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in the practice of law. The profession was not crowded at that day, and there was a wide field for his labors. He was elected to the legislature in 1850, and served one term. He had settled in Biloxi, Miss., and remained there until 1857. In that year he went to Pass Christian, Miss. In 1861 he was again elected a member of the legislature, and held the office until after the war was ended. In 1866 he was elected a member of the state senate, and was made president of the body. He was re-elected senator and discharged his duties to the entire satisfaction of his constituency. When the war ended, Colonel Seal found himself without a dollar, as all his means had been invested in slaves. He went to Mississippi City, and there resumed his legal practice. In 1888 he was again elected to the senate of the state, but resigned on account of ill health. He has held many offices in the gift of the people, and has always shown a fidelity and courage in caring for the interests of the people of his county that have won for him the highest regard of all classes of citizens. He is considered at the head of his profession, and there are few men on the coast better posted in all matters pertaining to the law. He owns a large amount of real estate along the coast, and large flocks of sheep and herds of cattle that are kept on Chandelier island [sic]. This is an island in the gulf, twenty-eight miles from Mississippi City, about forty miles long and two and a half miles wide; it has no timber, except myrtle wood, and is considered a very fine range. The Colonel is now somewhat advanced in years, but has an excellent memory, is quick in decision, and keen in judgment. He has been three times married. His first wife born him four children, two of whom are living:	Florian	C., sheriff of Harrison county
and Marshall. "
? Roderick is mentioned in a letter from John J. McRae to Jefferson Davis (Confederate Correspondence, Vol. 6, Chapter XVI, p. 781) :
"Jackson, MISS., December 14, 1861.
' His Excellency JEFFERSON DAVIS,
President, Richmond:
DEAR SIR:	I am earnestly requested by the people of the
Mississippi Gulf coast and by Governor Pettus to ask the attention of the President and the Secretary of War to the defense of the coast by a military force on shore sufficient to protect property and repel invasion by the enemy. The governor requests me to ask that three regiments shall be accepted into the Confederate service under the act authorizing troops to be accepted for local defense, to be
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