The history of the will, of the changes of property under it, of the controversies and lawsuits to which it gave rise, would fill a narrative long as the life of its maker. One of the most noticeable of the legal questions connected with it was that raised by his heirs, involving the position that one of its provisions was at war with the Christian religion, and consequently nugatory, as opposed to the common law and public welfare. The cause was twice argued before the Supreme Court of the United States, first in 1843, and the second time in 1844, before a full Court, when Daniel Webster appeared as one of the counsel for the heirs, and Messrs. Binney and Sargeant, of Philadelphia, for the city and executors. Justice Story pronounced the decision of the Court establishing the validity of the bequest.

closely printed octavo pages of the in- instruction. "In making this restric strument, specifying not only the position," he adds, "I do not mean to cast tion and arrangement, but directing any reflection upon any sect or person the various appliances of carpenter and whatsoever; but, as there is such a mason-work; curiously exhibiting the magnitude of sects, and such a diver testator's habit of mind in attention to sity of opinion amongst them, I desire details the means of his wealth and to keep the tender minds of the orsource of many of his peculiarities. phans, who are to derive advantage from this bequest, free from the excitement which clashing doctrines and sectarian controversy are so apt to produce; my desire is, that all the instructors and teachers in the college shall take pains to instil into the minds of the scholars, the purest principles of morality, so that, on their entrance into active life, they may from inclination and habit evince benevolence towards their fellow creatures, and a love of truth, sobriety and industry, adopting at the same time such religious tenets as their matured reason may enable them to prefer." Among other provi sions is a sensible one, introduced, per haps, by a recollection of his observations in Europe, where such separations are maintained, directing "no distinc tive dress ever to be worn." He knew the force of associations of this kind, and did not wish a stereotyped remem The will enjoined "that no eccclesi- brance of poverty to be printed on the astic, missionary, or minister of any minds of his beneficiaries. In the same sect whatsoever, shall ever hold or love of independence, he dictated, “and, exercise any station or duty whatever especially, I desire, that by every proin the said college; nor shall any such per means a pure attachment to our person ever be admitted for any pur- republican institutions, and to the pose or as a visitor within the premises sacred rights of conscience as guaranappropriated to the purposes of the teed by our happy constitutions, shall said College," an injunction which be formed and fostered in the minds of should not be separated in the public the scholars." Of the many foreigners mind from the context, which allows a who have become American citizens, very comprehensive course of religious none, perhaps, have appreciated their

privileges or shown more gratitude to recommended" by the testator, and do the State than Stephen Girard. The not appear in the programme. At a city councils of Philadelphia may suitable age, between fourteen and always take a just pride in the confi- eighteen, the pupils are indentured dence he reposed in them, and the to some proper occupation or trade. trusts he placed in their hands. Though no clergyman is knowingly Fourteen years and six months, admitted within the premises, daily from 1833 to 1847, were occupied worship and religious instruction on with the completion of the build- Sundays enter into the course of edu ings of his college, which consist cation. The Bible is read, hymns are of a main edifice, greatly admired as sung, and appropriate discourses by a fine specimen of Grecian architec- the president, or some layman selected ture, and four out-buildings, two on by him, delivered. each side, also of white marble, in a Girard was in some respects a narrow line with the central structure, erected utilitarian; there were many more things within a walled enclosure of forty-one in heaven and earth than were dreamt acres, in the city of Philadelphia. The of in his philosophy, and the same thing cost of the whole was nearly two may be said with truth of most mormillions of dollars, leaving the institu- tals; but he had a grand idea of the tion to be supported out of the residu- value of occupation. His provision for ary grants. It sustains three hundred the orphans shows an eager solicitude orphan children, who are admitted for the welfare of the race in this between the ages of six and ten, and respect. Work was his religion. It may remain till the age of eighteen. is a doctrine which he carried too By a liberal construction, children who far when he associated it with parsihave lost their father and whose mo- mony and his own narrow habits of ther survives are considered within the life; but there is something grand in meaning of the bequest. The govern- the onward steps of the poor cabin ment, besides the supervision of the boy, maimed in sight, rude in his percity councils, is vested in a board of son, a stranger in his speech, unhappy directors, while the immediate direc in his married life, overcoming the distion is in the hands of the president. advantages of fortune to pursue his There are two departments of instruc- far-sighted, intelligent career as a prostors, the principal and the primary, by perous merchant, building up a vast whom various branches of a useful sci-estate-not for his own luxurious enentific education are taught, including joyment, but to enrich his adopted music and drawing, with the French city, and bless, by its kindly support, and Spanish languages. Latin and successive generations of the fatherless Greek, though not forbidden, were "not and dependent.

WILLIAM PINKNEY.

There are names hardly known to our sons who were the great men of our fathers' admiration. They are, indeed, always mentioned with honor within the ranks of the profession, where they enjoy a traditional reputation, and their great cases, upon which years of thoughtful labor were expended, are handed about the courts in brief tech nical formulas-but what do the people know of the authors of these

"PITY it is," exclaims the ingenious and entertaining Colley Cibber in his autobiography, as he attempts to portray the excellences of the Shakspearian performer, Betterton, "that the momentary beauties flowing from an harmonious elocution, cannot, like those of poetry, be their own record; that the animated graces of the player can live no longer than the instant breath and motion that presents them; or at best can faintly glimmer through the mem- adjudications? He was a great lawyer, ory or imperfect attestation of a few surviving spectators!" The pathetic complaint might with equal propriety be made of the fame of the great advocate. The man who was the admiration of the bar, the delight of his contemporaries, and the despair of the younger members of the profession; who exercised an influence over life and property equal to the governor of a state; upon whose words the public hung; who was the champion of their peace and security; the acute logician, the trained orator-what is there commonly left of his fame in the generation succeeding his own? Unless he has linked his name with the literature of his profession, or some kindred pursuit; or held political office, or added something accidental and extrinsic to the engross ing labors of the bar-where is he?

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and that is all. It is fortunate, even for the popular fame of Marshall, that besides rearing the monument of his Constitutional decisions, he served in the army of the Revolution, and wrote the Life of Washington. The reputa tion of Kent and Story is held by their graceful additions to the literature of their profession. Wirt was an able Attorney General, but he will be better known as a pleasing author, and through the genial biography of Kennedy.

William Pinkney, the eminent lawyer of Maryland, has, perhaps, more than any of those we have mentioned, a strictly professional reputation. We shall find him, indeed, employed in public life, but his claims to notice still centre in that capacity about his legal attainments. He was born at Annapo