Page:The Green Bag (1889–1914), Volume 10.pdf/174

quaintance of mine. He was the best equip- ped lawyer I have ever known, — learned with a tenacious, well-trained memory."

The Scotts have indeed been a race of lawyers and several generations of them have ranked high at the Virginia bar. Judge John Scott was on the bench for many years. It was said of him : " With the name and genius of Eldon, he was a man of masterful

power in mind and character. At the bar he had been a great advocate; in the con- vention of 1829-30, he was a prominent leader in its deliber- ations; a vigorous controversial writer, and on the bench he was one of the ablest

judges in the coun- try. His judgments showed more original thought than learn- ing, and his temper was firm and com- manding." A slander suit was pending be tween two preach- ers; counsel suggest- ed the venire might have members of their congregations upon its roll. The judge called on all who were such to stand up. A large number rose. The judge said with a sar- castic smile, but with grave decision : "Sher- iff, summon a jury of sinners to try this issue between saints." His son's, Robert Eden a Scott, reputation as a lawyer, was wide spread, and his character as a man won for him the respect and admiration of all. A great lawyer said : " He was one of the most powerful speakers I ever heard. In the General Assembly, in the Convention of 1850 and of 1861, before the Court of Ap peals, everywhere he had a capacity to com- bine circumstances in such a net work of reasoning as to resist all the efforts of his adversary to break it." The third in succes- sion of the family to attain distinction at the Virginia bar, was the late beloved Attorney General of Virginia, Robert Taylor Scott. He was born March 10, 1834, at Warrenton, Va. He entered the University of Virginia in 1851, and graduated in 1856. He studied law under his father. He devoted himself to the practice of his profession until 1861, when, at the breaking out of the war, he as sisted in raising and organizing a com- pany which was as- signed to the Eighth Virginia Regiment Volunteers. He was made captain and served until 1862, when he was appoint- ed on the staff of Ma- jor-General George E. Pickett as chief quarter-master of Pickett's Division, and was with this com- mand to the close of the war. It was said : "His position was no sinecure, and he per- formed his duty with earnest purpose and well-directed effort, with faithfulness and courage, being always at his post of duty." The war over he returned to the law. He was prominent and able member of the State Convention of 1867, and of the House of Delegates in 1881. In 1889 he was elected Attorney-General of Virginia and re-elected in 1893, and had he lived he would certainly have been elected for the third time, which would be an honor, rarely, if ever, conferred in Virginia. As a lawyer he was highly ac- complished and always most honorable and