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

536 HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTON. [1749-1767.
impetuous, threw himself into this controversy with all
the earnestness and persistence of youth. Many of the
details of this unfortunate affair have been rehearsed in
former chapters of this work, and need no further men-
tion. His subsequent apologies to Mr. Edwards, the first
of which is given to the public for the first time in these
pages, attest his nobility of character, and prove that he
sincerely regretted what he considered an unjust course of
conduct.
As a Lawyer.
His law practice steadily increased, and he
soon reached a position at the head of the
bar in this section of the state, even in competition with
such men as John Worthington, Simeon Strong, and Moses
and John Bliss. As a lawyer his reputation was greatly
enhanced by a case which grew out of the opposition to the
Stamp Act. Seth Warren was charged with an assault
upon the sheriff, Thomas Williams, in the person of his
deputy, John Morse, and releasing from the custody of
Morse, one John Franklin. The case was tried at Great
Barrington, Sept. 2'', 1766. Warren pleaded not guilty,
but was convicted and sentenced to pay a fine of £3 and
costs, to the amount of £4.6.8 more. Mr. Hawley was engaged
to defend Warren, and he appealed the case to the
next Court of Assize to be held at Springfield. The verdict
was sustained. It was claimed that this decision was illegal,
and a controversy arose over the case. Thomas Hutchinson
was at this time Chief Justice of the Superior Court,
and one of the administration lawyers attempted to vindicate
the Chief Justice. This called out from Mr. Hawley
a full statement of the facts in the case, which he published
in the Boston Evening Post of July 6"' and 23'', in 1767.
In these documents he handled the Chief Justice so severely
that the latter suspended him from practice. Bat Mr.
Hawley was a man of too much ability and influence to
suffer long from such an arbitrary proceeding, and he was
soon restored to his former standing.
Major Hawley was popular as an advocate, and very
early in his career acquired a reputation that was almost
certain to win for him employment in nearly all important
trials. His fair and honorable methods of practice gained