Chancellor James Kent. It enables me to do more reading than I oth erwise could. No sooner does the mind grow weary with one department but it is in stantly relieved by introduction to another. Variety seems to refresh and to animate it." The April term of 1787 beheld him ad mitted to the degree of counsel at the bar, and even at this time his reputation had grown extensively, and he was regarded with favor and respect throughout his county. It was at this period, too, that politics be gan to claim his attention. Alexander, Hamilton's speeches in the Legislature of 1787 aroused his interest, and he soon took his stand with the Federalists, towards w hom his allegiance ever remained steadfast, and for whose principles he continuously exer cised his voice, pen, and vast influence. In April, 1790, he was elected a member of the Assembly for Dutchess County, per forming zealous and distinguished services in the debates. His correspondence with his brother, Moss Kent, begins to grow with interest at this point. Gradually his circle of acquaintances wid ens, and we meet the giants of those days face to face. January 12, 179 1, he writes to his brother : " I have dined with Mr. Burr and Lawrence. ... I have dined and. again breakfasted with Mr. Burr, and have received great attention and politeness from him. The insinuation of his manners is equal to the refinement of his taste and activity of his mind," while on January 27 he writes: "You have heard of Mr. Burr's election. I congratulate you because I know it is agreeable to your wishes. I was of the minority." The contest for the governorship in 1792 was bitter, spirited, and partisan, and in this contest Kent participated actively. The two candidates were Jay and Clinton; con cerning the former Kent says, " Such is his independent condition, such his knowledge and experience, such his talents and integ rity of heart, that if Providence should but grant us success, we may rationally expect
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a sudden death to the little intrigues of fa vorites and party, and on their ruins to arise an administration of rectitude and firmness." It may be said here that all the corres pondence of our subject (and I have exam ined over nine hundred pages), from the time he accepted public duties to the peaceful twi light hours of his life, fairly glows with devo tion to the principles and institutions of free government. " How much ought we to prize and cling fast to the pillars of our free and excellent national government at home!" This sentence contains the sentiment which threads together the great bulk of all his letters. While fulfilling his duties as a member of the Assembly for a second time, he was nom inated for Congress, but received one hundred and thirty-two votes less than did his brotherin-law, Mr. Bailey, the successful candidate. The partnership with Mr. Livingston was dis solved at this time, and Kent removed to the city of New York in the latter part of April, 1 793. The memoranda record is as follows : "I carried with me to New York my wife, then in the splendor of her personal accom plishments, a lovely and precious little daughter of upwards of two years of age, whose great debility and sickness during the summer of 1792 had riveted the affection, and awakened the most painful anxieties of her parents, a small well-chosen library, scanty furniture, and one hundred pounds cash, leaving real property behind to the value of two hundred pounds, and this was the total result of my eight years' settlement at Poughkeepsie." The little daughter he mentions died in the following May, an event occasioning great sadness to her parents. The first" summer in New York did not offer much enjoyment to Kent. Besides the need of money and lack of business he missed the beauties and ease of country life, to the former of which especially he was always passionately devoted. The many succeeding years of continuous residence in the city did not accustom him to its cease
