so we're going to hear two short dramatic presentations, readings by henry miller, as no one else can do it. one of which is very, very well known to you, of course, and the other is one written by a judge of our court about 140 years ago, and i find it so touching that i asked henry to include it, because i cannot hear it because being gripped right here when we talk about the life, the loss of life for a cause. henry miller. [ applause ] >> the pain of the nation that judge wesley referred to is, i believe, very movingly revealed in the two very short readings i have for you. the first is by samuel a. foote, judge of our new york court of appeals, who, while he was on the court, wrote a letter at the end of 1862, so the war is well under way. he lost two sons, john and samuel. his third son, alfred, was seriously wounded but survived. although i notice that boy died in 1869, nine years before his father, judge foote, one would strongly suspect his wounds had something to do with it. in any event, in 1862, judge foote writes this letter to the president. mr. president, dear sirs, my