which are expressed therein, and with full concurrence in the sentiments of the eloquent and affectionate tributes of the bar to his memory.

The time-honored custom of this bar in commemorating the worth and characteristics of deceased members seems especially appropriate where, as in this case, a great and distinguished member has gone. It is well for us all to pause in the midst of our various duties and contemplate his life and all that was grand and beautiful in his character, and pay a proper tribute to his memory. It is especially fitting that this tribute should be in this county, which was the main field of his professional efforts, and where he was best known and esteemed.

The observance of this custom is of the greatest benefit; it brings afresh to our minds the excellent qualities and the strong points in the character of our deceased friend, and stimulates us to emulate them. When this custom ceases, and indifference is felt by the profession as to the lives and qualities of their noble predecessors, then may we confidently expect a decadence in the quality of the membership of the bar.

Mr. Bingham was a remarkable man, as a citizen, lawyer, legislator and author. His personality gave him a commanding influence with the people of the state and attracted to him warm personal friends. He was a strong character, an independent thinker, with the ability and courage to forcibly express his views. He came of good old New England stock. He had the New England characteristics, uncompromising conscience, sincerity, independence, common sense and steadfastness of purpose. As a young man when he began the practice of his profession in this county he was surrounded by and brought in contact with the strong and able lawyers for which the bar of Coös and Grafton has ever been noted. But against such antagonists he early brought himself to the highest rank in his profession. That position he maintained throughout all his professional caHe was engaged in most of the important cases in this part of the state for nearly half a century, besides having many important cases elsewhere. He presented that rare combination of the great advocate and profound lawyer united in one person. His ability to grasp the few salient points of a case and his power of statement in plain, terse and vigorous English, made him a

reer.

master of the art of marshalling facts and a most effective advocate in a jury trial. In the discussion of a legal question, his great power of analysis, and his directness of thought and speech illuminated and made plain the most complex and abstruse legal proposition.

While in one view it is to be regretted that on account of political reasons the state was prevented from availing itself of Mr. Bingham's services in other and wider fields where his commanding ability would have been so serviceable, yet in another view this is not to be regretted, because by reason of this fact the state was able for many years to have his valuable services here at home in the state Legislature. There his incorruptible character and his ability have been of incalculable benefit, both in the kind of legislation he has been instrumental in enacting, and also in the kind of legislation whose enactment he has prevented. For this same reason, Mr. Bingham has been enabled to devote his life almost exclusively to his profession. It was largely through his profession and by means of it that he was able to render the greatest public service. As a legal practitioner he presented the highest type of his profession.

He was thoroughly democratic in all his tastes. His ways of life were plain and simple. There was both a grandeur and a simplicity to his character that was very attractive. His townspeople loved and trusted him. He was an American citizen of the best type, able to fill with credit the highest offices under our government, yet scrupulously careful to perform the humblest duties of a citizen.

"Well may we mourn him,

Well may we emulate his virtues."

The resolutions will be entered upon the records of the court, agreeably to the request of the bar, and as a mark of respect to the memory of our deceased brother, this court will now adjourn.

POLITICAL WRITINGS.

Harry Bingham's life work was the practice of law; honorable success at the bar and recognized superiority as a legal counselor his highest ambition, to the attainment of which he gave the best at his command in thought, in study and in effort. In his devotion to his profession, however, he never forgot the obligations of citizenship, nor neglected its duties, preeminent among which, to his mind, was loyal service of the Democratic party, in whose tenets he had been reared and whose principles he cherished and defended with all the fervor of a religious devotee.

He was, therefore, naturally interested in the movement which resulted in the establishment of a Democratic newspaper in the town of Littleton, in the summer of 1852, by Francis A. Eastman,* and, along with Col. Cyrus Eastmant of that town and

*Francis A. Eastman was born in Littleton, April 3, 1833. He learned the printer's trade in the office of the Granite State Whig, at Lebanon, and started the Ammonoosuc Reporter in Littleton when nineteen years of age. Leaving Littleton in 1854 he was engaged for a time on the New Hampshire Patriot at Concord, serving meanwhile as an aide on the staff of Gov. Nathaniel B. Baker. Subsequently he became editor of the Vermont Patriot at Montpelier, but went West in 1857, and was for two years editor of the Daily News, Milwaukee, Wis. At the instance of Stephen A. Douglas he removed in 1859 to Chicago and took a position as associate editor of the Chicago Times. Two years later he aided in establishing the Morning Post, a Democratic paper sustaining the administration in the prosecution of the war for the Union, which paper subsequently became the Inter-Ocean. Shortly after the opening of the war, Colonel Eastman became a Republican, and was soon called into public life. He was for a time collector of the Northern District of Chicago; was for two years a member of the lower branch of the Legislature and four years a state senator. He was a penitentiary commissioner, under the state government, and one of the builders of the great Joliet prison. He was the first man appointed to office by President Grant, being named by him as postmaster of Chicago, which office he held four years. Suffering serious loss in the great Chicago fire, he returned to journalism and was for some years editor of the Press, at Utica, N. Y., removing thence, in 1886, to Los Angeles, Cal.

†Cyrus Eastman, born in Danville, Vt., November 15, 1814, settled in Littleton in 1836, and engaged in trade as a general merchant. He became a leading citizen and was prominent in public affairs, as a Demo

Hon. John G. Sinclair of Bethlehem, promised the young publisher such substantial support as might be required, to the extent of his ability, the contribution of matter for publication being one thing expected of Mr. Bingham. That this expectation was fairly met is apparent from consultation of the files of the paper, which was known as the Ammonoosuc Reporter, and its successor, the White Mountain Banner, from the establishment of the former, in 1852, till the discontinuance of the latter, in 1859. Articles manifestly from his pen appeared occasionally in the form of communications and, not infrequently, as editorial, the language employed being at all times plain, positive, vigorous and direct, without any attempt at rhetorical embellishment, very much after the manner of his addresses to the jury, and leaving no doubt as to his meaning in any case.

One of the first articles from his pen, commanding attention, was a communication appearing in the Reporter in December, 1852, during the session of the Legislature, taking decided ground against a measure which had been introduced, authorizing the union of certain railroad corporations and the guaranteeing of railroad bonds by towns through whose territory their lines might pass. This was vigorously in line with the traditional Democratic policy of hostility to the increase of corporate power and influence, and was given point and emphasis, undoubtedly, by the financial distress that the building of the old Boston, Concord & Montreal, and the White Mountain road, then barely completed to Littleton, had brought to many citizens of that section of the state. The position was taken that individual enterprise should be depended upon for all such improvements and neither towns nor the state should assume any part of the burden in carrying them forward.

In the Reporter of February 26, 1853, just preceding the annual town and state election (the two coming together in those days), there appeared a long and earnest address to the Demo

crat. He was a member of the executive council in 1859, a representative from Littleton in the Legislature of 1871 and 1872, and a delegate to the Constitutional Convention of 1876. He also served as postmaster eight years, under the administration of Presidents Polk and Pierce. He was active in the old state militia, and was colonel of the ThirtySecond Regiment from 1844 till 1848. He died in Littleton, March 31, 1896.