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��Hon. Daniel Clai'k.
��duties. The wisdom of his selection has been justified M' his career upon the bench. The office of district judge does not afford such opportun- ity for public distinction as the bench of some other courts, the jurisdiction of the court being principally limited to cases arising under the constitu- tion and laws of the United States. New Hampshire, from its size, loca- tion, and business relations, furnishes only a small amount of business for the federal courts, and not much of that generally of public interest. In addition to holding his own court. Judge Clark has frequently been called to hold the federal courts in other states in the first circuit. He has brought to the discharge of his judicial duties the same learning, in- dustry, and interest that character- ized his labors at the bar and in the senate. His decisions have com- mended themselves to the profession for their soundness and fairness. Judge Clark, apparently indifferent to the preservation of his opinions, has neglected to put them in shape for publication in the reports of the first circuit, to the regret of his profes- sional friends and admirers. He has now (1887) been upon the bench twenty-one years. He was entitled, under the law of congress, to retire in 187!) upon the salary for the rest of his life. But he has preferred to earn his salary, and "to wear out rather than to rust out." With his physical strength but slightly im- paired, his mind as vigorous as in the years of his full manhood, he, at the age of seventy-seven, gives prom- ise of many years of future useful- ness.
In 1870 he was a member and
��president of the convention called to revise the constitution of New Hamp- shire.
Judge Clark, in 1850, formed a copartnership with his brother David in the practice of the law, which was dissolved, by reason of the ill health of the latter, in 1856. In December, 1856, he entered into copartnership with Isaac W. Smith, now upon the supreme bench of New Hampshire, who read law with him in 1 848-' 50. Their firm was dissolved in December, 1861, at which time his practice of the law may be said to have sub- stantially ceased. So much of his time was absorbed with congressional duties, and other public duties be- tween sessions growing out of dis- turbances caused by the civil war, that he had but little time or inclina- tion to follow the courts 6r attend the calls of clients in his office.
Judge Clark has been fuUv identi- fied with the growth and history of Manchester. He has taken great interest in its material prosperity, and has merited and received the confidence of its inhabitants. Be- sides representing the town and city five years in the legislature, he has. held various offices of trust, viz., member of the school board, chief engineer of the fire department, trus- tee of the city library, city solicitor, trustee and president of the Man- chester Savings Bank, director of the Amoskeag Manufacturing Company, and trustee of the State Industrial School. No citizen of Manchester, with possibly the exception of the late Governor Straw, has exerted so- much infiuence for its growth and prosperity as lie. As he looks to-day upon this beautiful city of forty thou-
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