Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1862-02-07

UhTfdsa 'uculs OF assist tue lhuut0 vi u NNubNl
or parish committee with as much facility as
ordinary men leave their work for the sweets
Of recreation. lie always worked no soon
or did he drop the plough in one field than
his voice was heard cheering the tolls of an
other Yet he was never in haste. He was
collected and cautious almost toa fault. There
was no confusion in his thoughts or character
His mind moved with the precision of clock
of one of those antique time pieces, which
at the same time it keeps the hours, can also
tell the changes Of tue years and days and
months and the revolutions Of the moon,
performing many operations at once, and all
with wonderful ease. beauty and accuracy.
He had seemingly opposite qualities. He
possessed the independence and selirehance
Of man, and yet the difIidence and modesty
Of woman. He had great courage, and
yet he sometimes appeared timid. Tie was
very polite, and yet he never sacrificed prin-
cplc. lie had discriminating and practicod
intellect, united with a guileess simplicity
and an unspotted character. He was without
malice and would not have injured his worst
enemy. III was frank. generous, and yet re
served and prudent. He had perfect hon
csty, aud yet being crafty, he has caught
many witness with guile. His opposing
legal counsel always dreaded his cross-eX-
aminauons.
Though absorbed IN political hle' or IN the
cares of his profession, he had general liter-
airy culture. Tie read and studied the oo'N RS
which are to be iound only IA lhe Horatie' oil
scholars He never hada collegiate training,
yet ! have an Old editon ot Horace ni,ed
with marginal notes in bus hand writing lie
lived within his moans' and yet died poor
having received as sacred trust the H'o ts
of his father ana the care OF bus widowed
mother and orphaned brother ana sls'er' lie
had great refinement OF taste, Delighted 10
the beauties OF art and nature and was all
ways wonderfully moved by sweet ana touch-
ing music AS oy the very melodies OF heaven
and yet was one OF the keenest antagonists
10 legal case OF game Oh chess tnat IT, Oh
ten lhlls TO the Iot ol lawyers OF chesS pay
ers to meet ne worked better Tor othe'
men than ne uin LOT him'eL' ana one Oh nus
best friends "hom ne a'uea 10 one OF inc
most important clVli oihces IN the country
has freely SAID THAT he never acted IN any
public matter without his advice, and never
would act against It.
lie was very hospitablc and courteous
gentleman, the FIRST to show attention to
strangers, and he had a marvellous facility as
host in hi, own house. There are bot iew
public men in the State who cannot testify to
his remarkable ufbanity and to his dignhcd
and genial hospitality
Mr. Merrill WIS neither fortune seeker
nor fortune maker. Very .N 10 his pro-
iession are No one wa, mOfe generous than
he, though perhaps he did not show his gem
crosby in some of the usual methods Of bis
legal friends lie was not at all convivia
man, and consequently spent very little 10
social pleasures or 90 conyivial occasions
His generosity vas felt IN all those public
interests that build up the life of society
Here he gave sympathy, labor and money
lie might have been rich 1t he had given his
life 20 money making, for he was industrious
temperate aud frugal. But he died p or, be-
cause IN the first place he began 40 the rough
end OF life, with inherited obligations resting
upon him that he felt it honorable to dis
ch1rge. and also because he had so much con-
ideucc in human nature that be more thar
once lost large sunssrby The TOO generous use
OF his name. IL was venial fault, but il
reaped very bitter FRUITS and penalties
but an ms "1her eNceHent qnahues were
enn'ole0 10y ms ChIlst"n principles. lhes'
penetrated anu ms hsolts ana NODES Oh lnousn,
and should DO u'm oNt niue justice II IAN
ed 90 speak OF them FROM ms carries
cm'dh'od' he co"id hard'y ta" "A'' ~ "a
not to oe sustained ana siren 'h'h'u %!
pracncaI ln'n Ia tne truths oil me gospel
HIS manhood ana ms religion ae'el'ped par
P'"'' hGy leaned one upon ano'nef' an'
'ney oienae' so h'rm 'mou''y tN't you coU'
scarce te" "nelner We was most 'ne c'e'
ue'uea' saS'cious lawyer or tne coh''''en
/ CnriSian gentleman ms re"Slon peneu AZ
ed ms worldly me- ana y-' never was 90
senre OF doubtful nose VINO only Vel
the sharpness OF bus professional acu"et
might qnesuoa the earnes'he7S Oh ms re.
sions character out 10 one VINO Nhe" MIN
oo'h relations ana never al l"u'' IN e''nc'
ne seem 10 De no ohe-s''eu un'l lnhe'r'''
man. Guy wen ehueu ana oonP 'eS ~ ."
parts lie was honest, anG therefore u'S'lNe
oS'ehS'uon' cant anu Pe',s"' ne wa
Uu'niul as 'he sun anu 50 ma" no 'o''s'"'
slhBuiaHueS OF ansc,auon' the sen'a
go'u numoreu' auaoie ana hoo'e qna'','es
: gentleman ne auueo 'ue sum PIE ana ueVo'
ptlhclP,es ana sentiments VI Nnt'S'li'
" men ne ieu' IN the P'line Oh me- III d.
mlast OF ms years. suddenly as oy llBu'h,hs
stroke mere was struck from tue Churcn
"n'ch IL Is my fortune 10 De PASTOR one o' !,
strongest ana most oeautl'ut columns
diea on me seoohu u'y OIL May IN lhe yea