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 The Supreme Conrt of Appeals of Virginia.

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He soon attained the front ranks in the on the bench for more than thirty years. courts in which he practised. His first During all that time his reputation was pure public service was in the General Assembly and unspotted. From 7 Gratt. to 75 Va. of 1849- 50. His learning and accuracy as may be found his opinions, covering a period a lawyer so impressed itself upon that body ofover a quarter of a century. Judge Joseph that he was placed on the committee for the Christian, one of his associates on the Su revision of the law, and discharged his duty preme Bench, said of him: "He was not with great satisfaction. On the occasion of only incorruptible, but scrupulously, deli the death of the venerable judge, Francis T. cately, and conscientiously free from all wilful

wrong, in Brooke, on the i3th of thought, word, or March, 1851, he was deed." He was a elected to fill that va man of great firmness cancy. The State Con and moral courage, stitution was almost immediately after and simplicity of char acter. At a meeting wards changed, the of the bench and bar judges' commissions from various parts of vacated, and they were the State, held in the required to be elected court-room of the Su by the people. Under preme Court of Ap that Constitution he peals, at Richmond, was elected one of the Nov. 9, 1882, resolu five judges by the peo tions concerning him ple. He held the posi were adopted; and tion up to the close of Robert Ould, Esq., a the war, when for a distinguished member brief period he retired of the Richmond City to private life; but as Bar, was requested soon as the restored to communicate them government was estab to the Court of Ap lished, he was again peals, and ask to have elected by the Legisla them entered on the ture (the Constitution u. c. L. MONCURE. records. He did so, having been changed), and made President of and in closing, elo the court. In the dark days of reconstruc quently and touchingly said, — tion, when the Ancient Dominion was "The Roman poet says, — "Military District No. 1," he was compelled once more to retire to private life. When ' Paluda mors, a:quo puisat pede pauperum tabernas the civil government was restored after the Regumque turres; ' adoption of the present Constitution, he was again elected by the Legislature one of the but Judge Moncure himself, without a tremor, knocked at the door of death, not complainingly, five judges of the Court of Appeals, and or indeed with any assertion of self, but in reverent was again appointed President, which posi submission to the will of God. The shadows had tion he held up to the time of his death, been long gathered about him, each day deepen Aug. 24, 1882. He had the honor of being ing the gloom; and the plaintive cry was wrung elected four times a judge of the Supreme from him by bodily anguish, that the darkening Court of Appeals of Virginia. He was twilight might close at once in night. But even