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by the colonists; with power of taxation ceived with the most gratifying considera vested only in the Continental Parliament. tion. He remained abroad for fifteen months, Among other propositions made by Mr. and while in England was frequently con Ogden was the creation of Barons from sulted by members of the government and among the freeholders and inhabitants of by other persons who were interested in the the colonies, who were to compose a house affairs of the colonies. The act which most redounded to his of Peers for the American Parliament. Per haps David Ogden might have had in his credit, and for which he should receive the mind one inhabitant of the provinces who, gratitude of all Jerseymen, was that which he thought, would make an excellent mem procured the settlement of the Rev. Dr. ber of the proposed House of Lords, and Witherspoon as president of the College of New Jersey. The trustees of that institu who ought to be made a Baron. After the independence of the Republic tion had unanimously elected the Scotch was acknowledged by the British Govern divine to that position; and the letter to him announcing his appointment was trans ment, Mr. Ogden went to England, and be came agent for the loyalists in the prosecution mitted to Mr. Stockton while he was in of their claims for compensation for losses England, with a request that he would make they had sustained by their adherence to a personal application to Dr. Witherspoon. the king. He returned from England in He made a journey to Scotland for the ex 1790, and resided in Long Island until his press purpose, and it was due entirely to his death, which occurred in 1800. exertions that the office was accepted. He The other associate justice with Chief- was obliged not only to overcome the Doc Justice Smyth was Richard Stockton, than tor's natural reluctance to leave Scotland whom no one of his time is more revered for an untried experiment, but also to re in New Jersey. He came of most excellent move the very decided repugnance which stock, whose representatives are now to be Mrs. Witherspoon entertained toward the found in New Jersey, with just claims upon removal. He was at last successful, after the respect and confidence of their fellow- repeated efforts; and the college and New citizens. Justice cannot be done to this 1 Jersey gained a scholar and divine, and the colonies a devoted friend, who proved eminent man in the short space which re a tower of strength in the struggle with mains. His forefathers came to New Jersey in the seventeenth century, and were large England. Mr. Stockton returned in Sep landholders near Princeton, the seat of the tember, 1767, was soon elected a member College of New Jersey. His father was of the Legislature, and in 1774 was raised John Stockton, who at one time held a high to the bench, taking his seat beside his old judicial position in Somerset County, and preceptor, David Ogden. There was very little opportunity for either was a man of mark in his day. Richard Stockton was educated in his native village, of these distinguished men to display their under the very best teachers which the colony peculiar fitness for the high judicial posi afforded. He graduated at the College of New tions they occupied. The career of Ogden Jersey in 1748, and then read law with David has already been sketched, though very im Ogden in Newark. He came to the bar in perfectly. Stockton did not follow the lead of his former teacher. He espoused the 1754, and then began to practise his profes sion at Princeton. It was not long before popular cause, and was as fearless and de his power was felt, and he soon led the bar termined in his support of it as David Ogden in his part of the State. For twelve years was in his adherence to the king. In 1776 he was fully engaged in a very large practice, Mr. Stockton was elected a member of the Continental Congress, sitting at Philadel when he visited England, where he was re