The Supreme Court of New Jersey. was another Chief-Justice in the shape of Robert Hunter Morris sitting in the place which Mr. Jones proposed to occupy. This was a dilemma which Mr. Jones found to be exceedingly awkward. However, he had his commission read, and in his argument re ferred to some minutes of the court when Chief-Justice Aynsley was present and had taken part in the proceedings. This was certainly quite embarrassing for Morris, who had possession. But he was equal to the occasion; he produced his commission dated in 1738, by which he was undoubtedly vested with the office. Morris referred to the con dition upon which he was to hold the posi tion; he was to have it during good behavior, and he had not been removed. Chief-Justice Morris took no part in the debate which en sued, except to say that David Ogden and Charles Read would appear for him. As sociate Nevill decided the case, declaring that the court could not recognize Mr. Jones as Chief-Justice; that Robert Hunter Mor ris had the first right to the office, and that Mr. Jones must seek his remedy in another tribunal and by a due course of law. The defeated aspirant for office aban doned the controversy, and that was the last that was ever heard of the contention, which at one time bid fair to become a cause cdlibre. Mr. Morris held the office without further molestation until his death, which occurred under very sad circumstances. In 1764 he made a visit to a relative in Shrewsbury. In the evening he attended a dance in the village; and while dancing with his relative, dropped to the floor and expired instantly without a struggle. Morris had two associates while he was on the bench; one was Richard Saltar, of whom very little can be said. When Morris attempted to resign his office of Chief-Justice upon being appointed Governor of Pennsyl vania, he recommended Mr. Saltar as his successor. Samuel Nevill was then also on the bench; but although he appears to have been much more fit than Saltar, Morris passed him by with the remark that he did
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not think Samuel Nevill would do; " his circumstances are so low, and he is from that reason unfit to be trusted in the prin cipal seat of justice." Samuel Nevill was born in England, and had received a liberal education. At one time before he came to America he had been editor of the "Morning Post." He had a sister, the widow of Peter Sonmans, who died in New Jersey, leaving quite an estate. Being her elder brother, Samuel Nevill in herited this estate, and came to the province in 1736 to claim the property. He iresided at Amboy, where his character and talents were soon recognized and respected. He became a member of the Assembly, and at one time was its Speaker. He espoused the cause of the Proprietors in their quarrel with the people, and led the Assembly in its long controversy with the governor. Per haps Chief-Justice Morris was avenging his father's fancied wrongs when he wrote so disparagingly of Nevill. Nevill was made second judge of the Supreme Court in 1748, and continued in office for sixteen years. He compiled two volumes of the statutes of the colony, which were published by authority of the Legislature. These books contain all the Acts of the Assembly from 1702 to 1752, and are almost worth their weight in gold, . being eagerly sought after by the Bar of New Jersey. Judge Nevill was a man of considerable literary merit. He became the editor of the " New American Magazine," the ini tial number of which appeared in January, 1758. It was the first periodical in New Jersey, and the second magazine of the kind ever printed in America. Nevill wrote for it under the name of " Sylvanus Americanus." The magazine was discontinued, for want of support, in 1760. It deserved patronage, however, and was really a very creditable affair. Judge Nevill died soon after the death of Robert Hunter Morris, and left an unsullied name.
