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live labors. It must suffice to observe, that on great occasions, or 

 on subjects involving great principles or momentous consequences, 

 his learning and his pen were always in demand, and never with- 

 held. The contemplated separation of Maine from Massachusetts, 

 when he was a Senator from Essex, in 1816, was such an occasion, 

 and he reported the first bill for this purpose, " drawn," says the 

 historian of Maine, "with great ability and skill."* In 1817, 

 he was appointed, together with the late Judge Dawes and late 

 Dr. Dane, " to revise the laws relating to the Courts of Probate, 

 and the settlement of the estates of deceased persons, in one gen- 

 eral bill, with such alterations and amendments as were neces- 

 sary." This great and protracted labor was cheerfully assumed by 

 Mr. Pickering, though the youngest member of the committee, 

 and was accomplished by him with his usual ability and success. 

 Whether the younger or the older in any working committee or 

 body, he was as sure to have the work to do, as others were that 

 he was the best qualified to do it. A similar and yet more exten- 

 sive service was devolved upon him, on the death of Professor Ash- 

 mun, in the revision of the whole body of statutes, in connection 

 with those eminent jurists. Judge Jackson and the late Professor 

 Stearns. The portion of the work which Mr. Pickering undertook 

 was a revision of the statutes relating to the " internal administra- 

 tion of the government," divided into fourteen distinct titles, and 

 subdivided into fifty-eight chapters, some of which contain over two 

 hundred sections. When it is added, that to these chapters was 

 subjoined a great mass of explanatory notes, we may form some 

 judgment of the extent and importance of his labors in this ar- 

 duous undertaking. He accomplished it in a manner that entitled 

 him to the lasting gratitude of the Commonwealth. 



* 9 Law Reporter, 52. 

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