Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1871-12-30
WILLIAM WRIT.
By JAMES PARTON.
Iron the New York Ledger


BIaielSburg. In Maryland, near the Potomac
river, was a thriving village before the reyOlu-
tipuarv war. having a great trade IN exporting
tobacco and importing foreign merchandise.
In This village there was one tavern, kept by
Jacob Writ a native OF Switzerland, assisted
~ Henrietta. his wife, who was German
William Wir' was the young OF 'nelr SIX Gnu
fren, and he was born IN lII2 Besides TINS
tavern Jacob Writ possessed some other prop
ertv in the place, and he was thus enabled to
maintain his family in plenty, and with some
bamelv comfort. He died when his son Will
liam was two wears OF age, leaving an estate
OF three OF four thousand dollars TO ms young
family. n,,
tavern Was a LAWYER BY the name OF Carnes.
During the lifetime of the father he had become
warmly attached 20 the family, and particular
Iy 70 two members of 1.-THE eldest daughter,
twelve wears of age, and this pretty, amusing
little William, aged two When the landlord
died and the whole care of the house fell TO the
Iandladv, he lent her a helpinS(hand in many
WAYS advising her about her property and the
education of her children. When at last the
mother died also, he redOubled his attentions.
That eldest daughter was then beautiful and
blooming girl of eighteen, and it isevident that
he already looked upon her as his future wife.
He sent the boy to a Latin school; and after see
ing his education well begun, he removed to
Georgia, where he had great success at the bar.
Soon We ind him inviting Elizabeth Writ and
her brother 10 come TO Georgia, and live with
him. The young lady accepted the invitation,
and became his wife; but the boy had found
ton nearer home.
And it was all owing 10 his engaging qualities.
He describes himself a pert, lively, saucy and
pretty sChOOl-bOy, who sang comic soIgS very
well, danced with great agility, and made
smart answers, which, he SAYS, caused him to
lie thought - genius" He does not appear to
have been a very diligent student. but he was
eNtravagantly fond Of romantic and humorous
literature.
He well remembered the incident which first
suggested to his mind TO try for the legal profess
sion. His excellent schOOlmsster was in the
habit Of taking his pupils 10 attend the sessions
OF the County Court, four miles distant from the
school. Among the advocates was a popular
and brilliant young man Of the neighbOrhOO1,
well known to the boys, and a great favOrite
with them. who seemed 10 them TO surpass his
elders in wit and elOquence. Young Writ adj
nired him extremely, and to the whole school he
appeared the hero of the county.
why should we not have Court of our
own vas the cry, a. they tTudged hOmeward
IL was agreed TO. Writ was appointed TO draw
up the rules He was the hero of this juvenile
forum, and II was there that he acquired the
taste Tor legal pursuits. The part he took in that
sChOOl-bOv court led him directly to real courts
aud real Gases. One of his schoOl-fellOwS-the
son OF a noted lawyer and politician, named
Benjamin EdwaTds-happened to take home a
copy OF the rules which Writ had drawn up for
the guidance OF the mock court. to which the
author had appended an elegant epistie, apollo
giving for their impeTfeCtiOns. This production
Young Edwards DISPLAYED to the family and be
eNtOlled in unmeaSured terms the elOJuence and
g2yety OF the author. His father read the rules
spirit. He wrote to Writ, then fifteen years o.
age, telling him that ne had 40 nephews and
son pref airing for college, and inviting him Il
become an inmate of the family. and direct III,
studies OF those three young men while prose
cutting his own. He could not but accept $
opportune an invitation He resided in thi
family twenty months, winning the cordial es
teen OF every member of il, and receiving from
the experienced lawyer the most useful, pater
nal, issduOus guidance in his studies Fort
Fears after, we md him writing 10 this benefac
oil IA int Oft
ratitude- Indeed. everybody loved him. an,
.OOk pleasure in helping HIM; for he must hav,
been As handsome, a. pleasing, a. joyous. a
brilliant a young fellow ever captivated IN
nan affections.
He was twenty wears of age. A friend in
fOrmed him Of an excellent opening for lawye
. n Culpeper county, Virginia, and he hastene
seize IL, carrying with him, as he used 70 say
i whole hbTary-which consisted of Black
tones Commentaries, two volumes of Do
luiXOte. and volume of Tristan Shandy
Having no case himself, young Writ wen
,.ares in a small cause that belOng ed to frien
his, who was also to make his first essay. Hi
lend began by making motion which, thOug
agal and proper. was not usual in the courts O
hat county. The old lawyers objected, and pu
their objections in BY no means the most frendl
'Orm- Writ rose indignant at what he cOncei vet
unworthy treatment of a beginner. His fear
OrsOOk him, and he defended both the motto
md the mover of IL with warmth and frmness
lie made an excellent speech, and sustained hi
oint so well that one of the old lawyers of tn
Dunty came TO the assistance of the young gen
snnen, and their motion was granted.
He soon had considerable practice, marie
into a respectable family, and made his way il
due time To wealth and renOwn. The youn
lawyers in those days used TO ride about O
horseback from court TO court, amusing them
selves a. they rode with pleading im1ginar-
causes and other games, keeping IL up too lat
at night at the tayerns over their wine.
Wirt's magnificent display OF OratOry at tn
trial of Aaron Burr gave him national celebrity
which led TO his appointment to the AttOrne
Generalship Of the United States, which he hell
during two Administrations, and in which h
acquired solid distinction. He would have en-
tered the public service long before, III he cOul
have done 20 without sacrificing the interests O
his family, whom he loved with peculiar ten
derness aud devotion He died in 1884, hayin
preserved his buOyancv of spirits and all IN
winning traits OF his character TO his last days
Like so many others Of his cOuntrymen he wa
lured, in his old age, into standing for the Pres
idency, as the candidate OF the Anti Masoni
party He received seven electoral votes, thos
Of the State Of Vermont.