1845 was toward the navy, and he entered it as a midshipman and took one voyage. But draughts of the ever-fresh Pierian spring of jurisprudence (and inasmuch as the legal fame of his ancestors was really equal to the naval celebrity of his father), soon proved a stronger incentive than salt water; and so he entered his name as law student with Robert S. Field, then one of the most active lawyers, and who subsequently was remembered as a valued member of the judiciary. This jurist was deeply indoctrinated with the prin ciples of legal science and disdained to be "a mere case lawyer." Wherefore he taught his pupils the full meaning of the timehonored injunction stare priueipiis. Judge Field was the opposite in tempera ment to Tutor Addison Alexander, who was a cynic, and whose ideas had to a consider able degree affected John Stockton's youth ful and impressionable mind. But the new preceptor was of a cheery disposition, and while not being a fanatical optimist always took cheerful views of the business of life and owed much of his popularity to the tact and readiness with which he antrdoted the cares and worries of his clients. The pupil was called to the bar as an at torney in 1847, and took oath as counsellor three years later, for at that time the sense less British division of the profession into two divisions was still observed in New Jersey and many other States. His first case was one that excited much interest at Trenton. A mechanic named Crater was one day passenger on a Camden and Amboy train, and standing on the front platform of a car, when approaching his station, he threw on its platform, in his haste, a long crosswise saw, which rebounding as it struck on its end, flew up and wounded the face of a brakeman, who soon sued for damages. Client Crater's defense through young Stock ton, was of course, unavoidable accident, and the lattcr's ingenuity was much exercised to escape heavy liability for an unnecessary act. Damages were saved, but a small adverse ver
dict was rendered to cover the mere expenses of the injured plaintiff. Stockton tried his own case, although he was opposed by ex perienced counsel, among whom was William L. Dayton, who subsequently was candi date for vice-president in 1856, and later served as ambassador to France. The case became much canvassed and gave the young lawyer much prestige. But, of course, wide family influence lent aid, and soon he was gazetted attorney to the united railways of New Jersey — a clientage that left him little leisure for other business. His father had been the chief promoter of the Morris and Essex Canal and this corporation also be came his active client. To Stockton came none of that usual waiting for clients which accentuates the professional initiation of so many young attorneys. Yet Stockton was devotedly attached to his profession, and rose above the factitious aids given by wealthy connection, and became noted for awarding his assistance freely to the many laborers and mechanics who resided in the growing manufacturing city of Trenton. Early he was inducted into political sym pathies. His father (retired to domestic ease) became a leading member of the AntiDemocratic party and often attended its con ventions i but his son (with his father's goodhumored consent) actively participated in support of the Pierce administration and of the succeeding Buchanan government, which rewarded Stockton in 1857, by despatching him as minister to Italy; a move which several of his seniors at the bar deprecated as being an interference with his already conspicuous rise in his profession. Four years residence at Rome, however, improved his scholarship and knowledge of human nature. Of course, according to usage, he resigned when the Lincoln administration came into power, and refreshed in body and mind again enthusiastically returned to the law. During Stockton's brief experience in the navy as midshipman — before that British
