The post. [volume] (Middleburg, Snyder County, Pa.) 1864-1883, 1870-03-03
story rOid at Mr.. .jener.on's.

'Onc day, alter dinner, Mr.. Web
s;cr told II story OF himself which wa-
characteristic of him, AMI amused Mr.
Jefferson very much Mr.. jefferson
remarked that man not uniieuuently
obtained more credi, for readiness in
rOmmsnd OF their knowledge, aud iu-
deed for its amount, than they dcscrv
ed. lie said it had happened to him
.et, Mr.. Webster replied that be
supposed tha, it hal happened to
most men, and especially to lawyer,
lie said that, soon after going to Ports
mouth as young lawyer, a black
smith brought him cIs under will !,
he was unable to give him q decided
answer, and desired him 10 call again
Having little TO DO he went to work
upon the case, aud found it II dit,icul,
one. He went through all the books
in his own little collection, that could
give bin any light, aud then borrowed
what he could lind relating 10 the
point in question, in the libraries of
Mr Jeremiah Mason, aud If Mr.. Pcy-
ton Il Freeman, u cortcous bl,.ck-irt-
ter lawyer in Portsmouth. His client
called for all opinion, Uuj be was una
bic 10 give him one-he bad ouly go,
far enough into the matter 70 ascertain
that the blacksmith : bequCst was ci,h-
er u contingent rGHdtHie or an ere.
cutory dsrtse lie sent to Boston aud
bought Fearnes Essay Gu these
two subjects, and other book, -
all together costing him fifty dollars.
At has, after u months hard work,
aud making out Il very elaborate brlet,
he gave al opinion favorable to his eli
eut's claim, argued the case, won II,
and received tee ot fifteen dollars, all
that the amount 10 controversy woulG
warrant him To charge.
Wears passed by, and the black,
smith aud his case had almost passed
away also from his memory. Al leugtb,
being in New York on bis way to
Washington, Mr.. Aaron Burr seut bim
u note, saying that he wisAed to con-
suit him ou legal question of some
consequence. Mr.. Webster gave hun
an appointment, and, when Mr.. Burr
began to explain his case to hinI, lac
SAID that he knew in u moment that It
was his blacksulth's case over sgaIu.
He, however, heard Mr. Burr quietly
through, and then, with the blacks
smiths brief tull 10 his mind, began to
reply. lie cited u series ot eases bear
Iug on the point, ami going bAcS, It l
remember rightly, 10 leading Que IN
the tiue 0. Charles H. Mr.. Burr lis
tened to him Tor some time, aud then
interrupted him somew hat suddenly A,
by asking him whether he had beeu
consulted in that case beture.. lie
evidently suspected, said Mr.. Web
ster, that | must have been counsel to
the other side. l assured him that |
did not know there was such u case Or
such parties in the world TIL he ex-
plaluud il to me- Mr. Webster SAID
that he subsequently, gave Mr.. Burr a
written opiulon on his case, and made
him pay enough for 1t 10 cover al his
work tor hs blacksmith, aud sOme-
thing moreover tor NJ. burrs saspi-
eiou thai no bad been OF eounsel iVr
the opposite party. lie aided, MIR.
Burr, no doa6i, thought us much
more learned lawyer than l was, and,
uuder the circumstances ot ,he case, |
did not think it worth while 10 disa-
puse him OF his good opinion Of me-
Curtis Life Of ID. be6sten