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friend of the American Revolution. In 1808 he was made Governor of Virginia, and in iS11 judge of the United States District Court for Virginia, which office he held until his death. He was a man of popular man ners and sound judgment. He liked political tracts and light works, but was not fond of law books. He was very kind and attentive to young lawyers, and did all he could to inspire them with ease and confidence. He had a benevolent heart and sincere and friendly disposition. James Mercer was bred to the bar, and became a member of the General Court and consequently of the Court of Appeals. His abilities and patriotism were conspicuous. He died in the city of Richmond while attending a session of the court. Henry Tazewell, a judge of the first Court of Appeals by reason of being a judge of the General Court, was a young Vir ginian of fortune. He studied law, and married the daughter of Judge Waller while that gentleman was still clerk of the General Court. In 1795 he was appointed United States Senator. He filled all of the public stations he held with great satisfaction. His son was also a United States Senator. There are many of his relatives and descendants in Virginia. Richard Parker, born in the Northern Neck of Virginia, became a judge of the Court of Appeals in October, 1788, by being a judge of the General Court. Being fond of literary pursuits, he early fell under the notice of the Lee family, then celebrated for their erudition. He was a learned lawyer and an upright judge, and very patriotic, his eldest son having been killed by the British at the siege of Charleston. Spencer Roane, a distinguished judge of the Virginia Court of Appeals, was born in Essex County, April 4, 1762, was edu cated at William and Mary College, and there attended the lectures of Chancellor Wythe, the professor of law. He soon turned his attention to politics; became a member of the Legislature, and

married a daughter of Patrick Henry, who was then Governor of the State. In 1789 he was made a judge of the Gen eral Court, which office he held until 1794. On December 2 of that year, a vacancy having occurred on the Supreme Bench by the election of Judge Tazewell to the United States Senate, he was appointed to fill it. Not until that time did he become an ear nest student of law. He was a man of considerable literary attainments, and was supposed to be second in ability to Edmund Pendleton only. He never acquired the habit of " mixing law and equity together" says Mr. Daniel Call (4 Call, xxv). But his opinions were generally sound and wellreasoned. He respected the rights of prop erty and the just claims of creditors, and in all of his decisions he inclined to the side of liberty. On the bench he was still a politician engaging in the controversies of the day and frequently writing for the news papers. He was very ambitious, though he disliked aristocracy and family pride. He held many offices of honor and trust, in all of which he gave satisfaction. It is said that Thomas Jefferson wished him, at the expiration of President Monroe's term, to run as a candidate for VicePresident. He was jealous of his associates on the bench, and very disagreeable to all of them. Like Napoleon's Marshal Saint-Cyr, he was calm and cold in his disposition, and passed a good deal of time doing — what do you suppose? Playing the fiddle! It was his master passion. It is not known whether or not he was a skilful performer. He died Sept. 4, 1822, leaving surviving him his second wife, a lady whose amiable disposi tion rendered her interesting in life and lamented in death. St. George Tucker, made a judge of the Supreme Court Jan. 6, 1804, must not be confounded with his son Henry StGeorge Tucker, who was elected president of the same court after the adoption of the Constitution of 1829. St George Tucker