him to pursue one of the learned professions. The small number of schools was at that period a serious obstacle to the dissemination of knowledge. The nearest reputable seminary to the residence of Mr. Read's parents was at Chester, in the Province of Pennsylvania, where he was taught the rudiments of the learned languages. From this school he was removed to New London, in the same Province, and placed under the care of the Rev. Dr. Allison, a man eminently qualified for the arduous task of imparting instruction to youth. Deeply versed in the dead languages, his mind was free from the alloy too often mingled with the pure gold of classic lore; he explored the mazes of science, in solitary study, without being ignorant of the world, without despising the beauties of elegant literature, and without neglecting the decencies of society. His knowledge of human nature enabled him quickly to discern the bent of a pupil's pupil's genius, his master vice, and dominant foible.*

Among the fellow-pupils of Mr. Read were Charles Thomson, Secretary of Congress, Hugh Williamson, a member of that body from North Carolina, and Dr. Ewing, Provost of the University of Pennsylvania, eminent as a mathematician and astronomer. The meeting, in after-life, of the first three of these distinguished men must, under any circumstances, have been pleasing, but to meet, as it occurred in the present instance, in the American Congress of 1774, a body endued with Roman spirit and Roman virtue, and political knowledge such as no Roman ever attained, -to meet in that illustrious assembly the guardian of the rights of three millions of their fellow-men, must have been to them a source of deep-felt gratification.

Mr. Read diligently pursued his studies, under the care

*Dr. Francis Allison was afterwards Vice-Provost and Professor of Moral Philosophy in the University of Pennsylvania, and justly entitled, from his talents, learning, and discipline, the Busby of the Western Hemisphere."- Hosack's Biographical Memoir of Hugh Williamson, in the Collections of the New York Historical Society, p. 131, vol. iii.

+ Volume iii. Collections of New York Historical Society, p. 132. So diligently, or rather ardently, that, as his sister, Mrs. Bedford, related, when his candle was taken from him at bedtime, he studied his grammar-lesson by fire-light.

of Dr. Allison, until his fifteenth year, at which early age he was removed from school, and, on the 28th day of September, 1749, commenced the study of the law with John Moland, Esquire, an eminent lawyer of the city of Philadelphia. An education terminated at so early a period of life, must, necessarily, have been incomplete; but the disadvantage of being forced into the world with, a scanty stock of knowledge was common to his contemporaries, who, having their bread to earn, because their parents had large families and moderate estates, entered on the study and practice of professions at ages which must have appeared to Europeans immature indeed. Mr. Read actively applied. himself to the study of his profession. It required more intense application at that period than it does at present to qualify a young man for admission to the bar. The student was not then assisted by digests, abridgments, and excellent elementary treatises on every ramification of the law. The great toil which at that day was requisite to the attainment of legal knowledge was best calculated to form habits on which were founded the most certain presages of eminence. at the bar and erudition on the bench. Hence Mr. Read was conspicuous in after-life for research and accuracy, and the margins of almost every book in the extensive lawlibrary he possessed are covered with his notes, so true it is that the foundation of industrious habits is always laid in early life. The confidence reposed by Mr. Moland in the abilities, integrity, and steadiness of his young student was so great that long before his apprenticeship expired he intrusted him with his docket, and confided to him all his attorney's business. Indeed, the talents, industry, zeal, and uprightness of Mr. Read, while in the office of Mr. Moland, generated an attachment towards his pupil stronger and more permanent than the relation of lawyer and student usually produces. Mr. Moland in his will enjoined his family to consult Mr. Read on all occasions of difficulty, and to repose implicit confidence in his advice. John

* It may be inferred from the following letter that this injunction was obeyed:

"SIR,-I assure you, I seldom take a pen in my hand but it is to give some of my friends trouble. I have teased good Mr. Dickinson till he is weary of me; and now, to make a beginning with you, I send, inclosed, a parcel of notes of hand, to see if you can get the money [due

Dickinson was one of his fellow students, and the friendship contracted between the young men, nurtured by the recip rocation of good offices and growing conviction of each other's worth, was only interrupted by the death of Mr. Read, a few years anterior to the decease of the distinguished author of the "Farmers' Letters." In a letter to Messrs. Read and Wharton, without date, but written by Mr. Dickinson just before he embarked for England, whither he went to complete (in the "Temple") the study of the law, and while Mr. Read was yet in Mr. Moland's office, and therefore before or early in 1753, Mr. Dickinson takes a most affectionate leave of his late associates. He is evidently much excited and elated by the prospect of his voyage, and if passages of the letter be written with undue levity, his youth and, circumstanced as he was, almost unavoidable exhilaration may excuse it, and a warm and kindly feeling for Mr. Read and other friends pervades it, which exhibits him very advantageously. He begs to be remembered to Groves, Oldman, and other friends who may inquire for him, and especially to Mr. Moland and family; and in the postscript asks his friend to order the printer's boy to leave his paper with the "sheriff." I may be pardoned for a brief notice of this letter, as it is the first of the letters of this eminent man to Mr. Read found among his papers, and covering a period of more than forty years.

It appears from the following letter written by Mr. Read, at Philadelphia, to his parents, June 27th, 1753, that he had then been admitted to the bar:

HONORED PARENTS,-In discoursing with Mr. Moland lately, I told him my intention [of] settling at New Castle, but he seemed to think it would be better staying here, and

upon them]. If my papa has received any money upon these notes, there will certainly be receipts to show such payments.

"I dare say, as Mr. Read has always professed a friendship for our family, he will be pleased to hear how we go on in this troublesome world, but I will leave that to Mr. Dickinson, and have no doubt but he will tell you. And now give me leave to join with mamma in wishing you many very happy years.

"GEORGE READ, Esquire, January 29th, 1762 "

"E. MOLAND.

On the back of this letter is written, "Miss Betsy Moland's letter, now Lady St. Clair."

attending as many of the courts in this Province, together with New Castle, as I might think convenient, and that he would assist me all that lay in his power,-he intending to decline Lancaster and New Castle. His Lancaster business he has resigned to me already, which will be of great service in introducing me to his clients and the people in general, and I suppose I shall attend the August court at Lancaster, and also at New Castle. His reasons for my not settling at New Castle were that the county was poor, and not able to support more of the fraternity than were in it already, and not fit for any person [to] live in, but I might by attending there make near as much as if settled; and, by my going from hence. I should lose the acquaintance I had acquired, and get quite out of knowledge. That while I thought proper to stay in Philadelphia, I should be welcome to his table and my lodgings, as at present, but at the same time would not advise or persuade me to go or stay, but would leave me entirely at my own disposal, as he thought it difficult to tell what might be most for my advantage. I think, under the circumstances, it would be prudent to follow his advice, at least for awhile, to see how matters will answer, as it will undoubtedly be in his power to assist me both in this and the other counties in the Province. But you will be pleased to let me know your sentiments in this respect as soon as it shall be convenient, and you will very much oblige

"Your loving and obedient son,
"GEORGE READ.

"Mr. JOHN READ, Christeen Bridge."

By then existing laws of Maryland and the " Three Lower Counties on Delaware" Mr. Read was entitled to a double portion of his father's property.* His first act after his admission to the bar was to relinquish, by deed, all claim on

*This right to a double portion was anciently peculiar to the Jews. (2d Blackstone's Commentaries, p. 214; Tucker's edition, chap. xiv., Of Title by Descent, Rule 3) In Deuteronomy, xxi. 17, it is declared to be the right of the first-born, and was his in the patriarchal age, to support his dignity as the ruler of his family, and, probably, its priest. It was the law in Delaware, as to personal estate, from 1683 to 1742, and as to real, from 1683, when it was, as far as appears, first enacted as to both, till January 29th, 1794, when it was repealed. Appendix, Delaware Laws, vol. i. p 16, etc., and Delaware Laws, vol. i. chap. exix. a, p. 119. It was also, at the time of the Revolution, the law in New

his father's estate, assigning as the reason for this relinquishment that he had received his full portion in the expenses incurred by his education, and it would be a fraud upon his brothers not to renounce his legal right.

In the year 1754+ he settled in New Castle, and commenced the practice of the law, in the then three lower counties on Delaware, and the adjacent ones of Maryland. He found himself in the midst of powerful competitors, men of undoubted talents and able lawyers, among whom were John Ross, then Attorney-General.‡ Benjamin Chew, Joseph Galloway.§ George Ross,|| John Dickinson, and Thomas McKean. To have rapidly obtained full practice among such competitors is of itself sufficient praise.

On

England, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.--Hildreth's History of the United States, vol. iii. p. 388.

* Part of which was a farm of one hundred and eighty acres, with a spacious brick house, and barn, and other buildings and conveniences adjacent to Christiana Bridge, with a store-house and wharf used as a landing, from whence an extensive trade was long carried on with Philadelphia and other places. John Read died in 1756, aged sixty-eight years, and his wife, Mary Howel, September 22d. 1784, in the seventyfourth year of her age. Both are interred in the Presbyterian buryingground of Christiana, and have substantial marble monuments over them

In an almanac for 1754, which I found among his papers, is this entry in his handwriting, "Came to New Castle 6th March, 1754." See Appendix A.

$Of Galloway's manner I have no personal knowledge. From inspection of the docket, his practice appears to have been extensive. He adhered to the royal cause, and migrated to England, where, after exciting considerable public attention by his attacks on the conduct of Sir William Howe, in America, he remained till his death."—Rawle's Recollections of the Philadelphia Bar; Watson's Annals of Philadel phia, pp. 267, 268.

"The talents of George Ross were much above mediocrity. His nanner was insinuating and persuasive, accompanied with a species of pleasantry and habitual good humor. His knowledge of law was sufficient to obtain respect from the court, and his familiar manner secured the attention of the jury. But he was not industrious, and his career, after the commencement of the Revolution, was short." He was a signer of the Declaration of Independence.-Rawle's Recollections ; Watson's Annals, p. 270.

"But in those times the sphere of the lawyer was somewhat limited. In the provincial courts no great questions of international law were discussed. There were no arguments upon the construction of treaties, and no comparison of legislative powers with constitutional restrictions. Even admiralty cases had little interest. Everything great and im