Excerpt from A Discourse Delivered Before the Rhode-Island Historical Society, on January 18th, 1848: On the Character and Writings of Chief Justice Durfee Gentlemen of The Historical Society: This return of our anniversary, comes attended with circumstances, which awaken in our bosoms, the conflicting emotions of exultation and sorrow. With its recurrence, the elate feelings of patriotic pride with which we here listened to the last annual discourse, again spring into being, with all their kindling and elevating influences. But with these feelings, comes the painful reflection, that he who contributed so much to the glory of that occasion, is no more among us; that the voice which then so delighted and instructed us, is hushed in the silent grave. The events of that celebration may well form an era in the history of this Society, and of the State. By an effort, most felicitous and powerful, the orator of that day so successfully wrought all our past history - facts and principles - that little seems left to those who may follow him in the same field of labor. The relations he held to this Society - his zealous efforts in aid of its objects - the fact that he officiated as orator at the last annual celebration, and then delivered the first of the contemplated series of yearly discourses - the important and honorable position he long held in the government of our State - his conspicuous literary position - the general expectation of the public, and the expressed wish of many of your number, indicate the character, services, and writings of our late honored and beloved Chief Justice, as the prominent topic of this discourse, and which could I do them any justice, would certainly form an appropriate and congenial theme for the occasion. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.