberty, and deeply
sensible Of its rights and its wrongs He de-
voted much time in acquiring tho first rudi-
ments Of military exercise in a voluntary indie
pendent company, composed Of gentlemen Of
tho county, to training a militia company IN
the neighborhood and to reading tho political
essays Of the day For these animating pur-
suits, the preludes Of public resistance, he was
quito content to relinquish tho classics, and
the less inviting, but with reference TO his ft-
ture destiny, the more profitable Comme,ta-
ries Of Sir William Blackstone.
SIN 'tho summer Of l775, he reccivod an
appointment az first lieutenant in a company
Of minutonon enrolled for actual service, who
wero assembled in battalion on the first ofthc
ensuing September. In a few days thoy were
ordered 10 march into tho lower country, for \