History of Northampton, Massachusetts, from its settlement in 1654;

594 HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTON. [1700-1778.
sound instruction, but also sage advice. In 1760 he entered
Harvard, pursuing his course with marked ability, and
graduating in 1764 with the highest honors of the institution.
Immediately after the close of his college course he
fell a victim to smallpox, which left him with an affection
of the eyes from which he never fully recovered, and for
several years he was almost wholly deprived of the use of
them. This affliction delayed his entering upon his chosen
pursuit, the study of the law. A less courageous spirit
would have been utterly disheartened, but the determina-
tion of the man, together with the unselfish devotion of
his father and sisters, who read aloud to him such works as
were necessary to his profession, overcame this seemingly
insurmountable difficulty.
"His father * * * read to him, it is said, the whole of the trea-
tise of Coke upon Littleton, in folio. The degree of patience and atfection,
which such a task required, can only be estimated probably by
gentlemen of the profession, who know something of the obscurities of
the book and its barrenness of interest to everyone but a lawyer." ^
Thus slowly and with the most careful thought were
gained that accurate knowledge of the details of law and
that habit of calm consideration for which he was distinguished
: while his acquaintance with the practical ap-
plication of the principles of law was acquired in the office
of Joseph Hawley, "the leading patriot of Western Massachusetts."
In this way eight years passed after his graduation,
and not until 1772 was Caleb Strong admitted to the
bar. A short time before, its members had decided not to
receive any more applications for such admission, but the
patience and perseverance of this young man under so
great difficulties appealed to them in such a way that they
were constrained to yield to his request.
As a Lawyer.
His profcssiou thus entered upon was pursued
with diligence and unusual success.
His practice, though somewhat delayed by the interruption
of the courts in 1774, was, after their re-establishment in
1778, more extensive than that of any one else in the county.
He was accustomed to attend the courts in Worcester and
Berkshire, as well as in his own county, and diligence and
1 Appendix to funeral sermon by Dr. Lyman.