I suppose he would be
placed by all our writers of history with great unanimity
at the head of American historic investigators. James Walker
was a great preacher and a profound thinker. In the judgment
of his hearers, young and old, he was probably deemed nearly
or quite the foremost of American preachers.
That I may not be supposed to imply any disparagement of the
present accomplished head of Harvard, let me say that while
each of the men I have named had done a great work in life
and achieved a great fame before he came to the Presidency,
President Eliot has, in my opinion, achieved an equal fame
and performed an equal work since he came to it.
A like policy prevailed in those days in the choice of instructors
in the Law School. Judge Story, the senior professor, died
just before I graduated from the College. His fame as a jurist
was known throughout Europe. He was undoubtedly the most
learned judge in the United States. Chief Justice Marshall
and Chief Justice Shaw of Massachusetts doubtless excelled
him in intellectual vigor. Chancellor Kent rivalled him as
a writer upon law.
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