guilty of crimes which merited at least the decision of the law. Mr. Rodney stepped out calmly before them, acknowledged that his guest had been indeed extremely imprudent, but that as he had surrendered himself to him, the chief magistrate of the state, he had become answerable for his appearance, and would see that justice was done to all. The knowledge of the governor's character and views, was a sufficient guaranty to the crowd, and in a short time they dispersed. The imprudent loyalist remained until the political heat of the times had in some degree subsided, and pursuing for the future a wiser course, escaped the dangerous rock on which he had been so nearly destroyed.

The private character of Mr. Rodney is chiefly remarkable for its good humor and vivacity. He was fond of society, and not averse to the pleasures of the table, never exceeding, however, the bounds of propriety and good manners. He was particularly fond of associating with persons younger than himself, to whom his easy manners, long knowledge of the world, and fund of wit and anecdote, afforded a never failing pleasure. From constitutional feelings, he always avoided scenes of sorrow; and never approached the death bed, even of his most intimate friends. The vivacity of his domestic manners, was carried into his public life, and those whose memory is stored with reminiscences of the old congress and the revolutionary war, have many a tale, to illustrate the gaiety and humour of Cæsar Rodney. Among others the following one may be recorded, from an authentic source. The delegates from the southern states, but especially Virginia, were remarkable, during the early periods of the revolution, for indulging a sectional prepossession, not indeed maliciously, but often sarcastically. When it broke out in high wrought eulogies and preferences to Virginia, over all the other members of the confederacy, it was termed dominionism. Among the representatives of that ancient and really noble state, there was no one who more delighted or oftener indulged in this complacent but somewhat mortifying species of gratulation, than Mr. Harrison; he was however, completely cured of it by an incident which occurred, when his state was threatened with an invasion by the enemy. He had frequently displayed the "abundant and powerful resources of that meritorious member of our Union;" and although he had painted them in colors brighter than was correct, he no doubt believed them to be just. When, however, the danger was approaching, the picture was found too glaring. He introduced a demand for supplies of arms, munitions of war of every species, troops, and assistance of every kind; and declared the state destitute in every point and circumstance. When he sat down there was a momentary silence, all being surprised that such a development should come from him. Cæsar Rodney rose from his seat, in a style peculiar to him. He was, at that time, an animated skeleton; decorated with a bandage, from which was suspended the green silk covering over one eye, to hide the ravages of his cancer-he was indeed all spirit, without corporal tegument. He was thin,

emaciated, and every way the antithesis of his friend Harrison; who was portly, inclining to corpulency, and of a mien, commanding though without fierte. Both of the members were really representatives of their respective statcs. Rodney, who was endowed, as we have mentioned, with a natural and highly amusing vein of humor, began, with a crocodile sympathy, to deplore the melancholy and prostrate condition of his neighboring, extensive, and heretofore "powerful state of Virginia! But; said he, in a voice elevated an octave higher than concert pitch; "let her be of good cheer; she has a friend in need; DELAWARE will take her under its protection, and insure her safety." Harrison was astonished, but joined (for he relished a good hit, for or against him) in the laugh; and the subject lay over to another day.-SANDERSON'S LIVES.

NICHOLAS RIDGELY.

NICHOLAS RIDGELY, late chancellor of the State of Delaware, was born at Dover, in the said State, on the thirtieth day of September 1762. He was the eldest son of Charles G. Ridgely, an eminent physician, and highly respectable gentleman of the same place. After acquiring a liberal education, Mr. Ridgely adopted the law as his profession, and completed his studies under the direction of Robert Goldsborough, esquire, of Cambridge, in the State of Maryland. At that time it required more labor and research to become acquainted with the science of the law than it does at this day. The student had not then, the advantages now to be derived from the many excellent digests and elementary treatises, which have since been published, on every branch of the law; wherein the true system has been separated from many decisions and erroncous principles, that have from time to time, been abrogated and overruled, in the course of the progress of the science towards perfection. The unwearied industry and well regulated mind of Mr. Ridgely, soon overcome all difficulties, in obtaining a knowledge of his profession; for we find him while yet in the first flush of manhood, assuming a distinguished standing at the bar, as an able and sound lawyer; at a time when the profession in Delaware, was graced by the exhibition of the splendid talents of such men as James A. Bayard, Cæsar A. Rodney and Nicholas Vandyke, whose well earned fame as lawyers, orators and statesmen, has become alike the property and care of the State and the nation.

In the year 1791, Mr. Ridgely received the appointment of Attorney general of the State, the duties of which office, during the term of ten years, he discharged with credit to himself, and satisfaction to the public. He was also elected in 1791, a delegate from Kent county, in the convention which formed the constitution of 1792. During the whole period occupied by the two sessions

of that body, he was found constantly at his post, and ever active in the discharge of his duties. Our country had just come successfully through their memorable struggle for independence, and were engaged in perfecting their forms of government upon the liberal and enlightened principles, for which they had been so long contending. According to the plan agreed upon by the confederation of the States, each State was to establish a separate constitution and government, not inconsistent with that recently ordained and established by the several States of the Union. The men of that day had been reared and educated under the aristocratical government of England, and it required more than ordinary talents and patriotism, to fix upon a new and permanent basis their institutions, so as to subserve the great interest involved in the protection of life, liberty and property, under the new system of government then adopted. The occasion called for more than ordinary ability, and an entire regard for that liberty and equality, which the declaration of independence had pronounced the birth-right of man. The convention of 1792, proved themselves worthy the sacred trust in them reposed, and equal to the arduous and important duties with which they were charged. The constitution then established, remained in force during the period of forty years, and was considered at least equal to that of any other State. Its principal features still remain in force; although it has since been thought expedient to alter and modify some of its provisions in respect to the judiciary system, and a few other points of minor importance. Mr. Ridgely, although perhaps the youngest man in the convention, took at once a decidedly high standing in the deliberations of that body, and was among its most efficient members.

In 1792, he was elected under the new constitution a representative from the county of Kent in the General Assembly of the State. The system of law then in force required new modeling, to fit it to the principles established, and brought about by the events of the revolution, requiring in the legislature an intimate knowledge of the law as it existed, and of the changes necessary to be made, to effectuate the purpose above mentioned. And it will be found on examination of the proceedings of the legislature of 1793, that the legal talents and enlightened understanding of Mr. Ridgely, were mainly relied upon to perfect the system of Delaware law, in accordance with the genius of the new government. Most of the laws of a general and public nature, passed during that session, were framed and drawn by him, and generally adopted without amendment. He was repeatedly afterwards a member of the General Assembly, and invariably performed his duties with fidelity and ability.

In the year 1801, the honorable William Killen, then chancellor of the State, resigned his office, and Mr. Ridgely was appointed to succeed him. At that time the chancellor by virtue of that office, was also sole judge of the Orphans' Court. An immense power was thus placed in the hands of one man, over the liberty and property of a great portion of the citizens of the State: which, if the

judge had been either corrupt or incompetent, might have resulted in much of evil to the community. This power, however, was exercised by Mr. Ridgely always for the ends of justice, and the tection of the oppressed, and the innocent.

pro

The situation of a judge is not one where men expect to gain popularity. The selfishness of mankind, often blind them to the true merits of their cause, and when the decision is against them, they will make use of the privilege of complaining; yet, although the correctness of the opinions of chancellor Ridgely were sometimes questioned, no one ever ventured to impugn his motives or doubt the honesty of his intentions. He always pursued without fear, favor or affection, that line of conduct which the law and equity of the case pointed out, according to the best of his judg ment and ability. At the time Mr. Ridgely entered upon the discharge of his duties as chancellor, there had been very little business in the chancery court, and there was no precedents for his guidance. The whole system of chancery practice was to form, and precedents to be established, in accordance with the existing laws of the State. The rules of court, forms of practice and general principles adopted by him, still continue in use, and are considered well worthy of preservation.

Chancellor Ridgely, was looked upon with the highest respect by every member of the bar, who practised in his courts. He was strictly impartial between them, and never suspected of the slightest bias, even in favor of his only brother, who had the care of many cases confided to him as solicitor, and which had to be determined by Mr. Ridgely in his character of judge. He heard with patient attention the arguments of council; and the youngest member of the bar approached him with confidence, for he well knew, that his most imperfect efforts would not be wholly disregarded, but viewed with all the favor which could be reasonably expected. Being himself well versed in a knowledge of his profession, Mr. Ridgely was always unwilling to proceed to the final determination of a cause, until the council on both sides, had exhausted every argument, and produced every allowed precedent, which could be brought to bear upon the case, and when not satisfied that this had been done, he would set down the case for reargument. When he gave his opinion, he never failed to notice all the points made in the cause by the contending solicitors, and their applicability, or the want of it, to the case under consideration; and often produced well authenticated principles and cases bearing upon the subject, which had been neglected or overlooked by the advocates in the trial, in support of his decision. It was ever his anxious wish to convince all parties, that his opinions and decrees were founded, with reference only to the principles of justice and equity. He was a just judge and an upright man; kind and complacent to all who had a right, and asked his interposition as a judge for redress of injury, or protection of property or per

sonal liberty; but stern and inflexible, to all appeals having a tendency towards injustice or oppression.

Several years before chancellor Ridgely's death, he suffered considerably from ill health; but for the last two years of his life, his health seemed to have greatly improved; so much so, that his friends had hopes of his living many years longer. He however, was under the impression from his own feelings, that he had long labored under an affection of the heart, probably aneurism, which he well knew often proved suddenly fatal. And this impression seems to have been well grounded, when we consider the manner of his death, which took place at Georgetown in Sussex county, while there in the discharge of his official duties as judge of the Orphans' Court, on the first day of April 1830, under the following circumstances. He had been all that day, and until some time in the night, laboriously and attentively engaged in hearing a case of appeal in the Orphans' Court, in which in pursuance of his usual course, he had taken full notes of the evidence and arguments of council. The court was adjourned about eight o'clock in the evening; he went to his Inn-eat his supper, and after talking pleasantly some time with the family, retired to his chamber. A servant woman attended him with water which he had ordered to his room, and as she departed, he informed her that he felt very unwell, and would be pleased to see Mr. Short, the landlord. The Rev. Mr. Higbee, a boarder in the house, whose room was next the chancellor's, overhearing his complaint immediately waited on him, of fering his assistance, as also did Mr. Short. Every attention was bestowed upon him, but no relief could be afforded. The final summons had come, and he ceased to exist in less than half an hour, from the time of first complaining; apparently, suffering but little pain. His remains were brought to Dover for interment, and he was buried in the Protestant Episcopal burying-ground, near the remains of many of his race. A plain marble slab, upon which is simply inscribed his age, and the fact of his death while in the discharge of his official duties, points out the spot where his ashes are deposited. His body was followed to the grave by the largest concourse of friends and acquaintance, ever known to attend on a like occesion in the county of Kent. Thus evincing to the world, the high estimation in which his memory was held by the community among whom he had passed his long and useful life.

During the whole period Mr. Ridgely was chancellor of the State, he carefully took and preserved, notes of all the cases argued and determined before him; which, together with his opinions in all causes of importance, were written out at length; from which it was his intention to make selections, with a view to the publication of several volumes of Chancery Reports. Had he lived only a few years longer, it is probable, the bar would have been in the possession of a very valuable book for reference and authority, the want of which is now often felt and regretted. His notes are