pointed were George Matthews, Dominick Augustin Hall, and Pierre Derbigny. Judge Martin was not then placed on the bench; but Judge Hall having subsequently resigned, owing to his appointment as District Judge of the United States for the Louisiana District, Judge Martin was commissioned to replace him, and accordingly took his seat on the bench in January, 1815. Etienne Mazureau was then Attorney-General. Under the Constitution, the court was to be composed of no less than three judges, whose number might be increased to five. The judges held office during good behavior, and received a salary of five thousand dollars. A majority constituted a quorum. The court had appellate jurisdiction in civil cases in which the matter in dispute exceeded $300. In 1820, Judge Derbigny having resigned, the Hon. Alexander Porter was appointed to succeed him. In 1834, Judge Porter having resigned, the Hon. Henry A. Bullard was selected to replace him. In 1836, Judge Matthews having died, a schism broke out between the Governor and the Senate, who could not agree as to the choice of his successor. Finally, Henry Carleton was appointed, but he subsequently resigned. At the death of Judge Matthews, Judge Martin succeeded him as Presiding Judge.
Francois Xavier Martin was born in Marseilles, France, in 1762. His family seem to have been plain and quiet people, from whom he derived, as his sole inheritance, a rugged physique, a keen intelligence, and a robust will. In the last years of the American Revolution he came to this country, landing at Newbern. North Carolina, where he taught French, set type, and established a newspaper. He studied law at leisure moments, and in 1789, being then twenty-seven years of age, was admitted to the Bar of North Carolina. Martin was a man whose industry could not be appeased by any single employment. While practising law, he continued to carry on business as a printer, and began to busy himself with the composition and publication of books. In 1802 he published a translation of "Pothier on Obligations;" and at this time, so complete was his skill as a translator and type-setter, that in executing the work he used no manuscript, but rendered the French directly into English type in the composing-stick. In 1806 he was elected and served for one term as a member of the Legislature. When James Madison was inaugurated President of the United States, a judge was needed in the Territory of Mississippi, and the new President offered the place to Mr. Martin. He accepted the position, and filled it about one year, when he was transferred to the bench of the Superior Court of the Territory of Orleans, and this brought him to New Or leans. Under the Constitution of 1812 the territorial courts ceased to exist, and Martin was no longer a judge. He was, however, appointed Attorney-General of the new State, and so acted during the exciting events of
