orter, his brother, almost constantly with
him. Only a day or two anterior to his death, after some conversation
upon the subject of the great change, leaning back in his reclining
easy-chair, he seemed to forget the presence of these two, and, after
remaining for more than an hour entirely silent, without moving or
opening his eyes, he commenced to speak, as if communing with himself.
"I have," he said, "retrospected all my life, and am satisfied. Many
things I have done I should not; but they were never from a bad
motive. I have accomplished more than my merits were entitled to. To
the inconsiderate generosity of the people of Louisiana I owe much of
the success of my life. I have filled the highest offices in their
gift, the duties of which I have faithfully discharged to the best of
my abilities, and, I believe, to the satisfaction of the people of the
State. I have differed with many of my fellow-citizens, and some of
them are my enemies; but from my heart I have forgiven them all, as I
hope to be forgiven by them, and by my God, before whom I must in a
few hours appear." He paused many minutes, and then emphatically
added: "Yes, Lord, even Tom Lewis."

The opinions of Judge Porter in the reports of the decisions of the
Supreme Court are magnificent specimens of learning, logic, and
eloquence. Of every question he took a bold and comprehensive view,
and the perspicuity of his style and the clearness of his ideas made
all he wrote comprehensible to the commonest capacity. In his
decisions he was merciless toward a suitor where he discovered fraud,
or the more guilty crime of perjury. His wit was like the sword of
Saladin: its brilliancy was eclipsed by the keenness of the edge. In
debate he was brilliant and convincing; in argument, cogent and lucid;
in declamation, fervid and impassioned, abounding in metaphor, and
often elucidating a position with an apposite anecdote, both pointed
and amusing. His memory was wonderful, and his reading extensive and
diversified. He had so improved the defective education of his youth
as to be not only classical, but learned. Impulsive and impetuous, he
was sometimes severe and arrogant toward his inferiors who presumed
too much upon his forbearance. In his feelings and social associations
he was aristocratic and select. He could not tolerate presumptuous
ignorance; but to the modest and unobtrusive he was respectful and
tolerant. For the whining hypocrisy of pretended piety he had