The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-11-26
The Late pcnchy II. Gra,tan. ESQ.

4 meeting OF the members Of the Bar
and Bench OF the city OF Richmond was
held in the courtroom OF the Supreme
Court Of Appeals on the 2ith instant to
take action in respect 10 the death Of Peachy
II. Grattan, Esq, late reporter for the said
court.
Judge Joseph Christian, Of the said court,
was elected chairman, and James NJ. Mat
thews, Esq, secretary.
The Chairman on taking his seat spoke
as follows:
Gentlemen Of the Bench and Bar:
We are assembled here to-day to do honor
to the memory OF great and good man !;
TO one whose very name is rs familiar As
household words to every lawyer in and
ont OF this State; to one who as Virgin
ian, as a patriot, rs lawyer, rs legisa-
tor, and as a Christian gentleman, faithfully
performed all the duties of long and use
ful life. For more than thirty-seven years
he was the faithful and efficient reporter OF
this court. As Bench and Bar, we feel we
do honor to ourselves in hOnOring the
memory Of Peachy Il. Grattan.
The following gentlemen-to wit Major
Robert stiles, Judge W. w. Crump, Judge
Robert Ould, Colonel Thomas j. Evans,
ADlOiltl II. AOIiltI Adbtii. tOiOuti OOIlIl
II. Guy, ". w. Cosby, James PleaSants,
james Caskic, Robert II. Steger, Edward
Y. Cannon. and Robert G.. Scott-who
were appointed a committee for the pur-
pose, reported the following preamble and
resolutions, which were unanimously adopt
ed:
Weare assembled once more under a summons
which should never pass unheeded. Again have
our ranks been broken, and this time II Is "a fa-
thcr IN Israel that has fallen.
Perhaps no man now living has been longer,
more widely or more fiyOrably known 10 the
courts aud the bar Of the Sttte than Peachy r.
GratGin. For more than a generation-for most
of u, indeed, ever since We came to the bar, his
work has underlald and entered into ourf-hIs
name has been upon Our lips more constantly per-
haps Than any others save The names Of our re-
spectiye households As volume after volume Of
his reports issued from the press, and stil he lived
and worked on, u almost seemed ii he alone
was not born 10 die and pass away; hui now he e.
gone, and once more and most impressyely we are
taught the lesson which we are ever learning. vet
never fully learn, Of the eeting, transitOry cha
racicr OF cur life.
the 7th Of November, 1901, and came TO Rich
mOnd engage IN the practice Of his profess ion I'm
1885. and ever afterlived IN this community life
not only "knOwn and read.n but hOnOrcd, and. as
years and virtues grew upon him, reycred "of all
men" In all these years that man never lived who
even so much as suspected Mr.. Grattsln Of falling
~ meet and ill the fullest measure Of al the Obl-
cations that fell upon him. Nor were these few
nor small for his high sense Of right his absolute
and uncOmprOnising courage and conscience his
inspected integrity, his ability and industry, be-
came more widely known, sacred trDsts-persOnal.
professional, and poli,ical-wcre confded 10 him.
As practicinR lawyer, rs asrepOrter for the Supreme
Court Of Appeals, rs member Of the City Council
and of the state Legislature, he was always and
everywhere the same one. and n marked one, Of
that rare class Of men whose fidelity may be
termed without eNaRgeratOn absolute and whose
ability Is always conspicuous.
such WAS he known and recognized throughout
Com ia M M MOI
heard without awaking the conviction, which -,
perhaps; the highest tribute ever paid 10 human
always do, his full duty as long as right is right.
But there was another and gentler side 10 Mr..
Grattan's character. As 4 man and a Christian
he was one Of the very tendcreSt. most generous,
and most aifectiOnate. His mOdesty, his love- and
his sympathy were like womans. All men did
not see this side of his nature but those who en-
jOyed the privilege OF unreserYed communion with
him at his reslde or In the privacy Of friendship,
those who have met him face 10 face and heart 10
heart when trouble or Affections pressed, have felt
the depths Of shat loving tenderness which makes
man most akin to God and reaches It's most ex-
qu.site development when 10 the rugged strength /
OF manly soul are superadded the sweet affections
Of u Christian spirit.
Ills professional reputation will live in his re-
ports Of the decisions Of our supreme Court Of APP
peals. These constitute an endearinR monument
10 his conscientious labor, his discriminating and
ANALYTICAL tellect, and 10 the depth and accuracy
Of his legal learning.
No eulogum pronounced by Us can add 10 the 1
fame with which these Will illustrate his name In I
all the future We need only record here and now /
our high estimate of the personal traits of our de-
parted friend-his eonstaney 10 truth, bis inieM- 4
lle integrity his aectionate, generous, and ,har-
able teInper-his childlike smplicity-his exalted /
Christian yirtue: and, stimulated by the example /
y SO noble aud useful lifc strive 10 emulate his
Drobity and hts worth.
ReSOiued, That We sincerely mourn The death of 1
Peachy Il. Grattan. whose ability as lawyer and l
excellence As citizen have done honor TO our pro-
ieSsiOn, and whose career has been In the highest
Iegrcc useful aud valuable tO the State.
ResOlred, That copy OF these resolutions he 4
,resented 70 the Supreme Court of Appeals OF yir-
dnia and 10 the Circuit, Chancery, and Hastings /
.ourts OF the city OF Richmond.
Res0tred, That we tender 70 the family OF the i
deceased our sincere sympathles, and that copy /
II these proceedings be forwarded 10 them-
Major Stiles, on presenting the pream- ]