with some apprehension of future peril, while they should consider only the next word or sentence.  This momentary desertion of the exact purpose never occurred to Follett; he fitted the thought to its place; the word to the thought; and allowed the action only to take care of itself, as it always will with an earnest speaker.  His, therefore, was rather the artlessness than the art of advocacy—­ its second nature—­ justly appreciated by those to whose interests it was devoted; but not fully understood even by the spectator of its exertion; dying with the causes in which it was engaged, and leaving no vestiges except in their success.  Hence the blank which is substituted for the space he filled in human affairs.  The modest assurance, the happy boldness, the extemporaneous logic, all that ‘led but to the grave,’ exist, like the images of departed actors, only in the recollection of those who witnessed them, till memory shall fade into tradition, and tradition dwindle down to a name.” (Supplement to Vacation Rambles, p. 115.) The eagerness with which the talents of Sir William Follett were sought, forcibly illustrates the truth of a remark, made to me in the course of some friendly advice, by one who may be ranked among the most brilliant advocates who have adorned the American Bar (now in the highest office in the nation), that to attain the highest rank in the legal profession, a lawyer must have such abilities and character as will “compel” patronage.

He, however, who enters the profession here or elsewhere merely as a stepping stone to political preferment, need not expect great success, even though he may acquire some temporary advancement.  The day is past when lawyers could monopolize every high place in the state.  The habit of public speaking is not now confined to the learned professions.  Our peculiar system of education has trained up a legion of orators and politicians outside of the bar.  Now-a-days a man must have other qualifications besides the faculty of speech-making to win the prize in politics.  He must be a man of comprehensive ability, and thoroughly identified with the interests of the people, before he can secure much popular favor, or else he must be possessed of such shining talents and character that his fellow men will take a pride in advancing him to conspicuous and responsible trusts.  Let a man have a part or all of these qualifications, however, and with them the experience and tact of a lawyer, and he will of course make a more valuable public servant, especially if he is placed in a deliberative body.  The British cabinets have always relied vastly on the support afforded them in the house of commons by their attorneys and solicitors general, whether it consisted in the severe and solemn logic of Romilly, in the cool and ready arguments of Scarlett, or the acute and irresistible oratory of Sir William Follett.  The education of a lawyer;—­ his experience as a manager; his art of covering up weak points, his ready and adroit style of speaking;—­