icular case the
Chancellor continues.] Hamilton by means of his fine melodious
voice, and dignified deportment, his reasoning powers and
persuasive address, soared far above all competition. His
preeminence was at once and universally conceded.... Hamilton
returned to private life and to the practice of the law in '95. He
was cordially welcomed and cheered on his return, by his fellow
citizens. Between this year and 1798, he took his station as the
leading counsel at the bar. He was employed in every important and
every commercial case. He was a very great favourite with the
merchants of New York and he most justly deserved to be, for he had
shown himself to be one of the most enlightened, intrepid and
persevering friends to the commercial prosperity of this country.
Insurance questions, both upon the law and fact, constituted a
large portion of the litigated business in the courts, and much of
the intense study and discussion at the bar. Hamilton had an
overwhelming share of this business.... His mighty mind would at
times bear down all opposition by its comprehensive grasp and the
strength of his reasoning powers. He taught us all how to probe
deeply into the hidden recesses of the science, and to follow up
principles to their far distant sources. He ransacked cases and
precedents to their very foundations; and we learned from him to
carry our inquiries into the commercial codes of the nations of the
European continent; and in a special manner to illustrate the law
of Insurance by the secure judgement of Emerigon and the luminous
commentaries of Valin.... My judicial station in 1798 brought
Hamilton before me in a new relation.... I was called to listen
with lively interest and high admiration to the rapid exercise of
his reasoning powers, the intensity and sagacity with which he
pursued his investigations, his piercing criticisms, his masterly
analysis, and the energy and fervour of his appeals to the
judgement and conscience of the tribunal which he addressed. [In
regard to the celebrated case of Croswell vs. the People, in the
course of which Hamilton reversed the law of libel, declaring the
British interpretation to be inconsistent with the genius of the
American people, Kent remarks.] I have always considered General
Hamilton's argument