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BIOGRAPHY-FOR THE PORT FOLIO.

WILLIAM BRADFORD, an American lawyer of eminence, was born in Philadelphia, September 14th, 1755, and was placed carly under the particular care of a very respectable and worthy clergyman a few miles from this city, from whom he received the rudiments of an education which was afterwards improved to the greatest advantage, and under the tuition of this excellent preceptor he remained, with little interruption, until he was fit to enter college. It was at this time that his father had formed a plan of keeping him at home, and of bringing him up in the insurance office which he then conducted, but so strong was the love of learning implanted in the young mind of his son, that neither persuasion, nor offers of pecuniary advantage, could prevail with him to abandon the hopes of a liberal education, and he voluntarily offered to resign every expectation of the former from his father to obtain the advantages of the latter, by a regular course of studies. Accordingly in the Spring of 1769, he was sent to Princeton, and entered the college of Nassau Hall, then under the direction of the late learned and pious Dr. John Witherspoon, where he continued with great benefit to himself till the fall of 1772, when he received the ho nours of the college by a degree of bachelor of arts, and in 1775 that of A. M. During his residence at this seminary he was greatly beloved by his fellow students, while he confirmed the expectations of his friends and the faculty of the college by giving repeated evidence of genius and taste, and at the public commencement had one of the highest ho nours of the class conferred upon him.

He continued at Princeton till the year following, during which time an opportunity was afforded him of attending Dr. Witherspoon's excellent lectures on theology; and, from this useful teacher he recei1 VOL. II.

ved much information and general knowledge; after which he returned to the scenes of his youth, and spent several months under the instruction of his first reverend preceptor, who strove to prepare him for future usefulness by his piety, experience, and knowledge of the world.

Thus fitted for active life, after consulting his own inclinations, and the advice of his friends, he fixed on the study of the law, which he commenced under the late honourable Edward Shippen, esq. then one of the council of the supreme court of Pennsylvania, and late chief justice of this state, where he prosecuted his studies with his usual diligence and unwearied application.

In the Spring of 1776 he was called upon, by the peculiar circumstances of the times, to exert himself in defence of the dearest rights of human nature, and to join the standard of his country, in opposition to the oppressive exactions of Britain. When the militia were called out to form the flying camp, he was chosen major of brigade to general Roberdeau, and on the expiration of his term accepted a company in colonel Hampton's regular troops, where he was soon promoted to the station of deputy muster master general, with the rank of lieutenantcolonel, in which office he continued about two years, till his want of health, being of a delicate constitution, obliged him to resign his commission and return home. He now recommenced the study of the law, and in 1749 was admitted to the bar of the supreme court of Pennsylvania, where his rising character soon introduced him into an unusual share of business; and, in August 1780, only one year after he was licensed, by the recommendations of the bar, and the particular attention of his late excellency Joseph Reed, esq. then president of the state, he was appointed attorney general of the state of Pennsylvania.

In 1784 he married the daughter of Elias Boudinot of New-Jersey, counsellor at law, with whom he lived till his death in the exercise of every domestic virtue that could adorn human nature. On the reformation of the courts of justice under the new constitution of Pennsylvania, he was solicited to accept the honourable office of one of the judges of the supreme court, which, with much hesitation, he accepted, and was commissioned by his excellency governor Mifflin, August 22, 1791.

His indefatigable industry, unshaken integrity, and correct judgment, enabled him to give general satisfaction in this office, as well to the suitors as at the bar. Here he had determined to spend a considerable part of his life; but, on the attorney general of the United States being promoted to the office of secretary of state, Mr. Bradford was urged, by various public considerations, to yield to the pressure of the occasion, and accept of that office. He accordingly resigned his judge's commission and was appointed attorney general of the United States on the 28th day of January 1794. This office he held till his death,

when he was found at his post, in the midst of great usefulness, possessing, in a high degree, the confidence of the country.

Mr. Bradford's temper was mild and amiable; his manners were genteel, unassuming, modest, and conciliating. As a public speaker, his eloquence was soft, persuasive, nervous, and convincing. He understood mankind well, and knew how to place his arguments and his reasonings in the most striking point of light. His language was pure, sententious, and pleasing; and he so managed most of his forensic disputes, as scarcely ever to displease his opponents; while he gave the utmost satisfaction to his clients. His close application to the law, and the litigation of the bar, did not prevent him altogether from indulging now and then his fondness for poetry; his taste and talents for which were above the common standard, and several pieces of his composition have been published. In 1793 he published " An Inquiry how far the punishment of death is necessary in Pennsylvania." This was written at the request of his excellency governor Mifflin, and intended for the use of the legislature, in the nature of a report; they having the subject at large under their consideration. This performance justly gained him great credit, and its happy effects are manifested wherever it has been read with attention, especially in the reformation of the penal codes of several states in the Union, where the interests of humanity have, at last, prevailed over ancient and inveterate prejudices.

Mr. Bradford possessed great firmness of opinion, yet was as remarkable for his modesty and caution in delivering his sentiments. With an excellent judgment, and a quick and retentive memory, he enjoyed great equanimity of temper, was serious and steady in his general conduct, and richly endowed with genius. Of amiable deportment, and pleasing as well as instructing in conversation, he had the happy art of conciliating the affection and respect of all who knew him. He was a patriot on principle. He loved his country with the sincerest affection, and preferred her interests to every other consideration; and in a particular manner respected the general liberties of mankind at large, in all his actions. His charities were secret, but general; and none in distress were ever known to leave him with discontent. His friendships were few, but very sincere; and those who aided him in his first setting out in life, were never forgotten by him; and what added to all his other virtues, and gave a polish to all his actions, was his firm belief in the Christian system, produced by a thorough examination, and full conviction of its divine original, by the incomparable rules of which he regulated his whole conduct, and founded all his hopes of future bliss.*

* In a conversation with a friend, during a remission of his fever, a few evenings before he died, he expressed his belief in the doctrines of the gospel in very strong terms.

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