and character; alloyed, however, by a fear, that, by the infirmities of age, I should not be able to do justice to the subject, if permitted to bring it to a conclusion in any form. But I have great reason to be thankful that a kind Providence has enabled me to bring the work to a close, though not in a manner satisfactory to myself. A considerable portion of the time since the decease of my brother, I have been wholly unable to write, and at all times writing with difficulty. I have permitted a great portion of the work to be copied from the first draught. But if the work, with all its defects, shall prove useful; if I have portrayed the character of NATHANIEL CHIPMAN with exact truth; if I have succeeded in accounting for the acuteness, strength and comprehension of his mind, and for that fund of general knowledge which he had acquired, by truly setting forth his early training, his early voluntary attention, his conscientious regard for truth, and his systematic diligence,-I have accomplished all I wished. I have set forth an example, to be followed by parents in training their children, by young men in the course of their education, and by all in public life. Το write a panegyric would, in this case, savor of van

ity, and is in no case very useful, without setting forth the early training and the early acquired habits which contributed to form the character of the person eulogized, as an example to be followed by the rising generation. Such is, undoubtedly, the legitimate purpose of biography. To eulogize a great and a good man may indeed be useful, by exciting an ambition to follow his example, but it does not instruct the young by what means they may be enabled to do so. Biographers are generally compelled, from a want of a knowledge of facts, to content themselves with portraying the character as it appeared on the theatre of life, without setting forth the causes which operated in forming it. Fortunately, in this case, I have been able to obtain the necessary facts, or rather to detail them from my own knowledge. All this I could do without any embarrassment. But from my near connection with Judge Chipman, and from the very high estimation in which I had ever held him as a judge, I felt a delicacy in portraying his judicial character, fearing that I might either go beyond or fall short of exact truth. So sensibly did I feel this embarrassment, that I concluded to engage some jurist, more compe

ter.

tent and more impartial, to write his judicial characHaving formed this conclusion, for obvious reasons, my attention was immediately turned to the Hon. Samuel Prentiss ; and I took leave to write him on the subject. In answer, I received the following letter:

MONTPELIER, Dec. 14th, 1843.

DEAR SIR: I have reflected upon the subject of your letter, and am quite free to say that in my opinion, no one is so competent to write the judicial character of your brother, as yourself. You have advantages in the execution of such an undertaking which no other one possesses. You were a cotemporary with him, practised at the bar under his administration, and know, of course, all the various traits of mind and constitutional temperament, which, combined with his deep and extensive learning, entitled him to rank among the first judges of this, or any other country. From your personal observation and intimate knowledge of him both in public and private, you are enabled to state the prominent features of his mind and character as a judge, and to illustrate his peculiar excellencies in that capacity,

with more truth, discrimination and accuracy, than it is in the power of any one else at this day to do.

I knew his general reputation as a judge, and witnessed, during the short period he was last on the bench, exhibitions of the great strength, vigor, comprehension and clearness of his mind, of his profound and accurate knowledge of legal principles, and of his remarkably discriminating and well-balanced judgment; but my practice in the supreme court was at that time but just commencing, and my opportunities of personal observation were too few and limited to enable me to give, with just precision. and distinctness, neither going beyond nor falling short of exact truth, the distinguishing traits of his judicial character. All this, as I have said, you have the means of doing, and I think you should feel no delicacy in performing it, but express your views with perfect freedom, and without reserve. The life of Lord Keeper Guilford, one of the most interesting biographies extant, was written by his brother; the life of Lord Hardwick, if I recollect right, was the production of his son; and so was the life of Lord Teignmouth the work of his son. To these might be added many other instances of the like

kind, both in English and American literature; so,

you see, you are not without the support of numerous and very illustrious examples. *

I am, with high respect,

Your obedient, &c.

SAMUEL PRENTISS.

Hon. DANIEL CHIPMAN.

On the receipt of the foregoing letter, I proceeded with the work, following the friendly advice of Judge Prentiss in expressing my views, as the reader will perceive, with perfect freedom, and without any reserve; and, I hope, without going beyond or falling short of exact truth.

Ripton, August 13, 1844.