He was generous to a fault.  Once, as he passed through Culpepper County, he met with Captain S——­, one of his old comrades in the Revolution.  In the course of the conversation which ensued, S——­ told him that his estate was burdened with a mortgage for $3,000, which was about to fall due, and that, as he was unable to pay it, he saw nothing but ruin in store for him.  At his departure, Marshall handed a note to the servant who brought his horse to the door, and told him to give it to his master.  This was done as Marshall was riding away, and upon opening the note Mr. S—–­ found that it contained a check for the amount of the mortgage.  Mounting his horse, he soon overtook Marshall, and, though he thanked him warmly for his generosity, refused to accept it.  Marshall strenuously urged its acceptance, but the other persistently refused.  Finally, the former suggested a compromise.  Marshall took up the mortgage, and thus satisfied the first claim, but as his friend was never prosperous, he never asked for the payment of the debt.

William Wirt has left us the following description of his personal appearance:  “He is tall, meager, emaciated; his muscles relaxed, and his joints so loosely connected as not only to disqualify him apparently for any vigorous exertion of body, but to destroy every thing like harmony in his air or movements.  Indeed, in his whole appearance and demeanor,—­dress, attitudes, gesture, sitting, standing, or walking,—­he is as far removed from the idolized graces of Lord Chesterfield as any other gentleman on earth.”

“In spite, however, of this ungainly person,” says a writer, “no one was a greater social favorite than the Chief Justice.  The people of Richmond regarded his eccentric figure with strong personal affection as well as respect.  The black eyes, under their bushy gray brows, beamed with good nature, and the lips were habitually smiling.  The courtesy of the Judge was one of his most beautiful traits.  It was the spontaneous exhibition of the simple and kindly emotions of his heart.  Pure benevolence and philanthropy displayed itself in every word which he uttered.  He gave his hand to the plain yeoman clad in homespun as courteously and sincerely as to the greatest personage in the country.  He had the same simple smile and good-humored jest for both, and seemed to recognize no difference between them.  It was instructive to estimate in the good Chief Justice the basis and character of true politeness.  John Randolph, one of the most fastidious and aristocratic of men, left his opinion that Marshall’s manner was perfect good breeding.  In dress and bearing, it would be difficult to imagine any one more simple than Judge Marshall.  He presented the appearance of a plain countryman, rather than a Chief Justice of the United States.  He had a farm in Fauquier County, and another near Richmond, and he would often return from the latter to take his seat on the bench with burrs sticking to his clothes.  His great