1867 and after 179

over Alexander Randall, Attorney General under
the constitution of 1864; in the sixth circuit Madi-
son Nelson, of Frederick County, was elected over
Chief Judge Bowie; and in the seventh circuit,
George Brent, of Charles County, trial judge
under the previous constitution, was elected with-
out opposition.

This bench has always been regarded by Mary-
land lawyers as strong in personalities and in pro-
fessional ability. The people of the state had just
passed through one of those periods of accumu-
lating strains which often sift out all but the
stronger characters, and in the reaction of 1867
the selections of judges seem to have been in a
measure foreordained. Three of the eight new
'chiefs, it will be observed, were unopposed in the
elections. Three, Judges Robinson, Nelson and
Brent, had been trial judges, and one, Judge Bar-
tol, an appellate judge on this court; and Judge
Grason had, as stated, been elected a trial judge
in 1864 but unseated, and he was one of the un-
opposed candidates in 1867.

A description of Chief Judge Bartol has al-
ready been given.¹ Almost half a century after
he left the bench, in 1883, the surviving members
of his bar recall him with expressions of satisfac-
tion. Two others on the court of 1867 were to fill
the position of Chief Judge after him, Judge
Alvey from 1883 to 1893, and Judge Robinson
from 1893 to the time of his death in 1896. The
attention of lawyers interested in the work of the
judges has for some years been centered on these
latter judges, their colleague, Judge Miller, and

1. Supra, page 158.