Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1831-08-25

several of the newspapers, ,cH be opened in Fred
ericksburg, on Monday, the 31st Of October merit
The session ,ciu terminate on the 23d of March.
FENHE experience Of several years, as Law
n Professor in the University of Virginia,
has shewn the decided advantages Constructing
by tert books. ,Dtt examinations and explanations
and that Lectures. orally delivered, ere u most
lneift ctual and unsatisfactory mode of instruc-
tIon, IN science 30 extensive and SO abstruse
as the Law. The Lecturer is compelled TO
measure his exercises, not by the size and de-
mands OF bis subject, but by what he NAV phy-
sically be able to say within The reasonable Pc
rod OF Lecture According 10 the data
winch will be found in the address to the reader.
pr fixed to Mr. Preston's valuable Lectures on
abstracts, the employment of an hour in Lectur-
ing would be commensurate with the contents
OF about Blk octave pages and third, printed in
ordinary type. Upon this computation, three
hundred lecturing day, at an hour each day,
would supply class with volume of annual in
struction, not exceeding the compass of Black
stones Comment aries. The increased labours
of the professor, and The diminished products Of
of his tolls, are not the least of The lnconveni-
ences OF this method oil instruction..
1t Is impossible that the apprehension of q
Student, however gifted IN ini elect, can distnc,-
ly gather from the lips of the cearest g. most I'M
Presslve lecturer those abstruse principles which
are found difficult 10 be understood. even
when submitted, IN the prosperous treatses of
the best Law writer's, to the most intense con-
d'ration OF the student, in his closet. In max
ing allowance TOR this inirmity Oft he student, the
lecturer IS compelled to seize only upon the most
broad and prominent principles of the Law, such
rs can most easily and readily be apprehenGed as
they hit upon the ear. The consequence is that
the principles of science the most extensive,
diihcu!t and profound, epitomised into q
mere summary, imperfect and SUPERFICIAL
These considerations should induce Professor
OF Law to rely as little as possible upon oral
lectures, and only to resort to them, when the
facilities OF written instruction not to be had.
The aim of the school, now presented for pub
lie patronage, will be principally to facilitate
the acquisition OF knowledge of forensick Law,
as practispdin America, and principally in Vir-
gina. Within the short period to which this
course OF instruction is confined, it will not be
pretended 10 form complete Lawyer Ii is II
most pernclous deiusiou To encourage student
% beieve,that he can be competently qualified for
admission to the bar, by less than three wears ap-
picaiion to the study of he law; and, with this
preparation, his studies must be unremittingly
prosecuted, after he ID 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 valuable fund of jnforma-
ton upon the subjects of our own Jurisprudence,
and to supply himself with facilities for making
| father advances. 'fhe most important doctrines
of the English Courts, as modified and Illus ra-
ted by the statutes and decisions of Virginia
with references to cases the other States, will
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, IN collecting and arranging references to
American cases, especially those ofVrginia, pre-
Paratory To The publication iii sufficiently encou-
raged,) Of editions of English Law Books. adap-
ted TO our own Jursp: udence, or series Of trea-
ties upon some OF the most important branch
es Of our Law. These preparations are still
incomplete, but are con inued with undated
yea and industry. 1t Is hoped that some of the
fruits OF these iabours will be- readyto be put into
the hands OF the students, al the session ensuing
the next.
For the present, the Texts Books which will
be employed, and which students will be re-
CURED to provide themselves with, will be Black
stones Commentaries, (CbItty's edition will be
preferred and IS he cheap"sr,) Crulse's Digest
,the New York edition of 827, the bes' J Tuck
rrs Commentaries, and kent's Comment aries
The exercises will be daily, during he session.
Each day, portions Of the English text books,
with opposite parts of the American Common a.
RES, will be marked out for The EXERCISES of the
students on the ensuing day; when they will be
TigIdly examined upon tho matter which has
been thus assigned for their etudies-and IN the
course of the examination, such additional REL
ereDces, and explanations will be supplied as
vii! best illustrate The subject in hand.
1t Is believed, that tie term will NOT be TOO
and Cruise, that may be applicable to our own
Country, with the corresponding Commentaries
of Tucker and Kent-provded the assidury of
The student shall correspond in any dee-ce with
tn. zeal Of the Professor. The exercises, with
VIII ch he students will be tasked, will no. much
"xceed the exeTcis es. Which in anoher SITUATION,
was in the habit Of appointing for The Glass;
when the attention IF many ofits members was
wont to be divided between the Law and one
or more studies besides.-The price of Instruc-
ion viii be $50 the session, To be paid IN cash
beforc the student can be admitted to the school
Accommodations may be had IN very prDteel
private boarding houses, as well as at the Ia
verns, upon V"ry reasonable ierms-sav from
$40 L" S12 so per month, exclusive only of fuel
and washing-whIch may be procured for We
ry moderate price. The whole ex2epce of hy-
ing. the most comfortable that could be expect
ed or asked, will probably be Les than SIS the
session. No situation could be more fayorably
recommended for Law School. by the con-
sideratIoDs ofsalubrity, and society, lhan Fred
erlcksbnrg. Persons dcsrous of becoming stu.
dents will be Dleased to apprise me as early as
convenient Of their intention. Letters may DO
directt d to FTedericksburg-posag paid.
JOHN TAYLOE LOMAX.
August 2, 1881. I'm
The National Intelisencer, u. s. Telegraph, Rich
nOnd ENQUIRER and Whig Will please the aboyo