He then commenced the study of Law under David Kinney, of Newcastle, Delaware. He explored the interminable field of this science with unusual success and was admitted to the bar under the most favorable auspices. He commenced his professional career at Newcastle--soon acquiring a lucrative practice and proud reputation. He extended his business into his native province and was admitted to the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania in 1757. His strict attention to business and superior legal acumen made him extensively and favorably known. He avoided the modern error of too many young lawyers who suppose an admission to the bar closes the toils of the student. Fatal mistake my young friends. You are at the very threshold of your reading. Relaxation is professional suicide. This is a rock on which many have been shipwrecked in all the learned professions. The laws of nature demand a constant supply of food in the intellectual as well as in the physical economy. The _man_ requires more and stronger food then the _child_. The corroding rust of forgetfulness will mar the most brilliant acquirements of science if laid upon the shelf of neglect. Much study is required to keep up with the march of mind and the ever varying changes produced by the soaring intellect and reaching genius of man. It has been said that the basis of law is as unchangeable as a rock of adamant. Of elementary law this is true. It does not follow, _a priori_, that the superstructure is so. Precocious legislators have made _that_ a labyrinthian maze. _They_ use a political kaleidoscope in legislating and that not skilfully. It puzzles _competent_ judges to arrive at a satisfactory construction of statute laws. The _incompetent_--not few and far between--use the instrument above named carelessly if not politically. Hence no lawyer can succeed without an endless round of reading. In 1762 Mr. McKean was elected to the Delaware Assembly from Newcastle county and continued in that body for eleven consecutive years. He then removed to Philadelphia. So much attached were the Delawarians to him that they continued to elect him to their Assembly for six years after his removal although he could not serve them in that. Under the old regimen, he was claimed by both Delaware and Pennsylvania and served them conjointly in the Continental Congress. In 1765 he was a member from Delaware to the Congress in New York. He was upon the committee that drafted the memorable address to the House of Commons. His patriotism, love of liberty and firmness of purpose were fully demonstrated in that instrument and by his subsequent acts. He was republican to the core--despised the chains of political slavery--the baubles of monarchy and the trappings of kingly courts. He struck high for Liberty and scorned to be a slave.