The next morning he sent for the Judge and said: "Judge, I think I would like to have you take the oath of office." He handed the Judge his commission.

The Judge looked at it and saw that it was not signed.

He said: "I think perhaps it would be better if you were to sign it." Grant laughed and complied with the suggestion.

Judge Hoar's first official duty was to give an opinion upon the question whether Mr.Stewart, who had been nominated for Secretary of the Treasury, could under the law undertake the office.

Mr.Stewart proposed to make some conveyances of his business in trust, by which he should part with his legal title to it while he held the office of Secretary of the Treasury and come back to it again after his term ended.