Year: 1870

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 But it is time to speak of the warriors il those bloodless forensic battles which were fought on this field, fifty years ago. They are all fresh in my memory, but they have all passed from the stage of life. I have delayed this part of my undertaking to the last moment, from the mere dread of en. tering upon it. I feel it to be very diff. cult task to present the lawyers of those days to the members of the profession now in anything like their just attitude. Men of the highest attainments at the bar are entirely different from each other. Many little things which cannot be detailed enter into the composition of the characters ol different men. The same qualities mingle in unequal proportions in different persons and feel embarrassed in every way as approach the task of speaking of the pro fessional gentlemen who manned the post of duty on this field. fifty years ago.

 There were then, as now, two classes oi the profession here. One class had To- cal practice, being principally engaged in causes arising in their immediate locality. The practice of the other class was COCK tensive with the power of their ability and not always confined to the county-cf this latter class there were several here.

 JUDGE GOULD.

 The Honorable James Gould had un- doubtedly stood at the head of the profes- sion in the state, both as an advocate and a lawyer, previous to his elevation to the bench of the Supreme Court. After bis retirement from that position he professed to have retired from practice, and devoted himself principally to giving law lectures to students. but in two cases in this coun- ty,and in one in Hartford County, he came to the bar and conducted the trials. One was the case of the Phoenix Bank against Governor Wolcott and others, in which the Governor endeavored to avoid the payment of debt for which he was only a surety. on the ground of usury. It was proceed ing in equity, and the argument of Judge Gould was exceedingly able and elaborate. He occasionally indulged in keen, cutting sarcasms, which pointed strongly to the Honorable defendant who was present. His argument was what Cotton Mather would call "a .luculent conamentary' on the law of usury. The case was decided in fa- vor of the Bank.

 The other was trial to the jury in which very intimate friend of Judge Gould was party, and in this case his professional eminence was exhibited in very striking manner. In his argument he was entirely unimpassioned, and remarkably clear in his illustrations. He stood much of the time with his hand on book, which stood on one end, on the table before him, and do not remember that he made single ges- ture during the whole time of his argument He occupied the attention of the court and jury for an hour and half, and it was the last case he tried. He was perfect mas ter of the most effective method of deliv. cry. In his written opinions while on the bench, there is sometimes an involution oi thought and language as we'll as prolon' pation of sentences which renders necessa ry the strictest attention while reading, to work out the true meaning, but in his ora deliveries he had such perfect mastery o1 the laws of accent, emphasis and cadence as to make his meaning intelligible to the most careless nearer. The exhibition ot his ability in this case was an appropriate closing effort ofa long career of high pro fessional eminence.

 There were few other members of the bar, not reaching the eminence of Judge Gould, yet whose practice was co-extensiv' with the county and extended sometimes into other counties. The names of tn, following gentlemen now occur to me al belonging to that class: Noah B. Bene dict. Asa Bacon, Elijah Sterling, Davit s. Boardman and Phinehas Miner. hay, not included the name of Jabez W. Hunt ington, for the reason that he was then . young man and had not, by any means reached the high standing which he after wards attained. He was engaged in yer, many of the cases tried, but very often a volunteer in aid of some young beginner who had sought his help, which unde such circumstances he was always willing to render. For the same reason I hav' omitted the late Chief Justice Church be cause he was then just beginning to obtair good professional standing, and was call ed to the bench of the Supreme Cour which he afterwards greatly adorned befor, he had obtained the high rank as lawyer which otherwise surely awaited him.

 NOAH B. BENEDICT.

 From my best recollection of the stand ing of the first lawyers at the bar in thos.