7383.5 U.S.4676,5 Southern District of New-York, ss. BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the 28th day of April, A. D. 1826, in the 50th year of the Independence of the United States of America, Henry Wheaton, of the said District, hath deposited in this office the title of a book, the right whereof he claims as proprietor, in the words following, to wit: "Some Account of the Life. Writings, and Speeches of William Pinkney." By Henry Wheaton. Ardebat cupiditate sic, ut in nullo unquam flagrantius studium viderim. Erat in verborum splendore elegans, compositione aptus, facultate copiosus: in disserendo mira explicatio: cum de jure civili, cum de æquo et bono disputaretur, argumentorum et similitudinum copia.” In conformity to the Act of Congress of the United States, entitled “ An Act for the encouragement of Learning, by securing the copies of Maps, Charts, and Books, to the authors and proprietors of such copies during the time therein mentioned." And also to an Act, entitled "An Act supplementary to an Act, entitled an Act for the encouragement of Learning, by securing the copies of Maps, Charts, and Books, to the authors and proprietors of such copies, during the times therein mentioned, and extending the benefits thereof to the arts of designing, engraving, and etching historical and other prints." JAMES DI L, Clerk of the Southern District of New-York ERRATA. Page 113, 1. 7-for "matters," read masters. 1. 15-for "unto," read into. Page 131, 1. 29-for "our," read an. DIRECTION TO THE BINDER. Portrait to face title-page. Fac-simile to face Part II, page 193. SOME ACCOUNT OF THE LIFE, WRITINGS, AND SPEECHES OF WILLIAM PINKNEY. PART FIRST. WILLIAM PINKNEY was born at Annapolis, in Maryland, on the 17th of March, 1764. His father was a native of England, and adhered to the cause of the parent country, in our struggle for independence, whilst the son avowed, even in early youth, his ardent attachment to the liberties of America. His early education was imperfect, but probably as good as could be obtained in this country during the war of the revolution He was initiated in classical studies by a private teacher of the name of Brathaud, who took great pains in instructing him, and of whom he always spoke with the warmest affection and gratitude. He commenced the study of medicine, but soon found that he had [6] mistaken his vocation, and resorted to that of the law under the late Mr. Justice Chace, then an eminent practitioner at the bar of Maryland. That province had been distinguished among the colonies by a succession of learned and accomplished lawyers. With such a guide and in such a school, his studies were of no superficial kind. He commenced his law studies in February, 1783, and was called to the bar in 1786. His very first efforts seem to have given him a commanding attitude in the eye of the public. His attainments in the law of real property and the science of special pleading, then the two great foundations of legal distinction, were accurate and profound; and he had disciplined his mind by the cultivation of that species of logic, which, if it does not lead to the brilliant results of inductive philosophy, contributes essentially to invigorate the reasoning faculty, and to enable it to detect those fallacies which are apt to impose upon the understanding in the warmth and hurry of forensic discussion. His style in speaking was marked by an easy flow of natural eloquence and a happy choice of language. His voice was very melodious, and seemed a most winning accompaniment to his pure and effective diction. His elocution was calm and placid-the very contrast of that strenuous, vehement, and emphatic manner, which he subsequently adopted. He removed to Harford county in 1786, for the purpose of pursuing the practice of his profession, and in April, 1788, was elected a delegate from that county to the Convention of the State |