ENTERED according to Act of Congress, in the year 1865, 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 Oficers-

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

Life, . . . . . . . . . . . 9

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

CHAPTER XVII.

Return to Vicksburg-Resumes the Practice of Law-Letterg-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. . 149

CHAPTER XIX.

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

Gubernatorial Election of 1848–Visit and Letter from Henry Olay-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

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 Wbig

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,

• • • • 292

CHAPTER XXIII.

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 leav-

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, .354

CIIAPTER XXIV.

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 . 395

CHAPTER XXV.

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 1849—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. . . 434

CHAPTER XXVI.

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

Aristotie-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 AMicted-Letters addressed to him by Stranger 3--His

Domestic Life, . . . . . . . . . . 518

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 Letterg-

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,

Extracts from the New Orleans Delta,

Notice by J. F. H. Claiborne, Esq., .

Proceedings of the Bar of Natchez,

Proceedings of the Bar of Jackson,

Eulogy on S. S. Prentiss by Judge Mc Caleb,

Letter from Henry Clay, . . .

Extract of a Letter from J. J. Crittenden,.

......