Page:The Green Bag (1889–1914), Volume 07.pdf/530

 The

Vol. VII.

Green

No. 11.

THOMAS

Bag.

BOSTON.

CHANDLER

November, 1895.

HALIBURTON.

(SAM SLICK.) By J. A. Ch1sholm. JUDGE HALIBURTON, popularly known Common Pleas in Nova Scotia — an inferior as " Sam Slick," from the name of the court which was abolished in 1841. The subject of this sketch was born at principal character in the " Clockmaker" Windsor, on December 17th, 1796. He en sketches, played a very important part in the history of Nova Scotia for a period of tered King's College at Windsor at the early over thirty years. He figured in political, age of fourteen, and was graduated B. A. in in legal, and in literary affairs, and in 18 1 5. As a student he is said to have been very each sphere of action he acquired very con siderable repute. The reputation which he proficient in the classics. won as a legislator is greater than his repu After his graduation he devoted himself to the study of the law, and in 1820 he was tation as a lawyer and judge; and the suc cess of his literary work far surpassed the called to the bar of Nova Scotia. He prac utmost measure of his success at the bar, ticed his profession in the old town of Annap on the bench, in the legislature of his native olis Royal. By his contemporaries he was Province, or in the House of Commons of considered a good lawyer; but the field in England. It is indeed as the author of the which he practiced was so restricted that "Sam Slick " papers, that his name is most small opportunity was given for the develop likely to be long preserved. But it is in his ment of such legal talent as he might have capacity as lawyer, judge and politician that possessed. As might be expected, the he will be most interesting to readers of young lawyer took a warm interest in the political affairs of his country. Responsible

Thomas Chandler Haliburton was of government had not yet been established in Scottish descent, the Haliburtons being an Nova Scotia, and the Executive Council ad old family with whom Sir Walter Scott was ministered the public affairs with little or no connected through his grandmother. Sir regard for the wishes of the members of the Walter compiled a work entitled " The popular or elective chamber. But, although Memorials of the Haliburtons " for private the Assembly did not make and unmake ad circulation. In the eighteenth century some ministrations, it nevertheless exercised con members of the family emigrated to America siderable influence over the public opinion and settled in New England. " Sam Slick's " of the Province, and it gathered to its walls grandfather, one of these emigrants, being a many of the brightest minds of the colony. strong loyalist, removed from Boston to In the summer of 1826 elections were held throughout the Province, and Mr. Halibur Windsor, N. S., about the time of the revo lutionary war. His father, William Otis ton was returned as one of the members for Haliburton, was a judge of the Court of the County of Annapolis. 489