in my house, but as for myself, I don't drink a
glass once in a thousand years."

One's first impressions of Mr. Choate were never disturbed by intimate
acquaintance. Many distinguished persons become insignificant upon
close inspection. With Mr. Choate those who knew him best, estimated
him most highly. He had no malice in his nature, and there was a
genial quality in his sharpest sallies of wit.

In the Convention we had end seats. Mr. Choate occupied the seat
immediately in front of me. Thus I had an opportunity for two months
to observe his ways, and to enjoy his conversation. Great as were his
speeches, they did not transcend his exhibitions of power in private
conversation. His great speech in the Convention was upon the
Judiciary System, and his description of a good judge is one of the
finest paragraphs in oratory, ancient or modern. His second, or
perhaps his first great work in art is his sketch of Demosthenes in his
lecture on the Eloquence of Revolutionary Periods. As a specimen of
essay writing it is not surpassed by any passage to be found in Macaulay.

The Convention of 1853 was the ablest body of men that ever met in
Massachusetts. The Convention of 1820 included Mr. Webster, an abler
man than any of the members of the Convention of 1853, but the
Convention as a whole was an inferior body of men. Mr. Choate was the
first man in the Convention of 1853, and he must ever remain one of
the great characters of Massachusetts.

Simon Greenleaf, the author of the work on Evidence, was a member of
the Convention, and his influence was considerable. He was a dry,
hard-headed lawyer. His influence was due to his reputation rather
than to his power as a debater. Had he come to the Convention as an
unknown person, his standing would have been in the second or third class.

Richard H. Dana, Jr., added to his reputation by his speeches in the
Convention. His style was free from exaggeration, and he addressed
himself to the question at issue and always with effect. My intimate
acquaintance with Mr. Dana began during the session of the Convention.
In 1854 and 1855 I visited him and his father, the poet, at their home
in Manchester-by-the-Sea. Mr. Dana, Sr., was a genial man, but
reserved, and not much given to conversation. My friendship with Mr.
Dana continued until General Butler became a candidate for Congress in
the Essex district, and Mr. Dana became the nominee of the dissenting
Republicans.