and, therefore, though I know that he
looks upon mankind with an eye of benevolence, and upon his country with
the spirit of a patriot; and though, in addition to this, he is
certainly capable of any and every thing that demands fidelity, zeal,
energy, industry the most unrelaxing, and talents the most transcendent;
yet much I fear his country will never know him well enough to do him
justice, or to profit herself of his powers."

SKETCH OF FRANCIS WALKER GILMER.

As the graphic portraiture of Mr. Wirt represents Mr. Tazewell in youth,
so the annexed sketch by Mr. Gilmer represents him as he was about to
retire from the bar. Mr. Gilmer himself was one of the most brilliant
young men Virginia ever produced. That Mr. Jefferson selected him to
choose in England the first professors of the University of Virginia--an
office which he performed with eminent skill and judgment--is a proof of
the estimate which was placed upon his talents by the first men of the
age.

The sketch of Mr. Tazewell is taken from a small volume of Mr. Gilmer's
productions, published in Baltimore in 1828, page 35.

"I hardly know what apology to make to LITTLETON W. TAZEWELL, of
Norfolk, for dragging his name from the obscurity which he seems to
court, but is unable to win. He has shrunk from the great national
amphitheatre, the Olympic games, where it is the glory of Mr. Pinkney to
challenge and to conquer, to an obscure sea-port town. But, more
confident in his powers than he is himself, I do not fear a comparison
with this veteran of the bar of the Supreme Court. His person may be a
little above the ordinary height, well-proportioned, and having the
appearance of great capacity to endure fatigue. His complexion is
swarthy, his muscles relaxed as from intense thought long continued. His
features are all finely developed. His eyes are large, full, and of a
dark blue color, shaded by thick black brows a little raised, as if
looking on a vast expanse of distant prospect. A manner firm, manly,
dignified, and free. _Vox permanens verum subrauca_; its tremulous and
occasionally interrupted accents give unusual tenderness to its tones.
But it is neither the Ciceronian person, nor the Chatham face, nor the
voice of Antony, that we are to admire in Mr. Tazewell. It is the great
and clear comprehension; the freshness and rapidity with which every
thing luxuriates on the generous soil of his mind, which is further
removed from even occasional sterility