The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-12-11
From The Boston Transcript.
Life of Judge Story.

Life and Letters of Joseph Story, Associate JUS
tice of the Supreme Court of the United States
and Dane Professor of Law at Harvard Univer-
sity. Edited by his son, William w Story In
two vols. Svo Boston Published by Charles c.
Little and James Brown"
We have been privileged to glance through the
hrstvolume of this elegant work. The two volumes
will be completed and ready for the public next
week. speaking likeness of Judge Story en-
graved by Cheney, from crayon drawing by the
artist author and bographer, is happy type of the
fidelity with which the latter has traced the morol
and intellectual neaments of his iliustrious fat her
The book forms Of the most valuable contribu-
tons that have yet been made to the biographical de-
partmcnt of American literature. Juoge Story's
early and long continued association with the most
distinguished public men of our own country-his
extensive correspondence with some of the highest
legal authorities of Great Britain-thc genial union
of an enthusiasm for literature and art with the
severest powers of legal acquisition and elucida-
ton in his character, render the materials of his
biography in high degree varied interesting
and instructive. Most judiciously has the author
arranged and disposed them, and lent the graces of
pure and luminous style to the establishment of
his not ungrateful subject. As specimen of the
original correspondence here given, we quote the
following passages from a letter from Judge Story
to Judge Fay, containing personal sketches of JET
ferson and Madison:
Jefferson Is tall and thin, of a sallow complex
ion, with fine, intelligent eye DR.. NJ. yesterday
introduced me; and we spent half hour with him.
in which time he conversed in n very easy, correct
and pleasant style. His language is peculiarly APP
propriate, and his manner very unaffected. The
negligence OF his dress a little surprised me. He
received us in his slippers and wore old fashioned
clothes, which were not in the incest order, of
the most elegant kind; blue coat, white worked
cashmere waistcoat, and corduroy breeches, Ct beg
your pardon, / mean small ciothcs,) constituted his
dress You know Virginians have some pride in
appearing in simple habliments, and are willing
to rest their claim to attention upon their force of
mind and suavity of manners. The President is n
little awkward in his fret address, but you inn
mediately at case in his presence. His manners
are inviting, and not uncourtly; and his voice fex-
thought and perseverance in bis countenancc. His
smile lie very engaging and impreeses you with
cheerful frankness.
"On the whole, / confess he appears to
clear and intelligent man, ready and discriminate
ing, but more formed by philosophical reflection
than by rapid, enteTprising, overboaring ge-
MUS. If he chooses, he cannot fail to please. If
he cannot awe, be will not sink into neglect. The
current of his thought ia gentle and uniform,
broken by the torrent of coqnencc and unruilled
by the fervor Of vivid internal fame. Take this
passing sketch and color it to your own fancy.
"Madison is a most agreeable, modest, and I'M
affected man, of short stature, and of mild coun-
tenance He converses with case, and seems very
well versed in diplomacy. The N-~-acter of his
mind seems TO be formed by that of Jefferson, and
the pupil is not an unfinished likeness of the
ter. He has the reputation of well-read scholar,
and without doubt would always sustain
adorable rank in the counsels of free govern
ment'