States, and the Honorable John Y. Mason, United States' Attorney General, both gave most honourable testimony to his zeal and ability. His first appearance in public life was as the opposer of Masonic tyranny. He has been twice governor of his native state, and was the man who withstood the Administration in the affair of M'Cleod. The politics of Governor Seward perplex me; he is a staunch supporter of the high Tariff; sided with the Whigs who gave the notice on the Oregon question; is the political adherent and devoted friend of John Quincy Adams,* and is a supporter of the Federal Government as opposed to the division of interests by state rights. On the other hand, he is an ultra democrat, active in obtaining the immediate right of suffrage for emigrants, and the privilege of an individual vote for negroes; he is besides pledged, as the first principle of his political exertions, to the abolition of slavery. In each of these opinions, save one, I differ from him; but such are his candour

*Nor is his friendship unreturned by the venerable Ex President, to whom I have often mentioned his name, for the pleasure of observing the smile of affection which came over his countenance whenever the Governor was presented to his recollection.

and ingenuity, that while I listen to his arguments, I both esteem the man and admire the politician the more heartily. This eminent person is intimately versed in the history of his country, and he expounds, in the most lucid manner, the intricacies both of her past and present relations, whether party or political.

The address and manners of Governor Seward are very agreeable, though his voice is guttural and uncultivated, which possibly arises from an absence of all pleasure in music; confessedly he cannot distinguish a chant from a jig. His appearance is very youthful for forty four; he is of fair complexion, and possesses one peculiarity of feature which is to me of singular interest. In speaking or smiling the upper lip has a slight nervous and tremulous motion, independent of its action in articulation. This peculiarity I have seen but twice before; it is, of course, involuntary, is observed only in men, and is always accompanied by the most acute sensibilities.

The Governor is the constant and ardent advocate of universal education, and he is ever true. to the republican principle that all men are equal:

indifferent to the accidental advantages of life, he mingles with all who make virtue their inward guide, and propriety their outward garb.

Such is my view of this interesting man; and few have shared his confidence so intimately as I have done; to his keeping I would confide my most important interests, and to his friendship I would entrust my life. Hereafter I hope to see a darling son trained up by his guidance in the principles and practice of that noble profession which he himself so much adorns. As a brother to a sister is dear, so to me is William H. Seward.

Since writing the above I have been present at Auburn, during the trial of William Freeman, the black boy, for the murder of the Van Nest family, and have heard the wonderful pleading of Governor Seward for the wretched and demented criminal. In my humble judgment no being so evidently, so palpably destitute of reasoning powers as Freeman, should have been considered as responsible; and according to this conviction the legal, constitutional and righteous course would have been, after proving that he had committed the crime, to place him in close confinement for life. William

Seward was, perhaps, the only man who would have undertaken the defence of this miscreant, and he was induced to assume the task partly because it had been alleged that, in consequence of the defence made for a criminal by him on a previous occasion, the boy Freeman was led to suppose that he might commit murders with impunity. Seward defended his abject client on the best established grounds of mental derangement, with all the zeal and ability which I expected from him; but when he entered upon his own justification he displayed an eloquence, independence and elevation of character rarely equalled. After commenting upon the insinuations against him, he solemnly averred, "before God and man, "that there was no single word which he had "ever uttered in any court of justice which he "would wish recalled." This asseveration was uttered in a manner noble and touching in the extreme.

The eloquence of Governor Seward is of a kind per se; it faithfully conveys those ardent sympathies to which I have alluded in my feeble attempt to pourtray a character so rare and so

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peculiar. His is an eloquent nature, and invokes an eloquent interpreter; his words are flung forth, simple, impassioned and searching; fresh and free as the impulses of his breast. I do not seek to analyse his powers; the following extract will justify my comment.

EXTRACTS

FROM THE ARGUMENT OF WILLIAM H. SEWARD, IN DEFENCE OF WM. FREEMAN,

ON HIS TRIAL FOR MURDER, AT AUBURN, ON THE 21ST AND 22ND JULY, 1846.

MAY IT PLEASE THE COURT,

Gentlemen of the Jury,

"THOU SHALT NOT KILL,'
" and "WHOSO

SHEDDETH MAN'S BLOOD BY MAN SHALL HIS BLOOD BE SHED," are laws found in the code of that people who, although dispersed and distracted, trace their history to the creation; history which records that murder was the first of human crimes.

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The first of these precepts constitutes a tenth part of the jurisprudence which God saw fit to establish, at an early period, for the government of