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The Golden Days of the Maryland Bar.

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time adorned the British metropolis; for it By these incessant labors he undermined was the golden age of Scott, Byron, Moore, his splendid constitutiop, and died prema Hazlitt, Coleridge, Southey, and Leigh Hunt. turely in the midst of his dazzling career, Thus equipped, when William Pinkney re struck down in the full glory of his match sumed the practice of his profession upon less intellect. Little remains of his extra his return from England in 1811, he as ordinary genius but a traditional fame. He tonished even those who had formed the did not seem to care for posthumous renown; most exalted opinion of his genius, and by he enjoyed the glory which he won while universal consent he was placed at the head living, heedless of future fame. But to win

of the American bar. success at the bar, in Soon after his return the Senate, and in to America, President diplomacy, few men have ever followed .Madison appointed him Attorney-General more closely Cicero's of the United States, advice to live labori which office did not ous days. He was a at that time require a hard student and a residence at Washing diligent reader all his life. Every effort was ton, or the abandoning of private practice. a contest for victory, But in 1814 Congress and every victory a passed a law requiring fresh inspiration to the Attorney-General greater efforts. He to reside at the seat of never argued a case government, and Mr. until he had mastered Pinkney resigned his all its details. He sac office, being unwilling rificed health, exercise, to give up his large, sleep, and society rath and lucrative practice. er than endanger his He was engaged in great reputation by all the nisi prius cases want of preparation. in Maryland, in every The Supreme Court important case in the of the United States WILLIAM PINKNEY. Court of Appeals of was the great field of that State and in the Pinkney's glory. Here Supreme Court of the United States. In he shone with unrivalled splendor. As order to save time during his long journeys, William Wirt said of him : " No man dared he had his travelling-carriage fitted up with to grapple with him without the most perfect book-shelves, after the manner of Napoleon preparation, and the full possession of all his in his campaigns, and always carried with strength. He had a noble and fertile mind; him a select legal library. He would enter he kept the bar on the alert, and every horse his carriage in Baltimore, and while driving with his traces tight." It is among the tra to Annapolis, prepare his case, and be ready ditions of the Supreme Court that the room to argue it before the Court of Appeals as was always crowded when William Pinkney soon as he arrived. Having finished his busi spoke, for he threw a charm around the ness at Annapolis, he would drive to Wash driest subject, and embellished the most ington, studying all the way, and be ready to abstruse legal arguments with the graces argue his case before the Supreme Court. of a fascinating oratory. Rufus Choate pro 4i'