72 INTRODUCTION. 



pared the way for more regular and careful reports by William Johnson, of the 

 decisions made in the three higher tribunals of the state. Those of the supreme 

 court, and court for the correction of errors, now fill fifty volumes, of which 

 twenty were published by Mr. Johnson, nine by Esek Cowen, twenty by John 

 L. Wendell, and one by Mr. Hill, the present reporter. 



Chancellor Kent introduced the system of reporting in the court of chancery, 

 and we have now fifteen volumes of such reports, seven of which were prepared 

 by William Johnson, one by Samuel Miles Hopkins, and seven by Alonzo C. 

 Paige. These various reports contain a large mass of adjudications on constitu- 

 tional law and statutory enactments and the application of the common law, and 

 principles of equity, to the multifarious questions of rights and duties arising in a 

 rapidly increasing community ; and are held in the highest respect by the people 

 of this state, and deemed a necessary part of the library of every lawyer in the 

 United States. The talents and learning of judge Benson have always been held 

 in high respect ; but the honor of introducing method and order into our juris- 

 prudence, and elucidating its principles and their application, rests chiefly with 

 James Kent and Ambrose Spencer, and their associates on the bench of the su- 

 preme court. Since their retirement from the judiciary, the responsibilities of 

 judges have vastly increased in regard to the number of causes to be heard and 

 adjudicated ; and although generally it is hazardous to speak of contemporaries, 

 yet we may safely affirm that the courts have continued to maintain an eminent 

 character for profound and varied learning. 



The names of some of our lawyers have been already mentioned. We may 

 add those of Richard Harrison, Richard Varick, Thomas Addis Emmet, John 

 Wells, John V. Henry, Elisha Williams, Abraham Van Vechten, Henry R. Storrs, 

 Samuel Miles Hopkins, Thomas R. Gold, who are deeply lamented not only 

 as eminent lawyers, but as useful and honored citizens. Our contemporaries 

 will perhaps allow us to add the names of some who, although living have with- 

 drawn from the contests of the forum, and whose established fame is now the 



