One day whilst I was Alcalde, a bright-looking lad, with red cheeks and apparently about seventeen years of age, came into the office and asked if I did not want a clerk.  I said I did, and would willingly give $200 a month for a good one; but that I had written to Sacramento and was expecting one from there.  The young man suggested that perhaps the one from Sacramento would not come or might be delayed, and he would like to take the place in the meanwhile.  I replied, very well, if he was willing to act until the other arrived, he might do so.  And thereupon he took hold and commenced work.  Three days afterwards the man from Sacramento arrived; but in the meanwhile I had become so much pleased with the brightness and quickness of my young clerk that I would not part with him.  That young clerk was George C. Gorham, the present Secretary of the United States Senate.  I remember him distinctly as he first appeared to me, with red and rosy cheeks.  His quickness of comprehension was really wonderful.  Give him half an idea of what was wanted, and he would complete it as it were by intuition.  I remember on one occasion he wanted to know what was necessary for a marriage settlement.  I asked him why.  He replied that he had been employed by a French lady to prepare such a settlement, and was to receive twenty-five dollars for the instrument.  I gave him some suggestions, but added that he had better let me see the document after he had written it.  In a short time afterwards he brought it to me, and I was astonished to find it so nearly perfect.  There was only one correction to make.  And thus ready I always found him.  With the most general directions he would execute everything committed to his charge, and usually with perfect correctness.  He remained with me several months, and acted as clerk of my Alcalde court, and years afterwards, at different times was a clerk in my office.  When I went upon the bench of the Supreme Court, I appointed him clerk of the Circuit Court of the United States for the District of California, and, with the exception of the period during which he acted as secretary of Gov.  Low, he remained as such clerk until he was nominated for the office of governor of the State, when he resigned.  Through the twenty-seven years of our acquaintance, from 1850 to the present time, July, 1877, his friendship and esteem have been sincere and cordial, which no personal abuse of me could change and no political differences between us could alienate.  His worldly possessions would have been more abundant had he pursued the profession of the law, which I urged him to do; and his success as a public man would have been greater, had he been more conciliatory to those who differed from him in opinion.

THE TURNER CONTROVERSY.