A Great Lawyer With A Weakness

Luther Martin was one of the most famous lawyers of liis tiine. He was a little above the medium height, and was slovenly in ivppearance. His dress was a cornpound of the fine and the coarse, and seemed never to bave feit the brusli. He wore rnffles at the wrist richly edged with lace after every one else had abandoned the in. These rnffles were conspicnonsly broad, and were always dirty with tobáceo juice. Judge Taney said tliat in his speech he used viilgarisms, and that he heardhimsay "cotch " him, instead of caughthim, and we sot down, instead of sat down. His genius was frequently clouded by the excessive use of strong drink. Being engaged in an important case, he proinised his clients the day before tb e suit was to be tried not to drink any liqnor. He retired to his room, but could not reeist his desire for stimulants. He sent for a bottle of brandy and a loaf of bread, and, after Baturating the bread ihoroughly with the brandy, he ate it, snd his unfortunate appetite was satisf.ed, and he claimed he had kept his 1 romise not to drink. He tried the ei use in the ablcet possible manner, but, on be'ng reproachcd by his clients for Ivsvirual vioiation of his promieo, he remarked, "I (lid not drink a drop; besi(:es, Sity no more about it. Had it not been for the bread I would have lost the cafe." He hal a pnrslytic stroke, and, having squandered his largo earnings at the bar na ast as they were acquired, in his old age, nnder üie goadings of iJeimry, he removed to New York, and received the hospitalities and kind attentions of Aaron Lurr, whom he had ably defended at Bichmond. Before his deaüi the Legislature passed a resolution that every one oa beiug admitted to the bar should pay $1 casi; for liis use. He died on July 10, 1820, whéu he was 82 years oí