Wickliffe，BatonRouge，Louisiana，askingtheanswertobesenttomeatLancaster，Ohio，whereIproposedtoleavemyfamily。But，beforeleavingthisbranchofthesubject，ImustexplainalittlematterofwhichIhaveseenanaccountinprint，complimentaryorotherwiseofthefirmofSherman，Ewing&McCook，moreespeciallyoftheseniorpartner。
Oneday，asIsatinouroffice，anIrishmancameinandsaidhehadacaseandwantedalawyer。Iaskedhimtositdownandgivemethepointsofhiscase，alltheothermembersofthefirmbeingout。OurclientstatedthathehadrentedalotofanIrishlandlordforfivedollarsamonth;thathehaderectedthereonasmallframeshanty，whichwasoccupiedbyhisfamily;thathehad，paidhisrentregularlyuptoarecentperiod，buttohishousehehadappendedashedwhichextendedoverapartofanadjoiningvacantlotbelongingtothesamelandlord，forwhichhewaschargedtwoandahalfdollarsamonth，whichherefusedtopay。Theconsequencewas，thathislandlordhadfarafewmonthsdeclinedevenhisfivedollarsmonthlyrentuntilthearrearsamountedtoaboutseventeendollars，forwhichhewassued。Itoldhimwewouldundertakehiscase，ofwhichItooknotes，andafeeoffivedollarsinadvance，andindueorderIplacedthenotesinthehandsofMcCook，andthoughtnomoreofit。
Amonthorsoafter，ourclientrushedintotheofficeandsaidhiscasehadbeencalledatJudgeGardner’s（Ithink），andhewantedhislawyerrightaway。IsenthimuptotheCircuitCourt，JudgePettit’s，forMcCook，buthesoonreturned，sayinghecouldnotfindMcCook，andaccordinglyIhurriedwithhimuptoJudgeGardner’soffice，intendingtoaskacontinuance，butIfoundourantagonistthere，withhislawyerandwitnesses，andJudgeGardnerwouldnotgrantacontinuance，soofnecessityIhadtoact，hopingthatateveryminuteMcCookwouldcome。Butthetrialproceededregularlytoitsend;wewerebeaten，andjudgmentwasenteredagainstourclientfortheamountclaimed，andcosts。AssoonasthematterwasexplainedtoMcCook，hesaid\"execution\"couldnotbetakenfortendays，and，asourclientwaspoor，andhadnothingonwhichthelandlordcouldlevybuthishouse，McCookadvisedhimtogethisneighborstogether，topickupthehouse，andcarryitontoanothervacantlot，belongingtoanon—resident，sothateventhehousecouldnotbetakeninexecution。Thusthegraspinglandlord，thoughsuccessfulinhisjudgment，failedintheexecution，andourclientwasabundantlysatisfied。
InduetimeIclosedupmybusinessatLeavenworth，andwenttoLancaster，Ohio，where，inJuly，1859，IreceivednoticefromGovernorWickliffethatIhadbeenelectedsuperintendentoftheproposedcollege，andinvitingmetocomedowntoLouisianaasearlyaspossible，becausetheywereanxioustoputthecollegeintooperationbythe1stofJanuaryfollowing。ForthishonorablepositionIwasindebtedtoMajorD。C。BuellandGeneralG。MasonGraham，towhomIhavemadefullanddueacknowledgment。Duringthecivilwar，itwasreportedandchargedthatIowedmypositiontothepersonalfriendshipofGeneralsBraggandBeauregard，andthat，intakinguparmsagainsttheSouth，Ihadbeenguiltyofabreachofhospitalityandfriendship。IwasnotindebtedtoGeneralBragg，becausehehimselftoldmethathewasnotevenawarethatIwasanapplicant，andhadfavoredtheselectionofMajorJenkins，anotherWestPointgraduate。GeneralBeauregardhadnothingwhatevertodowiththematter。
CHAPTERVII。