contest, the new members presented themselves for admission at the bar
of the House, which decided readily that Claiborne and Gholson were
not entitled to their places, but instead of admitting Prentiss
and Word, by Mr. Polk's casting vote declared the seats vacant, and
referred the whole subject back to the people. During the discussion
of the question Mr. Prentiss made a speech which will be remembered
and admired as long as genius and true manly eloquence are
appreciated. Another election was held in the following month of
March, and Prentiss and Word were again returned, and this time
they were admitted to their seats. The remaining session of the
twenty-fifth Congress, Prentiss served with distinguished ability. We
believe this closed his career as a statesman. He recently removed
to New Orleans, where he continued the practice of the law, standing
always at the head of his profession.

* * * * *

THE LATE HON. NATHANIEL SILSBEE, according to the Salem, Mass.
_Gazette_, of the 16th inst., began his career soon after the breaking
out of the French revolution, and the general warfare in which all
Europe became embroiled. At this favorable point of time, Mr. S.
having finished his term of service at one of our best private schools
of instruction, under the Rev. Dr. Cutler, of Hamilton, and having
abandoned the collegiate course for which he had been prepared,
and been initiated into the forms of business and knowledge of
the counting-room, he engaged in the employ of one of our most
enterprising merchants, Hasket Derby, Esq., the leader of the vanguard
of India adventures. At the age of 18, he embarked on the sea of
fortune as clerk of a merchant vessel. On his next voyage he took the
command of a vessel, and before he arrived at the age of 21, he sailed