Christiana river. The parents of Mr. Read determined, at an early period, to confer such an education upon their son, as would enable him to pursue one of the learned professions. The small number of schools was, at that period, a serious obstacle to the dissemination of knowledge. The nearest reputable seminary to the residence of Mr. Read's parents, was at Chester, in the province of Pennsylvania, where he was READ. GEORGE READ was born in Cecil county, in the province of Maryland, in the year 1734, and was the eldest of six brothers. His father, John Read, was the son of a wealthy citizen of Dublin, and having emigrated to America, settled in Cecil county, where he became a respectable planter. Soon after the birth of his eldest son, he removed to Newcastle county, in the province of Delaware, and established himself on the head-waters of the Christiana river. The parents of Mr. Read determined, at an early period, to confer such an education upon their son, as would enable him to pursue one of the learned professions. The small number of schools was, at that period, a serious obstacle to the dissemination of knowledge. The nearest reputable seminary to the residence of Mr. Read's parents, was at Chester, in the province of Pennsylvania, where he was taught the rudiments of the learned languages. From this school he was removed to New London, in the same province, and placed under the care of the Reverend Doctor Allison, a man eminently qualified for the arduous task of imparting instruction to youth. Deeply versed in the learned languages, his mind was free from the alloy too often mingled with the pure gold of classic lore; he explored the mazes of science in solitary study, without being ignorant of the world; without despising the beauties of elegant literature, and without neglecting the decencies of society. His knowledge of human nature enabled him quickly to discern the bent of a pupil's genius, his master vice, and dominant foible. Among the fellow-pupils of Mr. Read, were Charles Thompson, secretary of Congress, Hugh Williamson, a member of that body from North Carolina, and Doctor Ewing, Provost of the University of Pennsylvania, eminent as a mathematician and astronomer. The meeting of the first three of these distinguished men must, under any circumstances, have been pleasing; but to meet, as it occurred in the present instance, in the first Congress of America, a body endued with Roman spirit, and Roman virtue,-in that illustrious assembly, surrounded by the guardians of the rights of three millions of their fellow men,-must have been to them a source of deep-felt gratification. 1 Mr. Read diligently pursued his studies under the care of Dr. Allison, until his seventeenth year, at which early age he was removed from school, and commenced the study of the law with John Moland, Esq. an eminent lawyer in the city of Philadelphia. An education terminated at so early a period of life must necessarily have been incomplete; but the disadvantage of being forced into the world with a sancty stock of knowledge, was common to his contemporaries. Mr. Read actively applied himself to the study of his profession. It required more intense application at that period than at present, to qualify a young man for admission at the bar. The student was not then assisted by digests, abridgments, and excellent elementary treatises on every ramification of the law. The excessive toil which, at that day, was requisite for the attainment of legal knowledge, was best calculated to form habits on which were founded the most certain presages of eminence at the bar, and erudition on the bench. Hence Mr. Read was conspicuous in after-life for research and accuracy, and the margins of almost every book in the extensive law lib. rary which he possessed, whilst living, are covered with his notes; so true is it, that the foundation of |