degrees with honor. Shortly after his removal, he formed the acquaintance of the venerable Chancellor Wythe: this gradually ripened into that fatherly regard and solicitude on the one side, and that grateful and devoted friendship on the other, which terminated only with the death of his benefactor in 1806. On this occasion he was appointed, as the most intimate friend of the deceased, to deliver his Funeral Eulogy in the Capitol of Virginia. This he did with ability and much feeling.

At the time of his entrance into College, his health seems to have been very bad; for, in a letter written from Williamsburg to his sister, he alludes to a recent sickness, and thus balances, as he terms it, the good and evil of his life. "I received from nature a weakly constitution and sickly body, and poverty to boot--I have the unhappiness to know that my dear mother is in want-I am absent from her and you, and my dear sister's agreeable society-now put this on the scale of evil. I possess the rare and almost inestimable blessing of a friend in Mr. Wythe and John Randolph. I have a mother in whose heart I have a large share. I possess two sisters, whose affections, I flatter myself, are fixed upon me. I have fair prospects before me, provided I can complete my education, and I am not destitute of the necessaries of life. Put these in the scale of good. Now which of these overbalances?" This letter was written as early as September, 1787. It gives strong indication of a healthy moral tone, tender affections, fine natural sensibilities, and considerable sprightliness of mind for one so young. His taste for poetry seems to have been already formed, for in this letter he speaks with delight of a copy of Ariosto's Orlando Furioso which he has just procured. In the cultivation of his taste, as well as in the pursuit of his other studies, he derived great benefit from the friendly advice of Chancellor Wythe, no less eminent as a scholar than a lawyer, and of St. George Tucker, who at that time held a Professorship in the College of William and Mary. He frequently and freely expresses his grateful sense of the valuable services rendered him by each of these gentlemen. To the influence of Chancellor Wythe may perhaps be traced his early, strong, and lasting partiality for Homer, which was heightened as years advanced into a feeling of deep reverence and affection.

In the year 1790, the involved condition of his paternal

estate, and the limited resources of his mother, would have rendered it impossible for him to remain longer in the College, had not Mr. Wythe received him into his house as a member of his family. Under the superintendence of that profound lawyer and excellent man, he now commenced the study of the law, without, however, neglecting his Collegiate studies. In a letter written during the next year, he gives some account of the employment of his time. He first pays a merited tribute of respect to Mr. Wythe, in these terms, "Every day my admiration increases; every day my love is heightened; whether I contemplate him as a companion, or as a man of learning: but his character, in whatever direction it is viewed, is remarkable for benevolence and humility. Though learned, he is not arrogant, but seems rather to search for truth, than an opportunity to display his abilities. Though a true philosopher himself, he beholds the faults and errors of others with compassion. His mind is enlarged, his opinions liberal, and though not bound by vulgar prejudices, he is far from being obstinate in his opinions. In his treatment of all around him, he is a second Socrates. In short, I am not able to express my esteem for his character." He then proceeds to speak of his studies. "I rise in the morning with the sun, and read first on one subject and then on another till breakfast, which we have by seven o'clock. After breakfast the law requires my attention for three or four hours (for Mr. Wythe advises me to devote no more of my time to it,) and then either philosophy, mathematics, or the languages fill up the time to dinner. In the evening I read till an hour by sun, when I walk out for exercise and recreation, and am in bed by nine. Thus," says he, "unincumbered by care, I can pursue my studies with the greatest advantage and satisfaction."

William Munford, though so young, had already paid his court to the Muses, for he sends directions very solicitously respecting certain juvenile verses, which he had left at home, but was anxious to copy into his "Miscellany Book." And in the August of the same year, he acknowledges the judi cious kindness of Mr. Tucker in criticising his productions, and pointing out their faults.

On his appointment in 1792 to the Chancellorship of the State of Virginia, Mr. Wythe removed from Williamsburg to Richmond, the seat of the State Government, and

brought young Munford along with him, who still continued to be a member of his family. William Munford afterwards. returned to William and Mary College to receive the benefit of the law lectures of his friend, Mr. Tucker, who was then the Professor of that department. Having finished his collegiate course with much credit to himself, he returned to his native county, and was admitted to the bar in the 20th year of his age. His industry, his attention to business, and his reputation for ability, soon secured for him at practice comparatively large for one just entering upon the duties of his profession. A frank, ingenuous, and conciliatory deportment, united with a bold, manly, and unflinching spirit, increased his success, and rendered him exceedingly popular among all classes of his fellow-citizens. So great and rapid was his popularity, that in the year of 1797, he was elected a Representative from the County of Mecklenburg to the House of Delegates, and continued in that appointment until 1802, when he was chosen Senator, by the large and intelligent District in which he resided. His Senatorial career lasted only four years: as he was appointed one of the Privy Council in 1806, of which he was an active member until 1811. He was then elected Clerk of the House of Delegates, in the room of James Pleasants who had just been made Governor of the State. office he filled with undiminished favor and popularity till his death in 1825, when he was succeeded in it by his eldest son George Wythe Munford, who still holds the appointment to the entire satisfaction of all parties.

This

After Mr. Munford's entrance into the Council in 1806, he removed to the city of Richmond, and resided there for the rest of his life. Here he continued the practice of the law, and was for some years the Reporter of the Supreme Court of Appeals for the State. He first published four volumes. of Reports in connection with Mr. Herring, and afterwards six volumes more in his own name. He was also one of the chosen associates of Benjamin Watkins Leigh in the revision of the Statute Law of Virginia-a lasting monument of the learning, diligence, and accuracy of those who were employed upon it.

"Amidst all these multifarious and responsible occupations, Mr. Munford was ever active in the cause of religion and philanthropy. There was no association within his reach, having for its object the good of his fellow men,

which did not enlist his zealous and active support-and most truly may it be said of him in the language of the British Bard, He had a tear for pity, and a hand open as day to melting charity.""

We shall conclude this short notice of Mr. Munford by quoting the language in which his character has been ably summed up by the other of the two gentlemen to whose kindness we have been indebted for our information respecting him. "At the bar and in the Legislature he always ranked as a sound and able debater. He was not, in the common and modern acceptation, an orator. When he first embarked in the discussion of a subject, his manner was rather cold and heavy, and without the graces of oratory. The merit of his public speaking lay in the facility with which he could bring the facts to bear upon his argument, and the soundness, clearness, and comprehensiveness of his views. He was always strong; and yet, such was the kindness and tolerance of his manner that no one even seemed to dread his power. He convinced, or he silenced; but rarely, if ever, irritated or offended his adversary. There was a gentleness and benignity of soul about him, which kept him from indulging in personal sarcasm, and, both in public and in private life, he seldom uttered an ill-natured word, because never influenced by any unkind or ill-natured feeling. Few were better calculated to conciliate men. This is not the occasion to speak of him as a politician; but it may with truth be said that throughout his public career he proved himself always the consistent advocate of enlarged and liberal views of social government, and an undoubted champion of civil and religious liberty. Amidst all the bitterness of political and party animosity, his integrity and character were unsullied by a breath of suspicion. His uniform candor and sincerity, his decision of character, the principles of independence and integrity, uncompromising with the least approach to vice or immorality, formed an elevation of virtues, not often to be met with in public But it was in the private and domestic circle that he shone with the brightest honor. His wise counsels, the mildness of his temper, the firmness of his opinions, the affectionate and simple tone of his manners, the kindness of his heart towards every one, gave dignity and elevation to his virtues. It was said by Dr. Johnson that he liked a good hater. I can say of William Munford

men.

that he was one of the poorest haters I ever knew. A deep sense of religion formed one of the ingredients in his character. There was scarcely a religious or charitable institution which he did not actively encourage and patronize. He maintained religious worship in his family, and was a regular attendant on divine service. Public education and morals were dear to his heart, and always found in him a ready and able advocate. There probably never lived a more devoted husband and parent. With such a man it were almost treason to find fault!"

This is indeed a most pleasing picture of the quiet and unobtrusive virtues of a good man. It will thus be seen that Mr. Munford pursued the even tenor of his life in a course of usefulness to his country, service to his fellow men, and in the faithful discharge of all his social and domestic duties. His public life and multifarious employments required the most laborious application, which he never failed to bestow upon them. But from them he could spare, by the methodical arrangement of his time, enough to engage in acts of general service to his fellow citizens; and could even obtain an occasional hour for the relaxation of his mind by the culture of his favorite pursuits. These were literature and the composition of poetry. He had never from his earliest years renounced his partiality for the muses: and he published during his life-time a volume of juvenile poems which the translator of the Iliad would have had no cause to desire to rescue from oblivion. The translation of Homer was commenced by Mr. Munford many long years since, perhaps even at the time when his love of Homer during his college days was kindled by Chancellor Wythe, and his ear and his taste informed and directed by the profitable councils of Professor Tucker. One gentleman speaks of having examined a considerable portion of it about the year 1811, and the tradition of its completion and its excellence has been floating about for more than thirty years in his native State.

From the time of the commencement of the translation until Mr. Munford's death in 1825, it received his sedulous attention, and was submitted to continual revisals and improved by an unsparing and ungrudging application of the "multus lima labor." The Horatian precept "nonumque prematur in annum Membranis intus positis was more than observed even by the translator himself, and since his