Page:The Supreme Court in United States History vol 1.djvu/77

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THE FIRST COURT AND THE CIRCUITS
51


the Grand Jury of the District Court, **gave a very elegant entertainment to the Chief, Associate and District Judges, the Attorney-General, and the officers of the Supreme and District Courts at Fraunce's Tavern, in Courtlandt Street. The liberality displayed on this occasion and the good order and harmony which presided gave particular satisfaction to the respectable guests."[1] Among the thirteen toasts drunk by the " respectable guests " were the following: " The National Judiciary" and "The Constitution of our Country, may it prove the solid fabrick of liberty, prosperity and glory." That the novel experiment of a National Judiciary had awakened great interest throughout the country was significantly shown by the fact that the New York and the Philadelphia newspapers described the proceedings of this first session of the Court more fully than any other event connected with the new Government; and their accounts were reproduced in the leading papers of all the States.[2]

The second Term of the Court was held in New York on Monday, August 2, 1790, at the Exchange. The commission of James Iredell of North Carolina (who had been appointed Judge on the last day of the preceding Term, on the resignation of Robert H. Harrison of Maryland) was read, and he qualified. There being no cases ready, the Court adjourned until Tuesday, when after having admitted as counselors Richard Bassett and John Vining of Delaware it adjourned for the Term.[3]

  1. Gazette of the United States, Feb. 10, 1790.
  2. See among many others, the following newspapers: Virginia Independent Chronicle (Richmond), Feb. 17, 1790; Virginia Herald (Fredericksburg), Feb. 18, 86, 1790; Atigutia Chronicle (Ga.), March 27, 1790; New Jersey Journal, Feb. 16, 1790; Connedieut Journal, Feb. 10, 1790; Boston OaxeUe, Feb. 15, 1790; Independent Chromde (Boston), Feb. 11, 1790; Salem Gazette, Feb. 16, 1790.
  3. Pennsyhvania Gazette, Aug. 11, 1790.