Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1873-02-22
FOR THE sUNBURY AMERICAN.
PhOtOg graphs or the Sunbury Bar.
BY JOHN II. LINN, ESQ.,
HUGH RELLAS, ESQ.

New Berlin, and pointed out to me Mr. Bellas,
Mr.. Ebenezer Greenough, and Samuel Hepburn,
of Milton, who were standing together In consul
tation. MIR. Beas' silver hair, extended uUs-
trils aud two fingers upllted, IN earnest argu-
ment, first rivited my gaze, then Mr.. Greenough's
nbstrqcted, square gaze at nothing, and then
MI. llepburn's intent look at the toe of his boot
as If counting its stitches: were an artist, be-
lieve could yet fling upon canvas their linea-
| ments and apparel. from Mr.. Greenoughs'
round, bald head, down to Nr. Belias' shoe
latchcts.
ona garret in Lewisburg, where they have re-
| mained (for me, suppose) undisturbed for sixty
years, found bundle u letters, which will af.
| ford me the material for the most have to say
about Mr.. Beas.
| His father, George Dcllas, Esq, of Fishing
Creek township, Chen) Northumberland county,
writes TO Robert Irwin, merchant cf Nolthum-
bcrlaud. under date Of Both May, 1865
"SIR: II you want an apprentice In the mer-
camille line recommend this boy, ho reads and
spells well, writes II midiiing good hand, under
stands "A part ofthe Ave common rules aud Fog
| ish grammar. He does not like to farm.'
The place was probably not open yet, aud he
returned. The next letter is Of the 9Th o July,
written in al excellent hHni by nugh himself
tor his father his personality bc.rlytd by "my
uncle'- siorr," for his father would have written
my brothers store:
"MR. IRwIN,
.'the bearer is II son of mino which want to
larn the nIarcantie business. You may try him
II few months. If yol thnk that he will answer
| the end, will bind hin to you. Sir, you will
find him little active, being in my uie.e's store
in Philadelphia six months.
''irom your humble Servant,
''GgoRGE BELLAs.'
On the l2th of September, the indenture was
signed and acknowledge before Daniel Mont
gomery, Esq, in the presence of Robert Lyon.
lie was to be ''instructed in store Keeping and
merchant accounts as commonly practized in
-,t ,laAa f,n 49, 10
months and twenty days, "A. the expiration of
which he was to receive IA complete suit o. APP
parcl. To show the eXactnc-s with which Mr..
Bcllus compiled, on the 81 of April, 1901, Mr.. b.
endorses on the indrntUre;
"April 3, 1891, received of Robert Irwin the
fulhlmUnt vi the within irdcuturc.
"lIUaH BELLAs."
In 90 he had charge of the branch store Of
Mr.. Irwin, at Danville, and his constant cores
pondence is cons picuous with activity and exact
attention to orders; SO much 80 that Mr. Irwin
sometimes scolds him for his obedjcucc to ordurs
in some cases where necessity rcpuiicd 4 viola
ton of them.
forgot to mention that Mr.. u. was born in
Ireland, and came to this country iu l759, when
h was nine or ten years Of age His father was
poor and unable to cdncatc his children; but
Hugh had singular energy and r remarkaby y
elastic spirit. At Robert Irvine he found Il ou-
genial spirit In Robert Christie, the senior clerk
Robert was the son Of an English teacher and
had been vol educated. Store keeping was not
then conducted in the go-ahcad style of the
present, and our clerks having considerable lo-
sure at certain periods, devoted ;hemsclye5 to
reading aud study.
Mr.. BIS father was a strict Presbyterian. and
had brought up his family in the faith of that
church, bat the active aud independents mind Of
Hugh led him into enquiries which caused him To
reject Ctlrinism, and even TO doubt seriously the
entire Christian faith, About this time [l79J)
ne heard much said of three remarkable sermons
of Dr. Priestly on ''IIahitual Devotion" 'Ths
Danger OF Bad Habits" and '.The Duty of not
Living to Ourselves" Meeting the Doctor one
Cay, he eXpre~scd a desire to read these sermons
MY young friend," replied the Doctor. i il lIe
from your opinion on tho subject Vt Revelation
that you would not be able 10 appreciate those
discourses. Before you undertake them will,
if you please, pu, tract in your hand, the
re ding of which viii, hope, prepare you fer
the doctrine of my scrmops.'
"Priustly Institutes OF Natural and Revealed
Religion" was willingly received and engcrly
read twlcc by Mr.. Beas. Then came the SER
mons, aud the seed fell into good ground ana
brought forth AN kundrel fold. b. Prestly's
compositions were all in short hlnl, and Mr..
Beilas, who was an expert pcnnau, wrote them
out for the press. The Doctor frequently eX-
pressed his salts faction with the great accuracy
of Mr.. Bellas, and in return prescribe him a
course of reading and loaned him the books,
Irwin did not like the literary ambition OF bis
clerk, auC on one occasion finding Bclias read
ing Il copy OF the "AuuWa Register" suatched
the hook and threw It into the lire. The volume
belonged to DR.. Priestly, who was greatly an
noyed at the rsnlal action, but never called r.
win TO account for Il.
While at lrwn's, Mr.. Belias commenced
studying law with Jon than Walker, ESQ., eul-
terwirj Judge of the Centre and Bedford district
is 4 to lSig-rathcr of the late Robert j g.
Walker, Secretary Of the Treasury under pres-
dent Polk,) who AT that time practice law and
resided in the town OF Mort rthUmter and. By the
way, the Academy boys point strangers to the
K. j. w. cut III the door iamb of that binding
here with ns much pride Harrow school boys
point out the autographs Of Byron aud Pee. serb
b.ud high up on its walls.
II was about the year 1903 Mr.. Bellas applied
for admission, but he met mosI formlIhle Op-
position. Every lawyer then at the bar in this
district was decided Federalist, and as Mr. Is.
was not only an active aud influential Democrat,
but OF the plebeian stock, the aristUerttic gem
tlemen objected to his admission ON the ground
OF his not having actually studied ia The office Of
Mr.. Walker, but in n store willie conluctng
business of another character.
Whether the Court decided against him, or he
was induced by the c!amor of his opponents to
suspend application, | am unable TO say. This
happened during the session of the court at
Bellefonte. Returning to Northumberland aud
stating the case TO Mr.. Walker, the latter ad-
vised him 10 employ counsel on his behalf and
renew his application at Sunbury. Mr.. Bellas
accordingly retained Dauie Smith, Esq, who
brought his ease before the Court and advocated
IL so ably that an examination was ordered and
Charles Hall, Esq, the most determined of his
opponents. appointed one of his examiners. The
eAamlnation was held In open court, and was
most rigorous. Mr.. Hall came prepared with a
sheet Of written questions; many Of them mere
trials of memory, such as the dato of certain
statutes of Queen Elizabeth. MIR. Bellas' nem-
ory however never was 1T fault. The Judge
perceiving that he had no ordinary candidate
before him, was highly gratiied. Al one stage
the Judge asked him, "Whst 10 criminal law "
Mr. b., after a moments hesitation, commenced,
Law is II rule of action" here the Judge in
terrLpted bin in his quick, nervous way, with.
81 don't want general definition of law, bat Of
criminal iaw." 'Crininal law resumed Mr..
Bellas, sis rule of action defining aud prohib-
ting crime, and prescribing due punishment"
That will do" remarked the Judge, II only
asked the question to try your Judgment There
Is no definition Of criminal law the books"
The three hours ordeal past, Mr.. Hall most
grudgingly admitted that the young mau had
passed satisfactory examination and recon-
mended his admission TO the bar.
Governor Snyder, who was at that time Coun-
ty Treasurer, witnessed the whole proceedings,
and resolved To patronize the young lawyer. The
above is his recollection of Mr.. Belias' cXamina-
tion as preserved by his son, the late George II.
Snyder, Esq. In 1909 or 1910, Governor Snyder
appointed Ms. BellRs Prothonotary of Northum-
b ;rland county, which office he held for a num-
he M wear He SOyda.iE