Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1832-03-08
We copy from the National Inteligen-

We copy from the National lntelllgen-
Ger, of Feb. 81, the following obituary,
which contains just and eloquent trib-
ute to the memory ofour late distinguish
ed fellow-ctizen the HON. NATHAN
lei SEARLE. 1t is from the pen of
the Hon. JOSEPH STORY, Judge of the
Supreme Court of the United States.-
Pror. Jour.
Few men have attained higher re-
putation in the profession of the law, and
none have better deserved it. In a
State Bar, composed Of lawyers confess
sedly of great acuteness, learning, and
ability, he held rare and envious rank.
If he was not entitled to be deemed a
mong his competitors, tacile p,1nceps, no
one will deny that he had no superior
His learning was copious and exact; his
genius uncommonly subtle, vigorous, and
discriminating; hisjudgment sound and
afiluent, almost beyond example. To
these he united an unconquerable love of
his profession, and devotion and indus
try in the pursuit Of it,which were at once
the presage and the security of excel
lence. He was equally remarkable for
depth and vivacity Of ofthought-for flash
es Of wit, pointed sarcasm, and easy
pleasantly, which seemed like sponta-
neous combustion of the mind, rather
than an effort at display. They came
unbidden, and were dismissed without
regret by the author, while they captiva-
ted his audience. But there were quail
tiles in his professional character, of a
higher and better reach than these. He
studiously cultivated deep sense of the
moral obligations of an advocate. His
candor, courtesy, and strict integrity won
for him the respect of the bar, and gave
him the general confidence of the COM
munity. One may say of him, as was
said Of Lord Chief Justice Bridgman,-
''that he always argued like lawyer
and gentleman" His addresses to
the jury were always earnest and elo-
quent, plain but forcible, and occasion
ally rose to extraordinary felicity and
compass, both of thought and expressi on.
He had keen insight into human ma
ture, and readily developed its complex
NOV ements and Inconsistencies, s. hence,
in the examination and reconcilement Of
testimony, he displayed an ingenuity
which always instructed, and often con-
vinced his hearers. His arguments to
the Court upon principles OF law, were
characterized by brevity, (no small a
virtue in our day,) exact learning, and
close reasoning He reached the fit
conclusion by a surprisingly quick pro-
cess, and detained others no longer than
was necessary to open to them the same
path. In short, as lawyer he acquired
just celebrity by course of laborious
diligence, fidelity, and honorable ambi-
tion. In private life, he was frank, gen.
erous, and disinterested, attracting uni
versal esteem, and enjoying many friend
ships. The loss of such a man at any
time IS great calamity, for it creates a
void in social, as well as professional
life, which cannot be easily filled. 1t
must be felt by all who value talents and
virtue, for the common doom teaches us
a common sympathy. But beyond the
circle of his immediate friends and rela-
tives, it is mourned by no one more sin
cerely than by the writer of this humble
tribute, who has long been a witness of
his professional honors, and who now
cherishes his memory with fond but un-
availing regret. S.