The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1859-05-10
NEK BOOKS.

portraits, from various citizens, and express the
hope that the number will be rapidly multiplied
upon his return to the city.
NEWBOOKS
TNoTE.-Our acknowledgements of books received
hereafter will be published once week-usually on
Tuesday-so as to include the entire receipts of the
previous week. Works intended for review should
be presented early.
MEMOIR OF THEopHLus Parsons Chief Justice of the su
preme Judicial Court of Massachu sets notices of
of his contemporaries BY his son. THEoPHILUs PAR
vol l2mo. PIP 476. Boston, Ticknor & Fields
1859. For sale by Cushings Bailey
worthily written memoir of an illustrious
father, would to be the fittest and most pious
oblaton that can be offered by a son. 1t is requ-
ting the obligation of existence conferred, by what
may perchance, prove the gift of Immortality. In
biography, that of parent written by a child
should take rank next after auto biography, which
we think should stand first. 1t has not all the ad-
vantages, nor is it subject to some of the draw
backs belonging to the author of his own history
The point of view is midway between that of an
individual contemplating and explaining his own
career and that of wholly outside and disnterest-
ed observer. The success of the personal historian
in any case will depend upon his ability to avail
himself of the pecuarities of his position.
We think the fame of the great Chief Justice
VI
not have fallen into better hands than those of
his son, the present distinguished and accomplished
Law Professor of Harvard University. This memoir
apart from the intrinsic interest of the subject, as
mere work of art, is very happy specimen of
successful attempt in difficult branch of literature
The memoir is admirably written and shows the
mind of the sagacous scholar and critic, and the
taste of the refined gentleman in every page A
genial md aoJ, +bo
in the MAN, safely through the obvious perils of
narrative so doubly personal as the life of Gather
composed by his son.
Chief Justice Parsons was born in Byfeld, Mass,
on the oath February, 1850, and died in Boston on
the 3Oth October, 1873 In his day there is no doubt
he was easily the head of the bar fNew England and
| it may be questioned whether that land of acute
and sagacious minds has produced a greater law
yer since his death. His learning was by no means
confined to his own profession, but his knowledge
of the classics, of mathematics of mechanics. and
OF general literature only less accurate and pro-
found than that of the law. Daniel Webster when
student OF law in 1904, thus speaks of him ga
''great scholar in everything in his profession he
sis peculiarly great. He is not content with shin
ing on occasions: he will shine everywhere As
mo cause Is too great, none is too small for him.
lie knows the great benefit of understanding
"small circumstances. 1t is not enough for
"him that he has learned the leading points
'ln a cause; he will know everything
HIS argument therefore is always consistent
with itself, and its course so luminous that Won
"are ready to wonder why any one should hest
"tate to follow him. Facts which are uncertain he
with so much art, connects with others well
proved, that you cannot get rid of the former
without disregarding the latter. He has no fond
mess Tor public life, and is satisfied with standing
'where he is, at the head of his profession"
The same profound observer said of him: ssWhen
parsons intends to make learned observation,
''his eyebrow sinks. When a smart one-for he
"is, and wishes to be thought a witt rises The
characteristic enGowments of his mind are strength
"and shrewdness. Strength which enables him to
Support his cause; shrewdness by which he is al
"ways ready to retort the saes of his adversary"
Many of these retorts are said to have become
stock stories, and run through the papers periodi
cally, and are sometimes applied to him and some
times to others. We quote one which has that look
though we cannot positively identify it-said to be
authentic-which however illustrates rather more
than the wit of Parsons:
"James Sullivan, afterwards Governor of this
State, was opposed to my father in CASE and there
was some little war of words, in which nv father
for that time got the better; which, by the way
did not always happen, for Sullivan was an able
man, and very ready. Soon after, as my father
was arguing to the jury, Mr. Sullivan espied bit
Of chalk lying on the table, and took up his oppo-
nent's broad -brimmed black hat and wrote upon l.
This is tie hat of a damned rascal and laid it
down again, after showing it to the bar. There
was some smiling-perhaps audible smng-for nv
father turned round, and his eye fell on the hat
he read the words. He instantly stopped in his ar
gument, and turning to the court, and exhibiting
the hat, said May it please your honor, crave
hn nrnt of = hao D,at Gill
been stealing my hat and writing his own name on
it,"
Another, equally characteristic of bad manners as
we'll as of prompt wit, is the following:
''My father, some years before he went on the
bench, was arguing before Judge Paine, (som ewhat
deaf and did not speak so loud or so distinct
ly as the Judges intirmity required, or perhaps
as he should have done; and the Judge cried
out suddenly, 'Mr. Parsons, Mr.. Parsons, |
tell you once for all, take that glove off
your tongue Certainly, Sir was the answer;
'and may | beg your Honor to take the
wool out of your ears This anecdote does not
present very pleasing picture of the relations be-
tween court and counsel in those days, but | think
it is a just one"
A better specimen both of wit and taste is pre-
sented at p. 1874.
cat dinner party at which Dr. Tappan met my
father, some conversation arose about Hopkinsian-
ism, which was then attracting much attention,
and of which one of the prominent tenets was that
of 'disinterested love- and "a willingness to be
damned for the glory of God One and another
spoke of it unntellgible, inconceivabe, &C.. and
my father was appealed to about it. Il think said
he, 4 can understand it. have been told that the
Rev. Mr. Hopkins was once in the way of buying
lottery tickets; but, as he drew prizes, he de
sisted. When, however, lottery was authorized
for the benefit of a College in which he was inter-
ested, Mr.. Hopkins bought quite largely, and said
to the person who sold the tickets my friend, |
want you to understand on what ground buy these
tickets. L have bought others, and hoped for a
prize, but drew nothing. Now, however, do not
expect prize, nor about it, nor desire it, nor
think about it in any way, because buy the tick
cts without any selfish view, but merely and exclu-
svely to give the price thereof the College; and
no'0 think l shall draO a price"
This reminds us of circumstance occurring
In our own observation. worthy physician
had all the symptoms of consumption. He
took the best advice and was told that he
was undoubtedly victim of that fatal disease
-"But," said he, 81 don't think SO; every body
knows that consumptives are proverbially hope
'sful--
Hope springs eternal in the hectic breast
IL had shadow of hope should be certain that
Il had consumption, but as consider my case despe-
rate think there is a good chance of my getting
well Strange to say, he lived many years after
'.iiS curious diagnosis and did not die of consump-
ton at last
III the course of the memoir many notices
u 'ne men and manners of that day and genera
noh are very happily introduced. We conclude with
one OF ludicrous character, throwing son,a III.
'ne violence OF parties at the beginning Of the
present century-a violence by no means confnoa
TO BOSTON, Before taking leave of the subject
should have good word to say in behalf of the ax
'remely handsome manner in which the work 10 nro-
sented to the public, but for the drawback, that it
| appears with uncut leayes-a folly for which NJ,