nvestigated the matter very carefully, and have
left on record a conclusive refutation of the whole story
in a paper published by the American Antiquarian Society.

Mr. Davis's popularity, however, enabled him to render an
important service to his party at home. The Democrats in
1839 had elected their governor, Marcus Morton, by a majority
of one vote by reason of the unpopularity of the law to prevent
liquor-selling, known as the Fifteen-Gallon Law, which had
been passed in January, 1838. They were anxious to redeem
the State, and summoned John Davis, their strongest and most
popular man, to lead their forces. He accordingly resigned
his seat in the Senate, was chosen Governor by a large majority,
and was reelected to the Senate again the next year.

Sketches like these, made by a man who was young when the
men he is talking about were old, are apt to give prominence
to trifles, to little follies and eccentricities. Let nobody
think that there was anything trifling or ludicrous about
John Davis. He was a great, strong, wise man, a champion
and tower of strength. He not only respected, but embodied
the great traditions and opinions of Massachusetts in the
great days, after the generation of the Revolution had left
the state when she earned for herself the name of the "Model
Commonwealth," and her people were building the structure
of the Commonwealth on the sure foundations which the master-
workmen of the Colonial and Revolutionary days had laid. The
majestic presence of Webster, the classic eloquence of Everett,
the lofty zeal of Sumner have made them more conspicuous figures
in the public eye, and it is likely will preserve their memeory
longer in the public heart. But the figure of John Davis
deserves to stand by the side of these great men in imperishable
memory as one of the foremost men of the State he loved so
well and served so faithfully and wisely.

The Bar of Worcester County in 1850 and the years following
was a very able one, indeed. It had many men of high reputation
in the Commonwealth and some of wide national fame. The principal
citizen of Worcester and the most distinguished member of
the Bar was Governor Levi Lincoln. Although he had long since
left practice, he used always to come into the court once
at each term of the Supreme Court, bow respectfully to the
Bench, and invite the Judges to dinner at his house, and withdraw.
He filled a very large place in the history of Massachusett