Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1877-05-12
Meeting Of the Bar.

to his memory. A feeling Of solemnlty, deeper
tbao usual, pervaded The meeting. Yearly
almost siuco The war the bar of this city has
incurred the loss Of some prominent member
thereof, and DOW the last living link that con-
meets the present with the early history of this
jar' has passed away. S. Chapman Neale,
esq, vas called to preside over the meeting.
Mr.. Nealc oc assuming the chair returned
his thanks for the honor that had been confer
red upon him. Mr.. Smith, he said, was the
oldest member OF the Alexandria Bar in point
oil years and Of continuous service. tie had
commenced the practice Of his profession be-
fore he had attained the age OF twcnty.onc,
and from that time to the hour OF his death
had pursued it with singular success, fidelity
aud devotion. Few lawyers in Virginia have
enjoyed larger practice than MIR. Smith, or
have had con!ilcd To them mere important and
delicate trusts, and one OF The best cuogics that
can be pronounced upon Mr. Smith is the uni
vcrsal acknowledgment that throughout his
long and cvaDtiul professional career the slight
est blot had uevcr attached 10 his record, ard
that his conduct always mcrltcd and received
the entire approval Of his clients. 10 the
Younger members Of The Bar NJ. Smith's
death will be tclt with peculiar kcencss lie
was not ooly their associate, but their KIDD, al
fectiouatn and consideratc friend. Ever ready
to extend an encouraging and helping hand,
his time aud his advice were freely at their DIS
posal. In brief, Mr. Smith was Il christian gen
tlcmau, and his life was adorned by christian
virtues, "aud even 10 times like these IN lntcg-
rty ADD 10 honesty tc stood unassalsed and un-
assalIablc.'
At the conclusion Of his remarks VIM. Wall
was elected secretary.
Upon moliOn, q committee OF three was ap-
pointed 10 draft resolutions Ui respect 10 the
memory Of the dead. McssrS. 5. i. Beach,
Albert Stuart and John NJ. Johnson we're ap-
pointed the committee for that purpose, aud IN
4 short !!nr presented the following rrSoiu
tons:
Tue Bar Of the city Of Alexandria, assembled
upon the occasion Of the death OF FRANCIS l..
SMITH, for q long time its most prominent
member in testimony Of their great esteem lcr
him ia lille aud Of their sense Of the loss which
they suffer 10 his death, adopt the following
resolutions -
Resolred That We have received with deep
sorrow The iniciIieaner Of the death OF FRANCIS
j.. SMITH, Tor dirty years and upwards The
leading practitioner IN the Courts Of this city,
anu WI ltCU2lllLc ltl ttlE odk SfHht - St>AN ''''
not only 70 our own body, but to our commuuI-
ty at large
Re,oireG. That Purity, Fidelity aod high re"
gard for Honor aul Truth, are conspicuous
throughout the record of his private, public
aud professional life, and make It record 10
be contemplated with pleasure, and to be stud
led with profit.
ReSolceQ, That his personal virtues and eX-
cclIencies OF character are deeply impressed up
on us-that we cherish warmly The recoiectlons
O! our Intercourse and relations with him SD
cially-and, though we now take final leave OF
him in the body, he will continue 10 remain
ever present with III IN memory.
ReSolred That these resolutions be commu-
ncated to the family Of the deceased aud be
presented to the State and United States
Courts Of this city, for entry upon their MI
nutcs.
The Chairman, Mr.. Beach, 10 presenting
these resolutions, remarked that While IN coul
mon with the bar lie felt the profession had
lost one Of its brightest members, personally he
felt that in the death Of Mr.. Smith he had sus.
tanned :. great loss. His earliest professional
associations were Intimately connected with the
deceased; he had read law in his office; from
there was admitted 10 the bar, and Was assJ-
ciatcd with him ia practice Tor three years.
He could truly say, that whatever measure OF
success he had himself met with in his PROBES
sioa was due, 10 a great degree, to the advau-
taeca he had derived from his association with
Mr. Smith. lie had known him in every stu.
atiou in lift and esteem ard regard had
strengthened with the flow Of years. Much as
the resolutions expressed, if they said far more,
they would still fall short Of expressing all that
could truly be said of his spotcsS lie aud his
uauy virtues. He moved the adoption Of the
resolutions.
MIR. Johu NJ. johnson 10 sccondio& the rcso.
lutl0ns. said:
MIR. Chairman, we will follow to the grave
tomorrow evening the mortal remains oil our
friend and one Of our number, the late trapcls
l. Smith, who was the senior member OF this
bar. 1t has been but two years ago, as all oil
Us will remember, since the last one passed
away and was buried. And how soon another
member, and which one. will be called, 10 NOR
tai can tell From our ranks the departures
have been unusually frequent during the last
few years, Mr.. Smith making the fourth since
| came to the bar, in the year 1872. This bar
has lost more OF its members by DEATH in pro-
portion to its numbers, in the last eight or nine
years, than any bar with which am acqualnt-
eI, and certainly greatly III excess to the pro
portion it bears to the rest OF the community
aud this makes NE feel and say tina! the pres.
ent members Of it have been, BY !! mcrc!ul
Providence. specially warned Of the uncertainty
Of human hIr Mr. Smith died suddenly yes
terday morning about 6 o'clock ripe 10 Year,,
for he had nearly reached the usual period al
lottcd to rnan to live, and full oI honors, the
reward here OF q pure and wcIl-spcnt He 10
those OF his acqualntaDces who had been told
the nature Of his sickness, his death, sudden as
it vas, could not have been great surprise.
1t il consolation to know that he expected
ADD was fully prepared to meet the last great
enemy, Death And, my friends, you uccd
have no fear for him OF the result. Fer every
reason have We to believe that, like the Master
he followed he has conquered .hc adversary,
and to-day is iu Paradise. [ will not attempt
to give history Of his life, because . majority
Of the mcmbcrs 81 the bar present are, per
haps, better acquainted with the main features
of it than am, and besides, TOO, sntnc oI them
have been gwen by gentlemen who preceded
me. and no doubt more OF them will be given
by those to follow. aud, therefore, Of the law
,,I,ii, ,n.p ,rb cifiynn IO moi prhnns,.