Some Virginia Lawyers of the Past and Present.
63
court room during this trial and the con Christian, the life of this illustrious lawyer trasts presented by the ladies in their gay gives us much to admire and nothing to costumes, the learned lawyers headed by regret. Webster and Wirt and the poor Indian chiefs John Wickham, the celebrated lawyer, as they all listened in " reverential silence, eloquent, witty and graceful, lived in a hand while the mild voice of the aged Chief Justice some old house in Richmond, shaded by noble elms. He was associated with Ran (John Marshall ) sounded through the room," dolph in 1807 in defending Aaron Burr. in her sketches of her travels in this country. Mr. Wirt was a very handsome man, over John Randolph was asked while dying, which was the greatest mind six feet tall, clear blue he had ever known eyes, light curly hair, and replied "John a large nose and chin. Wickham." Henry I had the pleasure of St. George Tucker hearing one of his said : " He would pupils, the late great have been a great Washington lawyer, lawyer had no law James Mandeville books ever been writ Carlisle, speak of him ten." He was tall, a several times in terms large Roman nose, of the most affection bright gray eyes and ate admiration and his hair bound in a respect. Mr. Carlisle queue. J. Randolph was very like him in Tucker said when he mind and manner, and saw him, he was : "A one of his speeches very picture of the before the supreme majestic simplicity court afforded the and unconscious dig great judges of his nity of an intellectual day as much pleasure gentleman, and a as tradition says noble type of the an Wirt's efforts gave to cient bar of Virginia." Marshall and his asso JAMES MADISON. ciates on the supreme It is related in Ken bench. Mr. Carlisle nedy's " Life of Wirt" said : " Wirt's manners were courteous, gentle that on one occasion in court, when Mr. Wickham and Mr. George Hay were adverse and winning; his voice clear and sweet, his laugh full of cheery brightness. He was a counsel, the former got the latter into a most delightful conversationalist, ever amus dilemma. John Warden, a Scotchman, who was a talented member of the Richmond bar ing and entertaining." Mr. Carlisle had a splendid portrait of him whispered to William Wirt, " Habet penum which is now the property of his son, Mr. in connu." Mr. Wirt quickly composed the Calderon Carlisle, himself a distinguished following: — member of the Washington bar, and counsel "Wickham one day in open court in the Behring Sea question and many other Was tossing Hay about for sport Jock, rich in wit and Latin too notable cases. Cried * Habet penum in connu. Mr. Wirt died February 18, 1834, when Mr. Warden was very eccentric and very sixty-two years old. A sincere and humble
