Page:The Green Bag (1889–1914), Volume 03.pdf/498

 The Supreme Court of New Jersey. the Hessians quartered in Trenton, was until he was licensed in 1827 as an attorney. living at the battle of Trenton, December, In 1830 he became a counsellor. Follow 1776, and where he died. This house was ing the custom so well observed then by standing a very few years ago, and was a young attorneys, he became a candidate quaint two-story stone edifice, with small for the Legislature", was elected, and at windows and double front door. the expiration of his first term was re Stacy G. Potts was born in 1799 a! Harris- elected. He seems to have been satisfied burg in Pennsylvania. His father was the with these political honors, as he never

owner of extensive tracts of land in Penn again sought office of that kind, In 1831 sylvania, but his heart he was elected Clerk seemed turned toward of the Court of Chan cery. This had not New Jersey. When young Stacy was only been a very lucrative nine years old, he and position in the hands his father travelled on of his predecessor; foot to Trenton. The but Mr. Potts not only lad was pleased with elevated the office in the place, and declared character, but made that he was deter it remunerative. He mined to spend his held this place for ten days there. He was years. During the taken by his grand time he was clerk he father, who was mayor compiled an excellent of the town, and edu book of chancery prac cated by him. The tice, much needed at youth early showed an the time and suited to the then present state inclination for literary of equity procedure. studies, and indulged It is, however, super his taste to the utmost by the use of such seded by another book appliances as were af more fitted for the forded him. He was improved state of the apprenticed to a print practice. Although er, by some means ob not a graduate of any L. Q. C ELMER college, Princeton con tained access to a book ferred on him the hon store, and so indulged in his thirst for reading. He also became orary degree of A.M. in 1844. a member of a debating club, and improved The statutes of the State were badly ar his style, as a speaker. In 1821 he became ranged in the Digests which had been pub editor of a newspaper published at Trenton. lished, and in 1845 ne was appointed, with By these various means he acquired an ex Peter D. Vroom, Henry W. Green, and Wil cellent literary style, and remedied in a very liam L. Dayton, Commissioner to revise the great degree the defects of his early educa laws. The gentlemen with whom he was as tion. While engaged in his editorial labors sociated were at the front of their profession, he entered the office of Richard Stockton, and Mr. Potts would not have been made one with whom he remained a short time, and of this board if he were not fitted for the task. then became a student-at-law with Garret He was intrusted by his fellow-commis D. Wall, with whom he continued his studies sioners with the most laborious and by no 60