but he was not adapted for an appellate tribunal.  He had no confidence in his own unaided judgment.  He wanted some one upon whom to lean.  Oftentimes he would show me the decision of a tribunal of no reputation with apparent delight, if it corresponded with his own views, or with a shrug of painful doubt, if it conflicted with them.  He would look at me in amazement if I told him that the decision was not worth a fig; and would appear utterly bewildered at my waywardness when, as was sometimes the case, I refused to look at it after hearing by what court it was pronounced.

It is not my purpose to speak of my own career on the Bench of the Supreme Court of California.  It is only for reminiscences of my previous life that you, Mr. Hittell, have asked.[1] I am tempted, however, to hand to you a letter of Judge Baldwin, my associate for over three years, in which he presents, in terms exaggerated by his friendship, the result of my labors there.[2]

There is only one scene to which I wish to refer.

About a year and a half after I went upon the bench, a contested election case came up from Trinity County.  It appeared that Judge Turner, who had been sent to the district composed of the counties of Trinity and Klamath, by the act concerning the courts and judicial officers of the State, at the end of his term offered himself for re-election as Judge of that district.  When the vote was counted there appeared to be a majority of one against him, and his opponent was declared elected.  He instituted a contest for the office, and, being defeated in the court below, appealed to the Supreme Court.  He then became very much exercised over his appeal, because I was one of the Justices.  There were not wanting persons who, out of sheer malice, or not comprehending any higher motives of conduct than such as governed themselves, represented that I would improve the opportunity to strike him a blow.

When his case came on for hearing, I left the bench to my associates, Judges Terry and Baldwin, and they decided in his favor.  At this action of mine Turner was amazed.  It was something wholly unexpected and surprising to him.  Soon after the decision he sent one of his friends, named Snowden, to know if I would speak to him if he should make the first advance.  I answered that under no circumstances would I ever consent to speak to him; that he had done me injuries which rendered any intercourse with him impossible; that the world was wide enough for us both, and he must go his own way.  This answer Snowden communicated to him.  The next morning he stationed himself at the foot of the stairway leading up to the Supreme Court rooms, which was on the outside of the building, and, as I passed up, he cried out; “I am now at peace with all the world; if there is any man who feels that I have done him an injury, I am ready to make him amends.”  I turned and looked at him for a moment, and then passed on without saying a word.  On the following morning