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 The Supreme Court of Appeals of Virginia.

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September, 1789. In February, 1790, he Edward Carrington, the uncle of Governor entered William and Mary College, from Cabell. General Carrington won distinction which he graduated in 1793. In the in the War of the Revolution; and when autumn of 1793 he was licensed to practise Washington formed his first cabinet, he was law. He soon took a high stand at the bar, offered the position of Secretary of War, but and gave evidence of unusual ability. He declined to enter public life. But another was elected to the Assembly from Amherst event of greater importance than Burr's con County in the spring of 1796. From that spiracy agitated the country, and produced time until he was elected governor, he repre an excitement hitherto unequalled in the his

sented the county of tory of Virginia. The Amherst in the lower disputes with England branch of the Legisla- f™ growing out of the inI vasion of the neutral ture, his father at the same time represent rights of American commerce and im ing the Amherst Dis trict in the Senate, un pressment of Ameri til his health compelled can seamen, had him to retire from pub aroused universal in lic life. He took a dignation. Nothing leading part in the but the prompt and Assembly of 1798, and vigorous measures taken by Mr. Jeffer supported the famous son restrained the resolutions of that ses sion. He returned to country from an im mediate declaration of the Assembly of 1805, war, when it was but was that same learned that on the year elected Governor 22d of June, 1807, the of Virginia. He per frigate "Chesapeake," formed all the duties standing out to sea of the office with an from Norfolk, had been ability and an industry fired into by the Brit that won the praise ish sloop-of-war, the of all parties. It was WILLIAM H. CABELL. "Leopard," and sev generally admitted eral of her men killed that no executive ever represented the majesty of the State with and wounded. Some idea of the excitement more propriety, dignity, and grace. Two in Virginia may be formed from the following memorable events occurred in Virginia dur description : — ing Governor Cabell's administration. One "Richmond became a theatre of great agitation. of these was the trial of Aaron Burr, at Rich Those martial fires which slumber in the breast of mond, before Chief-Justice Marshall, in the every community, and which are so quickly kindled spring and summer of 1807, for treason in an into flame by the breeze of stirring public events, alleged design to form an empire in the blazed with especial ardor amongst the youth western part of America. The jury which ful and venturous spirits of Virginia. Over the sat in the case had been formed with much whole State, as indeed over the whole country, difficulty by repeated venires, summoned that combative principle which lies at the heart of from all parts of the State. The foreman of all chivalry began to develop itself in every form the jury was a conspicuous figure, Gen. in which national sensibility is generally exhibited.