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will be found in the history of the country. His speeches in Congress secured him the most extended reputation as an orator. But, in truth, he had no taste for political life. He soon returned to his favorite arena-the bar-and resumed his splendid practice. The financial troubles of 1836, fell upon Mr. PRENTISS with great force. He lost by them a princely fortune. In consequence of these reverses, he removed to this city, as affording a larger sphere for the exercise of his talents. Here he immediately took his position among the foremost of our lawyers. Many gentlemen of the bar, of great eminence in States where the Common Law prevails, had not sustained here the reputation which they brought with them. Mr. PRENTISS was an exception to this remark. The remarkable quickness and analytical power of his intellect, enabled him, in a very short time, to master the rules and theory of a system of jurisprudence quite different from that in which he had long been trained. He soon achieved a position at the bar of New Orleans as prominent as that he had occupied in Mississippi. Nor was his mind "cribbed, cabined and confined" within the narrow limits of a mere professional life. He always identified himself with every project of patriotism, benevolence, charity, or literature, that was agitated in his vicinage. A monument to Franklin, or a sympathetic appeal in favor of struggling Hungary, or a donative response to the tearful orphan, or a commemoration of the birthday of the Bard of Avon, would equally fire his soul and syllable his tongue. He possessed one of the most highly-endowed intellects we ever knew. His memory was singularly retentive, so that he could repeat whole cantos of Byron on the moment. His logical faculty was very acute and discerning. It was often the complaint of the court and his brother lawyers, that he would argue a case all to pieces. He would penetrate to the very bottom of a subject, as it were, by intuition, and lay it bare in all its parts, like a chemist analyzing any material object, or a surgeon making a dissection. His reading was full and general, and everything he gathered from books, as well as from intercourse with his fellow-men, clung to his memory, and was ever at his command. But, his most striking talent was his oratory. We have never known or read of a man, who equalled PRENTISS in the faculty of thinking on his legs, or of extemporaneous eloquence. He required no preparation to speak on any subject, and on all he was equally happy. We have heard from him, thrown out in a dinner-speech, or at a public meeting, when unexpectedly called on, more brilliant and striking thoughts than many of the most gifted poets and orators ever elaborated in their closets. He possessed a rare wit. His garland was enwreathed with flowers culled from every shrub or plant, and from every clime. And if at times the thorn lurked beneath the bright flower, the wound it inflicted was soon assuaged and healed by some mirthful and laughtermoving palliative.

But our article grows too long, and we must bring it to a close before we have said a tithe of what justice to the subject would require us to say.

We conclude, therefore, with bearing tribute to the estimable character of S. S. PRENTISS. His heart overflowed with warm, generous, and patriotic feelings. He was as brave and chivalrous as Bayard, as soft, tender, and affectionate as a loving child, untainted by the selfishness of the world. All small, selfish, narrow feelings, were foreign to his nature. His bosom was the home of honor,-his imagination was full of lofty thoughts, and his mind disdained the grovelling feelings and considerations of the worldly-minded. Let not his friends be inconsolable.

It is proper that such a mind should thus glide from these scenes of worldly trouble. It is just that a bright exhalation, which has shone so brilliantly, should

disappear thus suddenly, ere it begins gradually to fade and flicker; hat the fire of so noble an intelligence, should not diminish, and gradually and slowly go out, amid decrepitude and physical decay; but that, like the meteor shooting across the heavens, illuminating the earth, it should sink suddenly and for ever, into the earth from which it sprung!

The following is from the pen of J. F. H. Claiborne, Esq., one of Mr. PRENTISS' opponents in the Mississippi contested election:

This distinguished orator-distinguished above all his contemporaries for the versatility of his talents, the brilliancy of his imagination and the affluence of his diction-died, at Natchez, on Monday evening last, after a protracted illness. He was not more than thirty-five years of age, but had already placed himself on an equality with the giants of the land. In the firmament of the Republic there shone no brighter star. He was endowed with more genius than any man we ever met with the genius that comprehends all things, achieves all things, and perishes, as the hero of Macedonia perished, because there are no more difficulties to overcome, "no more worlds to conquer." Mr. PRENTISS, in addressing a jury, has never been surpassed; pith, pathos, humor, fiery declamation, biting sarcasm, wonderful power of illustration, were the characteristics of his oratory on these occasions, and so expressive were his action and the play of his countenance, that even when you failed to hear him, you comprehended what he had said. His great forte was in the analysis of a point of law, or the discussion of a constitutional question. His style then became terse, simple, severe, exhibiting a mental discipline and a faculty of concentration, in striking contrast with the natural exuberance of his fancy. It was observed of Apelles' Venus that her flesh looked as if she had been nourished on roses; the same may be said of the orations of this remarkable man. Whenever he touched on literature or art, his classical taste sparkled in every sentence; images tinted with the colors of the rainbow, dew-drops of thought, the very essence of poetry, fell profusely from his lips. The only speech he ever made in Congress, on a question of peculiar delicacy and importance, placed him at once among the greatest orators of our time; and even his opponents applied to him the remark of Coleridge on Canning-" that he flashed such a light around the constitution, it was difficult to see the ruins of the fallen fabric through it." With so much genius, Mr. PRENTISS might have become eminent in any pursuit-as a poet, an artist or a soldier. He had all the elements of greatness, and all the ambition to become great. But the orb that burned so brightly has disappeared; the tones that charmed, the clarion voice that roused, are silent, and for ever. With his fire unquenched-his aspirations unsatisfied his mission unfulfilled-the harvest of wealth and power still ungathered-the reaper, in his pride of manhood, has been struck down by the only enemy that could conquer him, and now lies low as the undistinguished dead, to teach us "what shadows we are and what shadows we pursue." Friends and enemies deplore the gallantry of feelings which gave to his views a chivalrous elevation; those beautiful accomplishments which embellished the society in which he lived; the fire and sparkling wit which fascinated those who were most adverse to his principles, and charmed, as with a spell, the very men who were most aware of its seductions.

PROCEEDINGS OF THE BAR OF NATCHEZ.

Extract from the Minutes of the Vice-Chancery Court, of the Southern District of Mississippi, at

NATCHEZ, July 2, 1850.

On the meeting of the Vice Chancery Court this morning, Mr. McMurran announced to the Court the death of the Hon. SEARGENT S. PRENTISS, late a most distinguished member of the Bar of this State. After some feeling and appropriate remarks on the melancholy event, he moved the Vice Chancellor that as a tribute of respect for the memory of the deceased, the court adjourn.

Whereupon his Honor, sympathizing with the Bar on the occasion, adjourned the Court until to-morrow morning at 9 o'clock.

Immediately after the adjournment of the Court, the members of the Bar of the State in attendance on the Vice-Chancery Court, at Natchez, were, on motion of R. M. Gaines, Esq., organized as a meeting, with his Honor, James M. Smiley, as Chairman, and on motion of H. S. Eustis, Esq., Mr. Gaines was appointed Secretary. On motion of George S. Yerger, Esq. it was

Resolved, That a Committee of five be appointed by the Chairman to prepare and report a preamble and resolutions expressive of the sense of the meeting on the melancholy occasion.

Whereupon the Chair appointed George S. Yerger, of Vicksburg; John T. McMurran and J. S. Thacher, of Natchez; Geo. H. Gordon, of Woodville; and John B. Coleman, of Port Gibson.

After a recess until 12 o'clock, the Committee, through their chairman, Mr. Yer ger, reported the following Preamble and Resolutions, which were unanimously adopted:

This Meeting has heard, with feelings of deep and heartfelt sorrow, that it has pleased Almighty God, in his all-wise providence, to remove by death, from his sphere of usefulness on earth, our lamented brother and friend, the Hon. SEARGENT S. PRENTISS. His loss is no ordinary one-long will it be felt, not only by his bereaved family and friends, but by the community at large, and by the profession of which he was a bright and noble ornament. Of him it may be truly said, he was one of God's noblest works, "an honest man." If an intellect and genius which it is the lot of but few to possess-if a heart, susceptible of the noblest emotions, and whose every pulsation was the echo of the purest feelings of patriotism and devotion to his country-if the prayers of an afflicted and devoted family, could have saved him from the doom, which sooner or later awaits us all, our lamented friend would yet be among us. But he is gone-and his death is but another memento of the mortality of the body-the immortality of the soul. This, however, is not the time nor the place for eulogy; deeper and holier emotions possess our hearts. Therefore, as a tribute of esteem and respect for his memoryResolved, That the members of this meeting are filled with the most profound grief at the loss of a most brilliant and distinguished member of their profession. Resolved, That for many years the deceased stood at the head of his profession in Mississippi, as a sound and able Jurist, with quick, clear, and comprehensive perceptions of the principles of Justice, and that as a forensic orator, he has been unsurpassed and unrivalled.

Resolved, That in his private and social intercourse, he was amiable and con

fiding, and generous to a fault.

Few men have acquired more numerous and devoted personal attachments; few have ever descended to the grave more deeply lamented.

Resolved, That we affectionately sympathize with, and tender to his afflicted and bereaved family our sincere condolements upon their irreparable loss. Resolved, That the members of the Bar here present, will attend the funeral of the deceased, as a token of their respect for the memory of their distinguished brother.

Resolved, That the chairman of this meeting, transmit to the family of the deceased, a copy of the proceedings of this meeting..

Resolved, That the Vice Chancellor be requested to have the proceedings of this meeting spread upon the minutes of this Court.

On motion

Resolved, That the proceedings of this meeting, after being signed by the Chairman and Secretary, and also the proceedings of the Court in relation to the death of the Hon. SEARGENT S. PRENTISS, be published in the newspapers of the City. J. M. SMILEY, Chairman.

R. M. GAINES, Secretary.

WEDNESDAY, July 3, 1850.

At a meeting of the District Vice Chancery Court, this morning, on motion, it was Ordered, By the Vice Chancellor, that the proceedings of the meeting of the bar in relation to the death of the Hon. SEARGENT S. PRENTISS, be entered on the minutes of the Court.

Which was done accordingly.

E. S. RUSSELL, Clerk.

PROCEEDINGS OF THE BAR OF JACKSON.

JACKSON, Monday, July 15, 1850.

Pursuant to notice, the members of the Jackson Bar assembled in the court room of the Chancery Court, to take some measures to express their sentiments relative to the decease of the Hon. SEARGENT S. PRENTISS.

On motion, Col. J. F. Foute was called to the Chair, and L. V. Dixon appointed Secretary. After a few remarks from the Chair, more expressive of the object of the meeting, on motion, William Yerger, John I. Guion, Caswell R. Clifton, and Daniel W. Adams were appointed a Committee to prepare a suitable preamble and resolutions, who reported the following, which were unanimously adopted:

The members of this Bar have learned with unfeigned sorrow, that their former companion and brother, the Hon. SEARGENT S. PRENTISS, has departed this life. For upwards of fifteen years Mr. PRENTISS was a citizen of the State of Mississippi, and during that period he established a reputation for legal learning and ability, for high-souled and chivalrous patriotism, and for spotless integrity and unsullied honor, which will endure as long as such qualities and virtues are cherished among us. As an orator, the reputation of Mr. PRENTISS is national. As a lawyer, the judicial annals of our country have been illustrated by no brighter name or loftier intellect. As a politician, he received the unlimited confidence and support of one great party, while his political opponents accorded to him unquestionable integrity of purpose and sincere devotion to his country. It is a source of pleasure and of

pride to his friends to recount these things. Yet to the members of this Bar, who knew him well and intimately, his social qualities and the generous impulses of a heart which always beat responsive to every sentiment of honor, friendship, manliness and truth, render his name more dear than the brightest achievements of his intellect, therefore,

1. Resolved, That as an orator, a statesman and a jurist, the fame of Mr. PRENTISS will adorn the brightest page in the history of the Republic.

2. Resolved, That the name of PRENTISS is identified with the history of Mississippi, and his memory will be forever cherished among the dearest and worthiest of her sons.

3. Resolved, That in the death of Mr. PRENTISS, the legal profession has lost one of its brightest ornaments, and the members of this Bar have lost a friend, endeared to them by every manly and social virtue which could add to the enjoyment of professional intercourse..

4. Resolved, That as a tribute of respect to the memory of the deceased, the members of this Bar will wear the usual badge of mourning for thirty days; and that John I. Guion, Charles Scott and Daniel Mayes be appointed a committee to present the foregoing preamble and resolutions to the Supreme and Chancery Courts, and ask that they be entered on the minutes of each of said courts.

5. Resolved, That John I. Guion be requested at the January session of the High Court of Errors and Appeals, to deliver an address, commemorative of the distinguished abilities and the exalted private virtues of the deceased.*

6. Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be forwarded to the family of Mr. PRENTISS, with the assurance of the sincere condolence of the members of this Bar in their great bereavement.

7. Resolved, That the city papers be requested to publish these proceedings. J. F. FOUTE, President.

L. V. DIXON, Secretary.

The Proceedings of the Bar of Vicksburg are not at hand.

EULOGY ON S. S. PRENTISS, BY JUDGE MCCALEB.

In November, 1850, the resolutions of the Bar of New Orleans were presented to the United States District Court by Mr. Hunton, the U. S. District Attorney. Mr. H. made a brief address, from which the following passages are taken:

May it please the Court-Since your adjournment in July, a distinguished member of the Bar has terminated his earthly career-has been summoned from this to

*I am not aware that the eulogy was ever delivered. The death of Judge Guion is announced, as these pages go to the press. He was a gentleman of most noble qualities, and a lawyer of superior ability. At the time of his decease he occupied a seat on the Bench of Mississippi, as he had done in earlier manhood. He had also filled various civil offices; having been President of the Senate, and, for a short period, Governor of the State. He belonged, I believe, to an old Huguenot family of South Carolina. His attachment to Mr. PRENTISS was like that of a brother, and it was most warmly reciprocated. He will long live in the memory of a wide and cultivated circle of friends.-ED.

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