Price.] ^'^'" [Dec. 18, 



in which he lived, and was familiar with the personal characteristics and 

 history of the men who have been prominent in our State for the last 

 sixty or seventy years, and it was this accurate knowledge which made 

 his conversation so charming and instructive. He was a true friend ; 

 strong and unswerving in his attachments ; ready to make any sacrifice 

 for his friends, and when in trouble was untiring in his efforts to serve 

 them. He was a man of the strictest integrity, and despised everything 

 that was low and vile. With him the equity and justice of the case teas 

 the law of the case.'" "He was a man of chivalrous courage, persistent 

 purpose and inflexible will. He did not know what fear is." " It is the 

 will power which gives executive ability and persistency of purpose, and 

 enables one to achieve great results. Judge Read had this power to a 

 remarkable degree." Such testimony from such a source is very strong, 

 for judges sitting together for many years, discussing and decid- 

 ing the many diversifiad and important cases which come before 

 them, at the same time settling the law of the State, must make them 

 thorough judges of the attainments and qualifications, and of the temper, 

 disposition and self-control of their associates. There is to be added to 

 the above delineation of personal traits, the fact that the characteristic 

 courage and determinate will, were not exei'cised without the careful re- 

 search and thought which produced certain belief of rightful acLion. 



The characteristics of Judge Read's judgments were a plain and terse 

 simplicity, without attempt at ornament. It is no exception to this to 

 admit that many of his opinions are long. As a general rule they are 

 short ; and when not so, their length is owing to a full history, or state- 

 ment of facts, and an ample citation of authoi ities ; but all are given in 

 brief language. His practice was to state the facts fully and clearly, and 

 then without process of argument, to apply all the law, British and 

 American, applicable to the facts ; and it is at once seen that these war- 

 rant the conclusion announced. So conservative was he, that in his 

 hands the law, as well-read lawyers are trained to understand it, was felt 

 to be safe from innovation, while he fearlessly attacked recent innova- 

 tions, and sought, with large success to restore our jurisprudence to its 

 ancient foundations, except as these had been changed by statute, or the 

 constitutions ; methods of progress which could have no retrospective 

 operation to divest vested rights. 



Judge Read seemed to have selected no especial branch of the law in 

 which he became more authoritative than in others. His general prepa- 

 ration in all was full ; yet he never argued or decided a cause without a 

 special and full study of the case, applying all the proper authorities ; 

 hence he was always accurate, and his opinions are mines of erudition for 

 the student, lawyer and judge. In whatever branch of the law the ques- 

 tion arose he met and disposed of it with the like able grasp and learn- 

 ing. He was equally familiar with Civil and Criminal law and their 

 practice ; with International and Municipal law ; with Law and Equity ; 

 with the Titles, Limitations and Descents of Real and Personal Estates ; 



