New-York daily tribune., 1859-12-24
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
RuErs CHoATE.

nresented more lively and Impressive picture VI
ths per.ouality ef the celebrated Boston advocate
thsn would probably end place in biography OF
greater professions and compass. His book Is
rambling, almost disjointed oven, gosSping, COLO
auinl in manner, though not without touches OF am
bilious rhetoric; iDspired with enthusiastic admira-
ton Of its subject but free from seryile BoSrelan
spirit; showing not little power in the delinsston
of character. ofsen conveying world Of meaning
by q happy phrase; while the genial trAnkness Win
which il invites the confidence OF the reader Il SUI
Acieut 10 dsarm even the most captious criticism.
Tie portrait of Mr.. ChOSte, which forms the
ftontispiece Of the book is 10 itself study.
mysterious expression is dimly revealed beneath it's
worn and weary features. You perceive that it is
the face of one addicted TO deep thought conversant
with hard struggles, of no cOmmonpa pace experience
In life, with tendency to inner sadness, not always
conquered by the exercise of vigorous intellect or
the ardor of forensic strife yet it fails TO give you
decided impression Of the character of the man. 1t
leaves you at a oss to determine the qualities which
entered most deeply into his intellectual or personal
composition. But, in this respect, 1t is a genuine
tJpe of Mr. Choste himself He was not to be
measured by the ordinary standard Of men. He al
ways stood alone. In him, there was something
peculiar, mysterious, almost weird in its effect,
which separated him from the multitude, and though
with disposition of singular kindliness and sweet
ness, causing him to dwell apart, "smong them,
bot not Of them, in STROUD Of thoughts which were
not their thougbts" He always made you feel that
behind the ya1 there was much that you had not
discovered.
As exhibited in these personal "reminiscences, Mr.
ChOate had strong element of friendship, though
he was select in bis ntmaces and reserved IN ais
expressions of confidence He formed attachments
10 few, but 10 those he loved, be was eminenty gen.
erous, afectoDate, devoted. He manifested bis
regard for his friends, not only BY kindly aud cor
dial words but by perpetual acts ofcODsiderate ten
derness and sympathy. He took little interest In
general society, and in polite and fashionable circles
never felt himself at home He was absolutely with
ont taste for convival pleasures, though he would
sometimes be tempted to dinner party by the at
traction of refined and intellectual cOuversation.
Tea was bis favorte beverage and stmulant, though
no would not uufrequently indulge in two glasses of
brown sherry, and was not utterly stranger to the
favor Of more potent liquids. With but slight
conception Of the value of money no had no passion
for the acquisition Of wealth. Indeed, in all pecu
mary matters, he seemed TO retain the hepessness
of child, TO the last day of his life. He could
never be persuaded to keep regular accounts; never
learned the art, which is generally understood BY
his profession, Of making extravagant bills; could
scarcely draw check on tho bank, without annoy
ance; and with an unlimited range of practice, with
difficulty found the ways and means to meet the
current expenses Of the day. He was destitute of
political ambition. He had no taste for public hte,
beyond the limits Of the forum. In the few instances
IN which he was induced to take Office, it was with
reluctance. partly as matter OF self-dsclphne
r-ov --A r-astnG i- the artioS of Good
citizen, and he gladly returned to the conflicts OF
his profession and the enjoyments of his library.
Ts- ........ noe. IaCt. ne dominant pas
sions of his fe fis intense devotion to the duties
os the advocate were tempered only by his enthusi
aslic love Of Ietters His zeal for his clients knew
no bounds; he not only identified himself with their
interests, made their cause his own; but fought
their battles, with ferVid energy, as though the
fortunes of the world depended on the issue. His
moral sense even seems to have often been kept in
sbeyance, in his desperate struggles for triumph
with jury. Rather than submit to the agony Of
defeat, he would not hesitate to make " the worse
appear the better reason" and delude the minds Of
the jury with expositions of law, which be knew
must be set aside by the decisions Of the bench.
But the moment he entered his library, the conflict
Of the courtroom was forgotten With his beloved
booAs be was again child There was scarcely
subject ON which te did not resd--scarcely great
author with whom he was not familiar The Greek
and Roman classics were the bread Of life to his
MUD. The noble masterpieces of modern lters-
ture no knew by heart. Nothing gave him more
sincere de ght than the discussion of their merits
He would even sometimes turn aside, for mo-
ment. from the heats of debate, to indulge In o
critical remark on favorito author. He was q
wide reader, and "wide hker." though fas-
tdous Judge lie found charm not less in divinity
aletsphy sies, phIology, than in history, poetry
aud eoquence. In spite of his OmnivOrous taste
he appears to have digested whatever he read, and
rarely to have forgotten anything. His comments
90 various productions of literature, recorded in
in this volume, are always searching, original often
piquant and though carelessy thrown out are
usually wise, and sometimes really gems Of criti-
cim, equally brilliant and precious.
But We must give our readers some notion of this
fresh and animated volume, as well as Of its distin
guished subject, by one or two samples from
which they will be able to form an idea Of the inter
estng manner in which the author has accomplished
his "labor OF love" Here is description Of Mr..
M \ A. b. -. l. ~