Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1849-1856, 1849-03-29
CRANSTON Il NORMAN.
Friday, March %.

The COMPLETE Works OF THE Hon. JOE
DuRrEE, l.. l.. d., LATE CHIEF JUSTICE OF
!. RHODE ISLAND WITH MEMOIR OF THE
AUTHOR. EDITED BY HIS SON. Providence
Gladding & Proud, ls49.
We are indebted to the Publishers for a.
p COPY of this work. 1t is one of the most val
liable books ever issued from the Rhode Is
land press, and while it is an ines,imablc,
treasure to every true Rhode Island man, II,
adds much, very much to the literature or
the country. Judge Durfec was one ct the
most peculiar men of the age and man
whose light shone most brilliantly towards IT'S
close, but whose genius posterity will alone
truly appreciate. His mind was slngulaTly
cast although solid in all that Is valuable.
learned in the civil law, and treasured with
,he Science of Jurisprudence, ii was strong y
inclined to metaphysical research and mag
mary revelngs. These latter traits, howev-
er would never have been discovered, even
by the most astute student of human nature,
while Judge Durfee was in the discharge OF
his official duties lie dealt not in ictons on!
the bench, but, on the contrary, his charges
TO the Jury, and his opinions on legal ques-
tons raised by the bar, were clear, substan-
tal and always safe Although in metaphysi-
cal research, he launched far out into the sea
Of unfathomed thought, and returned with
some new pearl of philosophy, yet he new
or permittcd the rcmotest shadow Of such alb
strac,ions to tingc the duties of the bench
As Judge, his most valuable trait of charac-
ter was that he was always safe he never
came to hasty conclusion he never gave an
opinion that was to ellectlife, liberty or prop
erty, without the most mature reflection and
deliberate judgment. Although he always
kent the ancient landmarks Of the law in view,
still he was not so weddel to antiquity that
his mind did not keep pace with the sale and
lust spirit of the age, even IN expoundlng
that nobest of all human Sciences, the Law
Judge Durfee was called upon to preside
over the trial of some OF the most important
causes that ever came before an American
tribunal and the questions which arose IN
them were entirely new, and he had no preee-
dent to guide him, no authority to consult but
was necessarily drivers TO the fountain ol his
own inexhaus,ible mind, in the conclusions
to which he came.
This work contains his Watcher or Rog-
er Williams in Banishment," poem which
has excited good deal Of attention in Europe,
where il was republshed soms years ago,
and called forth the high appreciation OF many
Of the leading English Reviews.
In addition to this, it has several Oratlons
and Addresses, delivered at different times,
his Pauidea, purely philosophical work,
several charges to the Grand Jury, and few
miscellaneous poems, the whole forming
volume of rare merit and worth.
We should like to give an opinion, more at
length, of the character of the lamented Dur
fee but the limits of daily paper, and the
haste with which its contents must always ne
cessarily be prepared, prevent the performance
of that pleasant duty. At some future time
we hope to say more on the subject
This work should be in the hands OF every
Rhode Island man, for its author, either as
Jurist, philosopher, poet or man, was
model which all young men might safely
study with great advantage to themselves
The book is Tor sale at the bookstore Of &. f.
Hammct,, Jr. Thames street, or by the Pub
fishers, Gadding g. Proud, Providence.
A Discourse DELIVERED BEFORE rIIi
Ruopr IsLASp HrsroRIcAL SOCIETY, on rHf
EVENING or FEBRuARY |, 1919, ny GEORGE
w GprrSr. Providence Gladding q
Proud, 1919.
Thi, is the third annual Grafton delivered
before the Historical Society of Rhode Island
the first was by the late Judge Duree, on thai
idea Of Government, which was actualized
far ,b, frs, time in Christendom, here in this
State. by those who described themselves AZ
a noon colony. cons sting mostly OF bi'tl
and breeding of the most High, formerly from
tho mother nation in the bishops days, ant
la,erly from the New England ovor-zoalou'
co,onies The second was delivered the sue
cecdine year by Rowland G.. Hazard, Esq
on the life and character of the orator of ih'
previous year, who had in the meantime beet
gathered TO his fathers. This Address Is OF
the progress of historical science IN It's conncc
ton with the progrcss of society. Proic'so
C,ecne vas many years American Consul