The Sun.
London, England, 1849-11-13 00:00:00

ESTABLISHMENT OF A LAW

SCHOOL.

A general meeting of the Society for Promoting
the Amendment of the Law was held last night, at
the rooms in Regent-street, when Mr. James Stewart
submitted a project for the establishment of a Law
School; Mr. Spence, Q C., was called to the chair.
Mr. STEWART, in his address, said the teaching of
law by means of oral instruction appenred to have
been almost co-existent with its being taught at all as
a science. Lectures or professorships had been
established in most civilized countries, and it was
difficult to show why, as one means of impart-
ing legal knowledge, they should not be
useful. Of late years, however, but little favour
had been shown for this means of instruction
in some departments of the profession. On the one
hand, it was said that professors accessible to all
students were not appointed; and on the other, that
students would riot attend the lectures of those who
were appointed. There was perhaps truth in both
complaints. But it could not be disputed that under
certain circumstances, and in some departments,
lectures had been successfully delivered, both at the
Universities and in London ; and the Inns of Court
had recently revived, upon the suggestion of Mr.
Bethel', a course of lectures exclusively confined to
students. These would seem, however, not to have
been generally successful. Indeed, so little prospect
of success had appeared as to induce the Society of
Lincoln's Inn, the first in number if not in rank
and importance, to discontinue after a short trial the
lectures that society had established, and it was pos-
sible that the example might be followed by some
or all the other societies. He attached no blame
to the benchers of the Inns of Court for this result,
but he showed from documents that the original
intentions with regard to examinations and prizes had
not been acted upon. Mr. Stewart went into this part
of the question with some minuteness. There was
then no institution in London for the purpose of de-
livering lectures on all the branches of the law; and
it seemed open to any one, more especially to a
scientific society, to provide for the teaching of, the
law in this manner to all who were willing to be
taught. He therefore submitted that this would be
an appropriate and fitting duty for the society to
undertake. There could be no better method of
amending the law than first to ascertain briefly and
clearly how the law stood which it was proposed to
amend. No better means could be taken for this
purpose than fully to investigate what it was, and
then to declare it publicly before those competent to
listen to it; and he believed that no better mode
could be found of obtaining a correct and accurate
idea of the law than by lectures followed by
repeated examinations, the lecturer and the
class working together. On these grounds he
invited the society to use its influence and authority
to found a law school for the purpose of teaching the
law in all its departments, and to afford the means to
every one of acquiring a knowledge of those rules
which govern his property and his liberty, his own
rights and the rights of others. He would let in not
only students but the public. The school should be
entirely of a practical kind. It should consist of
classes in which the main object should be to teach
particular branches, not by fixed rules, or in any
prescribed mode, but by such means as might seem
best to the particular lecturer ; by oral or written
communications, by examination, and free conversa-
tion between the lecturer and the classes. All that
he had consulted upon the subject cordially approved
of the plan ; and he read a letter from Lord Brougham
in which the Noble and Learned Lord offered 25/. as
his contribution towards the prizes, and further inti-
mated his willingness to volunteer a course of lectures
upon Constitutional Law. Mr. Stewart concluded
his very interesting paper by moving that it be re-
ferred toa committee to consider the subj ect.
The motion was seconded by Mr. PULLING.
The CHAIRMAN said that having been appointed
Professor of Equity in Lincoln's Inn, under the reso-
lution to which his Learned Friend had referred, he
would state the result of his experience in that
office. He commenced his lectures in the Hall. The
system was to deliver written lectures in term, and
after term he instituted examinations upon them.
The society had made it compulsory upon students
who desired to be called to attend these lectures ; but
the examinations were entirely voluntary. The
number of students who originally attended the lectures
I was about 18 or 19. Some of them evidently attended
because they were compelled; but he found that
those who attended the voluntary examination after
term made great progress. This went on for about
a year. At the:end of the year the society came to a
resolution that it should no longer be compulsory for
students to attend the lectures; on which those
who had attended only to qualify themselves to
be called ceased their attendance ; but those who
attended the voluntary examination, to the number
of eight or nine, continued. Finding the numbers
thus reduced, and thinking they could be much more
effectually taught round a table, he gave up the Hall
lectures and invited the students to meet him in the
Chancellor's private room, where he proceeded with
them, taking care when he came to the end of every
branch of a subject to inquire whether the principles
he had endeavoured to expound were thoroughly un-
derstood ; and after term the voluntary examination
was gone through, as usual, upon what bad been
treated during term. He must say ho never met
a set of young men more regular in their attend-
ance, or who devoted themselves more completely
to the subject than his pupils. These lectures
would terminate next term ; but from his
own experience he could, in the mean time, state
that the teaching of the law by this mode had been
eminently successful. To show that it had not
failed, he would mention that several gentlemen who
attended the first course of lectures also attended the
second, though the subject was the same ; and
that, seeing the earnestness with which the pupils
seemed to devote themselves to the study, he had
himself proposed that at the end of the course
they should receive prizes. The numbers, however,
not leaving been adequate, for he could scarcely
think it justifiable to establish a professorship to
teach only eight or nine pupils, the society was quite
right in discontinuing the system, but it could not be
in consequence of any failure as regarded those who
attended. He felt sure there was not a man who
would leave the course now in progress without being
in a more advanced state as regarded knowledge than
if he had been at the bar for five years under the ordi-
nary course of study. The system of teaching by
lectures, and the system of a legal school, would, he
was satisfied, be effectual for teaching the law ; and
the rr.sults of his own experience led him to concur
heartily in the principle.
Mr. ATECICETT described the success of the lectures
at the Law Institution to articled clerks in the other
branch of the profession, and said it was most de-
sirable that similar advantages of acquiring know-
ledge should be afforded to the students for the bar.
The establishment of a law school would in this
respect be a public benefit; and parties who distin-
guished themselves in it would, on that account, be
verypften selected for business.

Ifr. STEWART regarded the case of the Law In-
stitution as a most valuable one, because it was an
instance of a successful law school having been estab-
lished by a private society.
The motion was carried unanimously, and after
the remaining business had been disposed of the
meeting, adjourned.

SACRED HARMONIC SOCIETY.
The Sacred ifiarmonic Society commenced their
season last night at Exeter Hall. The band and
chorus are in all essential respects the same as during
last season ; and the whole of the musical arrange-
ments are under the direction of Mr. Costa. If we
may judge from the admirable style in which the
whole performance, vocal and instrumental, went off
last night, there is no reason to doubt that this so-
ciety will continue to deserve the high reputation
which it has enjoyed, alike with the musical world
and the regular frequenters of sacred performances at
Exeter-hall, since the improved management. The
oratorio selected for last evening was Ilandel's Se/o-
mon, one motive for opening the season with it being
I that, with the exception of a few months, one century
has elapsed since its first production. It was com-
menced on the 11th July, 1748, and finished on the
9th of August; and it was first performed (at
Covent-garden Theatre) on the 17th March, 1749.
One of.the latest, it is by no means one of the best of
llandel's oratorios ; but its beauties, which lie chiefly
in the choruses, received full justice from the enor-
mous orchestra. All the choruses are fine; but
among the most effective last night were, " Through-
out the Land," and the final chorus of the first part,
" May no rash intruder." This last, especially, was
admirably rendered, so much so that, in spite of the
rule to the contrary, the desire of the audience for a
repetition was irrepressible. Again, the opening
chorus of the second part " From the censer, ' was
magnificently given. The solo parts were sustained
by Miss M. and Miss A. Williams, Miss Stewart,
Mr. Lockev, and Mr. Lawler. Miss M. Williams
particularly distinguished herself by her execution of
the music assigned to Solomon ; and Miss A.
Hams imparted much pathos to her delivery of the
air, " Can I see my infant gored." The hall was
crowded, and the whole performance went off so
satisfactorily as to imply a very auspicious coninience
ment of the season.

THE LATE EIRES NEAR THE POST•OPFICE.—Yes-
terday, Mr. Payne, coroner, held a court of inquiry at
the Goldsmiths' Arms, Gutter-lane, for the purpose of
investigating the origin of the fires which recently oc;
curred on the premises of Mr. Hyde, boetmaker, of No.
8, Huggin lame. After the examination of a ntinlher of
witnesses, the jury were discharged without returning a
verdict. It was their unanimous opinion that the inquiry,
from certain suspicious circumstances, should be pro-
ceeded with.

PORTSMOUTH, Nov. 10.—Wind S.W., 11th, W.S.W.—
Sld. 10th Wessacurocon, Rio Janeiro. 11th, Darien,
ditto.

THE THANKSGIVING DAY.
The Bishop of London has issued the following
circular to the clergy of the metropolis :
" Fulham, Nov. 3, 1849.
" Reverend and dear Sir,—ln the pastoral letter
which I addressed to the clergy of this diocese in
December, 1847, with reference to the expected ap-
pearance of the cholera, I pointed out certain special
duties as proper to be undertaken by them at that
anxious crisis, in addition to the more peculiar func-
tions of their sacred office. I said that, while their
first object should be to impress upon the minds of
their people the necessity of an implicit trust in God,
of an entire submission to his will, of increased degrees
of seriousness, vigilance, and self-restraint, and of
frequency and fervour in prayer, it would also be an
office of real piety and charity to urge upon them the
importance of endeavouring to remove all those
physical causes which might invite the approach of
disease, and aggravate its malignity.
" I suggested, as a motive to such endeavours, that
while we may not look for a blessing upon the re-
sources and appliances of human skill if they are not
employed in humble reliance upon the power and
goodness of God, so neither, if Re neglect to use all
probable and practicable means of prevention and
preservation, have we any reason to expect that He
will specially interfere to rescue us from the conse-
quences of our own negligence.
" The importance of this caution has been painfully
proved by the events of the last twelve months. The
expected scourge has fallen upon us with awful
severity, and has swept away from this vast metro-
polis at least 15,000 of its inhabitants. Judging
from the unvarying tenor of the reports made by the
medical inspectors, and of other persons who have
watched the Ptogress of that fatal disease, I do not
hesitate to declare my belief that by far ie greater
number of those who have fallen victims to the
pestilence might, under God's blessing, have been
saved from death had timely and effectual measures
been taken fbr cleansing and ventilating their dwell-
ings, preventing their overcrowded state, and draining
the courts and alleys in which they are situate.
" We shall be chargeable with great folly and want
of foresight as poliical economists, and guilty, I
verily believe, of great sinfulness as a Christian people,
if we neglect to profit by the dearly-bought expe-
rience of the past, and to take prompt and energetic
measures for improving the condition of the labouring
classes, by removing the worst at least of those evils,
which at once render them an easy prey to disease
and death, and place them at a hopeless distance from
the Church's teaching and ministry. I remarked in
my former letter, that persons immersed in misery
and filth are for the most part inaccessible to the
motives and consolations of the Gospel.
" Much, no doubt, there is which can be effected
only by means of legislative measures; but much may
be done by the charitable efforts of associated
Christians, which in the present state of things the
law could accomplish only by very slow degrees.
Let us not wait, while under the pressure of extreme
necessity, for the operations of a machinery which will
require a considerable time to put it in motion ; but
let us at once take the work in hand, and show that
the desired improvement is practicable, to a great ex-
tent, by the exertions of an active and well-directed
charity.
" We are about to perform, as a Christian people, a
public and solemn act of thanksgiving to Him, who
holds in his hands the issues of life and death, for his
great mercy vouchsafed to us in answer to our
prayers, in removing from us the plague and grievous
sickness which of late afflicted us, and restoring the
voice of joy and health to our dwellings. God grant
that it may be the expression of a real, heartfelt
thankfulness • and that it may be followed by its pro-
per results dincreased self-denial and charity ! You
will, I am persuaded, see the propriety of calling
upon your congregation to contribute liberally of
their worldly substance on that occasion, as a thank •
offering to Almighty God for their preservation frcm
that pestilence which has hurried so many thousands
to their last account; and I venture to recommend
that the alms then collected should be applied to the
promotion of some well-considered plan for improving
the dwellings of the labouring classes.
" I would not be understood to prescribe the
channel through which the collections should be so
applied; but I would suggest that where the funds
so raised are not sufficient for carrying out a local
scheme for that purpose, they may he safely entrusted
to The Society for Improving the Condition of the
Labouring Classes,' without fear of misapplication or
waste. Much good has been already effected by that
society, in setting an example of what may be done
towards providing the poor with decent and commo-
dious habitations, by an outlay which will ultimately
be repaid with interest, both in a social and a pecu-
niary point of view. It is a remarkable and encou-
raging fact, that in the dwellings and lodging-houses
belonging to the society there was not one case of
cholera, and two only of diarrhoea, which speedily
yielded to medical treatment.*

" I cannot conclude this letter without expressing
my deep sense of the exemplary manner in which the
clergy of this diocese have discharged their duties
during the late most trying season, in visiting with
unwearied assiduity and kindness the sick and dying,
and in ministering, to the utmost of tbeir power, both
to the bodily and spiritual comfort of the sufferers.
Two only of their number have fallen victims to that
deadly disease which has carried off so many members
of their flocks. Let us, who have been mercifully
spared, show forth our thankfulness by increased dili-
gence in every work of piety and charity, that the
Lord, when he cometh, may find us so doing. Com-
mending you to his holy keeping.
"I remain, Reverend and dear Sir, your affectionate
friend, " C. J. LONDON."
* The reports of the society may be had of the
secretary, John Wood, Esq., 21, Exeter Hall, Strand.

The Lord Mayor gave directions yesterday that
the following notice should be extensively circulated
in the city of London :
" FARNCOBIN, MAYOR.
"Mansion-house, Nov. 12, 1849.
" Her Moat Gracious Majesty the Queen having
by her royal proclamation appointed and commanded
that a General Thanksgiving to Almighty God for the
abatement of the grievous disease with which many
places in this kingdom have been lately visited shall
be observed throughout England and Ireland on
Thursday, the 15th day of November instant,
"The Lord Mayor requests that his felloW-citixens
will close their shops and abstain from all business on
that day, in order that it may be devoutly and reve-
rently observed by all classes.
"By order of the Lord Mayor,
" S. R. GOODMAN."

Yesterday the Rev. Dr. Adler, the Chief Rabbi,
issued the following Form of Thanksgiving for the
cessation of cholera, to be used in all the British syna-
gogues on Thursday next. The Thanksgiving is to
be preceded by psalms, and by the ordinary prayers
for the Queen and the Royal Family :
" God of the spirits of all flesh ! before thee we
come this day, in the place of Thy holiness,
to glorify, to praise, and to thank Thee
that, although Thou hest been angry with us, Thine
anger is turned away, and Thou hast com-
' forted us : and that, though Thou hast chastised ,us
sorely, Thou bast again become our salvation. Thy
chastening hand had lain heavily upon the inhabitants
of this land. The mysterious and irremediable sickness
had stricken down many—many beloved and lamented
victims : the stoutest heart trembled at the voice of
death sounding at the threshold; and the boldest
among the mighty were seized with terror and
anguish. But gracious and merciful art Thou, 0
Lord! Thy wrath endureth not long ; nor is thine
anger everlasting ! Thou makest sore and healest;
Thou woundest, but it is Thy hand which prepareth
the balm. In the depths of our terror and affliction
Thou didst send forth Thy Spirit and there was a
pause. Thou commandedst, and the Plague ceased.
" Mighty and all-powerful Lord ! our Rock and
our Shelter ! who can tell all Thy goodness ?—who
can show forth all Thy glory ?—who can expound
thy ways in the sanctuary? But
the living, whom
Thy mercy hath spared—the living it, behoveth to
thank Thee with their whole heart. The father to
his children shall make known Thy truth, and declare
Thy goodness—how Thou hest dealt wondrously
with us !—how Thou !last called to mind Thy cove-
nant with our forefathers and has shielded us with
the sun of Thy mercy which beareth healing and
consolation on its wings.
" Fountain of all blessings! open our eyes to
know the benefits which the days of distress bring
forth when the scourge has ceased. Grant that we
may understand how full of blessings are the chas-
tisements of Thy hand : that we may learn thereby
Thy statutes, and cease to sin against Thy holy laws.
Glorious are th& powers and faculties with which
Thou hest bounteously endowed us; which ccaie•
lessly follow out their true destination, but when we
destroy their harmony it is we who produce conflict
between them and act against Thy will : 0, let us
therefore ponder our ways so that we may ever re-
member the part affliction and provoke not its return.
Grant that no uncleanness may pollute usi and that
wrong and unrighteousuess be not found among us.
Send Borth the blessed light of Thy truth to guide and
lead us in Thy holy path. Deign to imbue us with
the spirit of true charity, that we may strengthen the
feeble knees and assist with compassion those who are
in affliction—for such theis are Thy desire--such
are the sacrifices which Thou dost not despise.
" 0 continue to be merciful unto us ! Let Thy
countenance still shine upon us, 0 Lord, rendt.r
our days as of old ! Ainen."

STATE OF TRADE IN HAWICK.—It is gratifying
to be able to state that the staple trade of this town wens
never in a better condition. It is enough to say that
stocks are disappearing, and that there is full employ.
men for every one, and in many departments for more
hada if they could LI Otromick,