JAMES T. BRADY.

The Practice of Law Before Juries.-The Many Colors of Life which it Presents.The Triumphs and Contests of the Advocate.-His Relation to his Client.-The Remark made of a Great British Advocate Applies to James T. Brady.-He won his Fame at the Bar.-His Honors Unmingled with Political Distinctions.-His Life and Career an Example for the American Law Student.-His Birthplace.Early Education.-A son of Thomas S. Brady.-His Mother.-Character and Accomplishments of his Father.-James and Others are his Pupils in the Study of the Classics.-James Studies Law with his Father.-His Admission to the Bar.His Early Practice.-A Singular and Touching Case.-Brady Engages in it.— The Brother and Sister.-The Bond Servant.-The Habeas Corpus.-John Slosson.-The Trial.-The Triumph.-Brady is Appointed Corporation Attorney.City Litigation.-Manner of Conducting it.-Appointed Temporary District-Attorney. Trial of the Boat Thieves.-Brady's Disposal of the Case.-Himself and the Judge Equally Guilty.-Brady one of the Counsel in the Sickles Case.-His Duties on the Trial.-The Cross-Examination.-Anecdote.-The Trial of the Irishman for Murder.-Brady's Description of it.-The Case of Huntington.The Plea of Moral Insanity, cases of.-The Cole-Hiscock Case.-Reflection on its Result.-Other Criminal Cases.-The Forrest Divorce Case.-Mr. O'Conor. -John Van Buren. Mr. Brady Engages in the Argument in the Court of Appeals. Character of his Argument.-Mr. Brady's Literary Taste and Acquirements.-Is Gravity Wisdom?-Brady a Patron of the Drama.-His Letter on Dramatic Writers.-His Position in Politics.-His Idea of Washington Politicians. -His Mission to New Orleans.-Baldy Smith.-Mr. Brady as a Political Writer and Speaker.-Always fit for the Occasion.-Anecdote of Mr. Marsh.-Brady is Counsel for the Savannah Privateers.-Jefferson Davis.-The Circumstance Related by Charles O'Conor.-Brady's Friendship and Characteristics.-James W. Gerard.-Banquet to.-Mr. Brady's Last Public Speech. His Last Professional Engagements.-His Death.

IT has been said that there is no section of the world's hopes and struggles which is replete with so much animation of contest, such frequent recurrence of triumphant results, as the practice of the law before juries; that the grotesque and passionate forms of many colored life with which the advocate becomes familiar; the truth stranger than fiction of which he is the depository; the multitude of human affections and fortunes of which he becomes, in turn, not only the representative, but the sharer; passions for the hour, even as those who have the deepest stake in the

issue;-render his professional life almost like a dazzling chimera-a waking dream; - and moreover that to him are presented those aspects of the case which it wears to the party who seeks his aid. Is the rule of law, too, probably against him? There are reasons which cannot be explained to the court, but which are the counsel's in private, why in this instance, to relax or evade it, will be to obtain substantial justice. In the majority of cases, he becomes, therefore, always a jealous, often a passionate partizan; lives in the life of every cause (often the most momentous part of his client's life); "burus with one love, with one resentment glows," and never ceases to hope, to struggle, or to complain, until the next cause is called, and he is involved in a new world of circumstance, passion and affection. Nor let us forget that at one time the honor of a man's life may tremble in his hands-he may be the last prop of sinking hope to the guilty, or the sole refuge clasped by the innocent; or, called on to defend the subject against the power of a State prosecution. Sometimes piercing the darkness of time, guided by mouldering characters and names; or tracing out the fibers of old relationship-exploring dim monuments, and forgotten tombs, retracing with anxious gaze those paths of common life, which have been so lightly trodden, as to retain faint impressions of the passenger. One day he may touch the heart with sympathy for the " pangs of despised love," or glow indignant at the violation of friendship; the next, he may implore commiseration for human frailty, and talk of nothing but charity and forgiveness.

It was said of a great British advocate, that in such a sphere as this, he moved triumphant.

It was in such a sphere as this, that James T. Brady moved and won his fame-a fame unmingled with political honors or official distinctions. His career depended upon no ephemeral titles-no loud

plaudit to the politician, who to-day mounts ambition's pedestal, to be sought for in vain to-morrow.

It is a pleasure to the lawyer who loves his profes sion-it must be pleasant to any man interested in the triumph of the intellect, to study the character of a man like Mr. Brady. What a commentary is his life and career for the student-for the young practitioner. He asked nothing from influence, from eminent friends

nothing from adventitious circumstances. With self-reliance with industry, erudition, activity, and an untarnished name-surrounded by the great lawyers of a metropolis, he demanded the honors and emoluments of his profession - he reached for the highest prize-contended for it against the most gifted competitors, and won it amid the sharpest collisions.

He relieved the tedium of his professional labors, by entering the quiet domain of literature, refreshing his intellect-refining his views of life, keeping unquenched the enthusiasm which warmed the spring time of his life, over the pages of Tacitus, Livy, Thucydides, Pope, Shakespeare, and Tasso.

If his oratory carried conviction-if it caused men to act and think, his pen gave calmer reasons for thought, action, and depth of comprehension.

James T. Brady was born in the city of New York, April 9th, 1815. His parents were both from Ireland; they emigrated to this country, in the year 1812, settling in Newark, New Jersey; in 1814, they removed to the city of New York, which became their residence for life. His father was the late Thomas J. Brady, a gentleman of refinement and culture, who was noted for his extensive intellectual acquirements; being regarded as one of the most accomplished scholars in the city.

"His mother exercised a deep influence upon his character; she was noble and handsome in person, having a fine native intellect. She was a mother clothed in those nameless maternal graces, and possessing those quiet virtues which shed their hallowed

influence over families, and which is felt so long. She died when he was quite young; but he never during life, loved a human being as he loved her. Her name was never mentioned in his presence, without giving rise to some expression, the depth and tenderness of which, showed how her memory was embalmed, and rarely without the tears coming into his eyes."

His father, though born and educated in Ireland, spoke both the Spanish and French languages with fluency and grace. He wrote the latter with the ease and elegance of his vernacular idiom; while he was perfectly familiar with the ancient and the English classics.

Having completed his education, he decided to enter the legal profession, but he did not commence his studies until after he became a resident of New York, when he entered the office of the late John S. Riker, an eminent member of the New York bar, and a brother of Richard Riker, who, for a long time, discharged with great ability, the duties of recorder of the city of New York.

The accomplishments of Mr. Brady were so thoroughly appreciated, that he was induced by several distinguished citizens of New York, to prepare a limited number of young gentlemen for college. In this sphere he was very successful. Many young men who afterwards attained positions of eminence, pursued their preparatory studies with him, among whom was Bishop McCloskey. After his admission to the bar, he gained a very respectable position in his profession, and was the incumbent of several important and responsible offices. The present Judge John R. Brady, of the Supreme Court, was one of his sons.

While James was very young, his father commenced superintending his education, with such success, that, though he never had any other instructor in the classics, which by the custom of England is called learning, he was inferior to few professed scholars; his attainments were solid and practical.

He very early adopted the study of law, as a regular branch of his education. In this way he became master of the great elemental writers; in this way he laid the foundation of his legal education, broad and deep.

His father believed that a science which distinguishes between the right and wrong, which teaches to establish the one, and prevent, punish, or redress the other; which employs in its theory the noblest faculties of the soul, and exerts in its practice the cardinal virtues of the heart, should be thoroughly studied by all who desire a finished and liberal education.

The elder Brady taught his son that laborious study and diligent observation of the world, are both indispensable to the lawyer.

"James," said he, one day, "the study of law is like scaling the Alps--you must adopt the indomitable energy of Hannibal, and your ascent will be easy; of all things beware of half knowledge-it begets pedantry and conceit; it is what the poet meant when he said,

"A little learning is a dangerous thing.'

"Make your learning practical, for a bookworm is a mere driveler-a gossamer. There is a deal of legal learning that is dry, cold, dark, revolting; but it is an old feudal castle, in perfect preservation, which the legal architect who aspires to the first honors of his profession, will delight to explore, and learn all the uses to which the various parts are to be put, and thus he will better understand and relish the progressive improvements of the science in modern times."

With such familiar conversation as this, Mr. Brady implanted in the mind of his son, the great principles of jurisprudence. Who that has seen James T. Brady at the bar,-listened to those perfect and complete arguments which he made there, saw