Daniel Coxe was associate justice until the time of his death, which occurred at Trenton in 1739. He was implicated in the early part of his public life, with Cornbury in his quarrels with the Assembly, and after Cornbury's time his conduct in the strife with Governor Hunter was not much to his credit; but his later career was such that he secured the confidence and esteem of his fellow-citizens. His judicial duties were performed with ability and honor to himself. Robert Hunter Morris succeeded Robert Lettice Hooper as Chief-Justice. He was the son of Lewis Morris, of whom mention has already been made, and inherited some of the peculiar characteristics of his eccen tric father, and much of his ability. He was in office twenty-six years, but did not bur den himself much with the cares of his posi tion. So far as accomplishments were con cerned, he was perhaps as well equipped as any one of the chief-justices who sat on the bench prior to the Revolution. He had been carefully educated, and owed very much to the influence of a most excellent and careful mother. He enjoyed all' the advantages which could be obtained at his time in the very best educational institu tions of the country. He had an ample fortune, was of a very fascinating address, possessed a handsome face and person, was a persistent disputant, and one of the best talkers in the province. At first he paid enough attention to his position to introduce some reforms, to reduce pleadings to stricter rules, and to insist upon more regularity and precision in the forms of procedure. But he soon apparently wearied of the irksome confinement which an honest performance of his duties involved. He was a young man when he assumed, in 1738, the position of chief-justice. In 1749 he visited England with a view, it is supposed, of se curing nomination to some office in the colonies. About that time a plan was con templated of uniting the two provinces of New York and New Jersey, and placing in
the hands of one man the office of chief magistrate. The nominal object which sent him to the mother country was to protest, at the request of the Council of New Jersey, against the proposed plan. Perhaps injus tice is done him with the charge that he was covetous of political preferment. But he was an ambitious man and tarried long in England. He certainly was a candidate for the position of Lieutenant-Governor of New York. He returned after five years' absence with the commission of Governor of Penn sylvania in his possession, so that he was not only Chief-Justice of New Jersey, but also chief-magistrate of another colony. He appreciated the incongruity of his hold ing the two offices at the same time, and so he tendered his resignation of the position of Chief-Justice, which was not accepted, — for what reason does not sufficiently appear. He did not, however, hold the office of Gov ernor for any great length of time. He re ceived that appointment in 1754, resigned it in 1756, and returned to his duties as ChiefJustice. In 1757 he again visited England. During his absence a strange state of affairs was originated. Morris held his office, ac cording to his commission, during good be havior; but while he was absent in England William Aynsley was appointed Chief-Jus tice. He held the position, however, only a few months. He took his seat on the bench in March, 1758, but died soon after, probably in the same year. Shortly after his death Nathaniel Jones received the appointment to the apparently vacant office. He arrived from England in November, 1759, went at once to Amboy, where he was formally com missioned by Governor Bernard. From there he went to Elizabeth Town, where he was received with great honor. Speeches were made by the Mayor and the new-comer, and general congratulations were exchanged. The next term of the court was held in March, 1759. Mr. Jones appeared at that time, and requested that he might have the oath of office administered to him. But un fortunately for him and his aspirations, there
