i;



a veritable and very interesting fact in his boyish biography.
He was left by his father an orphan at about four years of age
and an estate never large was almost entirely wrecked by mis-
management and that bane of widows and orphans, a law suit-
in which it had been left involved. Richard's utmost inherit-
ance of worldly goods did not exceed a few hundred dollars.
He seems till he was about twelve years of age, to have been
indebted almost exclusively to his mother's instructions for the
rudiments of knowledge he received. For her he cherished to
his latest hour the fondest veneration. He was her champion
in boyhood, for sorrow and misfortune fell fast upon her. It
was in his mother's defence that the lion of his nature first broke
out. Incidents might here be related, exhibiting in rare perfec-
tion the depth of filial piety and dauntless heroism in a boy of
fifteen, but they involve circumstances and feelings too delicate
for a stranger's touch. In proof of the strength and tenderness
of his private affections, it may here be stated, that after he
commenced the practice of law, though pressed by the claims of
his own family. he devoted a portion of his own slender means
to the support of a brother overwhelmed with personal misfor-
tunes and an orphan sister, and continued it till his death. At
twelve years of age, so far as I have been able to learn, he first
entered a public school. Like steel from flint, the collision of
other minds struck instant fire from his own. The first com-
petition brought into full play the passion for distinction, which
formed the master principle of his nature. His teacher was as-
tonished at the intense application, surpassing progress and
precocious genius of the boy. He predicted to his pupil his
future greatness, exhorted him to perseverance and furnished
him every facility in his power. With this gentleman, whose
name was ToMPKINS, (it should be written in letters of gold,) he
seems to have remained without interruption for two years, at
which period his mother married a second time and he was
removed from  school.  Clouds and thick darkness gathered
now, over his fortunes and his darling hopes. At fourteen,
he was summoned to attend at a tavern bar in Owingsville. But
the omen of his first name still cheered him on, and the fire
which had been first kindled within him, could not be extinguish-
ed. Hle compromised the matter at home and served at the