"Under all circumstances Mr. Badger possessed a peculiar command of himself. He never permitted ruffled feelings to throw him into confusion or derange his clear equilibrium of mind. His ideas were always clear, and his command of language full and free. Thus he was always prepared on every sudden emergency. Some of his best polemical efforts were called out on the spur of the occasion, and seemingly without any forethought. This intuitive gift always rendered him ready, be the occasion what it might that called him to speak, and especially if to repel the attack of a religious opponent. Nor did he lack occasions of the kind. In the first spread of the Christian sentiments in western New York, public attacks on doctrinal subjects were common, and clergymen of various orders would frequently, after the close of an afternoon or evening discourse, rise and ask questions about the doctrine entertained. On occasions like these Mr. B. was about sure to leave his opponent in the condition of defeat. In every such instance he gained decided advantage and won the sympathy and influence of the masses. "In several instances he was called out by challenges for public discussion. On such occasions he evinced himself a cool, deliberate, shrewd manager. Often it would be said among those who heard his speeches, 'What a lawyer he would have made!' Whilst his opponent was speaking he usually took down notes, which he could do with great rapidity. Wo then to his antagonist, where he left weak points in argument, as Mr. B. was sure to fasten upon them in a manner that not only exposed them, but completely withered their effect. He had great skill in making his own arguments stand out in all their strength, and in stripping those of his opponent of all their seeming worth or value. Occasionally, after he had made a solid fortress by candid argument, he would let loose a volley of sarcasm which was perfectly scathing, and was very apt to so affect the opposite party as to produce confusion of mind, one of the first elements of defeat.