CHAPTER   IX.

ADMISSION   TO   THE   BAR,   AND   MARRIAGE

The American Bae bbfoee the Revolution—Buee Resumes his Legal Studies—His
Coeeespondence with Mks. Peevost—Admission to the Bae—Ohaeactee op Mrs.
Peevost—Theie Maeeiagb—Removal to New Toek.

Next to war, the law had been, from an early period in
the history of the colonies, the favorite profession with their
young men of spirit. John Adams, in 1756, when he had
just begun his legal studies, writes to a friend in justification
of the choice he had made of a profession. One of his reasons
was, that " the students in the law are very numerous, and
some of them youths of which no country, no age, would
need to be ashamed. And if," he adds, " I can gain the honor
of treading in the rear, and silently admiring the noble air
and gallant achievements of the foremost rank, I shall think
myself worthy of a louder triumph than if I had headed the
whole army of orthodox ministers," After the termination of
the old French war, the law began to be a lucrative profes¬
sion also, Joseph Reed, of Philadelphia, writing in 1767,
when he had been but two years at the bar, mentioned
that his professional income was a thousand pounds a year.
He was, no doubt, unusually fortunate. But, at that time,
there were not many occupations carried on in the colonies, in
the exercise of which, a young man of two years' standing,
could have earned so much.

The legal system, was, of course, in all respects, that of the
mother country. The wig and gown were worn by lawyers
and judges ; and much is implied in that trivial circumstance.
Young men of fortune thought their studies incomplete until
they had, resided two years at one of the Inns of Court
in London,    In the Temple Church may still be seen, or