The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1810-07-17
(FoR THE ENoUIRER)
MOOT COURT
PRACTICE ILLUsTRA IC PREcEPT.
10 THE STUDENTS OF LAW. THeoueaoyT
THE STATE OF vIRGINIA.

The necessity Of some public establishment
Calculated to ASSIST The student of law ~ ms pur
suits, has for a long time, been felt and acknoW
''%''H e',T"H r ''"Nt >e- state of Virginia The
plans IN relation to this subj CT wiiicn have hi
therto been acted upon hsve either entirely fail
ed m their object, or have been attended with
only pa tai success Fne Causes vi these f.i
lures Cannot be found IN the d fiji ultes or the ob
Ject Itself, nor In any want OF IN .rcy or talents
on the art OF those TO whose d .reclon and go
Vernance, the institutions have been sever.llv
conhded. Men othIgn and ackn0 W lodged res
pectaoiii'y men not less distinguished Far their
'sehts tlah Their virtues, have occasionally IN.
dertaken the difficult task of ievellng the rl,r.
geo oDst'uctohs IN the patu of tile student. Tie
notorious and unfortunate fact that their exer-
tons have IN no instance, been crowned with he
success expected ON them, impells us To look
for the Causes OF their failure in tn, fund m.nt
errors oil the system .hem,e e. L e sc ar ma
"y% o various out the great q Iuling ev cunsi~ts
an The mode generally adopted, of conveying n
sTuction- n science intricate, emit ari assed
ana muitpieX; a science IN itself so difficult and
obscure, rs 10 require IN attainment, ne most
unremhted excrtlJn of all the enernies of tn.
mind, and which whole lie of toll and study
cannot entirely embrace, can be but sliphtlv
touciiS q by occasional adyice OF the passing M.
structions OF public lecture. Hence it re uuent
~ happens, that The student, disappointed IN bis
anticipations of rapid and Immediate proficiency
the object 10 be unat. unable, because ne Il ID
II more difficult than he ex1cc d or even # nf.
Is inclined to persevere la has labors, it reuur
out little time TO convince MIN that they nl.,rut
DC much more prcftably exerted liz his own cl,
SET II Is true, the student may BY long course
OF private application, collect together va6t
number OF facts and perhaps of principles But
1T should be recollectcd that it is not the nature
Oh lne human mind TO remain passive nor can
ne ever expect to be either useful or great who
contents himself with being only 4 recipient
Ihese facts and principles, thus laboriously col
iected, can alter all, be considered only AS so
nany ornaments of the mind, affurdinpr indeed
hucS delight IN the possession, but inc 40 4bie of
any application tC useful purposes 70 illustrate
this point; need only cali your attention 10 tho
numerous and distressing embarrasmcnts which
Always ateno The entrance OF the closet student
upon The practice Of the bar. Ignorant of ruie
uhscquaihted WITH forms, confused in his recoI
lection Oh principles and utterly incapable of an
PNinS them to advantage, he stumJies on in his
IN dmght way, and cat hes only here and there.
ghmTnerinS OF light through INST aud confusion
L ON tniS cIrcuIn3tlnce, result two lmpOrtante C.
Wis On the one hand, the modest and y,luable
'aiehts ot the country, frequently retire in DIS
gust from theatre OF contest, WHERE from an
early error Of education, they are constantly
liable to be baiHed by coxcomos in science and
on the other, The bars througnOu the states, are
infested with shoals ofthose ephemeral uDstar,s
"hoi win 'ut any prctensIOn to public fsvors
push themselves by impuaeuce and cunning
INTO public notice, and whose acquaintance with
the science they pretend to practice, is as limit
'ed aud confused as their oratory is laundering
aud crippled These facts which, no, doubt.
nave come under the observation of every an. Of
YOU have OF course, been m ide the subject Of
yosr anmsdycr2lorS. mention them here, oni,
'h"t may have an opportunity of pointing on
"'eir remedy Il is to be found in an INSTITUTION
ateiy esIsbl ished in this city, the plan Of whic
Wiz c0Ecistiy detail to you. invite you to par
ucipste IN its advantages
me INST tuition alluded to is a tnock touyt, Is
tabiished by the recommendation and coulu led
u"der tn immediate supenmtendance e On.
Honorable Creed rayior The high ( acknogI
sdged standing Of this gentleman both as a I,,.
sc and man, siiords sufficient evidence ofhis
nciinotion aud ability TO conduct the institution
ufGh tne mosL bselul principles, and presents