Before the autumn his election to the House of Delegates, which in April seemed so great a thing, began to assume the appearance of a trifle in his fortunes.

He would overtop that, and how highly no man was prepared to say.

Through all the clashing of shields, through Republican attack and Federalist resistance, through the clamour over Hamilton's death, the denunciation and upholding of Burr, the impeachment of Chase, the situation in Louisiana, the gravitation towards France, and the check of England, the consciousness of Pitt and the obsession of Napoleon,--through all the commotion and fanfaronade of that summer Rand kept a steady hand and eye, and sent his arrows into the gold.

In the law, as in politics, he was successful.

A comprehensive knowledge and an infinite painstaking, a grasp wide and firm, a somewhat sombre eloquence, a personal magnetism virile and compelling,--these and other attributes began to make his name resound.