After having attended the best schools the Colony then afforded, James De Lancey was sent to England to prosecute his studies, and entered as a Fellow-Commoner of Corpus Christi college in the University of Cambridge, on the second of October, 1721.' The Master of Corpus at that time was Dr. Samuel Bradford, afterwards bishop of Carlisle, and next of Rochester. And the gentleman whom young De Lancey chose as his Tutor, was the learned Dr. Thomas Herring, who became successively Bishop of Bangor, Archbishop of York, and Archbishop of Canterbury.

This choice proved afterwards of great advantage to James De Lancey, for the master and pupil kept up their intimacy by letter long after the one became primate of all England the other was in office in his native land; and in the various political controversies in which the latter became afterwards engaged, the archbishop's influence was always exerted in his behalf in the councils of their Sovereign. How long Mr. De Lancey remained at the University is uncertain, as he entered at an advanced period and not at the beginning of the academic course. Towards the close of 1725,he returned to New York.2 Admittted, soon after his arrival, to the bar, he commenced the practice of his profession in his native city, and soon rose to that eminence to which his great natural abilities and sound and cultivated judgment entitled him. He was early distinguished for the active and responsible part which he took in political affairs. Three years after his return, Gov. Montgomerie upon the death of Mr. John Barbarije, recommended him as that gentleman's successor in the Council of the Province. In his letter to the Lords Commissioners for Trade and Plantations dated May 30%,