New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-02-05
TIE CONNECTICUT BAB.
INTERESTING PERSONAL SKETCHES

INTERESTING PERSONAL SKETCHES.
At complimentary dinner recently given
by the Bar Of Fairfield County Conn, to Chief-Jusco
Seymour, on his retirement from the bench the Hon a.
II. HOLSTER contributed the speeches OF tho evening
most interesting sketch of OF the famous
names in tho roll or the Ltched County Bar. As tho
seat OF the once celebrated law school, Ltohfeld has
acquired unique historic fame and Mr.. HolIister's
graceful tribute to its former gores not in the least
oyerdrawD We sutjoin few extracts;
In lI2 about 50 years after the ORGANIZATION OF tbs
town Tapping Reeve son OF clergyman Of Brookhaven
established himself IN and obscure place
house to for center for the few that clustered
around IL. H. could not have driven the village In
wheeled vehicles and had there been there were no
roads that could have been safely trayersed by Them
IhiS interesting advenurer WAS graduate OF Prince
oh, anu was Then only ~ years old He was decatey
formed slender man OF classical features, pale COM
Burr his wife, daughter OF President Burr OF Princeton
sstor OF Aaron Burr, and granddaughter OF Jonathan
Edwnrds-one of the most beautiful and ACCOMPLISHED
women o! her time Inoy took up their abode
IN eouth-st' In house where / spent four
Woodruff, who Is onr DISTINGUISHED guest this evening.
Mr. Reeve established himself here IA lawyer, and
soon attained to the highest distinction In bs profession
Alter continuing in 1t for "a wears. IN 1884 when tho
Revolutionary war was scarcely he instituted the
strucOr until 1893 period OF IL years when he asso'
ciatcd with hin James Gould, who was afterward 20
renowned In the history of American jurisprudence.
Inis school educated young men from all parts OF tho
u1ion. among whom were john G. Calhoun Levi Wood.
=. -
Pnops NathsnieI smith William Elliot Orgen 5. sey.
m)ur, Lwis -. Woodruff Truman smith. and other dis
annals OF country. Two Of these graduates have
been judges Of the Supreme Court OF the United States
90 ~ tn3m members OF Congress 40 nave been Judges OF
the highest state courts and several have been foreign
and cabinet ministers.
Tapping Reeve was not a mere pedagogue. nor was no
mere LAWYER He was man OF genius. and la middle
age when hs feelings were enlisted in tho trial OF
cause he ofen exhibited powers OF eloquepce which,
from the suddenness with which they flushed upon tho
minds OF ais audience. aud from his mpassioned man
nEEFLg ltl HIlpRf Ha
untq al In the exhibition OF MS powers He was man
of ardent temperament, tender sensbilities aud OF
nature deeply religious. HIS sympainies led him TO
was tue let eminent LAWYER In TINS country who dared
to arragn the common law OF Edgand Tor Its severity
and Iehno cruelty cutting of the natural rights OF
married women, and placing their property at the
mercy OF their husbands squanier at pleasure.
hs sentiments did not at hrsG meet with much favor,
,hls aud oher States Ills principles dd not die with
him. but are perpemlted his ." domestic Relations"
aud Ia the Jurisprudence OF his country lie was
den. Revolutionary patriot OF the Federal school His
feryent picty, Welltmed Charities noble Impulses.
truthfulness simplicity OF character aud dsinteresed
all served to render him general favorto In
wdcy-extcnded circle OF friesds aud acqualntances
He died In 1923. the slth year OF his age. such
the head aud founder OF the Lrchheld Bar.
Last In order Ol birth OF the truly great mon tho can
be particularly dgelt upon In this hurried outline Is
Jauies Could BranfOrd I'm 177O, aud Of the
most elegant scholars aud terse writers vino have
adorned profession IN this country. He studied law
under Judge Reeve ana In 1923 associated with him
JOINT professor and delivered lectures to the students
IN tnat institution Tor thirty five years. at the end OF
time tnrre had been educated ~ the LiIehheld
Law School OPS lawyers, from all parts Of the United
States. GoulI's "PeaiIng IL one Of the most con
densed and crici pieces OF composition 10 be found
our language, aud IS Of original character. lie had
at first contemplated "a moro extended treatise, bat
while he preparing materials for a. the announce
ment OF CIitys on the title induced him TO
change his plan. As IL was presented to the public
G0ud'J "Peating" is therefore only summary Ot the
original design but for ccarncs and logical precision
is surpassed, If az ALL only by tho Commentaries on
the Laws or EIg.an1."
Judge Could carried to the Bar the same classical
finish which appears his writings. Ii would have
bee u impossible for him 10 speak an unRrammatical
sentence use an inclegan expression. make awk
ward gesture. His arguments were expressed IN the
most brief forms in which speaker can convey his
thoughts mis- hearers. He seldom spoke longer man
half hour ana in the most complex and Important
cases never exceeded hour. He could shoot quyer
fun OF shafts WITHIN the circle OF the target with suc1
certainty ana force that they could all DC found ana
counted when the contest was over
As Judge, his opinions ar unsurpassed by any which
appear IN our rcpOrs for clearnCss aud that happy
uUdiug OF tnOG-u peculiar To Inn ~ the Bar ana III
OGIal cOnyCrsdaIu.
the position OF his eminent jursi. and OF his veneer
able and azsocato truly Cnylabc. 10 them
Il ,cked from state IN the UlOn toe SOuth wuO
were to shape the Jurisprudence OF the western world
They looked upon tneso renowned teacners with AS
much reverence the young men OF Athens regarded
the philosophers who prepared their minds for the
sirfcs AgOra, the dcUatos OF tho Council or the
shades Of contempldtiye retirement