DEATH OF MR. WIRT.
He died at the age of sixty-two, after having reached a place in
the first line at the Virginia bar, where there were such lawyers
as Wickham, Tazewell, Watkins Leigh; and a place in the front rank
of the bar of the Supreme Court, where there were such jurists as
Webster and Pinkney; and after having attained the high honor of
professional preferment in the appointment of Attorney General of
the United States under the administration of Mr. Monroe. His life
contains instructive lessons. Born to no advantages of wealth or
position, he raised himself to what he became by his own exertions.
In danger of falling into a fatal habit in early life, he retrieved
himself (touched by the noble generosity of her who afterwards
became his admired and beloved wife), from the brink of the abyss,
and became the model of every domestic virtue; with genius to shine
without labor, he yet considered genius nothing without labor,
and gave through life a laborious application to the study of the
law as a science, and to each particular case in which he was ever
employed. The elegant pursuits of literature occupied the moments
taken from professional studies and labors, and gave to the reading
public several admired productions, of which the long-desired and
beautiful "Life of Patrick Henry," was the most considerable: a
grateful commemoration of Virginia's greatest orator, which has been
justly repaid to one of her first class orators, by Mr. Kennedy of
Maryland, in his classic "Life of William Wirt." How grateful to see
citizens, thus engaged in laborious professions, snatching moments
from their daily labors to do justice to the illustrious dead--to
enlighten posterity by their history, and encourage it by their
example. Worthy of his political and literary eminence, and its
most shining and crowning ornament, was the state of his domestic
relations--exemplary in every thing that gives joy and decorum to
the private family, and rewarded with every blessing which could
result from such relations. But, why use this feeble pen, when the
voice of Webster is at hand? Mr. Wirt died during the term of the
Supreme Court, his revered friend, the Chief Justice Marshall, still
living to preside, and to give, in touching language, the order
to spread the proceedings of the bar (in relation to his death)
upon the records of the court. At the bar meeting, which adopted
these proceedings, Mr. Webster thus paid the tribute of justice and
affection to one with whom professional rivalry had been the source
and cement of personal friendship:
"It is announced to us that one of the oldest, one of the
ablest, one of the most distinguished members of this bar, has
departed this mortal life. William Wirt is no more! He has this
day closed a professional career, among the longest and the most
brilliant, which the distinguished members of the profession
in the United States have at any time accomplished. Unsullied
in every thing which regards professional honor and integrity,
patient of labor, and rich in those stores of learning, which
are the reward of patient labor and patient labor only; and
if equalled, yet certainly allowed not to be excelled, in
fervent, animated and persuasive eloquence, he has left an
example which those who seek to raise themselves to great
heights of professional eminence, will, hereafter emulously
study. Fortunate, indeed, will be the few, who shall imitate it
successfully!
"As a public man, it is not our peculiar duty to speak of
Mr. Wirt here. His character in that respect belongs to his
country, and to the history of his country. And, sir, if we
were to speak of him in his private life, and in his social
relations, all we could possibly say of his urbanity, his
kindness, the faithfulness of his friendships, and the warmth
of his affections, would hardly seem sufficiently strong and
glowing to do him justice, in the feeling and judgment of
those who, separated, now forever from his embraces can only
enshrine his memory in their bleeding hearts. Nor may we, sir,
more than allude to that other relation, which belonged to him,
and belongs to us all; that high and paramount relation, which
connects man with his Maker! It may be permitted us, however, to
have the pleasure of recording his name, as one who felt a deep
sense of religious duty, and who placed all his hopes of the
future, in the truth and in the doctrines of Christianity.
"But our particular ties to him were the ties of our profession.
He was our brother, and he was our friend. With talents powerful
enough to excite the strength of the strongest, with a kindness
both of heart and of manner capable of warming and winning
the coldest of his brethren, he has now completed the term of
his professional life, and of his earthly existence, in the
enjoyment of the high respect and cordial affections of us all.
Let us, then, sir, hasten to pay to his memory the well-deserved
tribute of our regard. Let us lose no time in testifying our
sense of our loss, and in expressing our grief, that one great
light of our profession is extinguished forever."