Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1867-10-23

"Hsit tucy Nere IL udue MIN ONO Vi tue
: most learned of men, not only in his profes-
) sion and in the literature of his profession
but in all departments of learning. His
mental appetite was so keen and his mental
digestion SO perfect that nothing came amiss
to them. He was an excellent scholar in
Greek and Latin. Unlike many who aban-
don the study of the classics when their
school-days are over, he read them constantly
and with delight, to extreme old age. With
English and French literature he was init
mately acquainted. History, philosophy
poetry, science, and whatever else was worth
knowing, he knew and that not specifically,
but thoroughly. He even prosecuted his
studies in the domain of theology, domain
not usually invaded by men of his profession
He made himself familiar with Hebrew, that
he might read the Old Testament in the
orig inal, and he was much better acquainted
than the majority of ministers with the his
tory and criticism of the sacred text. In
fact. theological literature was his favorite
study, if a mind SO capacious and omnivorous
as his can be said to have its favorte study.
Bat he had. like Lord Bacon. . taken all
learning to be his province and he swept
through his whole province with the march
ofa conqucror.
Another and not less wonderful faculty of
his mind, was his command of language.
There are men of learning. who for lack of
the power of expression, might for all prac-
teal purposes, well be men of Ignorance !;
and some men there are whose powers of cx-
preston greatly transcend the quantity and
value of what they have to express. Mr..
Bradley of neither of these classes. His
whole intellectual wealth was at instant
command, and he gave it utterance in Ian
guage rich, copIOus, and expressive, but
never redundant. language was used by
him neither to conceal his ideas, nor to hide
the lack of ideas, but to express them. He
had an abundance of words but he had an
equal abundance of thoughts and facts to COM
municate. His language adequate to
express all varieties of emotion, the tender
and the stern, the gentle as well as the harsh
He could fascinate woman or win child,
and he could also denounce demagogue, or
blister n rascal with sarcasm. On all occa-
sions and under all circumstances, his Ian
guage like the Christian grace of char
ity-it never failed.
With such stores of learning and such
power Of expression, it was almost matter
of course that he should be an interesting
and powerful public speaker. But it was
not matter of course that he should excel
in conversation. There are many men who
can speak we'll on their feet, but have little or
nothing TO say when seated just as there are
many who can converse huently and effect
lively, but become bankrupt both of thoughts
and words when they stand before an
audience. Mr.. Bradley admirable in
conversation in oratorv. and far more de-
/ lightful Nothing pleased him more than to
find willing hearer group of hearers, and
TO pour forth, by the hour together. the
haustless treasures of his mind. 1t is by his
conversational power perhaps that he will be
longest remembered Wherever his noble
white head and portly form were to be seen,
they were the centre around which gathered
n crowd Of listeners, glad TO be silent while
his loud rich voice was heard in 4 continuous
strain of argument, narrative, illustration,
anccdote, quotation, as he passed . from
grave to gay, from lively to severe through
the regions of science, literature, politics,
philosophy morals. theology, usually closing
his mOnologue with some ludicrous story or
crisp witticism. 1t mattered little TO him
whether his hearers were capable of appre-
ciating his discourse or not lie seemed TO
suffer with 4 plethora of thoughts, from
which he could find no relief but in converse
ton, and he not seldom wasted upon group
of illiterate hearers the recondite learning
and brilliant ideas that might have charmed
and instructed an audience of scholars. Had
there been any one to play Boswell to his
johnson, American literature might have
been made rich in a department in which it
is now absolute pauper.
His wit was as keen as a Damascus blade,
and his ready repartees constituted one of
the most attractive features of his public and
private speech lie rather fond of
shrewd answer to the questions of clergymen,
and if the Joke were little at their expense,
he relished it none the less. On one occasion
he had been arguing at great length an i'm
portant case, and had kept large audience
in rapt attention to the very q ,sc As he
left the courthouse the Rev Mr. Bcckley,
who had been one NJ his auditors, accosted
him thus = Mr.. Bradley, have listened
with great interest and profit to your argu-
ment, and while | admired the zeal and earn
estness with which you advocated your clients
cause could not nelp thinking how much
more useful we ministers should be, if we had
the earnestness of lawyers" All , Mr..
I Becklcy." was the reply, if you ministers
stood near the ,judgment-seat we law
yers do, you would be rs earnest are
The minister al Westminster once called to
demonstrate with him his habitunl nom
attendance at public worship. He spoke of
the Importance Of good example, and argued
very c0ncusively that if such a man as Mr.
Bradley were habitually to be present in the
house of worship, many others would be in
duced to attend. Mr.. Bradley heard him
respectfully to the end, and then quickly re-
/ piled - You know Mr. E that we are
commanded not to turn deaf ear to the gos-
pei" His deafness was so extreme that he
could not have heard single word of the
service.
/ He had very vivid Imagination, and not
only did he delight in poetry, but he was
himself capable of writing poetry. In fact
I he wrote much more poetry than gener
ally known. short lyric entitled Dawn,
Noon, Midnight" was extensively published
and much admired | sat near him while he
wrote it. and had the pleasure of hearing
him read it Immediately upon its completion,
his always excellent elocution being made
still more effective and impressive by the yet
present excitement of composition. A copy
Of it, in his own beautiful and peculiar hand
writing, has been fttingly framed and is in
the room of this society Another poem,
written when he was far advanced in years,
is less known than that, and is worth re-
peating here, not only for its great merits as
poem, but as a record of what was perhaps
the experience of his own soul. 1t is written
in the old ballad metre and may be entitled,
BALLAD OF JUDGMENT AND MERCY.
As at midnight l reading by my lights ftful
CLEAN,
I I fell into a slumber, and 10 dreamed a dream;
This outer world had undergone great and sud
And everything around me seemed wondrous new
and strange.
No sunlight, moonlight starlight glittered
there,
a mild and shady twilight seemed to permeate the
And there sat the blessed Jesus. No golden throne
had he,
But was clad in simple majesty, erst in Galilee.
Behind him, Justice, Mercy, Truth, safe guides in
earthly things,
Their functions absorbed in him, all stood with
And the Recording Angel, with deeply sorrowing
look,
Took in his hands and opened the all-containing
Book.