The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1857-02-26

From "Pricate Correspondence of Daniel
Webster" just pablished. t.ai


ARRIVED in Boston, looked out for an Of
fee, wherein to study. But then as / knew
none Of the legal gentlemen, and lao no letter,
this was an affair Of some difficulty. Some
attempts to be received into lawyers Office
failed, properly enough for these reasons: al
though the "reminiscences has since sometimes
caused me to smile.
"Mr. Gore had just returned from England,
and renewed the practice Of the law. He had
rooms in Seollay's Building, and as yet he
had no clerk. A young man, as little known
to Mr.. Gore as myself, undertook to introduce
him to mel In logic this would have been
bad. Igmotum per ignofam. Nevertheless it
succeeded here. eventured into Mr.. Cores
rooms, and my name was pronounced. / was
shockingly embarrassed, but Mr.. Cores ha-
bitual courtesy of marner gave me courage
to speak. / had the grace to begin with an
unaffected apology; told him my position was
very awkward, my appearance there very like
Intrusion, and thatif expected anything but
a civil dismission, it was only founded on his
known kindness and generosity of character.
was from the country, said; had studied
law for two years, had come to Boston to stu
dy year more; had some respectable ac-
quaintances in New Hampshire, not unknown
to him, but hal no introduction, that i had
heard he had no clerk, thought it possible that
he would receive one; that came to Boston
to work and not to play; was most desircus
on all accounts to be his pupil; and all l ven
tured to ask at present, was that he would
keep place for me in his Office till could
write to New Hampshire for proper letters,
showing me worthy Of it. delivered this
speech trippingly on the tongue, though
suppose il was better composed than spoken.
Mr.. Gore heard me with much encourag-
ing good nature. He evidently saw my en-
baIassment, spoke kind words, and asked me
TO sit down. My friend had already disappear
ed! Mr.. Gore said what had suggested was
very reasonable, and required little apology:
he did not mean to fill his Office with clerks,
but was willing to receive one or two, and
would consider what had said. He inquired
and told him, what gentlemen of his ac-
quaiLtance knew me and my father in New
Hampshire. Among others, remember /
mentioned Mr. Peabody, who was Mr.. Cores
classmate. He talked to me pleasantly for a
quarter Of an hour, and when rose to depart,
he said: My young friend, you look as though
you might be trusted. You say you came to
study, and not to waste time. will take you
at youi word. You may as well hang up your
hat at once; go INTO the other room; take your
book and sit down to reading it, and write at
your convenience to New Hampshire for you
letters
81 was conscious Of making good stride
onward whea had obtained admission into
Mr.. Cores Office. 1t was situation which
offered to me the means Of studying books,
and men, and things. 1t was on the Goth Of
July, 1904, that FIRST made myself known TO
Mr.. Gore; aud although remained in his Of
fee only till the March following, and that
with considerable intervening absences, made,
as think, some respectable progress. In Au-
gust the Supreme Court sat. I attended it
constantly, and reported every one of its
decisions. did the same in the Circuit Court
Of the United States. l kept little journal
at that time, which still survives. 1t con-
tains little beside a list OF books to read.
ain addition to books Of the common and
municipal law, / find read vattel, for the
third time in my life, as is statedin the journal,
Waro's L of Nations, Lord Bacon's Ele-
ments, Putfendorf's Latin History of England;
C,Hrard,s Iuvaoal Qos,yail,s To,r % tba Ii.
brides. Moore's Travels, and many other mis-
cellaneous things. Blu: my main study was the
common law, and especially the parts Of it
which relate to special pleading. Whatever
was in Viner, Bacon and other books, then
usually studied on that part Of science, paid
my respects to. Among other things, went
through Saunders Reports, the old folio edi-
ton, and distracted and put irto English out
Of Latin and Norman French, the pleadings
in all his reports. 1t was an edifying work
Erom that day to this the forms and language
Of special pleas have been quite familiar to
me. Ibelieve Ihave my little abstract yet.
81 remember one day as l was alone in the
Office. man came in and asked for Mr..
SosV' a"i' ooA0 was out, dhu nc Sot uoNH 10
wait FOR him. He was dressed in plain gray
clothes. went on with my book, till he
asked me what was reading, and coming
along up to the table, held out my book, and
he took it and looked At it. sRociss,' said he,
'de navibss ct ~asto;' well, l read that book
too, when was a boy;' and proceeded to talk
not only about ships and freight, but insu-
rance, price and other matters OF maratime
law, in manner 1to put me ap'to all l knew
and good deal more. The gray coated stiang-
er turned out to be Mr.. Rufus King s.g
The SAssATH.--lt is very remarkable that
the heather nations, who can be supposed to
have no knowledge Of the law or history Of
Moses, account one day Of the seven more sa-
cred thaa the rest. Hesiod styles the seventh
day 'sthe ilnstrious Of the Sun;'' and Homer
says, ssThen came the seventh day, which is
sacred or holy" Almost all nations, too,
who have any notion Of religion, have appro-
priated one day in seven 10 the purposes Of
public devotion.
THE PRIsENr AND THE FurURE.-It IL
strange that the experience Of so many ages
should not make US judge more solidly Of the
present and Of the future, so as to take proper
measures in the one for the other. We dOat