204|The Green Bag.|}}

sion that was created to revise the tax laws Campbell, the partnership continuing until Judge of Michigan, and in that capacity rendered Campbell's accession to the bench in 1858 as one very valuable service to the State. He is a of the judges of the Supreme Court of Michigan. man of the highest character, sincere and From that time to the present Mr. Wells has con genuine at all times and under all occasions. tinued the practice of law alone in Detroit. His legal talents early won just recognition, and his He is a man of sound judgment and of con practice has extended to all the courts of the State scientious devotion to duty, who never does and United States. He has been counsel in many anything half-way. Not only is he a well- of the most important litigations of the past twentyread lawyer, but he has studied with care five years, notably in cases involving the constitu questions of government, and political and tionality of the War Confiscation Acts, heard in ethical science. He came to his professor the Supreme Court of the United States in 1869 ship in the Law School at the age of thirty- and 1870. four and held the position for eighteen years, when he resigned and gave himself up to the "In 1874-1875, during the leave of absence of practice of his profession. The old students Judge Charles I. Walker, Kent Professor of Law in will always remember him not only for his the University of Michigan, Mr. Wells was appointed learning, but for his humor and good nature. to the vacancy. On Judge Walker's resignation in 1876, Mr. Wells was appointed to the professor He lectured on Pleading and Practice, Evi dence, Torts, Easements, Bailments, and the ship, — a position he held until December, 18S5, Law of Personal Property. His lectures when he resigned l>ecause of the interference of were prepared with great care, and gave its duties with his legal practice. The subjects assigned to this professorship, and of which entire satisfaction. Mr. Wells had charge, were Corporations, Con Prof. William P. Wells was born at St. Al tracts, Commercial Law generally, Partnership, and bans, Vt., Feb. 15, 183 1. His father is said Agency. Upon his resignation an address was to have been a lineal descendant of Thomas presented him by the students, and resolutions of Wells, an early Governor of Connecticut. commendation adopted by the Regency. We take the liberty to incorporate herein the "From Jan. 1, 1887, to the close of the col following sketch of Professor Wells's career, lege year, Mr. Wells held the position of Lecturer which has recently been made public in an on Constitutional History and Constitutional Law other connection : — in the University of Michigan, temporarily dis "William P. Wells took a preparatory college charging the duties of Judge Cooley, Professor of course at the Franklin County Grammar School at American History and Constitutional Law in that institution. In June, 1887, he was again called by St. Albans, and then entered the University of Ver the Regency to the Kent Professorship in the Law mont at Hurlington, and after spending four years, School, and he now holds that position. The sub graduated with the degree of A.B. in 1851. After graduation he commenced the study of law at St. ject of Constitutional Law was added to those of Albans. In 1852 he entered the law school of which he has charge. Harvard University, and in 1854 graduated with the degree of LL.B., receiving the highest honors "He was one of the earliest members of the of his class for a thesis on 'The Adoption of the American Bar Association, organized in 1878, Principles of Equity Jurisprudence into the Admin which holds its annual session at Saratoga, N. Y., istration of the Common Law.' The same year he and for several years has been a member of the received the degree of M.A. from the University General Council; and in 1888 was elected chair of Vermont, and in 1854 was admitted to the bar man of the General Council. At the meeting in of his native State at St. Albans. In January, 1886 he presented a paper on 'The Dartmouth 1856, he settled in Detroit, entering the law office College Case and Private Corporations,' which of James V. Campbell. In March following he was has been reprinted from the transactions of the admitted to the bar of Michigan, and in November Association, and widely circulated, attracting much of the same year became a partner of James V. attention.