The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1863-03-26
New Publications.

LAWYERS OF MAINE, from Its First Colonial
ton to the Early Part of the Present Century.
By William Willis. Portland: Bailey Noyes.
syo. PIP. 7l2.
Mr.. Willis, like most others who have engaged
in the collection of historical materials from first
sources, from the lips of men and from docu-
ments contemporary with the events describ-
ed, has been led insensibly to undertake and
complete q labor from which in the outset he
would have recoiled, as too exhausting to be
reconciled with the demands of an exacting pro-
fession and a Jortiori too exclusive to admit of
other literary occupations. The history of the
law and the lawyers of Maine first appeared to
the author in the guise of brief lecture, embra-
cling sketches Of early lawyers and anecdotes of
the bar, and designed to be read before the Maine
Historical Society.
Mr.. Willis had long desired, that some veteran
of the bar would collect ard publish, for theben-
eft or at least the entertainment of present and
future members of the profession, some account
of the quaint usages and whimsical characters,
which belonged to the earlier, formative pei iod in
the social history of this community. More than
thirty years ago he was in correspondence on
this very subject. with Daniel Davis, then al
most seventy years of age and holding at that
advanced age the Office of Solicitor General of
the Commonwealth of Massachusetts,. Mr.. Davis
came to Falmouth village, now Portland, in
l7s2, at the age of twenty. He remained here
twenty-five years, until the duties of his office
required his constant presence in Boston. " /
'' am the only survivor of the Maine BAR" he
wrote to Mr.. Willis in 1879, " who lived in that
:" State at the time went into it. From my ear
lest acquaintance with the country, in every
part of which have discharged my profess
" sional duties, can recollect and furnish more
sketches of the nature you request, than any
other man now alive, because l am the Oldest
of the whole of them; but cannot do it at
present. In four years more, failing health
and memory came in to conclude the long ca
reer, and the rich store of anecdotes gathered up
through half q century of professional expert
ence was irretrievably lost.
Mr.. Willis's lecture grew under his hands. The
mass Of materials gradually accumulating from
every available quarter. is at last perhaps even
disadvantageously compressed into the 7i2 octa-
vo pages of his buck. The history begins with
the first indications of judicial proceedings after
the occupation of this soil by Europeans The
earliest date is 1886. For more than a century
and half, to 1900, Mr.. Willis has traced the pro-
gress of the courts and given sketch Of the life
of every lawyer in practice. The history of the
courts is brought down to the present time, with
memoirs of leading members of the profession
from the beginning of the century to 1870, when
Maine became an independent State. A chapter
is given to the history Of reports and reporters.
not only in Maine. but in the United States and
in England. The book is illustrated with eight
cen portraits including the counterfeit pre-
sentiments Of General Fcssenden, Judge Fitch
and Judge Shepley, who still enjoy venerable
age among us. The likeness Of the historian,
Williamson, is especially noteworthy. Every
lineament marks the antiquary. Boutelle and
Williams of the Kennebec bar are represented to
the life
Such is ground plan of Mr.. willis's work
Embracing record Of more than two hundred
years within the narrow compass of q volume,
and yet dealing constantly with the minutest
details, with dates and trivial anecdotes, the es-
sence Of history, the book lays no claim to the
consecutive regularity of a symmetrical nara
tive. 1t were vain to hope that in a work Of this
nature, resting in part on tradition and partly
on the recollection Of men not always accustom-
ed to the precision of statement which the writer
learns to practice and require, no errors occur.
Some there are, but SO far as we have observed,
of comparatively slight moment. Mr. Willis, in
the midst of professional and more transient lit
erary labors-including however " History of
Portland"-has found time to discharge most
amply that debt, which Lord Bacon says every
man owes his profession, and the faults inherent
in the plan of his book only appear to be faults
perhaps from q too purely literary point Of
view. The lawyers of Maine will know how to
judge of its merits from their own standpoint
A few extracts, enough to indicate the flavor
of the composition, are printed on the fourth
page this morning The mechanical execution of
the book, remarkable alike for neatness and &C
curacy, reflects equal credit upon the enterpri-
sing publishers and on our neghbor, Mr. Brown
Thurston, the printer.
TACTICS; or, Cupid in shoulder-straps-A West
Point Love Story. By Hearton Drille. q. s.
A. New York: Carleton. l2mo pp. $50
HOW RECEIVED IS THE ARMY.
Who in these times could refuse to read new
book, whose title smacks SO much of the militia
ry, And what military man would be SO untrue
to his proverbial instincts, as not TO pay his re-
spects unhesitatingly to Lieut.. General Cupid
Of course Tactics has reached this army!
many q candle has already burnt low, while the
"gallant defenders,' &C., were absorbed in
reading, determined to see the charming girl
from California safely through; and though re-
spending to the patriotic spirit of the book,
they would die for the glorious old flag, yet it is
extremely doubtful whether their sympathies in
this miniature contest are decidedly in favor of
the Union-as IL is.
The following appreciative notice is from a
New York paper, and will probably express bet
ter than could do it, the general impression of
the book
This is q sparkling, original, keen and good
naturally satirical West Point love story, told
by a lady who is evidently as thoroughly con-
yersant with military details as a pipandiere.
The cleverness with which REGULATION dress''
Cupids are photographed, and the comcal man.
ner in which perbafim extracts from 'Hardee's
Light Infantry Tactics are employed to de-
scribe love maneuvers, render it an exceedingly
entertaining and funny little volume.
What is intimated further on in the same arti-
Gle need hardly be quoted, since it would be
known intuitively by all the chivalrous, to wit:
that the stair authoress" is possessed of every
desrablel accomplishment, &c.;' that reverse
OF fortune prompted the employment of her tall