Delaware journal. [volume] (Wilmington [Del.]) 1827-1832, 1828-07-11
From the first number of g The Pennsylumaan,
Edited and Published by John Norvel.
HORACE BINNEY.

I
more the objects and less the victims Of attery, than
the gentleman with whom commence our sketch
es of professional eminence. For many years. and
in community as discriminating cautious, he has
enjoyed an unrivalled reputation, while his even
tenor, unambitous industry, and inhexble deport-
ment, remains unchanged amid the general admira-
ton which his sterling intelligence and varied ac-
complshments have excited.
The figure Of Horace Bi,ney is in nothing strik-
ling, though in many points characteristic. In height,
The is probably five feet eleven inches: stout, but
not corpulent round in limb. but not athletic
well proportional and firmly set with slight stoop
across the shoulders, indicating habits of laborious
study. His movements, though never awkward,
are not always easy, and rarely agile his ordinary
walk is accompanied by peculiar fixedness OF the
body, ascrbabe perhaps to frequent rheumatism.
His head aud face remarkable fine clear skin,
manly complexion, brown HAIR partially frosted at
the temples, smooth expanded forehead, distinct
and large blue eyes repete with expression, deli
catey formed though small nose, and mouth,
showing in the slight compression of the upper lip
rmness of purpose and in the graceful swell Of the
under one both taste and feeling form, in harmo-
ny, physognomy of uncommon excellence. His
bust, when his arms fold across his breast though in
numerous details wholly dssmilar, Isl tout ensemble,
not unlike that of Napoleon Bonaparte.
The pride and pleasure of Horace Binney are,
and always have been, in the pursuit of his noble
profession. He has pertinaciously and we think.
in degree, unwisey resisted every inducement to
minge with his legal abours, cares and duties of a
wider scope. Except upon sudden impulse of gen.
erous friendship, and that very recently. he has
scrupulously atsstaned from politics nor has he al
lowed even the destinations of literary occupation
to engage his time, unless the theme closely con-
nected with his cherished vocation. Fitted, as he
unquestionably is, by extensive reading, by true
classical taste acquired in early associations Of the
hon NIL Inv nrnin mi riff q
! ancient Greek and Roman languages. and by an ade-
guate skill in various modern ones, by sound judy
:, ment, chaste imagination, and exhaustless powers
of industry to do his country service and honour in
almost every department of intellectual exerton. i,
must be regretted that he has heen so exclusively
- welded to single one. At the bar, however, the
~ effect Isl mil ht be expected, preeminence pre-
u eminence which, in Pennsylvania, admits of no doubt
&c or competition for though surrounded by able ant
d eloquent men, he is high above the rest, who il
as equal among themselves, are to him, proTimi-set
e longo interUaIO.
D. TO present picture, according to design ant
Z within our prescribed limits, of the professional
a. character of Horace Bnney, very difficult task
miniature cannot easily be painted of giant; es
pecially when the work must be executed hastily
with crude colours and pointless brush
As practitioner, his leading features are hdelit
nd and skill fidelity alike to his client and to the
skill alike in detecting the weakness of his adverse
RVS cause, and in developing the strength Of h
:. own In pleading, it is equally dangerous to evat
as to accept his challenge He puts his hand to II
~ helm with firmness which bespeaks resolutiC
to board at once while there are obvious proper
tons, should close contest be avoided for tho
heavy long shots, which, true to their destinatio
seldom fail to intimidae, if they do not entire
cripple. Nor does he wage his warfare in DISCUS
on the contrary, his flag is, from the outset, bro
OF and distinct eyincng reliance upon main Tor
thon RI yfprt nrc fnr ultimate
tory.
el As plaintiffs counsel, he navgates directly.
,on pdy, and resstlessy on the track chosen by hi
self, ere he had unfnrled single sail. AS defen
ants counsel. his struggle is to obtain the wealth
gage and, that accomplished, he either wearles
his opponent by an endless succession OF evolution
, or Yields only after his weapons exhausted. Pl
inc ding is, indeed, the field for legitimate profession
tactics; and from the connoisseur in the art his
gacty, precision, promptness, always extort adj
ration.
Eloquence, it is said, should be adapted to
subject of discussion, and is expected to vary in
STYLE from the terse, plain and didactic, to the n
y0us, pathetic, and declamatory. One cause n
require to be exaggerated by the manner and
guase of its advocate, while another becomes ridl
lous if not treated with frankness and simplic
Judges, too, should be addressed, on unsett
points of law, very differently from jures on
puted questions of fact The bench has, or sho
have, no feelings to infame the jury box is often
accessible by any other process. These ideas
5 common. and have induced many good critics to
rect, sign to Horace Binney the loftest or subordn
station. as forensic speaker, according to the
. tlre, design, and locality Of the controversy
which he is engaged. When, as in our highest
bunaIs. calm and symmetrical elocution is the
Far proprate garb OF vast learning and Keen dlscrn
this alton, he is confessedly unmatched; elsewhere,
per is supposed liable to rvalship We do not atog'
able yield to such suggestions lhere IS one oest
ives, most digned style that style may be too pure
elevated for comparatively mean purposes, as
49, letion of Inhnsnn or Of Addison would i'll acc