entertaining anecdote which never seemed to
fail. He was very careful not to seem dogmatic, or to assert
himself too strongly. He would put forward his opinion with
saying, "It strikes my mind," or "It has occurred to me,"
or "I thought perhaps it was possible," or "It is my impression."
I remember once protesting before old Judge Byington against
some objection which the counsel on the other side had made
to a witness testifying to his impressions. I told the Judge
that Brother Chapin never in his life stated anything more
strongly. If you asked him if he were married, he would
say it was his impression he was. The Judge said: "Well,
we have a lawyer in Berkshire County who has the same habit.
Only if you ask him if he is married it is his impression
he isn't."

It is said that when he went to see the Siamese Twins, he
observed to the exhibitor, "Brothers, I suppose." But I
believe that story had been told before of one of the Royal
Dukes.

Mr. Chapin was nominated by the Republicans for Congress and
accepted and would have had a useful and distinguished public
life. But he became alarmed by the opposition of the Know-
Nothings and withdrew from the canvass much to the dissatisfaction
of his political friends. That ended his political aspirations.
But he was soon after appointed to the more congenial office
of Judge of Probate, which he discharged to great public satisfaction
until his lamented death.

CHAPTER XXXVIII
SOME JUDGES I HAVE KNOWN

Unquestionably the most important character in the legal
history of Massachusetts is Chief Justice Lemuel Shaw. He
was a great lawyer before he came to the Bench. He had written
one or two very able articles for the _North American Review,_
one of them a vigorous statement of the opinion of Massachusetts
upon slavery. He was the author of a petition signed by many
of the leading men of Massachusetts in opposition to the high
tariff of 1828. No more powerful statement of the argument
against high protection can be found. I have been surprised
that the modern free-traders have not long ago discovered
it, and brought it to light. He was one of the managers of
the impeachment of Judge Prescott, securing a conviction against
a powerful array of counsel for the defendant, which included
Daniel Webster. He was consulted in difficult and important
matters by eminent counsel in other counties than Suffolk.

But all these titles to distinction have been forgot