The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1850-03-01
william Writ.

MEMOIRS OF WILLIAM WRIT, by j. p. Ken
aieaIv new and revised edition. Philadelphia :;
Lea Il Blanchard 1850, For sale at Morgan ST.
We are glad to see new edition of this inter
esting book, which not only perpetuaes the memory
of one of the most beautiful characters but preserves
readable record of one of the most trying periods
in history.
William Writ is one OF the few men, eminent as
lawyers, who live beyond their own day, and are
ever quoted out of the courts. Mr.. Wickham, the
great competitor of Mr.. Writ, is forgotten-cer-
tainly his is not one of the names which are deeply
craven in the history of his country. Mr. Writ
was something more than lawyer-he was
graceful writer, and was distinguished for his fine
taste and extensive literary attainments He was
an eloquent advocate, but, perhaps, rhetorican
rather than an orator
The most remarkable trial which ever occurred
in America, was that of Aaron Burr. Writ repre-.
sented the Government in that long protracted and
intensely exciting state trial. There he gained his
highest renown. His description of Blennerhas-
ett's Island, is one of the most graceful episode
ever introduced into the body of legal argument
1t has given fame to that island as enduring as that
of Calypsos. Its groves will bloom in perpetual
beauty on the immortal page of Wirt's eloquence;
and centuries hence, the thousands of travellers
who shall pass the island will pay the tribute of
sigh to its vanished glories
The fate of Mr.. and Mrs. Blennerhassett is not
generally known. Their beautiful house-in truth
it was palace-was burned down by mob, who
accompanied the sheriff in his visit to arrest the
owner. The garden, planted with rare and costly
exotics, was destroyed, and the island rendered
hoo, If ;l,y 6rs4
and after several years to the Island of Guernsey
where he died. The widow came to this country
to press her claim on the Federal Government for
the destruction of the estate. Its justice cannot be
questioned; but Congress was too busy in wrang-
ling over party politics, to waste the time to be
honest The claim fingered years, and she-the
beautiful, refined and elegant woman, the child of
wealth and luxury-died pauper dependent on
the charity of society of benevolent Irish ladies OF
New York We blush for our country as we pub
sh the fact. The recollection of her beauty, of her
refined taste and womanly delicacy, has been eter-
nized in the rhetoric Of an American.
Writ was for twelve years Attorney General of
the United States, during the administrations Of
Monroe and Adams. He allowed his name to be
used by the anti-masOnic party for President in
1882. But he was never known as a politician
He was in private life model of the man and the
Christian.
There is in this country feverish desire felt by
every man to become great. We have been intro
duced by fond, foolish fathers to scores of freshly
breeched sons, who are to be Presidents. Eminent
position is the goal to which their attention is
directed the means by which it is attained are OF
no consequence-whether by the eagle fight or
the crawling of the worm. To this mistake in the
education of YOUTH is to be attributed the love
of notoriety and men are as much tickled and as
much deceived by its puny blast, as children who
suppose their tin-trumpets discourse eloquent mu-
sic. To this defect may be attributed that loose
morality in politics, and the frequent and otherwise
sudden changes of political faith.
The people may be cheated, but not the watchful
monitor who keeps guard in the conscience.
Popular talents, too, make US forget vices which
in men of less ability, promptly frowned down.
Men get up and make long speeches of their love
IF country and purity of principles, whose daily
ives are a reproach to good morals