Alexandria gazette & advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1822-1824, 1823-05-22

cesses of the science: and sueh pas
sion for the science itself as may com.
municate itself TO his pupils and inhame
them with emulation to follow his steps.
Such man is Judge Dorsey, and l
have been highly grati6ed in Witness
ing the effects which he is already pro-
ducing among the young men here
You know that in our state 1t IS by no
means common to meet with young
man who enters upOo the study OF the
low CON an,ore and with q view TO eml-
pence in the learning of the profession.
lie finds it necessary to adopt some
pursuit; and he chooses the law because
he fancies it the highest in point OF la
Dor and one of the most genteel OF all
the professions. lie pursues the study,
therefore, with little appetite, soon
bee ONES weary of it, and is contented
with just such superficial acquant'
ance with the science as may gain him
admission to the bar, Or if he aims
at distinction, it is commonly at poiiti-
cal distinction; he regards the bar as
a mere theatre for the display of elo-
cution and what | have heard called
general talents, and considers his Ii
cence to practice law, only as pass.
port to the legislature of the state and
to political honors. This is the bane Of
our profession in Virginia, and 1t re-
qulres potent remedy to counteract
that repugnance to the learning of the
law which seems to be SO naiural to tie
ETHEREAL geniuses of the south. Judge
Dorsey, however, does contrive to coun.
teract it even among The young Virgin
ians who are with him and to iDfuse an
absolute passion for the most abstruSe
intricacies of the science.
His lectures are attended not only
by his pupils, of whom he has a large
body. but by the practising members
OF the bar. | have seen some of the
oldest practitioners there, and have
heard it SAID that the late Mr. Pinkney,
learned as he was, has declared that he
never left one of these lectures without
some new and useful acquisition.
The judges mode of lecturing has to
me all the interest of novelty. 1t Is
not a dull ard pressing lecture read from
his chair, but warm and animated
discussion, which he delivers ore tenus
from notes; standing, while he delivers
it. and enforcing it with all the life and
earpestness of look and gesture which
we are accustomed to witness, only, in
real controversies at the bar. You may
imagine, at first, that there would be
something little ludicrous in such vi.
vacity Of discussion without an adver-
ssry; and l confess that for few min
utes had this feeling myself. 1t was.
however, but few minutes only; for ]
soon saw all around me and felt In my
3self che advantage of this manner
For although he was treating of estates
upon condition, over which the seclu-
ded student is so apt to doze, he contri.
we'd to keep his audience lot only wide
awake, but excited, and even eagerly
excited. to mark the development OF
his subject, the solidity Of his d'st'nc'
tions. the firmness with which he met
the objections to his doctrines (all OF
which he states with great learning and
candor) and the cogency and business
with which he declared his conc illusions.
So that what he heard was not only a
profound and acute lecture upon the
branch of the law, but was also in ito
self an excellent model, for forensic
argument.
The private examination Of one OF his
classes gave me not less pleaaure.-
There were from IL to 10 young gen.
tlemep ranged before him in semicir-
cle-and the subject of examination
was the law of contingent rsmai"dsrs
md erecutory deuises. than which you
know, that there Is not one IN the "hoie