Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-06-18
REMINIsCENCE-JUDGE WOODWARD.


copy of the Detroit Advertiser fell into my hands
few days ago which contained curious incidents in
connexon with the early settlers of the Territory Of
Michigan, and among others, the following concerning
Judge WOODWARD:
Judge Woodward, the presiding judge of the sp-
preme Court somewhat of literary man he wrote
and published several small works One entitled, If
rightly remember, Electron, the Substance OF the
Sum- such lofty flights according with his genius.
It was said the Judge-who was bachelor-on set
ting journey, always put tslce shirts taking
OF the outer one as il became soiled.
For several years he kept house in the old Stone
Mansion Himself and servant constituted his entire
family; yet he always had his table set at trepe.
On occasion the Judge used offensive language
TO the late Capt. Knaggs. The Captain good-na-
tured man. but always ready to resent intentional
insult he knocked his honor down. The judge sprang
his feet and issued Immediately warrant under his
own hand bring Knaggs before himself for
the offence. He taken into custody, and could not
get out till he applied to the late Judge Wthere for
writ of habeas corpus
when Pontiac was founded after few log cabins
were built Col Steven Mack built twostory grist mill,
then considered great enterprise the part of the
Colonel The farmers about Detroit used to follow the
Indian tra with their traineaus laden with wheat, TO
this mill to be ground. 1t custom-m MILL and only
twenty-five miles off. Pontiac like all villages,
first settled by Of energy and enterprise, who
diverted the monotony of everyday life with spice of
frollc and fun. Judge Woodward and the late Judge
Sibley candidates for Delegate to Congress, and
both happened to be at this ncpent village the
time The fathers of the town-LeRoy Bagey Stanard,
Mask, Chamberlain Thompson, and other good fellows
determined to have fun out of the candidates, and
invited them the mill. After it had been ex-
amncd they agreed to try the quality Of the candidates.
and seizng Judge Woodward they tumbed him into the
empty hopper mill asains, the arc se- IN
streams from the stones the Judge squirmed but they
held him in awhile; then pulled him out and hoisted
Judge Sbey in. The FIRE still few from the stones. After
awhile they stopped the mill and took him out declaring
that he made the finest -four; and he was elected"
AUGUsTUs B. WOODWARD, at early period in the his
tory Of city, young lawyer at the bar of the
Circuit Court Of the District of Columbia. He
devoted to scientific and literary pursuits than law,
with which, however, his mind pretty well stored.
The first person who committed murder in this city IAN
Irshman named McGrath) defended very eloquenty
by Mr. Woodward, and though he failed, he still perse-
vered in his efforts to him from the gaows by visit
ing Mr.. jefferson at his residence at Monticello, and
using all the arguments his mind could suggest to- obtain
pardon But all that the President would grant
reprievc and the criminal subsequently suspended
from native forest tree at the foot Of the Capitol hi
and thus xpated the crime OF which he had been found
guilty The interview however this occasion resulted
in raising him in the estimation OF Mr. Jefferson who
few years afterwards appointed him 10 be judge in the
Territory Of Michigan The tastes and fayore pur
suits of these two assmilated They both de-
voted to science and literature and formed attachment
to each other, though Mr. Woodward possessed good
deal Of the eccenrcity Of genius, while Mr. Jefferson
was staid and philosophical though sometimes yergng
towards what may be termed the visionary and specua
tive. They often together, and seemed to harmo
nIe in their views and feelings both political and pho
sophical
As to Judge Woodwards eccentrcites win not pretend
to say that he celVe shirts time stated in the
extract but it certain that his shirt invariably
1 - m. AZ.
greatest advantage the was buttoned low. While
gagged in the preparation Of the Essay the Substance
Of the Sun, mentioned in the extract he had previously
built small brick edi6ce about ten feet square, with
four windows and two DOORS in the midst Of forest,
where the Ebenezer Chapel stands between the
Capitol Hill and Navy Yard 4th street cast where he
occupied himself in gazing the during the day, TO
make himself better acquainted with its substance lie
has often been found stretched his back peering
through glass the brilliant object Of his investigation
to the wonder and establishment Of the few who CHANGED
to see him in his PROSTATE attitude and singular garb
and who might be passing accidentally in that direction
His abors however, to throw light brilliant sub
ect the proved abortve and the world was left
the state Of darkness before to its real sub
stance The work itself is believe wholly out Of print
and unknown. 1t in the Library Of Congress; but
all the most valuable books Of that establishment were
consumed in the confagraon Society has perhaps
sustained great loss by the destruction Of Mr. Wood
wards Substance Of the Sum-" by that Of its com
panion, Smythe's Apocalypse Explained" work to
which author devoted all the leisure hours he could
spare from his legislative duties which few read and by
which nobody convinced. Judge Woodward how
ever prepared and believe published in part n very
elaborate work on the Classification Of Knowledge which
he did not live complete, and which was founded on
the Classification Of Science by Lord Bacon This sys-
tenn had also been adopted by Mr. jefferson in the ar
rangement Of his Library 9. WATTERSTON.