ENTERED According to Act of Congress, in the year 1855, by

CHARLES SCRIBNER,

in the Clerk's Office of the U. S. District Court, for the Southern District of New York.

CONTENTS OF VOL. II.

CHAPTER XIV.

Return to Washington-Letters-Speech on the Defalcations of Public Officers-

Extracts-Description of a Speech on the Navy-Letters-His Congressional

The Wilkinson Trial-Mr. Prentiss' Address to the Jury, .

CHAPTER XVII.

9

51

66

Return to Vicksburg-Resumes the Practice of Law-Letters-Is solicited to become

a Candidate for the Senate of the United States-Correspondence on the

Subject-Letter to the Whigs of Madison County-Interest felt in the Election in

other Parts of the Country-Letter to him from J. J. Crittenden-The Canvass-

Letters,

114

CHAPTER XVIII.

Letters Presidential Election of 1840-Letters-Mr. Prentiss' Exertions-Visits

the North-Invitations to attend Whig Conventions and Mass-Meetings-

Speeches at Portland and Newark-Anxiety to hear him-Returns Home by Sea

-Canvasses Mississippi as Candidate for Presidential Elector-Letters.

CHAPTER XIX.

149

Domestic Correspondence-His Marriage-Letters-His Course in Relation to the

Gubernatorial Election of 1848-Visit and Letter from Henry Clay-Letters, 185

CHAPTER XX.

Mississippi Repudiation-Mr. Prentiss' Opposition to it-His Popular Addresses on

the Subject-Argument at Fayette against the Doctrine that one Generation can-

not bind another-Col. Joseph B. Cobb's Reminiscences of a Speech at Jackson

before the Whig Convention of 1843-Letter to the Poet Wordsworth-Mr. Words

worth's Reply-The Question of Repudiation finally decided by the Supreme

Court of Mississippi,

239

CHAPTER XXI.

Reminiscences of Mr. Prentiss by Balie Peyton,

CHAPTER XXII.

271

Recollection of him in 1843-4-Speeches at a Whig Convention at New Orleans-

Visits the North-Political Addresses during his Journey--The Presidential Elec-

tion of 1844-Subject-matter of Mr. Prentiss' Addresses-Return South, and

Speech at New Orleans on the Fine Arts-Letters-Invitations to attend Whig

Conventions and Barbacues in other States-Visit to Nashville-Letter from

Ex-Governor Jones-Speeches at Natchez, Jackson, and Vicksburg-Disappoint-

ment at the Result of the Election,

CHAPTER XXIII.

292

Decision of the Supreme Court of the U. S. involving his Title to the Vicksburg Com-

mons-Letters-Removal to New Orleans-Public Dinners tendered him on leay-

ing Mississippi-His Settlement in New Orleans-Withdrawal from Parties and

Devotion to his Profession-His Legal Career-Anecdotes-Trial of Phelps, the

Robber-His Character and Attainments as a Lawyer and Advocate,

CHAPTER XXIV.

354

Address before the New England Society of New Orleans-Letters-Address on

Behalf of the Starving Poor of Ireland-Death of his Eldest Sister-Letters-

Address to the Returned Volunteers of Gen. Taylor's Army-Letters,

CHAPTER XXV.

395

New Year's Letter to his Mother-Difficulty with a Grandson of Henry Clay-His

Account of the Affair-Reminiscences of it by Balie Peyton and Richard T. Archer

-Letter from Mr. Clay-State of the Country early in 1848-Questions growing

out of the Mexican War-Mr. Prentiss' Speech at a Meeting to nominate Dele-

gates to the Whig National Convention-His Exertions during the Canvass-

Views of Slavery and the Wilmot Proviso-Gen. Taylor-Letters.

CHAPTER XXVI.

434

Mr. Prentiss' Character as a Popular Orator-The Sources of his Power-Miscon-

ceptions on the Subject-Resemblance between him and Patrick Henry-Pecu-

liarities of his Oratory-Its Strength lay chiefly in the Subject-matter of his

Addresses-His Political Opinions-Distrust of mere Politicians-His Views

respecting the Form of our Government-It is not a simple Democracy-Its

Practical Methods-The Will of the People not found in Primary Assemblies, or

Mass Meetings; but only in the legitimate Action of the Executive, Legis-

lative, and Judicial Authorities-American System of Liberty essentially Histo-

rical, and Peculiar to Ourselves-Evils in the working of the Government-

Executive Patronage-Extracts from Calhoun on the Subject-Debasement of the

Presidential Office-His Opini, n and Abhorrence of Demagogues-Extract from

Aristotle-His Patriotic Hopes,

467

.

CHAPTER XXVII.

Personal Traits-His Disregard of Money-His Generosity-His Interest in Young

Men and Kindness to them-Character of his Friendships-Sympathy with the

Poor, the Sick, and Afflicted-Letters addressed to him by Strangers-lis

Domestic Life,

508

CHAPTER XXVIII.

Letters-Severe Illness-Visits the North with his Family-Reminiscences of this

Visit-Fishing Excursions and Rides about Newburyport-His Interest in the Hun-

garian Struggle-Trips to Boston, New Bedford, and Martha's Vineyard-His

Regard for Old Men-His Conversational Talent-Returns South-Letters-Rapid

Failure of his Health-A Reminiscence by Col. Cobb-Devotion to his Profes-

sional Labors-Is invited to address the Story Law Association-Letters—

Approach of the Final Struggle- His last Appearance in Court-Letters to his

Wife-Sudden Attack-Is removed to Natchez-The Closing Scene,

524

APPENDIX.

Proceedings of the Bar of New Orleans, and Eulogy by Judge Bullard,