Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1869-01-15

iorlty of the cause tfleu heIe' d" !. -:
auently called to the Courts oil 'he aojOin'"e
Counties He had probably been cohcerne-
Attorney in more causes thsn any other lawyer
of his age in the State, and had won high anu
continually increasing reputation for profession
al skill. He evinced his thorough devotion 10
his chosen profession by expanding the whole OF
the earnings Of the early years of his practce "a
the purchase Of the large and valuable library
of Mr. Underwood, which he retained ehricne'
BY numerous additions, and critically studieo'
till his death.
Mr.. French possessed mind of uncommon
strength and activity. With natural aPtl'u,e
for the law, he diligently studied and thorough
IS mastered it, principles and elements ihe!
we're always nj his ready command and win ,he
aid Of his rapid and clear powers OF Thought,
and bis nerte,t selt-Dossession, he was, without
special preparation. a formidable opponent III
any cause. But he never omitted the most Ia
borious preparation OF every cause, and he al
WAYS commenced a trial with thorough uhuer-
Standing Of the facts and the law Of his case III
the Supreme Court, particularly, he shone most
brilliantly. With his concise and well reAsonei
brief, sud his authorities always to the point,
at his immediate command, he Disseminated
with remarkable sagacity between cases, and m
variably won the attention, ard, Wth remark
able frequency, the concurrence OF the court
lie never labored on any but the strongest points
of his case, and with keen eye discovered ana
exposed the weak ones Of his adversary ms
utterance was most rapid, but slower than the
sift march Of his thoughts His powers Of re
plrtee were superior, and he frequently discon-
cer,ej by the point and quickness OF his replies,
older lawyers, who pri1ei themselves on their
superior skli and long experience IN tins res
poet He had most excellent wit, sturdy ana
even coarse, but never failing TO hit the mark
and to provoke the unqualified admiration Of all
who heard him.
Who If as will forget his appearance and tri-
umphs at the last term Of this court, when,
greatly prosiraicl by disease, he argued case
after case, with oven more than his usual disGri-
uiination and power, IN some using only ios'c
and strict authority, IN others also inIutElhg IN
tie most genial ami successful VII ana huuior
Mr.. French WAS thoroughly read in English
literature. faithful and loving student oil
Shakespeare, Pope, Gray AMI Goldsmith, he FIRE
ouenilv ua-u.ed hi. argument, aud conversation
With ieIieitous quotations from themaul from his
spc.ial ftrori.e the great novelist and humor-
1T Dickens
Tie wss 81. man OF Kind heart and genial man
tei.. and, notwithstanding his faults, for he had
them and who &C @. hs, n0'3-they never pro-
ducel IN his irgu4intlEces aversion or dislike OF
him. nor severity Of judgment upon him; but he
had tHg ugh his VIII ie career, embarrassed A. II
wa. by constitutional anl ascileuial mistcrtGnes,
hi1l.lel by The frequent attacks Of an incurahie
disease. Che Kind Ni-hes and sympathy Of all.
With 40 Dis commtn'ps talents, his simple
celiai;y put es,ry one "a easy AMI Agreeable
term. With hi!a. and be was almost universally
addressed and -okcn # ty bis a.quantauces by
tie ftmili4r term If Jerry " This name. as
hi- misfortune increased, IS by uulucky circum-
stance be iai,l in being all he desired TO be
Us We watched the gradual ebbing Of his lie
aud the sinking o. bus sialwart frame, rs We saw
him yelling slowly OUT surrey 10 'h'' Ii''.''ous
''' ,o'' l'Il.- ,i,,imi but iii the last,
lul the els. If our lameu'el friend vas no *
eep - l..l- cat The u5''eHas ''u i., 81 -. a
L... N r.. ~ -.'' .--.' D.. ,f-..b he Ina been
sal ~, Known. ..c.e through our swap ithy aud
sorrow ia'o "p or Jerry / cannot tell
how & ia a 9, ' 49, I i,j 'i, vr- ,..'
..on. bur- f. h., jpeu /, p common sentiment and
uttesrre Of ,ii, Z on 'he henoa AMI bar from
r,..i,.t-..t .,-,..t.'r ~ or- 5ar.,r-el fr,sni
10. t...r.t
p.t anil -r... ~, h.-.-tri. t.sin.r o.f.
III o.. -i. r.-.f........, and i.., r,s9nje by
49, ~ ,i.... tIiI,.rt ,,..iffii-
f... which his Genius, rIglUi.N GUIDED, would
f.,,, a.. ,.'-.. mn. .ss..-i,n
,i,, r..r,l and e.9....r.-sl i-tc'!e,t. re-
III .rrso l.-, frances al .-i e..,..l.l and dis
,..ll..iy .,,i.r.i .f-rr f.erelim,nts " pa--
.,.,.--,.....sr4 main. NV a,-tirs 90. .s.l en-
- .r...., e, -la clear rrbt # perfect
~. r-..l ami r..itlr.l problems
reason 90 '.''' '' .-I..r
"A'i" l was .' . -.'- -
- co., i.--,. i...,s- r,,- II, hin, are low
..rf.v ana illuminated ss y,ber. a
3 -l..L. IN in.,, Itrs and gloomy
J.. -. Phe'I il.w5l Mr. shaw in t'g well
b...., ..l- corrosive cf his h-h personal
t..l r... f,,.,,.. r..,.,...,. nj. An ,l'.,ll
.ail-- u- yer ana con .,H''. US anu up '-'
m.u. auIs .4'l.hle CITIZEN. and said fhat al
,..tb,ll ...- .. 5,fv e7trs.4e,i Of him was emil
III .......-...........,