The mind of Judge Matthews was strong and methodical.  His general character largely partook of the character of his mind.  He steadily pursued a fixed purpose, and was prudent, cautious, and considerate in all he did.  There was no speculation in his mind.  He jumped to no conclusions; but examined well and profoundly every question—­weighed well every argument; but he never forgot the advice of Mr. Crawford, and sometimes would strain a point in order to effect strict and substantial justice.  As a judge, he was peculiarly cautious.  However intricate was any case, he bent to it his whole mind, and the great effort was always to learn the right—­to sift from it all the verbiage and ambiguity which surrounded and obscured it, and then to sustain it in his decision.  Upright and sincere in his pursuits, methodical, with fixity of purpose, he was never in a hurry about anything, and was always content, in his business, with moderate profits as the reward of his labor.  As a companion, he was gentle, kind, and eminently social; but he gave little time to social entertainments or light amusements.  In his decisions as a judge, he established upon a firm basis the laws, and the enlightened exposition of these, in their true spirit.  A foundation was given to the jurisprudence of the State by this court, which entitles it justly to the appellation of the Supreme Court, and to the gratitude of the people of the State.

The life of Judge George Matthews was one of peculiar usefulness.  Learned and pure as a judge, moral and upright as a citizen, affectionate and gentle as a husband and father, and humane and indulgent as a master, his example as a man was one to be recommended to every young man.  Its influence upon society was prominently beneficial, and was an exemplification of moral honesty, perseverance, and success.  He won a proud name as a man and as a jurist, and accumulated a large fortune, without ever trenching upon the rights of another.  He secured the confidence and affection of every member of his wife’s family—­a very extensive one—­and was the benefactor of most of them.  He was beloved and honored by all his neighbors, through a long life.  In his public duties and his private relations he never had an imputation cast upon his conduct, and he died without an enemy.

Francois Xavier Martin was a native of France.  In early life he emigrated to the United States, and fixed his residence at Newbern, North Carolina.  He was poor, and without a trade or profession by which to sustain himself, or to push his fortunes in a strange land.  He labored under another exceedingly great obstacle to success:  though pretty well educated, he could not speak the English language.  But he had a proud spirit and an indomitable will.  He sought employment as a printer, choosing this as a means of learning the English language.  Though he had never fingered a type in his life, he had that confidence in himself which inspired the conviction that he could overcome any difficulty presenting itself between his will and success.