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him he entered Princeton College, whence he graduated with the second distinction in 1799. In this class were John Forsythe, afterwards Governor of Georgia, Secretary of State under Jackson, etc.; and James C. Johnston of Edenton. Nash studied law, and was admitted to the bar. In 1804, and again in 1805, he represented the town of Newbern in the House of Commons. In

1808 he removed to Hillsboro, and repre sented the county of Orange in the House 1 8 14 and 181 5, and the town of Hillsboro in the same body 1827 and 1828. Down to the Convention of 1835 the elections to the legislature were an nual, and six towns were each entitled to a member in the Com mons: Halifax, New bern, Wilmington, Fayetteville, Hillsboro, and Salisbury. In 1807 he was elected a Trustee of the Uni versity, then a life position, and was al ways its warm friend. In 181 5 he intro MATTHIAS duced a bill in the legislature for the sup pression of duelling, and supported it in an able and eloquent speech. On his removal to Hillsboro he purchased the dwelling of his friend and kinsman, Judge Cameron, and resided there till his death. In 1818 he was elected judge of the Sup erior Court, and filled the duties of that responsible position till his resignation in 1826. He possessed those qualities which Lord Campbell (himself an eminent judge) has designated as essential to a good judge : "Patience in hearing, evenness of temper, and kindness of heart." He was again

elected to the Superior Court bench in 1836, upon the resignation of Judge Norwood. Upon the death of Judge Gaston of the Supreme Court bench, in 1844, he was elected to succeed him, being then in his sixty-fourth year. Upon the resignation of Chief-Justice Ruffin in 1852 he was elected by his associates Chief-Justice. He died at his home in Hillsboro, Dec. 5, 1858, in the 78th year of his age. His opinions show a familiarity with the precedents and a sin gular chasteness and felicity of expression. Among his opinions the following may be noted as giving a fair specimen of his style and reasoning : (State v. Perry, 44 N. C. 330), as to challenges to jurors, special venire, conduct of the jury, and conduct of a trial in a capital case. In Rives v. Guthrie, 46 N. C. 84, it is held in a learned opinion that the word " months" in the Statute of Lim itations means lunar, not calendar months. E. MANLY. This, however, has since been changed by statute. In State v. Moore, 46 N. C. 276, it is ruled that where, by special Act, the county authorities were forbidden to issue license to retail liquor in the limits of an incorporated town, without the written con sent of the town authorities, a license issued without such written consent is void, and will not protect the retailer from an indictment. The same point came up again this year (1892). and was ruled the same way (Hills boro v. Smith, no N. C. 417). Clements v. Hunt, 46 N. C. 400, holds that declarations of deceased members of a family are compe