He was among the first delegates elected to the Continental Congress and fearlessly recorded his name on the Declaration of Rights that has proved a consolation to the sons of FREEDOM--a Boanerges to the enemies of LIBERTY. Always cheerful and sprightly, he contributed much towards dispelling the gloom that often pervaded the minds of his colleagues amidst disaster and defeat. He knew their cause was righteous--he believed Heaven would crown it with ultimate success and triumphant victory. His personal sacrifices had been many--still he was ever cheerful and illuminated all around him with flashes of the most brilliant wit. At the commencement of the struggle he held a lucrative situation in the Loan Office under the crown and was a favorite of the king--but the king was not a favorite of his--he promptly severed the connection. With all his wit and humor he was firm as a Herculus. With the fancy of a poet he united the soundness of a sage--with the wit of a humorist he united the sagacity of a politician. He succeeded George Ross as Judge of the Admiralty Court and was subsequently Judge of the U. S. District Court in Philadelphia. He was highly esteemed for his judicial knowledge, impartial justice and correct decisions. He filled every station in which he was placed with credit and dignity. His frequent essays continued to do much towards correcting the morals of society by ridiculing its evils and abuses. Guided by a sound discretion, sarcasm and satire are the most powerful weapons wielded by man. Their smart upon the mind is like cantharides on the skin but often requires something more than a cabbage leaf and cerate to heal it. The wit of Mr. Hopkinson was of a noble cast flowing from a rich and chaste imagination--never violating the rules of propriety--always confined within the pale of modesty but keen as a finely finished rapier. He was an admirer of sound common sense and a zealous advocate of Common School education. He properly appreciated the bone and sinew of our country and knew well that the perpetuity of our Liberty depends more upon the general diffusion of _useful_ knowledge fit for _every_ day use in the ever varying business concerns of life than upon the high toned literature of colleges and universities. He admired the industrious mechanic--he esteemed the honest farmer. In the yoemanry of the soil and inmates of the shops he recognized the defenders of our country.