its excursions, and felicitous in its combinations: which sheds over his subject light, beauty and animation: which arrays every thing it touches in the hues of impassioned eloquence, kindling every emotion and guiding every sensation of the soul.

His language, full, sonorous and energetic, abounds in amplification, and teems with imagery; borrowing from the varied stores of science and classical literature, the richest ornaments and happiest illustrations. A philosopher and a scholar, his references, both to ancient and modern learning, are always apt and elegant. Few lawyers possess, in an equal degree, (when a bad cause is to be managed,) the power of imposing upon the judg ment, without enlightening the understanding. When solid arguments are wanting, confidence and sophistry are substituted in their place: the rapidity and vehemence of his elocution, leaves the mind no opportunity to examine and detect his fallacies, or unravel the web which his ingenuity has spun.

Mr. Emmett, in a cause of sufficient magnitude to require the full exertion of his powers, and of a nature to call forth his ener getic feelings, by his luminous and comprehensive reasoning, and the ardour and impressive earnestness of his manner, engages the most silent and respectful attention, informs and convinces the understanding, and excites at will the sensibilities of his audience. In attacking the vices of the profligate, or in vindicating the aspersed reputation of the innocent, I have seldom witnessed more astonishing bursts of eloquence. His thoughts flash with the celerity of lightning, and fall with the impetuosity of the thunderbolt. He animates, exaggerates, amplifies, impels and directs the movements of passion, by seizing every topic which can enthral the fancy, or thrill and electrify the heart.

The strong impressions which I have received from the speeches of this eloquent lawyer, may have rendered me incapable of forming an accurate estimate of his talents; yet these very impressions convince me, that I have not mistaken the force, nor overrated the powers of his genius.

The subject of the following remarks, is preeminent, not only for depth and acuteness of understanding, but the extent and variety of his attainments. He is not merely a lawyer, but a man of genius and science. Cadwallader D. Colden, amiable in the

private, and dignified in the public walks of life, commands universal respect and esteem. Descended from that great and good man Dr. Colden, whose memory in America is cherished by every lover of science, he inherits a large portion of the virtues and talents of his illustrious ancestor. With a mind investigating and discriminative, a memory tenacious and ready, and a judgment discerning and accurate, his powers are eminently adapted to the consideration of causes, involving complicated details and abstruse principles. His scientific knowledge is peculiarly serviceable to him in questions, where not only legal principles are to be discussed, but the terms of art, and the nature and powers of machinery are to be understood and illustrated. In a long chain of reasoning Mr. Colden displays with great advantage, the force and extent of his abilities. His mind's eye appears endued with a power of expansion and contraction, which enables it not only to take the most comprehensive views, but eminently fits it for minute research and microscopic observations. His powers of sarcasm, which are unusually great, are seldom exercised, but in lashing the presumption of ignorance, or in checking the career of folly. With a zeal and activity peculiar to himself, Mr. Colden devotes the whole force of his understanding to the interests of his clients: he deems no time mispent, and no investigation superfluous, which may in the slighest degree contribute to their benefit. His too strict attention to business, however, united to the severity of his mental labours, have, it is feared, proved of irreparable injury to his constitution. The decay of his health, chilling the ardour and checking the full exertion of his powers, awakens and arrests our sensibility. The solemn touches which it adds to his character, whilst they avert the mind from a scrutiny of the few and venial faults which mingle with his virtues, and which are almost inseparable from humanity, incline it to a partial consideration of his extensive acquirements, intellectual dignity, and moral elevation.

Mr. David B. Ogden, whom I shall next introduce to your notice, is remarkable for an herculean form, the bold and striking outlines of his countenance, and the powerful expression of his eye. Possessing less sensibility than Mr. Emmett, he is superior to him in concentration of thought and conciseness of language.

His mind possesses a power of ratiocination, which enables it, with ease, to unravel what is complex and irradiate what is obscure. He uniformly conceives and expresses his subject with corresponding vigour and perspicacity. He seldom or ever attempts to convince the understanding through the medium of the passions. His arguments arise naturally from the subject: his arrangement is lucid, and his deductions for the most part logical and conclusive. His eloquence is plain, manly, and energetic; seldom, however, vehement or overbearing. His language is clear and nervous without aspiring to elegance. Mr. Ogden, confessedly inferior to several of the profession in amplitude of legal knowledge and brilliancy of fancy, is surpassed by none, in distinctness of conception, in method, precision, and the powers of elucidation.

The following likeness, my dear H., which is to conclude my sketches of the Newyork bar, must necessarily be faint in comparison with the original. The character of John Wells, who is the youngest lawyer of eminence in the city, is universally admired for its bold outlines-its powerful and expressive features. To a countenance illumined by the rays of superior intelligence, and an eye of great fire and penetration, he adds a peculiarity of manner which distinguishes him from every other member of the bar, and instantly attracts the notice of a foreigner. There is about him a Roman dignity and severity of manner, which inspires general respect, repels intrusion, and overawes impertinence. A severity, however, which indicates neither moroseness nor insensibility; which, in the hours of convivial mirth, or at the fire side of social elegance, relaxes into mildness and urbanity.

To an understanding naturally vigorous, Mr. Wells unites a heart guided in all its actions, by the strictest notions of integri-. ty and honour. His sense of propriety is too nice to suffer him to become an indiscriminate advocate, and his mind too elevated to descend to the mean equivocations and paltry finesses so common to his profession.

Mr. Wells is less celebrated for the powers of his imagination than the comprehensive energy of his mind-less preeminent for readiness of apprehension, than depth of thinking, powers of abstraction, accuracy of judgment, and closeness of reason

ing. His mind less acute in its perceptions than either Mr. Hoffman's or Emmett's, is capable of the most intense labour, and formed for that deep research, which never faulters in its course, till it has made itself complete master of every point in controversy. His ordinary speeches evince strength and clearness of intellect: his more elaborate and finished, great compass of thought, conciseness of reasoning, and perspicuity of diction. He joins copiousness to precision, and energy of expression to felicity of illustration.

So lucid is Mr. Wells in his arguments, that the mind, whilst it is enabled to take a commanding view of the whole subject, and of tracing the connection and dependance of its parts, is inclined to yield a ready assent to the force and justness of his conclusions. His manners at the bar, are easy and dignified, though at times overbearing. His voice is full, harmonious and distinct; his delivery flowing, energetic, and accompanied with appropriate and forcible gesticulation. His elocution, manly and vigorous, is no less powerful and impressive in its effects, than his reasoning is nervous and cogent: though he seldom rises into a bold and figurative strain of eloquence, he never sinks into meanness or puerility of expression. The vigorous conciseness of his style seldom degenerates into obscurity, or its energy into harshness.

The admirers and advocates of simple cloquence, and its severe graces, are inclined to elevate Mr. Wells, young as he is, to the very head of his profession. This is, perhaps, placing him on too proud an eminence; yet it can scarcely admit of a doubt, but that in the full expansion of his powers, he will not only rise to an equality with his present competitors, but hold a conspicuous station among the illustrious few, who have added splendour and dignity to the profession.

DEAR SIR,

LETTER V.

Newyork, Oct. 9.

It is generally admitted, that polite literature in this city, is far from keeping pace with the other branches of human know

ledge. The mercantile pursuits of this enterprising people, are calculated to dampen the ardour, and check the enterprise of literary ambition. Yet, in despite of accumulated obstacles, a few have earnestly pressed forward in the career of letters, and established a high character for the vigour and brilliancy of their powers. Among the most prominent of these stand the family of the I****gs. All its members are characterised by strong and peculiar traits of genius. They all possess great vivacity of feeling, luxuriance of fancy, and talents for satire. W. I****g, who stands at the head of American wits, is endued with a keen and intuitive perception, a taste the most delicate and refined, a humour rich and playful, and a mind stored with brilliant conceptions and ludicrous combinations of images. Enclosed I send you his Salmagundi and Knickerbocker, works which lash with sportive severity the reigning follies of the day, which abound in fine touches of humour, and sparkle with the brightest corruscasions of wit.

The mental powers of this elegant satirist, were early ripened into excellence. Premature exuberance of genius, so frequently portending sterility, was, in this instance, the forerunner of a rich and fruitful harvest. Mr. I****g's acquirements in polite literature are as extensive, as his imagination is bounding and excursive: his intellectual features bold, yet finely proportioned, like the Apollo of Belvidere, unite firmness to delicacy, and strength to elegance.

In his manners to strangers reserved, and occasionally labouring under slight embarrassment: he is easy, open, affable and communicative to the companions of his social hours. In colloquial entertainments, his wit seldom, as might naturally be expected, flashes on the brain or kindles the heart into merriment. Deficient in readiness of expression, his words follow at a distance the celerity of his conceptions. In his strictures on the fine arts, and his reflections on men and manners, he displays a knowledge of polite learning and of human nature, extensive, critical, and just.

The following observations, which Dr. Johnson applies to our countryman Addison, are extremely apposite to the subject of the present remarks. "It appears from his various pictures of life, that he had conversed with many distinct classes of men, and