^8 LIVE OF 



year foiluwing, the system was ai^aiii altered^ aiul the 

 new courts abolished. This last change is still la- 

 mented by many well wishers to the good government 

 of this country. 



Under that arrangement two circuit courts only 

 were held in the city of Philadelphia, the part of his 

 circuit where arose the causes of the greatest impor- 

 tance. There, he began to display those judicial 

 talents for which he has become so justly celebrated. 

 On the dissolution of the court, he was seen to descend 

 from the bench with universal regret. 



Still modest and unassuming, he at once returned 

 to the exercise of his profession. But he had not 

 long to continue in it. On the resignation of Judge 

 Coxe, in the year 1805, he was appointed by Gover- 

 nor M'Kean, President of the several courts of the 

 first judicial circuit of this State, which then consist- 

 ed of the city and county of Philadelphia, and of the 

 counties of I3ucks» Montgomery, and Delaware. 

 And this was only a step to a more elevated seat. 



About the close of the same year, the office of Chief 

 Justice of this commonwealth became vacant, by the 

 resignation of the venerable Edward Shippen, a few 

 months before his lamented death. The appointment 

 of a successor to that great and good man was become 

 an object of the most serious consideration. Party 

 spirit was then high in Pennsylvania. There were 

 men at that time who sought popularity by excitin 

 the people against the judiciary order. The bar was 

 the principal object of their animadversions, and 



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