Page:The Green Bag (1889–1914), Volume 08.pdf/533

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The Green Bag.

If you have been unable to go to school, the time, I am sure, has not been lost. Nothing is more precious than time, especially to the young, and yet nothing slips from us less regarded or less valued. I am, my dear grandson, Your affectionate grandfather, J. Marshall. A number of my father's schoolmates asked him for his grandfather's autograph. The Chief Justice was in Washington at the time, but there were some of his books in the library at Leeds Manor, in which he had written his name. My father tore the pages from the books which bore his grandfather's name, and taking them back to college with him, proudly distributed them among the students. His father did not find it out for a long time, and by that time, I am sure my father regretted it as much as I .did when I saw the mutilated books. At the close of the session of 1835 the Chief Justice returned to Richmond, but was soon so seriously ill that he went to Philadel phia to consult the celebrated physicians for which that city was noted. His sons James and Jaquelin went with him, and dur ing his last hours he was lovingly attended by them and by many friends, among whom was Justice Baldwin of the Supreme Court, who, it is said, " like' all his associates, enter tained for the Chief Justice a respect and affection amounting almost to reverence." The Chief Justice died, Monday, July 6, 1835. It was in the evening, and he quietly and peacefully closed his eyes in this world with the blessed certainty of opening them in heaven. So the righteous judge gave his last opin ion and went to appear at that bar, the Judge ofwhich " reserves to Himself the right to search the hearts of men," but it is hoped "the good he did may live after him " as long as the world lasts, and that the Court over which he presided for nearly half a century may remain unchanged, the admir

ation of the world and the honor of the American people. His body was taken to Richmond, ac companied by Gen. Scott, Judge Baldwin and a deputation of the Bar of Philadelphia, who on their arrival were received as guests of the city. He is buried in Shockoe Hill Cemetery, near Richmond. The clerk of his court, when dying, requested that he might lie some where near him and that his tomb might be similar, only lower and shorter, not wishing it thought that even in death he would de sire to place himself on a level with the man he so loved and revered. His death produced profound grief throughout the country, but more especially in Richmond, where he was best known and loved. One of Virginia's greatest states men of these latter years, a man who worthily walked in the footsteps of those giants of old, the late Hon. James A. Seddon, the Confederate Secretary of War, wrote to me on this subject: " When I moved, a young aspirant in the legal profession, to Rich mond, his lamented presence had departed, leaving to this city, where he was universally beloved and revered, the poignancy of a special bereavement. The memories and tra ditions of him, his mode of life, his manners and his traits of character, were fresh and vivid with all, and it seemed a solace and a satisfaction to nearly everyone to recall some manifestation of his virtues and amia bility and to express their admiration and love. I was particularly struck with the fact that, while the highest possible deference was always manifested for his transcending abil ities and elevation of character, on the part of none, not even the humblest, was displayed any trace of awe or fear, but on the contrary the feeling of love, of confidence in his good ness and due appreciation of all, seemed to have attached each one to him and given them, as it were, a common pride and satis faction in the man and his greatness. His character must have been one of marked