While abroad he visited the principal capitals of Europe, enjoying exceptional facilities for meeting prominent men, because of Mr. Fillmore's letters of introduction. In Paris, in London and at Oxford University he received marked attention from men distinguished in scholarship, politics and law, by whom he was sought, for his brilliant conversational powers. While in Paris he was thrown into the society of Charles Sumner, between whom and Mr. Williams a friendship was formed, which survived with unabated warmth for many years.

In 1867 excessive labor in his profession broke down his health, and he was obliged to retire from the practice of law. He thereupon accepted the position of register in bankruptcy for New York County. He acquired a high reputation in that office, writing many valuable opinions. In 1872 he threw himself heart and soul into the political struggle for the Presidency between Mr. Greeley and General Grant, speaking in several States in favor of the former.

In 1860 Mr. Williams went to live at Fordham, then in Westchester County, but since annexed to New York City, where he remained until 1869, when he bought a farm near Mr. Greeley's residence at Chappaqua, in which h e took great interest and pride. In

1877 he resigned the registership of bankruptcy and returned to the practice of his profession, and opened an office at White Plains, having formed a partnership with M. M. Silliman. In 1881 he dissolved this partnership and returned to New York, although he had built up a large and lucrative practice in Westchester County, and there continued in the active practice of his profession up to the time of his death. His last birthday, on which he reached the age of sixty-seven, was spent in arguing a case before the Court of Appeals at Albany.