Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1872-01-01
" lLLIAM WIR T.
BY JAMES PARTON.

ing tobacco ana importing foreign merchandise.
In this village there was one tavern, kept by
Jacob Writ native OF Switzerland assisted
by Henrietta, his wife, who was German.
William Writ was the youngest of their six
children, and he was born in l772. Besides
erty in the place, and he was thus enabled to
maintain his family in plenty, and with some
homely comfort. He died when his son VIII
liam was two years of age, leaving an estate of
three or four thousand dollars to his young
family
Among the frequcnters of the Blandensburg
tavern was lawyer by the name of Carnes.
During the lifetime Of the father he had be-
come warmly attached to the family, and par
ticuarly to- two members of 1.-THE eldest
daughter, twelve years of age and this pretty,
amusing little William, aged two. When the
landlord died and the whole care of the house
fell to the andlady, he lent her helping hand
in many ways, advising her about her proper
ty and the education Of her children. When
at last the mother died also, he redoubled his
attentions. That eldest daughter was then a
beautiful and blooming girl of eighteen, ,and it is
evident that he already looked upon her as his
future wife. He sent the boy to Latin
school /; and after seeing his education we'll be-
gun, he removed to Georgia, where he had
great success at the bar. Soon we fud him in-
viting Elizabeth Writ and her brother to come
to Georgia, and live with him. The young la
dy accepted the invitation, and became his
wife but the boy had found other friends, and
saw an opening to an education nearer home
And it was all owing to his engaging quail
ties. He describes himself as a pert, lively,
saucy and pretty schoolboy, who sang comic
songs very we'll, danced with agility, and made
smart answers, which, he says caused him to
be thought "a genius. He does not appear
to have been a very dilligent student, but he
was extravagantly fond of romantic and humo-
rous literature.
He we'll remembered the incident which
first suggested to his mind to try for the legal
> profession. His excellent schoolmaster was in
the habit of taking his pupils to attend the ses-
from the school. Among the advocates was a
popular and brilliant young man OF the neigh
borhood, we'll known to the boys, and a great
favorite with them, who seemed to them to
surpass his elders in wlt and eloquence. Young
Writ admired him extremely, and to the whole
school he appeared the hero Of the county
"Why should we not have Court of our
own % was the cry, as they trudged homeward
1t was agreed to. Writ was appointed to
draw up the rules. He was the hero of this
juvenile forum, and it was there that he ac-
quired the taste for legal pursuits. The part
he took in that school-boy court led him direct
ly to real courts and real cases. One Of his
choo-tellows-the son of the noted lawyer and
politician, named Benjamin Edwards-hap-
pened to take home copy of the rules which
Writ had drawn up for the guidance of the
mock court, to which the author had appended
an elegant epistlc arologIzing tor their lmp,er-
fections. This production young Edwards dis
80 ~ 4,n,;l,- opd hn oyfo)1n1 in nm
measured terms the eoquence and gayety of
the author. His father read the rules, and
was much STRUCK with their humor and spirit.
lie wrote to Writ, then fifteen years of age,
telling him that he had two nephews and a
son preparing for college, and inviting him to
become an inmate of the family, and direct the
studies of those three young men while prose-
cutting his own. He could not but accept so
opportunc an invitation. He resided in this
family twenty months, winning the cordial es-
tecm of every member of it, and receiving from
the experienced lawyer the most useful, patcr-
nal, assiduous guidance in his studies. Forty
years after we find him writing to this bcnc-
factor of his youth in terms of the most aftec.
tionate gratitude. Indeed, everybody loved
him, and took pleasure in helping him tor he
must have been as handsome, as pleasing, as
Joyous, as brilliant young fellow as ever cap
tivatcd human affections.
He was twenty years of age. friend in,
formed him of an excellent opening for a lawyer
in Culpcper county, Virginia, and he fastened
to seize it, carrying with him, as he used tC
say, his whole library-which consisted OF
Blackstoncs Commentaries, two volumes OF
Don Ouixote, and a volume of Tristan Shan
dy. Having no case himself, young Writ went
shares in small cause that belonged to friend
OF his, who was also to make his first essay
His friend began by making motion which
though legal and proper, was not usual in the
courts of that county. The old lawcrs objected
and put their objections in by no means the
most friendly form. Writ rose indignant a,
what he conceived unworthy treatment OF be
giuner His fears torsook him, and he defend
ed both the motion and the mover OF it witt
warmth and firmness. He made an excellent
speech, and sustained his point so well that one
otthc old lawyers of the county came to the as
sistance of the young gentlemen, and their mo
tion was granted.
He soon had considerable practice, married
into a respectable family, and made his way II
due time to wealth and renown. The young
lawyers in those days used to ride about on
horseback from court to court, amusing them
selves as they rode with pleading imaginary
causes and other games, keeping it up too late
at night at the tavernS, 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 ATTORNEY
Generalship of the United States, which h,
held during two Administrations and IN Whlcl
he acquired solid distinction. He would hav
entered the public service long before, if h
could have done so without sacrificing the IN
terests of his family, whom he loved with pc
euliar tenderness and devotion. He died il
1894, having preserved his buoyancy of spirit
and all the winning traits of his character tt
his last days Like SO many others of his cou1
trymen he was lured, in his old age, into stand
ing for the Presidency, as the candidate OF tn
Anti Masonic party, He received seven elec
toral votes, those of the State of Vermont.