Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1825-10-18
FOR TIE E.AOHrIR Err
September &c, 1925.

FOR THE E.AQ yIRER.
JUDGE tn kER.S Law SCHOOL,
.hieSSrS. Editors: Having o5serv ed in the pub
lie prints that Chancellor Tucker proposes to re-
sumo his law lectures in Winchester on the Ist day
OF Nov. next, aud being impressed With deep and
conscientious conviction, ioJuded on my own in
digidual experience, of she superior advantages
which his plan of instruction presents TO those
who are des'rOu> o. acqpiribr in he shortest pos
sibe time and with comparative facility, profound
and scientific AGO rainia.ce with le doctrines of tie
law, could not iorbcu he adoption OF this mode
OF earnestlv inviting the attention of all such To an
institution, which has not, / apprehend, attracted
th.t gener.d in erest throughout our state, which
It's exalted merit entities it TO claim. My adni-
ration, too of The simple modest terms in W hich
Judge Tucker has been pleased TO exhibit the
grounds OF his eli i'm TO the public PATRONAGE senti-
m/n of uuieigned Prati'udc towards him for the
IiorIant aids IN the aitainmen, of legal know
Ee:ge, " hich am Conscious of having derived
from hi instruction, toselhe, with disposition on
my rari to call those who % be my future pro-
iession'l brethren from he thoruv aud perplexed
paths OF solitary and unaided study TO plain and
open highway, which will conduct them safety
EDWARDS 20 triumphant snnina;ion of their
labonrs; all these considerations have orspired TO
determine me 20 bear iris M humcle, but public
testimony 10 the merit of & school, whose leadino
char tcieristics need only 10 be Universally known
in order 10 attract universal applause and i'd
miration. Law Institute under the conduct of
an able and Distinguished Jurist, has lons been re-
gnrded great dashlerat,nn in our state For
while almost ever oghet department of knowledge
had their temples among ns,s il long a subject
OF compla and wonder, ihat the science of the
law, the most difficult and Important of any, was
| Jeff whogs<anins,iuiion yhe it, voisries might
enjoy tie benefits OF plidic leciufDg and social
study The law student ~ Virginia, Abandoned 10
tie guidance OF his O, feeble aud unsteady Iial,ts
in exploring fei OF Joundles, research, vexed
with lab srintts and perpexing iricaces, was al
most sure, except is a ie" remarkable instances,
fter great AID unpr sfiiable expenditure of time
AID lahom in endea ,ourIng to solve difficulties
wholly impenetrsble 70 his unassisted mird. and TO
conquer obstaclee onqIerahle, save TO the veie-
JurIs' her torelinqIisli his enerpiZe IN al,
soute despair, or dse % forth to the bars OF the
ntr, wi h a mid possessed OF no distinct ear
and saslactor, kjo ledge wba soc er OF even the
elementary principles OF his profession To this re-
marksbe state o things principal cause, some
persons have al rIbu ed that acknowledged and de-
plorable depreciation OF aggregate dignity and
strength whlcithe LEGAL profession has experienced
in Virginia. Ru whatever grounds of complaint
this coreformerly existed in Virginia it is GER
tain hat sshooi is now open, whose advantages,
! verify believe, not surpassed by those held
| forth by any similar establishment in our Union
| The succsss OF every Law S, hoo must of necessi-
| ty depenf on two things: Ist. The adoption of
right sytem OF Instruction 2d. The abii,y oftbe
! Lecture successfully to execute it. "A miscon-
! cepofin The one, a failure in the other pari-
culsr for obvious reasons, being alike productive
oil taste OF time and labour on the part OF students
and master. Chancellor Tucker has adop,ed his
father se1ition of Blackstones Commentaries on the
| LAYS OF England tie basis Of his course OF lee
| Tes. But. whilst il must be confessed on all
ands, that this work presents beautiful and COM
Tehensve outline OF the laws of England, and for
luminous and scientific arrangement has never been
surpassed every well read LAWYER wHi vel ac-
knowledge that as n body of iG,o, distributed un-
der various titles II IS materially defective in point
well of extent OF precision. Aware of this,
Judge Tucker while he adheres 10 Blackstone's
arrangement, and discusses the legal titles in the
order in which they presented in the commen-
ares 10 the consideration of the student has given
to the text an expansion in the shape of printed
notes which embraces the pth aud substance of all
that has been written in the form OF distinct and
particular tracts and essays upon separate titles in
the law. While some other Lecturers content
themselves with expoundng the law il is TO be
found IN the commentaries, occasionally remaTkng
when any important principle there stated, has
been overthroyn by subsequent adiidications or
annihated as to us by our own statutory enact
menis Judge Tucker, looking to the commentaries
chiefly mere .HethodicGi Guide, has, rs il
were, in series OF elaborate abridgements, evisce-
rated from all the various tract writers in the law
and embodied and arranged under appropriate heads
all that they comprise OF importance. in relation 10
The titles Of which they respectively treat. Thus
his annota;ions, in connection with their text, nav
with truth be said, TO constitute pretty full and
complete compendium Of the law In the execu-
tion Of this aboriou> and comprehensive scheme of
annexation he has endeavoured, by the exercise of
just analysis, to a middle course betwee the
too great iheoreic generality Of Hoffman course
md the almost exclusive attention tn practical
mnutie by which one other Law School is charac-
terised.
He examines title sufficiently in detail to give
the student accurate ideaO all fhenateria prnci-
Piles embraces, without perplexiog him with all
the nicer technical points which might be sugges'ed
To the student who designs 10 prac his profession
in Virginia, Judge fuckers school offers advan-
tsges emphltically great and striking. For, while
he has diligently explored the most recondite depths
of the common lae and brought for h and display
ed its treasures ~ the student he has spared no pains
10 make him fully and accur els acquainted with
he statute law OF Virginia, 10 possess him with
precise knO lie ige of the cases in which the enact
ments Of the iatter have in their operation modified,
restrained, enlarged, or abolished the doctrines Of
the former. All Of he important statues 10 our
lode, OF frauds, eohveyances, devses, pretensed
titles, SC. carefully and mnutely dssec ed b.,
him; The Ia en- difficulties OF construction OF each
brought out and mined, sometimes in the foru o
readings thein and all OF the adiudica ions o. our
nighes tribunal under, nd illustration them care
fully collected and compared With this vast body Of
law common and statutory, he has, with much adj