434 HENRY WARREN PAINE. 



almost the only relief he could find, or could allow himself, from 

 pressing employments and assiduous labors, was in the quiet enjoy- 

 ment of his elegant home, with his books and private studies, or in 

 social intercourse with his friends. Those who knew him best speak 

 highly of his social qualities, his kindness of heart, his agreeable 

 conversation, and the conservative character of his views in general. 

 In public affairs, while he was a firm supporter of constitutional gov- 

 ernment and law, his sympathies leaned to the side of the Democratic 

 policy; in religion his affiliations were with the liberal Unitarian 

 Church. 



The proceedings of the Bar meetings in Boston upon occasion of 

 his death may furnish the best evidence of the high estimation in 

 which the character and professional career of Henry W. Paine were 

 held by his brethren of the bench and bar. They signalize his emi- 

 nent ability as a lawyer and advocate, his learning in the law, his 

 literary attainments, his wit, uniform courtesy of manner, and con- 

 stant regard for the honor and dignity of the profession ; and they 

 further assure us that his sterling integrity and skill were so generally 

 appreciated by the community at large as to reflect credit on the call- 

 ing, and tended to strengthen the confidence of the public in the faith- 

 ful administration of justice in the courts. It is said that the place 

 of Chief Justice of this State was on one occasion tendered to Mr. 

 Paine, an honor which he felt constrained to decline, for reasons 

 doubtless satisfactory to himself. No one could be more fully aware 

 of the exhausting labors and weighty responsibilities of high judicial 

 station. Mr. Justice Nelson once observed that, what with hearings 

 and consultations by day and the writing of opinions in the night, the 

 best if not the only time he could have, he had often wished he had 

 been some plain farmer, who could sleep soundly when his day's work 

 was done. 



In 1854 the degree of LL. D. was conferred upon Mr. Paine by 

 Colby University, of which he was a Trustee. He was also a member 

 of the " Historical Society" in Maine. From 1870 to 1882 he served 

 as one of the Board of Overseers of Harvard University ; and from 

 1872 to 1883 he was a Lecturer on the Law of Real Property in the 

 Law School of the Boston University, and such were his powers 

 of mind and memory, and such his knowledge of the subject, that he 

 was able to deliver his lectures orally, and to the entire satisfaction of 

 his hearers, upon this abstruse and difficult branch of the law. 



In later years, when a slight deafness began to interfere with his 

 appearance in court, his office practice was rather increased than inter- 



