Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1840-07-30
For the Spectator.
STAUNTON LAW SCHOOL.
BY JUDGE LUCAS p. THOMPSON.


By JUDGE LUCAS p. THOMPSON.
The above school will, presume, be re-
opened on the LIST of December next, and its
superior advantages need only be known 10
entitle it to large share Of public patronage.
One personally acquainted with Judge
Thompson, and member Of his class last
winter, takes this means of bearing an humble
testimony to his fitness for the responsible Of
fee of instructor, and representing to the pub
lie the advantages of his school.
Staunton is known to be remarkable for its
health, the cheapness of its living, and the
sobriety, intelligence, and hospitality of its
citizens. No place in Virginia possesses
| greater local advantages. Board, including
every thing bmt washing, can be had in the
best houses at $l5 per month. There are no
| temptations to vice, extravaganza, or dissipa-
ton ofany kind: it being proverbial!y "a plain,
sober, moral, order-loving community" The
social circle is equal to any in the State, and
open to all who desire an entrance. The
doors of the virtuous and intelligent, are new
er closed, and "the string of the latch pulled
| in'' against those whose minds and morals
entitle them to place either in palaces or
''Log Cabins" For health, for cheapness
of living, for social enjoyment tor induce
ments to study and virtue, and for freedom
from temptations to folly or vice, Staunton
acknowledges no superior.
But it is of Judge Thompson himself that
would particularly speak-not of his legal
attachments, for they are generally known and
appreciated; but of the man, his method of
instruction, and his happy facility of impart-
ing knowledge to others.
Plain and unpretending, affable and con-
ciliatory in his manners, as he is kind and ge-
nervous in his feelings, l have seldom seen any
latf .(,,l tod 10. 4
and win upon the hearts of his pupils.
speak aduisediy when say that so strong was
| the personal attachment of almost every MEM
Der of his class last winter, SO anxious were
| they to preserve his good opinion and elevate
thccharacter of the school, that they strove
to abstain from every thing which might be
| Objectionable in his eyes, looked up to him as
their best friend, council and guide, and pros
ecuted their studies with much greater zeal
than the mere ''desire Of knowledge" could
have inspired. Manifesting, as he did, by his
| every word and act and look, the deep and
parental interest he felt in their conduct and
progress; they were emulous of one another
in their exertionst to please him-and doubt
not that many an hour, which would other
wise have been lost, was devoted to study in
the hope of receiving one of his approving
! smiles. Most his class, if not all, still re-
gard him with an affectionate and grateful re-
membrance; and those amongst them who
| have not come to the Bar, will return next
winter to complete their legal studies under
his auspices. Aye, | am assured that one at
least of those who have obtained licenses,
will do likewise. Surely these facts bear
strong testimony to his fitness.
His course of instruction was eminently
calculated to excite emulation, to quicken the
perception, to strengthen the reasoning facul-
ties, to impress deeply upon the mind the
more difficult portion of the text; and to draw
closer the bonds of sympathy and good feel
ing between instructor and pupil. If any
of us neglected to improve the advantages
thus offered, not his but ours the fault. The
class met around the Preside, not to near a
formal lecture, passing in at one ear and out
at the other, leaving no impression upon the
mind j; but to be closely and rigidly examined
upon portions of the text previously given
them to study. The Judge sat at their head,
as plain and unaSsuming as any amongst
them, pointing out as he proceeded any chan
ges in the law, commenting upon, and ex-
planning whatever was unsatisfactory or diff:
fcult, eliciting only to remove the doubts and
objections of members, at times indulging
and participating with them in discussions OF
abstruse and controverted points, carefully
imbuing their minds with the reason and
SplliI VI llle law, licNel VI tUOSG
arduous and varied duties.
! 1t was all done too in so plain, so simple,
so natural, and yet so impressive and inter
esting manner, that the attention seldom OF
never tagged, tho the examinations, COM
ments, &c. occupied from two to four hours.
Judge Thompson was always very famil-
| lar, not only with the text, but the different
cases adjudged under any Of its principles
and made ready and frequent reference to the
reporters. Occasionally he delivered original
truth, his happy illustrations of, and com.
ments on the text, combined with his rigid
and frequent examinations, were the very
of the student what his pride, his desire Of
improvement, and his regard for his instruc-
tor, had induced him to prepare well before.
hand.
! In addition to this, the Judge was always
ready and pleased to aid and encourage, euer
at ms o'cn office, those who sought him there
tor instruction or Enthusiastically devo
ing his whole time and thoughts to the adj
vancement his pupils. Let those, who YET
doubt, enquire Of men in Stanton cognisani
OF the facts of Gen'l. B. G.. Baldwin, John
II. Peyton, Alex'r. II. II. Stuart, Thomas
Niche, William Kinney, Kenton Harper, Oh
any others, and they will say that what have
stated is literally true. To them, and to my
fellow members of the class | confidently APP
peal Tor an endorsement of the testimony
have voluntarily borne to the worth and fitness
OF Judge Thompson as a teacher of the law.
A VIRG1NIAN.
0JSThe Richmond ENQUIRER and Wing
| Lynchburg V1rginian, Norfolk Herald, Lex.