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Some Account of the Life, Writings, and Speeches of William Pinkney. By HENRY WHEATON. New York. 1826. 8vo.

THIS work does not belong to that department of biography, whose object is to amuse the reader, by presenting numerous anecdotes of the private life of an illustrious individual. He who opens it with the expectation of finding such a book as "Boswell's Johnson," or "Moore's Sheridan," will be disappointed; but the American patriot, and especially the constitutional lawyer and the enlightened politician, will hail with gratitude Mr Wheaton's most successful effort to perpetuate some relics of a mighty genius, whose fame, circumscribed by no sectional limits, has contributed not a little to elevate the intellectual character of the nation.

As historical documents, the writings and speeches of Mr Pinkney are of the highest value. Foreigners often express their surprise, that in a country where all transactions pass the ordeal of the people's scrutiny, and where state secrets can scarcely be said to exist, there should be so few records of the events of past times. Indeed a knowledge even of contemporary facts is not always attainable, without great difficulty. Newspaper intelligence is not only imperfect, but literally ephemeral. It is true, that the Journals of Congress and of the State Legislatures, are regularly printed, and the tables of our representatives are loaded with official documents. The circulation, however, of the papers presented to the local legislatures is extremely limited, and we ordinarily know less of the economical regulations of

neighbouring states, and of their peculiar laws, than of the measures adopted or discussed by the French Chambers or British Parliament. A work, which should furnish a summary of the most interesting reports and other public documents, is still a desideratum. "The American State Papers" contain much important matter relating to our foreign intercourse, but the writings of Mr Pinkney, particularly his private letters, will afford great assistance in the true understanding of our political history.

The subject of the memoir was not, indeed, connected with our revolutionary story. What period of the world, however, has been more marked by great occurrences than that which his political life embraces? And who has participated more largely than this enlightened diplomatist and learned jurist, either in the discussion of the most interesting questions of international law, or in settling the true interpretation of that written guaranty of our liberties, the federal constitution? Mr Wheaton has drawn a finished portrait of the eloquent advocate and able minister, though the events of his life are described in Mr Pinkney's own words, wherever the materials with which the editor was supplied, were adequate to the purpose. From these sources, we shall endeavour to cull a short notice. Born in 1764, Mr Pinkney was, at the age of twenty-four, chosen a member of the Legislature of Maryland, and only two years after, was called to a seat in Congress; of this latter distinction, however, as will appear in the sequel, he did not then avail himself. Having been previously honoured, on repeated occasions, with the confidence of his fellow citizens, Mr Pinkney was appointed, together with Mr Gore, to the commission in London, established by the seventh article of Jay's treaty. The duties of this board, were to fix the compensation for losses sustained by our citizens, "by reason of irregular or illegal captures or condemnations of their vessels and other property, under colour of authority or commissions from His Majesty." The principal classes of cases, for which allowances were made, may be referred to captures or condemnations growing out of the provision order of 1793, and of the instructions given to British cruisers in accordance with the rule of 1756. The former regulation had for its ostensible object the reduction of France, by withholding foreign corn. The attempt thus to extend the principle of contraband, under the absurd pretence of starving a whole nation, by depriving it of supplies, which would not have sustained one of the provinces for a single week, was ably combated by Mr Pinkney and his asso

ciate, as well as by Colonel Trumbull, on whom, as the fifth Commissioner selected by lot, in most instances devolved the responsibility of deciding contested claims.

The duties of the commission detained Mr Pinkney in England till 1804; but, though withdrawn by this and other similar engagements from professional labours, during several of the most active years of life, it may be doubted whether his absence from the United States was unpropitious to his subsequent legal eminence. In this country there is practically little distinction made between the different departments of the business of the law. It is difficult for a counsellor, who has not attained the first eminence, to avoid those petty details, which are not more opposed to the liberal feelings of a gentleman, than they are calculated to belittle the mind, and to destroy all honourable aspiration after excellence. Absence from clients did not prevent Mr Pinkney, as his letters fully show, from persevering in his professional studies. As an additional evidence of his attention to his chosen avocation, we would remark, on the strength of information obtained from an authentic source, that Mr Pinkney was more frequently present in the courts of Westminster and at Doctors' Commons, than any practising barrister or advocate; and that during his excursions in the country, Coke upon Littleton was a necessary appendage to his travelling establishment. Relaxation from intense professional employment afforded him leisure for those elegant studies, which tend so greatly to embellish public discourses, nor can we lightly prize his opportunity of witnessing the administration of justice in the parent country, and of associating with the living ornaments of English jurisprudence. Moreover, in order to account for Mr Pinkney's repeated acceptance of foreign employment, his biographer says, that "he found it necessary to vary his occupations, and to retire altogether from the bar for a season, in order to refresh his wearied body and mind, with the purpose of again returning to it, with an alacrity invigorated and quickened by this temporary suspension of his professional pursuits."

Only two years after Mr Pinkney's return to America, President Jefferson associated him with Mr Monroe, our minister plenipotentiary to England, in the special mission, which he deemed it expedient to send to that country. The conclusion of a treaty by these gentlemen, and its immediate rejection, are well known facts. As, however, the American commissioners expressly stated to the British, that they exceeded their powers in acceding to the convention of 1806, the president was not