]2 CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES [Proc. 4th Se». 



his written contributions to law literature were substantial 

 and of high value. As a matter of record, his law books are 

 given herewith : 



The Civil Practice Act of the State of California was pub- 

 lished in 1863; later edition, 1868. 



In 1865, The General Lazes of California, two volumes; a 

 fourth edition, two volumes in one, in 1872. This work had 

 a particularly wide reputation, one authority saying that "it 

 was the most comprehensive and valuable law book ever pub- 

 lished in California." 



In 1876, The Codes and Statutes of the State of Califor- 

 nia, two volumes in one. A supplement, in one volume, was 

 published in 1880. 



He was also the author of Reports of Cases Determined in 

 the Supreme Court of the State of Nevada, six volumes, 

 1868-74. 



At this late date, and to the lay mind, the enumeration of 

 the dry titles of old law books furnishes small indication of 

 his real achievement. Such works require minute exactness, 

 conciseness, clearness and a highly trained intellect. These 

 qualities Mr. Hittell brought to bear in his legal writing. 

 His books became indispensable parts of every attorney's of- 

 fice. He was regarded as a trustworthy authority in certain 

 branches of civil law, and he was frequently quoted in our 

 courts and even in the Supreme Court of the United States. 



Though a prolific author of law books, Mr. Hittell's dear- 

 est occupation was writing books of general literature, but 

 principally of history. His legal activities accounted for a 

 life filled with strenuous labor; but his tireless pen was in- 

 cessantly busy, and brought forth fruits in other fields, suf- 

 ficient for the career of most hard working men. 



His first published book was The Adventures of James 

 Capen Adams, printed in 1860. While local editor of the 

 Bulletin, he was one day attracted by an animal show which 

 was holding in a basement on Clay, near I.iedesdorff street. 

 Among the live animals were three grizzly bears, nanied Sam- 

 son, Ben Franklin and Lady Washington. Samson was of 

 enormous size and was said to weigh fifteen hundred pounds. 

 He was captured when grown, and, though not wild, was un- 

 tamed, and kept in a cage. The other two grizzlies were 



