The New York herald., 1876-02-20
OBITUARY.
JUDGE HILBERT HERRING.

JUDGE HILBERT HERRING.
The death OF Judge Ebert Herring, which took place
on Wednesday al his residence in this CITY, quiet
termination Of remarkable career II Judge Herring
had lived ill next July he would have ninety
years old he born on the sth OF July, l77T HIS
recollection back the time OF the Revolution He
recalled TO correspondent Of the HERALD April
recollection Of baggage wagon belonging to the Revo
luton that went through the town in which he lived
He to this city ehid and lived here continu
ousy from 1790 till the time OF his death When he
FIRST remembered New York IL built up only far
Ann street. All beyond that was open country Our
wealthy citizens lived in Wall street The old Bridewe
stood where the City Hall Park now In The first
Mayor, whose term of once he remembered, was
James Duane, who was chosen in l7s4 and retired in
1852 The population Of the city then not more
than $4,000. and most OF the houses but two
stories high very few three stories Where the
HERALD office now stands a suburb, and the prn
cpa theatre was on John street His recollection OF
the best actors was of Hallam and Hutchinson Which
OF the Halams attracted the attention of the young
law student Is not known, but it Is supposed it was
A NJ Halam, Jr, who first made his appearance IN
1I9a The richest man In New York at that time was
Mr. Desbrosses, for Mr. Astor quietly living at the
outset OF his mercantile career and had become
known as the possessor OF the stupendous fortune
which has become one OF the Institutions OF the
country.
Judge Herring studied law with Judge Samuel Jones'
after having been educated In Princeton College
The President of Princeton At that time was
John Witherspoon, the sturdy old Presbyterian divine
who signed the Declaration OF Independence the
descendant OF John Knox and ono OF the fathers OF
Presbyterianism in America gratifying compli-
ment was paid to Judge Herring in the later days OF his
life by the visit OF the graduates Of Princeton College
70 hin as the Oldest surviving graduate of any college
In the country Judge Herring took active part In
politics at the time when Aaron Burr and Alexander
Hamilton controlled the fortunes Of the State The
Judge admitted TO the Bar In 1799 He friend OF
HCOlOnel"
it6n. Burr he despised and carried the grave the
resentment OF those earlier days Hrs especial friend
ACKNOWLEDGED 10 be the greatest man known 10 New
York. He had recollection of Washington lad.
He said that one day walking on Pearl street, with
schoolmate, Washington cross the street,
walking alone. He crossed the street with his frend
followed him down Pearl street as far Broadway,
and along Broadway 10 house the Battery This
the only time he remembered seeing the Father of
his Country. He chosen to be Judge of the Marine
Court in 1905 and also in 1917 His friends OF the
Court were John Wells, his cousin, Samuel
Jones and William Johnson. The celebrated
oe who James aars student aerwara ns hs
distinguished engineer was errand boy at $50
year. When he first came to New York he lived in
Water street. After serving Judge OF the Court
and Register of the county he appointed the first
Commissioners Of Indian Affairs, and the head Of
from this place Judge Herring continued in private life
until his death Judge Herring had vivid recolectons
OF the French Revolution. He remembered the i'm
preston made upon him by the execution Of the King
and Marie Antonette He was sixteen years old at the
time OF these events He was fond of repeating the
deep impressions that those sad made upon the
country and the interest excited here by the rise
Napoleon He recalled the whole OF Napoeons career
from the FIRST campaign In Italy to the Close He
visited Europe, but when Moreau this country
in 1902 after the failure Of the Pichegru conspiracy
Judge Herring made his acquaintance and 1t was the
custom for thcm to 90 down hunting in Long
Island together. Moreau he spoke Of as having
been an exceedingly interesting man. He remembered
also Joseph Bonaparte, when the latter hved in New
Jersey. He knew Thomas Paine when he was ending
his days In poverty at New Rochelle he watched the
growth Of Byrons muse and fond OF repeating the
impressions made upon this country by the brilliant
and errac career OF the illustrous poet He remem-
bered the first steamer that sailed up the Hudson
command OF Commodore Wiswall The changes that
took place In public life, especially in New York during
his career were marvellous He found the city with
population of little than twenty thousand and
lett II approaching million These changes in popu-
laton we're small when compared with the social
and material changes other respects New York
during its earlier days, was little moro than small
Dutch settlement, with quaint people and strange
fashions and everybody who could afford dressed In
broadcoth and very few In homespun garments. They
were very honest people he said in those days, little
given TO cheating He knew Andrew Jackson WELL and
IL is believed from the latter he received his rst
appoin ntment as Commissioner OF Indian Affairs. He
spoke of Jackson as man given to bursts OF temper
but whose passion frequently the result of cacula
tion and not tho real genuine impulse OF anger When
be lived in Washington he on intimate with
Daniel Webster who his junior In years, but yet
whom he survived nearly quarter OF a century The
world and its responsibilities had long passed away
from Judge Herring and the last twenty years OF his
life really spent in silence He took little interest
in modern events but when questions OF
hty or sixty years old were brought up his mind ac-
familiar with the politics OF America the time Of JET
erson and Jackson than during the period inter-
venng DO Witt Clinton present to him as an
actual positive leader than Lincoln, Seward Chase
Modern only Interested him so far as they in.
volved people whom he knew questions which led TO
personal interest His mInd-and probably it is the
Of all minds in old ageshowod indsposton 10
grapple with any that to him after he was
seventy or eighty years old