The Supreme Court of Appeals of Virginia. write some citations from Greek authors, which he wished inserted in copies of his reports sent to Mr. Jefferson, Mr. Samuel Adams of Boston, and to one or two other persons."
An amusing story is told of the venerable Chancellor and Bushrod Washington, then practising law in Richmond, afterwards Mr.
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Justice Washington of the United States Su preme Court. The story too illustrates how hard it was for Virginians to accus tom themselves to the rigid rules of mercan tile life. Mr. Wash ington called on the Chancellor with a bill of injunction, in be half of General , to restrain the col lection of a debt, on the ground that the creditors had agreed to await the conven ience of General for the payment of the debt, and that it was not then convenient to pay it. The Chancel lor smiled and said, "Do you think, sir, that I ought to grant PETER this injunction?" We are glad to know that Mr. Washington blushed, and retired with out argument. We may truly say, as did the Richmond "Enquirer " of June 10, 1806: "Kings may require mausoleums to consecrate their memory; saints may claim the privilege of canonization; but the venerable George Wythe needs no other monument than the services rendered to his country." ' John Blair was a member of a large and influential family. He was bred a lawyer, and studied at the Temple in London, where he took a barrister's degree. Returning to
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Williamsburg, he practised in the General Court, where he had a respectable share of business. For several years he was Presi dent of the Council of State. He was kind and generous, and on one occasion his fine disposition was put to a severe test. Colonel Chiswell killed a Mr. Routlige, and was prose cuted for murder. The Attorney-General was nearly connected with Chiswell, and Mr. John Blair was selected by lot from the whole bar to prosecute him; but poor Chiswell (who would probably have been acquitted, as the provocation from his adversary was very great) committed suicide, and thereby greatly relieved the anxiety of his friend and intended prose cutor. A great deal may be seen of the ferment which was created by this occur rence in the Virginia Gazettes of the sum mer of 1766; John Blairwas ChiefJustice of the General Court, and a judge of the High Court of LYONS. Chancery, and by vir tue of these offices a judge of the first Court of Appeals. Presi dent Washington promoted him from a place on the Virginia Supreme Bench to Associ ate Justice of the United States Supreme Court. After several years he resigned, and died at Williamsburg, Aug. 31, 1800, in the sixty-ninth year of his age. Peter Lyons was a native of Ireland, but migrated to Virginia at an early period of his life. He studied law, and soon after he came to the bar had a lucrative practice. He steadily rose, was twice married, and was a friend to the colonies in the Revolution. In
