without fear or favor; a strict integrity; a character untarnished by a charge of fault; a kind and courteous manner; a willingness to listen, and a broad-minded appreciation of right and wrong. No judge ever sat on the bench who had less of prejudice in his com position, or who was freer from passion. He filled many positions of prominence not connected with either political or judicial affairs. He was appointed a commissioner to select a site for an insane asylum, and was a member of the first board of managers of that institution; he was also appointed a commissioner to select a site for a home for disabled soldiers, and was one of the first trustees of that organization. When the legislature established a reform school for juvenile delinquents, he was selected as one of the Trustees, was the first President of the Board, and held that position for many years. He took a great interest in prison reform, and was appointed one of the com missioners to examine the systems of stateprisons in New Jersey and elsewhere. In 1870 he was sent to Cincinnati as a delegate from New Jersey, by its Governor,- to a National Prison Reform Congress. He represented the United States at the In ternational Convention on prison discipline and reform which met in London in 1872, was Vice-President of the Convention, and presided over some of its sessions in Middle Temple Hall. While abroad he received marked attention from English Judges and other distinguished men of different countries. For many years he was a Trustee in Princeton College. He lived' to a green and honored old age, and died re cently at his home at Hamburg. If Peter Vredenburgh had been born in New York City, he would have ranked among the Knickerbockers of Gotham His birthplace was Readington, Hunterdon County, New Jersey, and he came of a goodly German parentage. His father, whose name he bore, was a physician. Young Vredenburgh graduated at Rutgers in 1826, was licensed as an attorney in
1829, and began practice at Eatontown, in Monmouth County. This obscure village was too circumscribed for a man of his abilities, and he very soon removed to Free hold, the county-seat of Monmouth, where he ever after resided. In 1837, five years after he became a counsellor, he was made Prosecutor of the Pleas, and was continued for fifteen years in the position. He soon took a high rank in the profession; and the leaders of the bar, who perhaps at first were disposed to regard the young beard less attorney with some contempt, learned that in the prosecutor of Monmouth they had an antagonist who was worthy of their highest respect. His manner of performing the duties of this office of counsel for the State in criminal cases not only soon gained him clients, but also the respect and con fidence of the community. No man at the bar in New Jersey ever surpassed Mr Vredenburgh in ability to grasp and un derstand almost intuitively the salient facts in a cause. His power of analysis and of marshalling the testimony of witnesses was wonderful; and if after fully examining a case he was satisfied the defendant was innocent he not only did not press the case, but declared to judge and jury his honest convictions. But on the other hand woe to the defendant whom he believed to be guilty. If he thought the defence was tainted in any way by fraud or was dis honest, he was merciless, and no earthly power could turn him from a pursuit, keen and sure, of the criminal. He was capable of quietly weaving a web of circumstances around the defendant which ended in a complete and swift overthrow of the best-laid and acutest plans to secure ac quittal. He impressed juries with his en tire honesty of purpose, and they learned to follow his leadings because they knew that if he were doubtful of guilt he would plainly and frankly tell them so. In addition to this keen perception of the workings of human nature, he possessed great eloquence; his was the quiet, calm eloquence of power
