New-York tribune., 1902-03-04
New-York. March B. l


THE LATE PROF. JAMES BRADLEY THAHER
To the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir: James Bradley Thayer. Weld professor OF
law at Harvard University, whose death occurred
at Cambridge February II. was born In Haver-
hill Mass on January 15. 1881. His father. A w.
Thaver was Editor or "The Hampton Gazette a
paper OF high reputation and wide influence. In It
Whittier's earliest poems first saw the light and
warm friendship between the poet and the Thaycr
family sprang up beginning when Whittier be-
member OF the household ana ending only
with his life.
William Sidney Thayer. elder brother OF the Sub
ject OF notice after serving for several years
as Editor Of The Evening Post" in company with
William Cullen Bryant and John Bigelow
made Consul General Cairo In the year 1861, at
the beginning Of the Civil War. He did important
service for our government in securing the ex-
cluslon OF privateers from Egyptian ports at q
time when the Sumter was In those waters. and
also procured for Americans equal facilities with
English manufacturers for obtaining the cotton of
that country. Mr.. Lincoln spoke of Mr.. Thayer's s
appointment needing no consideration" and
William II. Seward pronounced his letters the
best received from any quarter
1t will thus be that Professor Thayer came
from common stock From early childhood the
Influences surrounding him were the best. and no
young man made finer OF his opportunities
At the age OF fourteen he began to prepare himself
for entrance to Harvard College. This he did with
out help, and the money obligations incurred dur
ing his college course repaid with accumu-
lated interest. although contrary to the wishes Of
the donors. He graduated from Harvard with
credit in the year 1852 William r. Ware and Joseph
II. Choate being his fellow classmates and intimate
friends. In 1854 he entered the Law School and
was admitted to the Suffolk bar two years later
After leaving the Law School no practised law In
Boston until the year 1874 when he became Royall
professor In the Harvard Law School In 1893 he
was transferred TO the Weld professorship and this
he held TO the close of his life. He received the
degree of Doctor of Laws from Iowa State JTniver-
sity In 1884, from Harvard in 1894 and from Yale in
1901. In 1900 President Mckinley offered him a
place on the Philippine commission which he felt
oolged TO decline, although in entire sympathy
with the purpose of the commission.
What time he could spare from his work I'm the
Law School he gave t. literary pursuits He edit
ed the twelfth edition Of "Kents Commentaries -
but, his work being that of revision his name did
not appear In connection with It, The publications
Tor whlch ne was entirely responsible were Men,
orandum OF the Legal Effect OF Opinions C;ivar -,
Judges TO the Executive and the Legislatures ITnder
certain American Constitutions QSS5) ''(,ases on
Evidence QS92) "Orgin and Scope of rho Avoart
can Doctrine OF Constitutional Law at Trnivarsi
ties !los5)' The Teaching of English Law al I1ni
NSTSltIes tlSSol, Cases Constitutional 7 aw,
%lth Notes (lS9j), THE DEVELOPMENT or Trial b,,
jury, "A Preliminary Treatise on Evidence ar +bS bS
common Law QS9S). and at the time of his d. ~
ne was engaged In preparing a more important and
complete work on evidence. He was consdered