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Let

CHAPTER ELEVENTH.

WILLIAM WIRT'S LEGAL PROGRESS.

"Shall he who soars, inspired by loftier views,

Life's little cares and little pains refuse ?"

your heart be tender, but your breast strong, and struggle and hope at the same time."-Jean Paul.

IN the neighborhood of Charlotteville, at Pen Park, resided Doctor George Gilmer. This place was in the immediate neighborhood of Mr. Jefferson, and within a day's ride of Mr. Monroe and Mr. Madison. The delightful residence of Dr. Gilmer afforded, among other great attractions, the best society of the time-choice books were found in the library, instructive and agreeable conversation enlivened the fireside. But the richly-gifted daughter of Dr. Gilmer was the crowning attraction of Pen Park. Mildred Gilmer was "intellectual, kind, cheerful, and noted for her good sense. The imaginative and susceptible young barrister found a fairy-land in this romantic spot, and a spell in the eye and tongue of the maiden, which charmed too wisely to be broken. The father's regard for him opened the way to a closer alliance, and it was not long before he took his place in the family as a cherished son-in-law."

Wirt was now in his twenty-fifth year. His practice at the bar was increasing, and his reputation widely extending. The stores of English literature-Hooker, Boyle, Locke, Barrow, South, Bacon, and Milton—now delighted and enriched his mind.

Mr. Cruse, who knew William Wirt well at that time, says, "He was highly engaging and prepossessing. His figure was strikingly elegant and commanding, with a face of the first order of masculine beauty, animated, and expressing high intellect. His manners took the tone of his heart; they were frank, open, and cordial, and his conversation, to which his reading and early pursuits had given a classic tinge, was very polished, gay, and witty. Altogether he was a most fascinating companion, and to those of his own age, irresistibly and universally winning."

The temptations which surrounded Wirt at this time were fearful. "An unbounded hospitality, amongst the gentlemen of the country, opened every door to the indulgence of convivial habits."

It is deeply to be lamented that these temptations were sometimes too strong for the virtue of William Wirt, and that he yielded occasionally in such a way as to occasion deep anxiety to his friends, and future remorse to himself. Willingly would we have drawn a thick veil over the faults that thus dimmed the brilliancy of the young barrister's character, but truth

obliges the biographer to confess that there were some aberrations from the path of virtuous sobriety, which William Wirt deeply, sadly regretted in after years.

CHAPTER TWELFTH.

A PROPHECY.

"6 'Once, as he (Sir Matthew Hale) was buying some cloth for a new suit, the draper, with whom he differed about the price, told him he should have it for nothing, if he would promise him a hundred pounds when he came to be Lord Chief Justice of England. To which he answered, that he could not, with a good conscience, wear any man's cloth unless he paid for it.' So he satisfied the draper, and carried away the cloth. Yet the draper lived to see him advanced to that same dignity."—Bishop Burnet.

ONE of those fortunate prophecies, which surprise by their realization, is mentioned in connection with this period of Wirt's life, as an incident worth relating.

James Barbour, Dabney Carr, and Wirt were on their customary journey to Fluvanna, the adjoining county to Albermarle, to attend the court there," the State of Flu," as that county was called in their jocular terms. Wirt was noted for making clever speeches, as they rode together. Sometimes he rode ahead of his companions, and, waiting for them by the road-side, welcomed them, in an oration of mock gravity, to the confines of the State of Flu," representing himself to be one of its dignitaries, sent there to receive the distinguished persons, into whom he had transformed the young attorneys of the circuit. These exhibitions, and others of the same kind, are said to have afforded many a laugh to the actors.

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The three friends dined and passed the night at Carr's Brook, in Albemarle. During the visit, Barbour entertained the company with a discourse upon the merits of himself and his companions, in the course of which he undertook to point out their respective destinations in after life.

"You, Dabney," said he, "have indulged a vision of judicial eminence. You shall be gratified, and shall hold a seat on the bench of the Court of Appeals of Virginia."

"Your fortune, William," he continued, addressing himself to Wirt, "shall conduct you to the AttorneyGeneralship of the United States, where you shall have harder work to do than making bombastic speeches in the woods of Albemarle. As for myself, I shall be content to take my seat in the Senate of the United States."

This jocular prophecy has become notable in consequence of its exact fulfillment, in respect to each of the parties.

These were golden days to William Wirt. He went to Albemarle poor, and without powerful friends. He had very little experience in the business of life, and no great store of useful knowledge. Moreover, he had not entered into the lists with powerful adversaries to prove his strength, and was not very sanguine as to his final

success.

Here he found himself surrounded with warm friends capable of appreciating his merits, and able to aid him