The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1823-05-23
THE IAN.
From CaHpbtWs .ifdga.inf.

olsiy uAefsiocked, and crowds of fresIl
metnhers flock IN every term, as II Tor til,
sole purpose, aud certainly with III. effect.
t OF starving nne another. Ii the annual -
monuments of the profession were collect
ed into Il common fund, and equally disir-
buted among the corps the proportion OF
each would not exceed miserable pit.
'hnee, The Ordinary explanation of this is
that the profession of the law is like lai.
tefy, where the great prizes allure many
competitors. This is true To "A Ger.
tain extent ovenin England but, sns
pect, with this difference, that in England
every person, before he purchases II ticket.
assures himself that he has not only some
chance for the highest prizes, but "A great
chance for the intermediary aud smaller
ones whereas, with us, not more than
Que fourth of the holders of tickets have
the slightest ground OF calculating upon eli
Tier one or the other.
A popular charm, ! should rather say n
delusion, attaches Ia the name of Il "Conn.
sellor = and parents, duped by certain
vague and obsolete associations, continue IN
pfeelP'tate their SONS into this now more
IMAM precious career, without the least
ad'erfcnee To their substantial prospects
of success, aud in utter ignorance Of
the peculiar habits and talents requir-
ed tn obtain It. Ii is a common by
word with us, that no one who really de-
serves TO saececd ut the bar will fail. This
may be very true +; but What u compIica-
ton of qualities, what course ofpri,ation,
what trials oi taste aud temper and pride
are involved IN that familiar and Thunder
stood assertion. A young harrister who
| looks to eminence through his own unaid,
ed merits, must have mind aud frame
prepared by nature for the endurance of
uuremitted toll. He must cram bis memory
with the arbitrary principles of compile,
and inc0ngrnous code, aud be equally PIE
pared, Ms occasion serves, To apply ar mis-
apply them. lie nust not only surpass
his competitors IN the art ofreasuning right
| from right prlncipies--the logic OF common
life but he must be an adept in re asoning
right from wrong principles, and wrong
from right ones. He must learn 10 glory
IN perplexing sophstry, rs in the discove-
ny OF immortal truth. lie must make up
his mind and his face TO demonstrate in
open court, with all imaginable gravity,
that nonsense is replete with mcaniug, and
that the clcarest meaning is manllestly
nonsense by construction.
This s what is meant by illegal habits
of thinking" aud to acquire them, he must
not only prepare his faculties by course
Of asslduons and direct cultivation, but he
must absolutely forsw' ar all other studies
and spcculatlons that may interfere with
tlrir perfection. There must be 40 DIAL
! lying with literature M hankering nj.
ter comprehensive theories for the good
of manknd all such "tri,al fond re-
cords" must be done away He rnusl
keep to his digest and indexes. lie
must see nothing in mankind but n great
collection asplaintiils aud defendants aud
must consider no revolution in their affairs
as comparable in interest TO tue last term
report Of point of practice in Banco Regis.
As he walks the streets, he must give way
to no sentimental musings. There must
be no " commencing with the skies p
no idle dreams Of love, aud rainbows,
aud poetic forms, and all the bright
allusion upon which the Z" fancy free
can feast. If thought OF love in
trndes, il must BIZ connected with the law
OF marriage settlements and articles Of SC.
paratOn from bed aud board. SO Of the
other passions, and of all the most interes-
! ting incidents and situations in lfe--he
must view them merely with reference IN
their " legal effect and operation" II a
funeral passes by, he must, instead of per-
uniting ms imagination 10 follow the
mournrrs To the grave, consider how far
the executor may have made himself liable
for waste of assets, by some supcrnu-
merary plumcs and hatbands, "bcyond the
state and circumstances Of the dcceased.p
Such is Il part, aud very small part oi
the probationary discipline 10 which the
candidate fol forensic eminence must be pre-
pared to submit, and r he can hold out for
ten or fifteen years, his superior claims
may begin To be known y rewarded But
success will bring 40 diminution Of toll aud
self-denial. Tie bodily and mental Labor
Of successful barrister's Iife would be- sui
fcient if known beforehand, to appaI tht
stoutcst. Besides this, it has many pecu-
liar annoyances. His life is passed in a
tumult Of pecullar contention, and he must
compound with his ssnsibility to give and
receive the hardest knocks. lie has M
choice Of cases ne must throw himself
heart and soul, into the most uupronIisinp
that is confdcd 10 him. lie must contend
with obsireperons Witnesses he must have
lungs TO oat-ciam0r the most canorous.-
He must make speeches without materials
He must keep battering for hours at al
limpregnable jury. He is before the pub.
lie, and al the mercy Of public opinion
and If every nerve is not strained to the
utmost to achieve what is impossible, IA,
lpuhlit, with its usual good nature, vii
attribute the failure 10 want Of zeal or ca
paci'y in the advocate, or any thing rather
than badness ia the cause.
Finally, he must appear to be sangnin,
even after defeat, and beplepared to tel
a kna,ish client, beaten out of the Court o
Common Law, that his is clear case fo