Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1831-08-15
A LAW SCM0na

ertcks6urg, on Monday, the 3Ist of October merit.
ne session ,'iH terminate the Esd of March.
q VIE experience of several years, as Law
Professor 10 the University of Virginia,
aas she~n toe decided advantages ofinsI ructing
by teri BOOKS, TLt examinations and explanations,
and that Lectures, orally delivered, are mosi
inen ctual and unsatisfactory mode of ins;ruc-
ZION, IN science so extensive and so sbsiruse
as the Law. The Lecturer is compelled TO
measure his exercises, net by the size and de-
mands oil his subject, but By what he NAV phy-
sicsiiy he able to say within the reasonable pc,
ROO oil Lecture. According To the data
which will be found in the address to the reader.
prehXed 10 Mr. Prcston's valuable Lectures on
abstracts, the employment of an hour in l.ectnr
ing would be commensurate with the contents,
OF aooht SIX octave pages and third prin, ed in
ordinary type. Upon this computation. three
hundred ietturing day, at an hour each dny,
would supply class with q volume of annual in.
siruction, not exceeding the compass Of Black
stones Commentaries. The increased l,bours
OF the professor, and he diminished products of
oil his tolls, are not the least of the inconyeui.
enees of this method Of instruction.
1t Is impossible that the apprehension of
Student, however gifted IN intellect can distinct
~ gather from the lips of he clearest s. most i'm
pressiVe lecturer, those abstruse principles which
are found SD difficult 10 DC understood. even
when submitted. IN the perspicuous treatises of
the best Law writer's, to the most intense con.
sideraton OF the student, in his closet. In max
ing allowance for this inirmity ofthe student. the
lecturer is compelled to seize only upon the mos,
oroad ana prominent principles oftkc Law, such
as can most easily and readily be apprehenGed as
they HIT upon the ear. The consequence is, that
the principle OF science the most extensive.
diihcuIt and profound, are epitomised into n
mere summary, imperfect ard smpcrficial-
These considerations should induce q Professor
OF Law to rely us little possible upon oral
lectures, and only to resort TO them when the
facilities Of written instruction are not to be Ind
The aim OF the school. now presented for pub
lie patronage, will be principally to facilitate
the acquisition OF a knowledge of forensick Law,
as ptactlsedln America, and principally in Vir-
gina. Within the short period to which this
course OF instruction is confined, it will not be
pretended TO form complete Lawyer |, is d
most pernlcious delusion To encourage q student
to believe, that he can be competently Qualified for
admission to the bar, BY less than three wears ap-
plicatlon to the study ofihe law; and, with this
preparation, his studies must be unremit;ingy
prosecuted, after he is admitted if he would
faithfully discharge the duties of his station
But the course here proposed viii not be too
short, TO enable the student, with proper dill
gence, to acquire a valuable fund of informu
ton upon the subjects of our own Jurisprudence
and to supply himself with facilities for making
| father advances. The most important doctrines
OF the English Courts, as modified and ustra-
| ted by the statutes and decisions of Virginia
with references to cases of the other States, vii
be brought to his notice in the course of his ex
ercIses For some years past my labours have
| been employed when not interrupted by other
duties, iii collecting and arranging references to
American caSos, especially those of Virginia, pre-
paratory TO The publication (if sufficiently encou-
raged,) of editions of English Law Books adap-
ted to our own Jurisprudence, or q series of rea
ties upon some OF the most important branch
es of cur Law. These preparations are still
incomplete, but are ccn'inued with undated
yea aud industry. 1t is hoped that some of the
fruits ofthese abours will be readyto be put into
the hands of the students, at the session ensuing
| the next.
I For the present, the Texts Books which will
be employed, and which students will be re-
quircd to provide themselves with, will be Black
stones Commentaries, (Chittys edition will be
| preferred and 10 the chea Prsr,) Cruises Digest
the New York edition Of 82T the bes) Tuck
RS Commentaries, and Kent's Commentari es
| The exercises will be daily, during the session
Each day, portions of the English text books
| with opposite parts ct the American Comments a.
ries will be marked cut fer The exercises of he
! students on the ensuing day; when they will be
] rigdly examined upon the matter which has
! been thus assigned for their studies-and in the
course IF the examination, such additional re-
erences, and explanations will be supplied, rs
will best illustrate The subject IN hand.
1t is believed, that the term will not be toe
short, TO review all the subjects, in Blackstone
and Cruise, that may be applicable 10 our OWL
/ Country, with the corresponding Commentaries
/ of Tucker and Kent-provided the assiduiiy o.
| the student shall correspond in any degree with
| the zeal Of the Professor. The exercises with
| VIII oh the students will be tssked, will not much
4 exceed the exercises, which in another situation
was in the habit Of appointing for tic class
when the attention IF many ofitS members was
I wont to be divided between tho Law and one
or more studies besIdcs-The price of instrnc-
| ton viii be $50 the session, to be paid in casl
before the student can be admitted to the school
Accommodations may be had in very genleel
/ private boarding houses, as well as at the Ia
verns, upon very reasonable terms-say from
$40 to Sl2 so per month, exclusive only of fue
and washng--Which may be procured for We
ry moderate price. The whole exrencC of lv
ing. the MOST comfortable ,bat could be expeci.
ed or asked, will probably be less than SIS The
4 session. No situation could be more favorubI,
! recommended for Law School, by the con-
4 sderat'ons Of sglubrty, and society, Than Fred
/ ericksllIrg. Persons DESTROYS Of becoming stu
dents VIII be tleased to apprise mc as early a
convenient OF their intention. Letters may b.
digGett to .FTcdericksbUrg--po paid.
/ JOHN TAYLOE LOMAX.
August 3, 1891. c lon
The National in,ellgcncer, u. S. Telegraph. Rich
uaOnd Enquirer and Wing, will please insert the abov
twice week, for rUuil and forward thsr account
10 tiis Once for payment