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gradually be improved upon, and it seems as practicable a scheme as could be agreed on at the present stage of development of the principle of arbitration.

In any case, as this country is at present drifting, the subject delegated to your committee becomes one of more than mere academic interest, and worthy the serious attention of every citizen, be he lawyer or layman, who deprecates war.

Under existing conditions, however, we do not feel called on to submit any special recommendations about the work referred to us, except, as devised more than once before, that this committee be reorganized with a working quorum of three or more located together at some convenient city or town in the State. And that such committee be instructed to urge arbitration in our present dispute with Canada. And to use all its influence in favor of ratification of the action of The Hague Conference. Subscribed by order of the Committee.

THOMAS D. RANSON,

Chairman.

August 1, 1899.

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MEMORIALS.

JAMES PLEASANTS.

JAMES PLEASANTS, a beloved member of this Association, died on the 16th of July, 1898. He was born in Goochland county, Virginia, on the 29th of April, 1831, but lived almost his entire life in the city of Richmond. He inherited an honored name, being a son of John Hampden Pleasants, and grandson of James Pleasants.

The latter was one of the most distinguished Virginians of his day. Besides filling other positions of honor and responsibility, he was Governor of Virginia, United States Senator, and a member of the famous Constitutional Convention of 1829. He was also an eminent lawyer, and was held in great respect to the end of his life. The county of Pleasants, now in West Virginia, was named in his honor.

It is needless to say that John Hampden Pleasants, whose name is familiar to the present generation, won lasting fame as a journalist. He established, and for a long time edited, the Richmond Whig, through which at an eventful period he wielded a powerful influence on the public mind. He was not inaptly styled the Bayard of the press. Although he never held or sought public office, no man ever had truer friends, or died more lamented. On his monument in Shockoe Cemetery, near the grave of Chief-Justice Marshall, is this inscription:

"A Republican Whig editor from principle, of unquestioned ability and patriotism, of self-sacrificing, gallant and generous

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