The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1857-09-09
From the rsys..e,ills Observer.
oLDEN TINES.

IL 10 peasant 10 WtthuIaW itoHt inc oesuS
and excitement, cares and anxietles OF the
present day. to converse with an Intelligent
chroncler Of the past,--one who has natiived
The companions Of youth and the associates
even Of old age, and yet retains sprightly
Intellect, active habits and buoyant flow |
Of spirits. that ought to shame the tendency
10 enn,a that exhibits itself strongly among !
eur Young men.
A desire to learn something Of the past in |
duced US TO visit Chelsea, the residence OF
the Hon. Henry Potter. where we found him
empowered under the foliage Of his own
oaks, enjoying the oti,tm can digniiate" Of
long and well.spent life, surrounded by
those who kindly minister to his wants and
anticipate his every wish.
The venerable Judge was born in Granville
county, in this State, in 1865, and Is conse>
quently IN his % year. In 1901 he was APP
pointed by Thomas jefferson, Judge of the
IT, S. District Court for the State OF North
Carolina. The duties Of this responsible Of
fre he has now discharged for period OF SO
years, in conjunction with Chief Justice
Marshall, Judge Daniel, and Judge Wayne.
He was 10 years old when the National De-
slaratioa Of Independence was made, and re-
,nembsrs the stirring times Of our Revolution
airy struggle; MAS present and heard Gen.
Washington deliver his first message to the
Congress OF the L. s., that convened in Phlla.
lphia after bis election; describes his en-
nneiation a. being clear and distinct. but
states that his voice did not seem to possess
great volume or strength.
Gen. Washington was regular attendant OF
Christ Church IN Philadelphia, where he had
a large square pew in the middle aisle, cush-
toned and covered with velvet. He was n
the habit Of riding out on week days, on
large gray horse, richly but not gaudily capa>
risoned, though in style that would pass for
livery at the present day, aud that the eyes
of the multitude followed and reyered his
fine manly presence.
At one Of Washiugton's Levees he was in
troduced TO the General as form North Caro-
lima, when the President in an afiable manner
made inquiries respecting that State, TO which
he responded. On retiring he bowed, which
the general returning. he bowed again, aud
soon discovered that II was point oil etiquette
with Washington to give the last bow.
On one occasion large Ball was given,
which Washington and Vice President
Adams honored with their presence, though
neither participated in the dance. On their
entrance the crowd formed right and left, and
made space for them to march 10 the upper
end Of the hall, where seats were provided Tor
them; but it was difficult to keep the crowd
from falling IN after the tall form OF Wash
ington, aud thus separating the short chunky
Adams from his Chief.
About that period Of his life the Judge spent
two and haliyears in Philadelphia, and was
familiar with lie presence Of Hamilton, Madi
La Uirh arH Lee
Anthony Wayne, Chas. Carroll, OF carrolton,
Pinckney, Randolph, Rufus King, and host
Of others whose names will be revered BY the
American people through all time. At sub
sequent periods he has met and heard most
Of the distinguished men Of the country speak,
either in Congress or at the Bar, and his des-
criptioRs Of them are lively and interesting
in the extreme. OF Chief Justice Marshall,
with whom he was so long associated on the
Bench, he expresses those feelings of friend
ship and admiration which his pure LIE was
SO we'll calculated to excite. Madison's voice
he describes as feeble, but states that when,
ever he spoke the audience maintained the
silence OF the grave, SO that all he said was
distinctly heard.
OF the Fathers Of the Revolution in North
Carolina, he remembers 70 have once see n
Richard Casweli on horseback, aud knew well
Judge IredeIl. Covers Johnston, Nash, Burke,
Spaight, Ashe. Dave, and all who have since
presided over the State.
With the Judiciary and Bar Of North Caro-
lima, no other man has been so familiar,-for
during the So years he has presented IN the
U. s. District and Circuit Court. the pre-
eminent talent Of the Bar has appeared be.
fore him. as young men have acquired fame
and distinction, aud become old, and deseen-
ded TO the grave before him, as IN the case Of
Henderson, Cameron, Daniel, Moore, Gas
TOO. ToOmer, Meares. Eccles, Henry, Hay.
wood. Duffy. and Strange.
After an hour or lwO spent with the veneer
able Judge We touk our leave wishing that
be might long remain. our oldest lnbabltant,
and the oldest official 10 the administration
u the laws under which We live.
On leaving the hpspitable Judge Potter, We
could not help feeling that We had left behind
Us one who 10 many respects was remarka.
bic man, one around whom cluster 40 zssoeia-
ton u ideas such a. Is rarely presented in the
history VI one individual.
lie was born subject Of George the Third,
but on the success " our Revolution became
his equal.
lie witnessed the descent Of three Of the
soyereigns Of Englsnd TO the grave. Lived
during period that Dr.. Johnson. the great
English in0fslist. was law unto himself aud
the world On literary topics; Rad lays Of
Goldsmith and the tales uf Richardson, a.
they were issued beheld the stars u burns,
Ramsey. Hume. Gibbo1. Robertson, Moore,
Byron, Jeffrey aud Scott. culminate aud de-
cline. lie lived a. period when Walpole
was 10 his zenith. and saw him IN turn DIS
placed By Pitt, and was an ANXIOUS reader
VI all his forensic efforts, elected By the com.
bined powers OF Fox, Burke and Sheridan.
Ia France, he mas uutliYed the fall and rise