168 JOURNAL OF PROCEEDINGS [Feb. 2,

est endeavors in behalf of education, entitle him to our high-
est esteem, and to grateful remembrance by all. But while
we realize that his great ability and experience are lost to
us, we must bow in humble submission to the Divine Will,
and ask only to express our devotion to the memory of one
so universally beloved.

Resolved, That the foregoing resolutions be entered on the
Journal of the Senate.

Pending the consideration of the resolutions.

Mr. Lawrence arose and said :
Mr. President:

The reading of those resolutions has reminded the Senate
that the hand of death has been among us, and claimed one
who, at the close of the last Session of this Honorable Body,
occupied a prominent position on this floor. And but for the
interposition of Divine Providence, would now be among
you, instead of him upon whom has devolved the duty of
offering this humble tribute to his memory.

The Hon. Chapman Billingsley was born near the begin-
ning of the present century, on the shores of the beautiful
Patuxent River, in St. Mary's county, where he lived through
his long and eventful life, and where he died, lamented by
his many friends.

He was educated at Charlotte Hall School, in that county,
and early took a great interest in that and other institutions,
and at his death was President of the Board of Trustees of
both Charlotte Hall School, and of St. Mary's Female Semi-
nary.

Among his labors in behalf of popular education, and
showing his earnest devotion to that cause, was his early in-
troduction in this Body, at its last Session, of a bill doubling
the amount of the appropriation for colored schools in this
State.

Colonel Billingsley was long a valued and useful public
servant. For a number of years he was an efficient Chief
Judge of the Orphans' Court of his county.

In 1864, he was an Honorable Member of the Convention
to frame a new Constitution for this State. He served his
county as a member of this Senate for the years 1865 and
1866, and again for the year 1874, when several of the
Senators, who are now present, had the pleasure and advan-
tage of his association, and can testify to his mental and
moral worth.

During these many years of active usefulness in his county

and in the halls of legislation of his State, his congenial

disposition, polished manners and manly bearing, left a