The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1871-06-02
Eranaia BACON ESQ.

III the Supreme Court at Alfred last MOI
day, Judge Bourne made the following re-
marks relative TO the late Francis Bacon.
ESQ.,:
lis known TO your honor, that since the
last T. RIM of court. Francis Bacon one OF the
members OF this Bar, has deceased. 1t has
beeu customary when any such disruption Of
the ranks OF ,tbe ASSOCIATION has taken place,
at the next gular session OF the court, to no.
tice the event with the expire s,ion OF such sen.
timents in relation to the deledent, as his
character and his relations 10 the Bar might
suggest. hold the custom t0 be a wise one,
and OF material benefit to the Bar and to the
public do not mean 10 assert that this Gus
tom has been universal. Men have been en-
rolled as members OF the profession who have
disregarded the sanctions OF the oath which
they have taken, prostituted their inteilects,
aud forfeited the respect of the Bar, by aban-
dOhing themselves to the practice of iniqnity,
and gone down to the grave of the drnnkard,
and even ofthe felOn. Cases may have occur
req wnere mtn unworthy Of professional re-
membrance, have had ther names perpetuated
on the records OF the counts, as honorable
members OF the Bar. But l have been present
at no snch protan alton OF this wholesome Gus
tom, neither have had knowledge of any such
DeiVeI sion OF its OBJECT. since was admitted
To the practice of the law, more than forty
members of this association have de.
ceased: and of this number four or five have
died and passed out OF sight, without amy iec-
Os nitiun by he Bar, that they had ever been
numberediu the brotherhood I hold it to be
imperative on the members rigidly to adhere
to the custom and maintain it in its purity.
II is valuable incident of our judicial system,
and one OF the safeguards in the impOi ia ut
field OF labor 10 which the lawyer is called.
The profession is Que well fitted 10 try men >
souls, and every member OF it should under
stand, that if the ordeal is safely and hOnora-
Sts6 IA w hul 81,
respectful remembrance. Butlt not he will
be permitted to pass off from the face of the
earth as though be bad never had a being on
it.
Among all the names which will be found
perOetuated on the records, honorable and
worthy as they are, none are more worthy than
that or FRANCIS Bacon, which now, at the re-
quest OF tue Bar, respectfully ask the Court to
add to the list. speak not of him as great, in
the too common acceptation OF human great
ness. But do speak of him in all the attri'
butes of q true humanity. No member OF the
Bar cOmprehesded his character more thor.
oushly than did. From cur association iu
the ministries of the Probate Court, and the
com nuniOn and intercourse of subsequent
years, have had such revelations of the H.
visible man that feel myselfto be well ground
ed in the averment, that one more surely in
corruptible and Of more sterling integ gritty, ha!
never been numbered with our associates.
I bt lieve him to have been as honest a mar
as ever walked the earth. Rooted aud ground
ed IN sound moral principle in early life, ne
proposition involving wrong could ever touch
any accotdaDt note 10 his constitution. Il
matters not to him that it was one of an alleg
ed triHiDg character. Great or small in tbs
view of many it was alike repulsive to him
Whether in his professions al, social, or pOlitica
action, he would give no countenance to any
proceeding which did not commend itself t
his conscience; and any address to his sell. in
tercsts, to induce an alteration from strict rec
| titude, he regarded az an insult to his man
hood "PrOcul, procul, este prOfani," was BIZ
response to any one who came to him will
| such an intent.
iOnaD ability and acquisition, be maintained {
very respectable standing. His aspii
however high, bad no auxiliary in his pkysica
system. For years he has been deblitated
almost disteartesed by its frailties. The ner
" usuess consequent ppOu the weak ness ke nj
him iIOm exercising bis forensic powers at thu
Bar. He was quick in his perceptions, accu
rate Ia his law, though too distI ustful of bis
| apprehension OF. it; and faithful to bis client
in the broadcast sense Of that term. He did
not limit bis fidelity to the prosecution OF biz
claim, but he would notne mbark in O suit, and
involve his client in the perils OF judicial liti
CATION, however much he was urged to do So
unless under the conviction that the demand
was both legal and just one; and know tina,
in many cases iu which he must have been
| well satisfied on these points, be would moi
| hazard the enterprise until further armed will
the opinion OF other counsel He would pnde
no consideration bring false, groundless o.
unlawful suit
| 10 bis action as q public officer, his care AMI
| caution have sometimes thought were Carl
| ed to an unreasonable extent; sometimes MOI
| consistent with the public Interests aud con
venieDce. As Register Of Probate this ele
ment of his character was strikiDgly manifest
Alter will was filed, he regarded it as en-
trusted to his responsibility; and he would moi
of the court before whom its execution an(
validity to be tried, to take it to the plac,
Of hearing; but would carry it himself ant
| abide there until the examination was con
| cluded. Such was the vigilance Of the man al
to all official duty. and as to his obligation il
| all the relations OF life.