New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1859-05-03
DEATH OF NICHOLAS HILL.
r,o,, ThI tlh1nv .4,gu. Of sfdy 2

Fro, The Al5dny A,g4'J Mdy2
Our city was shocked yesterday by the unexpected
announcement ofthe death Of Nicholas Hill-and the
emotion, which was felt with most inenscness here,
will vibrate far and wide through the State Mr.. Hill
had been i'll during the whole Of last week, but on Sat
uIday had fax improved Ia he pronounced out OF
danger; but about o'clock in the morning sudden
change came over him, and after a m0nentery and
painless struggle he died He was the victim OF one
If those fearful brain diseases which have become so
frequent OF late and which find their victims mostly in
the professional class and among those whose minds
suer the prolonged tension OF too exactng studies and
of absorbing investigations.
OF late years the habit Of profound legal research
had grown upon him. and with the feelings Of a true
lawyer he gave himself up to the study OF each case
before him, without reference to the amount Or the
magnitude of personal interests at stake, much
To the delcacy Of the questions presented and the
character OF the legal principle involved. When de-
voting himself To such questions, the labors OF long
day were often prolonged far beyond midnight To re-
commence in the morning, and he continued thus
for months. And yet with all this devotion to his pro-
fessiOn he not Indifferent 10 social life, nor III
capable Of approaching and contributing Ia lts plea
sIres. He preserved his yOuthfGlnoss Of feeling, his
freshness Of heart his noble simplicity of character to
the last Nor did the mind flag ar become Obscurod
The first blow it felt fatal one; and he died in
the funess Of his Intellectual stature, with all his
iacultie. perfected. When the silver cord snapped at
last under the strain, il star that was o0sened
from this mortal armament ard H. us who loved
him. became dark indeed. And those who, with tear
full eyes, look upon It's gloomy truck wonder th what
was so bright and pure should thus disappear from
human sight forever!
He was bonn in Montgomery County, and the
Of Reyoui iOnsry soldier, VINO astcrward became
II preacher, and lived to venerable age Mr.. Hill
educated 10 the legal profession, and pursued Il.
first IN Amsterdam and a.IerwGrd IN Saratoga County
In the latter county he became associated with Judge
Eek Cowen, whose life seemed 10 offer that example
of singeness of purpose devOedneas To his profession
and unwearied industry, upon which he modelled his
Of Judge C., he prepared" Cowen * Hills Notes to
Phillips Evdenoe-a work OF great erudton and
value. In the latter part Of 1910, he was appointed
State Reporter, which office he held till 1913. His
volumes constitute the most valuable of the series of
the New-Yolk Reports. On taking up his residence
in Albany he entered into partnership with Mr.. Gag
ger and The fnn with which John X. Porter soon
after associated, continued till his death. Since
then, he has devoted himself to the higher
lubors Of his profession, and he may be
ssd TO have attained in it position above all others.
He gave t. it all his faculties and MI his heart.
Others give to it divided allegiance or love it for the
applause brings, the rewards 1t secures These
to him were nothing. Ii is true be deeply inter
esled in politics; but only they involved great Con-
stitutonal questions they enlisted th at strong
sentiment of American feeling and OF patriotism,
which he inherited from his Revolutionary father.
During the United States Bank contest he uoIii-
mated by the Democrats of the Saratoga District for
Congress- and was in 1854 again nominated for the
Count of Appeals. Bat in neither case was he an
aspirant for the ofhce, out was put iOrwhru Oy MS
purity friends the best exponent and type and
suspected advocate q the great constitutional ques-
tons involved in the issues before the people The
perfect simplicity Of his life, and his sngcness of
bition, in which he successful placed him
above all temptations. He conld not be petty or nm.
fair or heterogeneous. He could not espouse n bad
cause nor take unfair advantage of an opponent,
nor mislead the Court. lie did not court wealth or
power. He loved good men, and natures frank like
his own. He loved good books, and often turned aside
from his studies to commune with the great think
ers by whom the questions of eternal life, fixed fate,
free-will, foreknowedge absolute were discussed.
He died at the age of about 50; but considering the
original delicacy Of his bodily constitution, and the
greatness of his abors, it is wonderful that fra
existence should have long withsood the encounter.
II was the mind that sustained the body, aud when it
yielded the whole structure fell.
lie was not old yet he was so superior, and yet so
simple in his nature and pure in character that ven
Grating hands will bear him to his hearse, and reyerent
footsteps follow him to hs tomb, if the sanctites of
age had halowed his life before its close aud yet warm
hearts will cherish his memory with all the ardors Of
Youthful love and remembrance.