o the South. It was not thought the chances of
his acceptance made it worth while to keep the office open.
So it was offered to Mr. Hart, who accepted it.

Pretty soon afterward there came a vacancy in the United
States Circuit Court for the First Judicial Circuit by the
resignation of Judge Lowell. I desired to have Judge Putnam,
of Maine, succeed him. He, too, was a Democrat. I did not
know exactly what to do about it, after my experience in the
post-office matter. So I saw Judge Gray of the Supreme Court,
who had a high regard for Putnam, and asked him if he would
be willing to recommend him to the President. Judge Gray
said he would do it if the President applied to him for advice.
But he was not willing to offer such advice unasked. He agreed,
however, that I might say that Judge Lowell was about to resign,
and that when the matter came up, if the President desired
to know Judge Gray's opinion, he would be very happy to give
it. The resignation took effect in the vacation of Congress.
The President invited Judge Gray to come to see him, and
determined to accept his advice. When I got to Washington
in December, President Harrison sent for me and said: "Mr.
Hoar, I have pretty much made up my mind to appoint Judge
Putnam to the Circuit Court, if you approve." I said: "Mr.
President, I heartily approve. But I shall look with some
curiosity to see how you answer the excellent argument you
made against the appointment of a Democrat to office when
General Corse's term expired," to which Harrison burst out
into hearty laughter; and both incidents closed.

When the bill for rebuilding the William and Mary College
building, which had been destroyed during the war, was passed,
President Tyler and several other gentlemen interested in
the College, were very anxious lest the President should refuse
to sign it. They came to Washington to ask me to go with
them to see him. This I did. I told him the history of the
College, giving a list of the famous men who were graduated
from there. I spoke of the great affection that had inspired
the people of Virginia for centuries, and reminded him that
his own ancestor, General Washington's friend, General Benjamin
Harrison of the Revolution, had been a child of the College,
and I pointed out what a measure of reconcilement it would
be. The President listened with a rather disgusted look,
until I got through, and just as I rose to take my leave,
said: "Mr. Hoar, have