1856.] 217 [Price. 



and educating his family, had added nothing to his little capital. It 

 was therefore of necessity that he must continue to perforin his ju- 

 dicial functions, though well knowing that they would soon terminate 

 his life. Such is the exigency experienced by all Judges who have 

 not secured their independence before taking office. It is a humilia- 

 ting concession to make, but it is demanded by truth. We must 

 bear the reproach until we apply the remedy. Judge Thompson is 

 but a more signal example of a pervading injustice. Many Judges 

 there are in our State, eminent for learning and ability, of perfect 

 integrity, on whom we must all depend for the protection of all that 

 we have inherited or shall earn, and for all rights we hold most pre- 

 cious, to whom we render no adequate justice, and who have to suf- 

 fer repentance and fake to themselves bitter reproaches, because they 

 have committed the error of having trusted themselves and their 

 families to the justice of their country. That is a sad reproach, in- 

 deed, to all who compose the public of the Commonwealth of Penn- 

 sylvania. 



Let us try a statistical statement between the period of Judge 

 Thompson's judicial life and previous periods, and thence judge 

 whether we have not been greatly unmindful of our duty, by not 

 keeping more consciously awake to the growth of our community and 

 its more than commensurate increase of business for the Courts. Let 

 us do this in reference to our local State Courts, leaving out of view 

 the Supreme Court, which has existed through all those periods, be- 

 sides formerly, in each year, holding the Court of Oyer and Terminer 

 here, which they have not done in this county for many years, by 

 reason of the increased amount of business devolved upon those 

 Judges. 



In 1790, the population of Philadelphia County was 54,391; in 

 1800, was 81,009; in 1810, was 111,210; and at those periods, our 

 local courts were two, the Common Pleas, with three Judges, one of 

 them learned in the law, and the Mayor's Court, with a Recorder, 

 learned in the law, assisted by the Ma3-or and Aldermen. The Dis- 

 trict Court was created in 1811, with three Judges, one of them 

 learned in the law; and since 1821, all of them have been learned 

 in the law. In 1820, our county had population, 137,097; in 1830, 

 had 188,789 ; in 1840, had 258,037. Our local courts stood without 

 change until 1840, except that in 1834, a second Law Judge was ap- 

 pointed in the Common Pleas, and in 1836, a third Judge, learned 

 in the law, was appointed for that court; and except also that, in 

 1838, another court, called the Criminal Court of Sessions, was es- 



