another, in direful succession? Would you think a man worthy of your friendship who should be capable of such disgraceful indolence?

The resignation of the Chancellorship becoming thus inevitable, the only remaining question is, where shall I resume the practice of my profession? The answer clearly is, in that country where I can, with most certainty, achieve the object for which I resign. That is a support for my family independent of the world and of my own life. You understand me. This is a question which I have deliberately considered—not in the delirium of a Kentucky fever," hissing hot, Master Brooke," but with all the scrupulous, conscientious coolness of which my mind is capable.

You ask, why quit the state which has adopted, which has fostered me, which has raised me to its honors? It is the partiality of your friendship which puts this question. I am sure that it is very immaterial to Virginia where I reside.

I throw this point entirely out of the question-and consider simply the interests of my family: to this I am determined that every feeling of private attachment and prepossession for Virginia shall bend. Knowing, as I have done experimentally, the agony to which the want of wealth, or at least independence, exposes any mind not devoid of sensibility, it becomes a point of conscience, in the first place, and soon an object of pleasurable, of delightful pursuit, to shelter those who are dear to me from all danger of the like torment. Having once effected this purpose, death, who would be to me, now, a king of terrors indeed, would become merely a master of ceremonies to introduce me into the apartments above.

You ask me how many you could name who are now amassing at the bar, in this country, wealth as fast as their hearts can desire, or quite fast enough? I answer I don't know how many you could name. W. it is true made a fortune.- C. is also making a fortune. two, there is not

With the exception of these another individual who has hitherto done this at the bar of these courts, or who is now in the way of doing so. I am not sure of John Taylor of Caroline. He, however, practised at a most auspicious period; such a one as does not now exist. Baker, Innes, VOL. 1-9

Pendleton, Wythe, Marshall, Washington and others,—what have they made by the profession? Not more than the most ordinary lawyer in Kentucky is able to do in five or six years.

Between ourselves, I was thirty years old the eighth day of last November. Have I any time to lose? and considering “the uncertainty of life and the certainty of death," is it not the highest wisdom to improve every flying moment to the best advantage? Ten years of life would do but little here. In Kentucky they might and probably would make my family affluent.

For the first time in my life (and with shame I confess it) I look forward, my dear Dabney, with a thoughtful mind, and a heart aching with uncertainty, to the years which lie before me. I cannot abide the reflection that the time shall ever come when my conscience shall reproach me with having neglected the interests and happiness of my family;—with having involved, by my want of energy and enterprise, a lovely and innocent wife, with a group of tender and helpless children, in want and misery.

But Hope, like an angel of peace, whispers to my heart that this shall not be. She does, indeed, sketch some most brilliant and ravishing scenes to my waking as well as sleeping fancy. Wealth, fame, respect, the love of my fellow-citizens, she designs with the boldness and grandeur of an Angelo, while, with all the softness and sweetness of Titian's pencil, she draws my wife and a circle of blooming, beauteous and smiling cherubs, happy as innocence and peace and plenty can make them.

Your friend,

WM. WIRT.

The Chancellorship was resigned in May, 1803, and the project of the emigration to Kentucky abandoned. Wirt now determined to take up his abode in Norfolk, in accordance with Mr. Tazewell's advice, although, for the present, he still resided in Williamsburg.

TO DABNEY CARR.

RICHMOND, June 6, 1803.

Well, sir, you have heard that I have disrobed myself of the Chancellor's furs, and I feel much the cooler and lighter for it. Not but that there was some awkwardness in coming down to conflict with men, to whom, a few days before, my dictum was the law. The pride was a false one, and I revenged myself on it. I feel little triumph in being thus able to get out of myself, to survey, from an intellectual distance, the workings of my own heart, to discern and to chastise its errors.

The man who can thus make an impartial and candid friend of himself, has gained a great point in the reformation and perfection of his character.

Thus it is that a man balances the account of his feelings; mortification presents her charge, and vanity raises a countervailing item.

You are aware that I am already done with the Kentucky project. I heard, very lately, that there was no cash in that state; that fees were paid in horses, cows and sheep, and that the eminence of their lawyers was estimated by the size of their drove, on their return from their circuits: while, on the other hand, I was drawn to Norfolk by the attractions of her bank.

The single experiment which I have made, justifies this latter move. I have been to one District Court, at the town of Suffolk, received cash two hundred and eleven dollars, and received other business, from substantial merchants, making the whole amount of the trip five hundred and twenty-eight dollars, which I consider as no ill omen of my future success. In one word, I am assured, and I have every reason to believe it, that my annual income will be twelve hundred pounds, on one-half of which I can maintain my family, even were it much larger than it is. Two or three years practice will put me in the possession of cash which, in such a place as Norfolk, I shall be able to turn over to the greatest advantage; and, all things considered, I do not think the hope extravagant, that by the time I am forty or, at farthest, forty-five,

I shall be able to retire from the bar, in ease and independence, and spend the remainder of my life in the bosom of my family, and in whatever part of the country I please, so that I think it not improbable I shall, at last, lay my bones near you, in the county of Albemarle.

I leave this place to-morrow.

Adieu, my dear friend,

WM. WIRT.

COMMENCES

CHAPTER VIII.

18 03.

PRACTICE IN NORFOLK.-PROFESSIONAL

SUCCESS.-LETTER

TO POPE.-COMMENTS ON THE PARSIMONY OF JUDICIAL SALARIES.-BIRTH OF HIS ELDEST CHILD.-RELIGIOUS SENTIMENTS.-TRIAL OF SHANNON.SINGULAR CASE OF CIRCUMSTANTIAL EVIDENCE.-REMOVES HIS RESIDENCE TO NORFOLK.

AFTER the resignation of the Chancellorship, Wirt repaired to Norfolk to recommence the practice of the law in that borough. His family residence, however, was still kept up at Williamsburg, and was not changed until the ensuing winter.

His reputation, increased by his late official position, now began to bring in to him a full harvest of professional fruits. He found himself at once inducted into what, at that day, was termed a large practice, and it was manifest that he was rising rapidly to a commanding eminence at the Virginia bar.

Amongst the letters of this period I find one which dwells, somewhat in detail, upon his progress in his profession, and contains some strictures upon the policy of the State Government in reference to judicial salaries. These strictures have not lost their point at the present day, and may be read with profit in other sections of the United States than Virginia.

This letter is written to one of the first and best of Wirt's friends in that state. The name of William Pope will frequently occur in these pages connected with a familiar and playful correspondence. This gentleman, now an octogenarian, still survives to attract the regard of a large circle of friends, whose most cherished recollection of him invariably associates him with the memory of the subject of these memoirs.

He resided, at the date of this correspondence, as he does at the present time, (1848,) at Montpelier, his family seat in Powhatan a central point between Richmond and Albemarle, somewhat famous of old for the good fellowship attracted by its worthy proprietor.

VOL. 1-9*