THE MERCHANTS' MAGAZINE AND COMMERCIAL REVIEW. SEPTEMBER, 1865. HON. LUCIUS ROBINSON. THE subject of this sketch has already won honorable distinction in the public service. As a patriot rather than a partisan, a statesman rather than a politician, as an upright man, simple and earnest in his character, confiding and devoted in his friendships, and resolute even to stubbornness in following out his convictions of public duty, LUCIUS ROBINSON will be recorded in the history of his native State. His career has been marked by sterling integrity and the most scrupulous fidelity to principle. He never has hesitated to pursue his convictions to their legitimate results, or to subordinate his personal ambition to the public interest. He may not possess what is flatteringly denominated an original mind, but he certainly has a rare power to grasp facts and principles, and apply them to their proper purposes. He has been the architect of his own fortune, and has earned for himself a reputation of which any man may well be proud. He is emphatically a lover of justice, and would never voluntarily do wrong to a human being. LUCIUS ROBINSON, the present Comptroller of the State of New York, was born in Windham, Greene County, on the 4th day of November, 1810. His family came from Connecticut, and belong to the purest New England stock. He is a lineal descendant of Rev. JOHN ROBINSON, the first minister of the Puritans of England, and inherits many of the characteristics of his celebrated ancestor. The father of Mr. ROBINSON was an officer in the army during the whole of the War of 1812. He was a farmer, and his circumstances were too much straitened to afford his children more than a good English education. This son was permitted to provide in this respect for himself, and became a student at the Delaware Academy in the village of Delhi, paying his way by teaching school several months each year. This is not an uncommon practice among American young men, and the liberal professions are full of similar instances. Mr. ROBINSON passed through the usual vicissitudes attending such struggles. As a teacher he was familiar in his manner and simple in the language which he employed; never pedantic or affected. As a student, he was patient and laborious, always mastering the subject which received his attention. Having selected the law for his vocation, Mr. ROBINSON begun the study in the office of General ERASTUS ROOT, completing the course with Judge AMASA J. PARKER, at Delhi; and was admitted to practice as an attorney of the Supreme Court, in October, 1832. He opened an office a few months afterward at Catskill, and took rank at once among the foremost of the junior members of the Bar. In 1837 he received the appoint ment of District Attorney of Greene County, and held the position till 1840, at which time he removed to the City of New York. In 1843 he was appointed by Governor BOUCK Master in Chancery. He soon afterward entered into partnership with the late DAVID CODWISE, who had held the same position to general acceptance. The firm did a very large business, involving heavy pecuniary responsibilities, and the interests of the largest capitalists, banking and trust companies in the city. For this purpose not only ability and integrity were required, but a thorough knowledge of the rules of law and equity. Mr. ROBINSON was reappointed in 1846 by SILAS WRIGHT, then Governor, and continued in office till the Court of Chancery was abolished by the new constitution. After that time it became the custom to appoint referees to transact the business before transacted in the Court of Chancery. In that way Mr. ROBINSON WAS Soon occupied to the utmost of his ability. His office now resembled a court room; indeed it was a common remark that he tried more causes than any Judge in the City of New York. His judgments gave such general satisfaction, that an appeal was seldom taken from them; and in such events, they were usually affirmed. His incessant employment in this manner withdrew him from the arena in which lawyers win their proudest triumphs. But this was more than compensated; his mind was inured to thorough and impartial investiga tion. Instead of being engaged in winning success for one side, his efforts were employed in securing justice for both parties. His health finally giving way from the severe labor and close confinement which this incessant employment imposed, he was obliged to leave his profession; and accordingly removed to his farm in the County of Chemung. Here his constitution, naturally vigorous, and preserved by temperance and correct habits, after two or three years, began to re cuperate. Mr. ROBINSON had always taken a lively interest in politics. He belonged from early life to the school of JEFFERSON, and was an earnest supporter of the doctrines and policy of JACKSON and VAN BUREN. In the management of State matters, he ranked with such men as SILAS WRIGHT, WILLIAM L. MARCY and AZARIAH C. FLAGG, and has continued to maintain unswervingly the same principles. In the autumn of 1859, unexpectedly to himself, he was nominated by acclamation for the Assembly of this State, by the Republican Convention of Chemung. The county being almost equally divided politically, the elections were strongly contested. Mr. ROBINSON received a considerabl democratic vote in addition to that of his own party, and was elected. He carried to his legislative duties the same sterling integrity which had always actuated his conduct, and while the Legislature of 1860 sustains |