328 
he learned the severe discipline of an 
English court by a constant attendance 
at Westminster Hall. It was therefore 
not surprizing that whea he resumed his 
seat at the bar, no one could perceive in 
him any want of readiness in the most in- 
tricate conjunctures. In every case he 
took care to be fully prepared ; if he was 
not, it was difficult to force him into the 
trial of acause. He was too well versed 
in the ways of the law not to be able to 
obtain, when necessary, the friendly aid 
of a little delay. A single day would 
generally be sufficient ; but that day, and 
most of the intervening night, would be 
devoted to his object, with a degree of 
assiduity from which nothing could 
divert him. It is not intended to assert 
that be was inattentive to business, or 
that when called upon he was slow of 
apprehension. Our personal observation 
concurs with the more enlarged experi- 
ence oi others, in regarding him as unsur- 
passed in promptness, regularity, and 
diligence, in his office; no one more 
quickly perceived the strength or weak- 
ness of a cause; and his mind, at once 
rapid and comprehensive, was so tho- 
roughly embued with legal principles, 
that he could instantly apply them to the 
case in hand; but, when he entered upon 
the trial of a cause, he seemed to consi- 
der it asa public exhibition, in which 
public applause as wellas a verdict was 
to be obtained. To accomplish these 
objects all his powers were severely 
tasked. In the most palmy state of his 
fame, lie seemed, on every such occa- 
sion, to disdain all that he had previously 
acquired, and to contend as if he were 
then wrestling with fortune, for the first 
time, under the most desperate contin- 
gencies. 
At the bar he had few equals and no 
superiors. His great excellence con- 
sisted in a thorough knowledge, clear 
conception, and lucid explanation, of the 
principles of law ; to which he added ex- 
traordinary powers of analysis, strength 
of argument, and felicify of illustration. 
His style and delivery cannot be reeom- 
mended to the imitation of young advo- 
eates. The former, though often beauti- 
ful, was frequently turgid and strained ; 
abounding in false ornaments and la- 
boured metaphors, which were iniro- 
duced with little taste or judgment. 
They were calculated to dazzle for the 
moment, but not to endure ; and ought 
therefore to be avoided by those who as- 
pire to solid and permanent fame. In 
his delivery he was declamatory and yio- 
Memoirs of William Pinkney, Esq. 
[Nov. ft, 
lent; far beyond the utmost limits of 
nature. Yet with all these grave ob- 
jections, he was a powerful pleader, for 
few could resist the foree and fluency of 
his style, or contend against the various 
and profound learning, which he brought 
to the investigation of legal questions. 
In the month of May, 1806, Mr. 
Pinkney was appointed a minister extra~ 
ordinary and plenipotentiary of the 
United States, in conjunction with Mr. 
Monroe. ‘Their letters of credence au- 
thorized them to treat with the British 
government concerning the maritime 
wrongs which had been committed by 
the subjects of that power, and the regu- 
lation of commerce and_ navigation 
between the parties. When they ar- 
rived in London, they found Mr. Fox’s 
party at the head ofaffairs. The illness 
and subsequent demise of that statesman 
presented serious obstacles to the pro- 
gress of the negotiation. Lords Hol- 
Jand and Auckland were at Jength 
appointed to meet our plenipotentia- 
ries ; and a treaty was concluded with 
them, on all the points which had formed 
the object of their mission, and on 
terms which they supposed their govern- 
ment would approve. But the arrange- 
ment did not suit the views of Mr. Jef 
ferson, who was then the chief magis- 
trate of this country; and he returned 
the treaty without showing even somuch 
consideration for the judgment of our 
ministers as to communicate the result 
of their negotiations to the scnate of the 
United States, 
On the 8th March, 1808, the secre- 
tary of state transmitted to Mr. Pinkney 
a commission, as successor to Mr. Mon- 
roe, in the legationat London. It isnot 
our intention to follow him through all 
the perplexities in which this mission 
was involved. After endeavouring in 
vain, for the space of three years, to ob- 
tain another treaty, he returned to his 
native country ; and in 1812 he was ap- 
pointed attorney-general of the United 
States. 
From that period he pursued his pro- 
fession, with signal success, until 1816, 
when he was once more sent abroad ina 
diplomatic capacity. The courts of 
Naples and Russia formed the scenes in 
which his ardent mind was again 
brought into collision with the politic 
arts of European statesmen. From 
these missions, he soon returned to his 
favourite pursuits. ; 
He was a member of the senate of the 
United States for a short period; but, 
with 
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