find anything more pleasing than this? though I cannot fully agree with all the assertions which I have read, still, I regard them as the productions of a great master mind, comparing, weighing, and balancing the thoughts and sentiments of other master minds. It is Herschel viewing Herschel-Jupiter glancing at Jupiter-intellect meeting intellect."

"Well, Mr. Tracy," said the gentleman, "I agree with you in regard to Bulwer's views of Young and Byron. How do you regard Walter Scott as a poet?""

"There is nothing in Scott," said he, "of the severe and majestic style-or of the terse and fine composition of Pope, or the elaborate elegance and melody of Southey, or of the solemn grandeur of Young, nor the beautiful diction of Byron, but there is in him a medley of bright images, and glowing words, set carelessly together. Besides, in the management of the passions, he has great power. He raises all the most natural and poetical emotions in the most obvious, familiar, and judicious manner. Perhaps his description of scenery is unequaled; such is his power in this sphere, that before you are aware of it, you are gazing where,

"Here," continued Mr. Tracy, "is a picture so distinct and complete, finished with soft, natural coloring, and perfect in outline; above which is 'the summer heaven's delicious blue.' Another of Scott's triumphs is the facility with which he passes from the description of a scene like this, to the color and light of some moral affection, some thrilling and deep wrought emotion."

"Really, Mr. Tracy," said the gentleman, "your description of Scott excels Bulwer's description of Young and Byron ;" and the remark is true, for with such conversation as this, Mr. Tracy was in the habit of entertaining his friends. Such conversation as this, caused Daniel Webster, Lewis Cass, and others of that class, to pronounce him the finest conversationalist of his time. In the language of Mr. Dorsheimer, "men get reputation as a conversationalist in two ways, some by talking themselves, and some by making others talk. Mr. Tracy did both. He was the best of listeners. He would draw you out, if there was anything in you to draw out; if there was a subject about which you knew more than he did, nothing pleased him so well as when he hit upon it. He was a most delightful critic, full of suggestion and fine appreciation, keenly susceptible to the melody of prose and verse.

"Both by habit and mind, he was truly a republican gentleman. He believed in the principles on which our government was founded, and desired that our society should be governed by the same principles. He paid little regard to social distinctions; affected no superiority, and was free from pride of station.

"His conversation derived a peculiar charm from his wide acquaintance with the distinguished men of his day. He knew nearly every American of mark in politics or literature. He seized quickly upon characteristic traits, and by an anecdote would tell you more than you can learn from some biographies. When I knew him he had been so long out of public life that he seemed to regard his cotemporaries as if they belonged to an older generation; he judged them without enthusiasm or prejudice."

In person Mr. Tracy was tall, standing six feet in his stockings, and he was well formed. His complexion was light; his countenance, if not attractive at first, became so the moment he commenced speakingthen it became as eloquent as his language.

Before leaving Congress his health failed him, and during the remainder of his life, to a certain extent, he was an invalid, "preserving a moderate degree of health by constant care and watchfulness." Early in September, 1858, he was seized by a violent disease. He lingered two weeks, and, on the 19th day of that month, he breathed his last.

That he had many faults is certain-that the common frailties of our nature were frequently conspicuous in him, none will deny that he had as few of them as men in his station in life usually have, is also true.

DANIEL CRUGER.

His Relation to the Political and Legal History of the State.-Compared with Professional Politicians.-His Ancestry.-Birth.-His Father Removes to Elmira.Daniel a Printer's Apprentice at Albany.-A Newspaper Carrier.-Interview with a Great Man.-Meets Burr, Spencer and others on his Route.-Daniel Visits the Assembly Chamber.-Looks with Wonder upon the Great Men before him.Thinks the Speaker a Greater Man than Washington.-His Youthful Ambition.It is Realized.-His Apprenticeship Expires.-Commences the Publication of a Paper at Owego.-Removes to Bath.-Commences the Study of Law.-His Marriage. The War of 1812.-Enters the Service as Aid to General McClure.-Cruger in Active Service.-Ordered to Burn the Town of Newark.-Visits the Town with an Orderly.-Assists the Inhabitants to Remove their Property.-Town Burned. -The Reconnoissance.-The Indian Village.-The Torture of the Gauntlet.-The American Prisoners Released as they are about to undergo the Torture.-Punishment of a Hostile Chief.-Cruger Resigns.-Is Nominated and Elected to the Assembly.-His Re-election.-Chosen Speaker of the Assembly.-Character as Speaker. Great Legislative Contest.-Cruger Bitterly Assailed.-Is Elected to Congress.-Congressional Career.-Appointed District-Attorney under the large District System.-Professional Character.-The Flaw in the Indictment.-John W. Hurlbert.-Expiration of his Term as District-Attorney.-His Partnership with William B. Rochester.-Cruger's Influence.-His Speech on the Removal of De Witt Clinton.-Again Elected to the Legislature.-Great Legislative Contest over Common Dirt Roads.—Public Improvement of that Day Contrasted with the Present Time.-New York and Erie Rail Road.-Cruger Retires to Private Life. His Great Energy as a Politician.-His Celebrated Horse Jingle Foot.-Great Feat of Jingle Foot and his Master.-Scheme of the Federal Leaders Overthrown.-Personal Appearance of Cruger.-His Hospitality.-His House the Head Quarters for Judges and Lawyers.-Manner of Opening Courts in the Days of Ambrose Spencer.-Death of Mrs. Cruger.-Cruger's Second Marriage. -Removes to Wheeling, Virginia.-His Sudden Death.

ON the pages which faithfully record the political and legal history of the State of New York, the name of Daniel Cruger must be conspicuous-must be identified with those who once controlled its destinies, and who, having acted their part in the drama of life, long since retired to give room for other actors. He was distinguished at the bar as a lawyer of high capacity-eminent in the political arena for his knowl

edge of the structure and operation of that machine called society-for his wonderful energy-for his pen, which he wielded with surpassing power, and from which emanated productions whose style was remarkably clear, elegant and forcible—for his skill in partizan drill, and for his great popularity with the people. He was, therefore, eminently qualified for the turbulent times in which he lived; for at that period, as well as at the present time, there was a class of men, so well described by Burke, to whom a state of order and quiet becomes a sentence of obscurity; who are nourished into a dangerous magnitude by force of party strife.

To nothing of this kind, however, was Daniel Cruger indebted for the high position and influence which he attained. He was one of those men who are formed by nature to occupy responsible and honorable positions in society.

The ancestors of Mr. Cruger were Huguenots, who, at the massacre of St. Bartholemew, escaped from France. A portion of them reached England in safety, while others fled to Germany, and found a home at Altonia, in the duchy of Holstein; and others fled to Denmark. That branch of the family from which Mr. Cruger descended, settled in Holstein. His father emigrated to America in 1768, and settled in Sunbury, in the State of Pennsylvania, where, on the 22nd day of December, 1780, Daniel was born.

Soon after the birth of his son, the elder Cruger removed to Newtown, now Elmira, in the State of New York, and engaged in mercantile business.

When Daniel was thirteen years of age, Mr. Webster, one of the earliest printers of Albany, being at Newtown on a visit to some relations, noticing his lively intelligence, his vivacity and activity, induced Mr. Cruger to apprentice his son to him for the purpose of learning the printing business. As Daniel himself was pleased with the arrangement, he willingly accom