been educated in the office of a lawyer who was a great lover of the black-letter English law, and the pupil fully shared with his mas ter in his admiration for the old teachers. He was a lawyer by instinct, and loved his profession, its studies and its practice. He had no liking for any innovations of modern times, and viewed with much jealousy any interference by the Legislature with the set tled principles of the common law. Yet he was broad-minded enough to appreciate any improvement, and did not hesitate, if his judgment approved, to adopt readily and heartily any change which might prove a benefit to the jurisprudence of the country. A case was decided in his court where he dissented from his two associates, and insisted upon an abrogation of an old com mon-law rule. This was a great surprise to the bar at the time, but it carried out the idea that Chief-Justice Ewing was not so wedded to old rules that he could not change for better ones. His mind was naturally in quisitive, and he was never satisfied with any mere cursory examination of subjects brought to his attention. A very large part of the business of the Supreme Court consisted in considering cases brought from Justices of the Peace by certiorari or otherwise. Many of these involved small amounts; but this made no difference with Chief-Justice Ewing : if there were any principle of law in the case — and he was sure to ascertain if there were any — his scrutiny was as searching and ex haustive as if there were millions at stake. In his investigations he never rested until every possible authority had been examined and all doubt removed. His patience was untiring,and he listened apparently unwearied to the arguments of counsel, however prolix and uninteresting. His earnest and honest en deavor was to learn the real merits of the case. His great honesty of purpose and integrity of action were striking character istics of his nature. His character as a judge and as a citizen was unsullied by a stain, and in his action as a judge he was possibly too strict in avoiding even the ap
pearance of evil. He refused to receive any fee unless it was unmistakably and in express terms allowed by the statute. The salary of the judges then was very small, and the ex pense in attending the different circuits was very large. Lawyers who could afford it were in the habit of inviting the judges to their houses while attending court. But Chief-Justice Ewing invariably declined their invitations, so as to avoid the appearance of partiality. He was an excellent scholar, and a close student of other subjects than the law. In all the relations of private life he was all that could be desired, and left be hind him a most enviable record. Mr. Ewing held the position of Chief-Jus tice for one term of five years, and was then re-elected without opposition by the political party opposed to him, no one in fact being named as a competitor. In 1832, less than a year after his re-election, he was stricken down by cholera and died, to the great regret of all parties. He died as he had lived, a firm and decided Christian. Among the many cases decided by him, perhaps the most remarkable was that of Hendrickson vs. Decow; it was one which certainly elicited the greatest interest and at tention. A very large element of the popu lation of South Jersey was then, and is now, made up of Quakers. This sect, then and still, comprises among its members some of the very best citizens of the State, but had been hopelessly divided into two great bodies, called the Hicksites and Orthodox. The di vision was well marked and clearly defined, and the quarrel between the two parties had assumed that rancor and discord to which re ligious contests too often descend. A controversy arose over a mortgage which was subjected to foreclosure in the Court of Chancery. Both parties claimed the fund, and it was finally submitted to the Chancellor to decide the true ownership. That official had been counsel for one of the parties, and could not hear the cause. He called to his aid Chief-Justice Ewing and Associate Justice George K. Drake, and the
