Sullivan was a good lawyer and a fluent and ready speaker, with great power of illustration.

Bartlett was a shrewd, hard-headed man, very keen and incisive, and one whom it was impossible to outwit or deceive.

He indulged, in his argument, in some severe reflections upon Mr.Webster's conduct toward Wheelock, which so much incensed Mr.
Webster that he referred to Mr.Bartlett's argument in a most contemptuous way, and strenuously opposed the publication of the remarks "personal or injurious to counsel." The weight of the argument for the college fell upon Mason and Smith, who spoke for two and four hours respectively.

Sullivan and Bartlett occupied three hours, and the next day Mr.Webster closed for the plaintiffs in a speech of two hours.

Mr.Webster spoke with great force, going evidently beyond the limits of legal argument, and winding up with a splendid sentimental appeal which drew tears from the crowd in the Exeter court-room, and which he afterwards used in an elaborated form and with similar effect before the Supreme Court at Washington.
It now becomes necessary to state briefly the points at issue in this case, which were all fully argued by the counsel on both sides.