Mr. President: — It was my fortune to have been
nearer to Mr. Brown, than perhaps, any other of his
friends among the young bar, during the preparation of
his last, and probably, his greatest work. After he had
been invited to deliver the oration at Valley Forge, he
came to me, because of my acquaintance with the locality.
Together, only four months ago, we examined the
intrenchments there, and rode to the Paoli and the Warren
tavern, and following the track of the British army,
crossed the Schuylkill at Gordon's Ford. Together, a
little over two months ago, we read over the completed
oration. The assistance I was able to give him was little
indeed, but the opportunity it afforded me of getting
a closer insight into his character, I shall always cherish
among the happiest memories of my life. He was
ambitious, but ambition with him was almost entirely devoid
of that illness which usually attends it. He was honest,
but his integrity was not of that sort which sits aloft amid
luxury and ease, above the reach of temptation, and takes
no thought of what may be below. The consciousness of
great abilities made him entirely self reliant, but his confidence never degenerated into vanity. The successes he
had achieved, numerous as they were, never made him
forget that courtesy which becomes a gentleman. The
culture he had received, did not enervate him, and
applause had failed to lead him astray. Feeling the im-
- ↑ Address at the meeting of the Bar of Philadelphia, August 24th, 1878.
