The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1857-06-11
THE PACIFIC
Commercial Advertiser.
GEOGRAPHICAL SKETCH
OF THE LATE WILLIAM L. LEE.


Kingdom, though not unexpected, has spread an
unusual gloom over our community His many adj
mirable qualities of mind and heart, rarely COM
bined in one individual, had for him the esteem
and confidence of all classes, both among natives and
foreigners; while his eminent public services have
rendered his death heavy national calamity.
The universal sorrow everywhere manifested for his
loss the thousands who gathered pay the last sad
tribute to his memory, the crowded churches where
his life, his services and his virtues made the
theme of DISCOURSE evidences Of the deep affection
with which he had inspired the people among whom
the best years of his life have been spent In him the
King has lost faithful and judicious Counsellor, the
Bench wise aud upright Judge, the foreign COM
munity warm and liberal friend, and the nation
benefactor, whose best energies devoted to it's
welfare and whose life out by his unremit-
ting labors in its service In the appropriate Ian
guage of our contemporary of the PoynesiGn, where-
ever the Sandwich Islands are known, Mr.. Lee has
been heard of as pillar of the State, and through
his efforts rather than those of any other individual
and the honest tendency of his public acts the gov
ernment has acquired a reputation and prestige
which give it q strength beyond its proportions
In one word on whatever there is of progress, and
whatever there of order observable throughout the
length and breadth of this archipelago, may be said
W
Lee g hand is seem
Mr.. Lee was born at Sandy Hill, Washington
County. in the State of New York, on the 25th of
February 1921. At the age of thirteen he entered
the Norwich University in the State of Vermont where
he remained two years. at the end of which time he
left the institution and engaged in the business of
civil engineer in the service of his native State. In
this profession he rapidly that at the end of
onlv three years he left it, having already filled the
post of Resident Engineer He next returned to Nor
wich University, where he graduated at the age OF
twenty taking the first honors. On leaving the Uni
versity, he received the appointment OF Superln-
tendent of the Military Academy at Portsmouth, Vir-
gina in which position he remained one year. Having
at this time of his maturity decided upon adopting the
law as his profession he entered the Law School at
Harvard University, where he remained till he had
comnleted the course of study under those eminent
iurists Judge Story and Professor Greenleat 1t IS
no small praise say that he honored with the
confidence and friendship of both these distinguished
men. Judge Story furnished him with letters of
reference when he left the Law School, and with Prof
Greenleaf he was in constant correspondence until
his death.
Whom Mr. Lee was about to establish hmsef as
,roo++ioner he was attacked with violent hemorrage
of +bo limos and his case was for some months con-
;drod +o he q homeless one, but naturally strong
constitution triumphed the disease, and IN the
,eor 1914 he was able to commence the practice OF
law in the city of Troy, New York. Here he applied
himself to his profession with the unremittng indus
trv which characterized him. until his abors brought
on a recurrence of pulmonary symptoms, winch
warned him to seek more genial climate At thlS
time public attention was strongly directed towards
the new Territory of Oregon, which was supposed to
offer unusual advantages to settlers, as we'll IN the
anbrtv of it's climate as the fertility of its soil, and
its prospect of speedy growth Deciding then to cast
his fortunes in that young country Mr. Lee embarked
With a company of fourteen others board the brig
IJonr,, bound for Columbia River by way of the
Sandwich Islands and after tempestuous voyage of
obout eight months the vessel arrived at Honolulu on
the 10Th of October 1916, to the surprise of many
who had given her up as lost
Mr. Too had not entertained the most distant idea
80 romain;np at these Islands. The time of his ar
rival however and the long delay of the vessel here
ased by the extensive repairs which were found ne
cessarv seemed provdential twas critical period
in the affairs of this young nation The government
was engaged controversy with some OF the foreign
residents which had embroed nearly the whole COM
munity, and which menaced its very existence The
bitter and angry feelings which had grown up among
the nartsans on either side, had almost caused open
r,rtnre General uneasness and distrust prevailed.
The course of Atty General Ricord, the only officer of
the government of legal education and profession, was
ipcalculated to concate the contendIng parties OF
to nspire that confidence in the government which
was SO necessary to its peace and prosperity The
laws drawn up by him were ambiguous and compli-
Gated. and the tribunals of the realm were looked
upon by large and intelligent class of the commu
nity rather as instruments of oppression than
of redress from injustice.
At this epoch. the advent Of al upright, able, and
impartial judge, whom all parties could look with
confidence, seemed the only event that could restore
order out of chaos, and save the country and the gov
ernment from utter confusion. But in those days of
isolation and almost non-intercourse with civilized
countries, this seemed great boon to expect It
was at this period that Mr. Lee accidentally arrived
here, and subsequent events soon showed him to be
tne very man for the emergency It was fortunate
aa ior the nation. when he accepted the post of Pre-
Sloing Judge offered him by the late King. Mr.. Lee
was LOT easily induced to change his design, and
'nougn the Hing thinking that the oath of aegiance
which had been required Of other government officers.