The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-03-01

every season, but amongst the Judiciary and
the leading members of the bar he has Of late
drawn from their scenes Of usefulness many
whose vOids nave not since been adequately
filed Of those who have passed away within
the last few years from sudden casualties, from
disease OF ripe cid age, we need not again
speak; the more recent decease of Judge Ed
wards now fills the hearts Of the whole legal
profession with sorrow and with awe. Sorrow
for one whose urbanity and undisturDed equa
nimity gained for him the respect of all whose
business call ed them within his presence; and
awe to think that ose so Dung, so full of health
and vigor of mind and body should be thus
prematurely taken from the scene Of his earth
ly labors.
All the courts, federal and State, of this city,
adjourned yesterday, after brief eulogiums on
his memory, and q generafmeeting of the bench
and the bar is called for this day at one o'clock.
We learn from the few remarks made yester-
day, that Henry z. Edwards died at his resi-
dence in Fourth street, in this city, on Tuesday
evening, Of typhoid fever; that he was the son
of Governor Edwards, of Connecticut, and me-
phew Of Hon. Ogden Edwards, formerly
CHCulG JuuRc VI Wills otdLe. Ilc Cauc W
New York more than twenty years ago,
studied law, rose rapidly in the profession,
and possessed legal and urbane qualities quick
ness of perception and correctness Of action
"rare in their separate excellence, but wonder
full in their combination" He was about eight
years since elected to the bench of the Supreme
Court Of this State, at the first election for
judges under the constitution of ls47. He sat
during the past year in the Court of Appeals
and his term Of office as Judge of the Supreme
Court would have terminated on the Let of
January next yet there is no doubt, as one of
his associates has said, had he lived, his re-
election would have been altogether unopposed
Of the merits of Judge Edwards, as a Clear
logical exponent of the law, calm, faithful,
fearless, yet temperate and merciful dispenser of
justice in the highest criminal court OF this
State, his brethren have spoken more authenti-
cally than we can; but from our observation of
his judicial career we can endorse all that has
been said OF him.
Judge Edwards was only forty.six years of
age. He was, therefore, in the full vigor of
life, and was remarkable for his manly beauty
and dignity of department. He was not mar
ried. kaxss
The grave has not yet closed over the ashes
of the lamented dead, yet rumor has been busy
in the halls in naming his successor.
HUMAN NATURE THIRTY CENTURIES AGO AND
Nova little seventy. nine country paper,
published somewhere in the interior Of Alabama,
recommends earnestly the New YORK HERALD
as one of the best and ablest newspapers Of the
North; but adds, that while it entertains the
highest opinion of that journal, it has a great
dislike of Bennett, the editor. The conductor
of another paper out ia the Northwest expresses
similar opinion Of the HERALD; but amusingly
enough also confesses to q strong prejudice
against Bennett, its editor, without ever hav-
ing seen that parsonage, or without, in fact,
knowing any thing about him.
Human nature is the same in all ages. A
lapse Of thirty centuries cannot, it seems
change the characteristics of the human family
Athens in the time of Socrates aud Aristides
was precisely what New York is in this age OF
dirty streets and bad government. The simple
and upright character Of Socrates rendered him
on object of envy and dislike to the evil dis
posed, and the wit, sarcasm and ridicule Law
ished by him on the sophists of his age led to
his arrest and suicide by poison. 81 wish Arts
tides to be banished at once" said an Athenian
loafer to a fellow citizen who, without his being
aware Of the fact, happened to be Aristides
himself. "Wby do you express such wish? ~
inquired the latter. Because" replied the
loafer, ~ am tired of hearing every one call
him the Just He deserves to be banished
from Athens for setting himself up as superior
to the rest of mankind"
Such is human nature in all ages and coun-
tries. The individual who, by his talent in
dustry and rectitude Of conduct, raises himself
above others who are deficient in those qrali-
ties, is sure to be made target for ali The
spleen, maligDity and calumny that his rivals
can pour out upon him. Such was the philo-
sophy of the conduct of the cotemp oraries of
Aristides and Socrates; such is the philosophy
of the epmity Of ours.
THE VIRGINIA OPPOSITION CANDIDATE-Why
not bring him out? Why not nominate William
c. Rives, one of the very first and most ex-
perienced statesmen in the country? II is
pity that Mr.. Wise should any longer continue
to beat the empty air. Confront him with
Rives and leave the rest to the people Give
him something to fight.
Marine Affairs.
LAUNCH LARGE srEAxsnlP.-Mr. jeremiah simon
viii launch at half past nine o'clock Saturday
morning. from his yard at the foot OF Nineteenth street.
East river, the steamship Ariel of 800 tons burthen
for Commodore c. Vanderbilt. She has been fully
pleted the stocks, and has her engines and boilers
already on board that she could got ready for