The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1843-05-14
he Legal Examinations.

days Herald, came eff On the evening of that day
From the great press oi business IN the supreme
Court for there are no less than 500 Tor argu
ment on the calendar, their Honors hold an evening
session. II appears that MIR. Attorney General
Barker and Messrs. Reynolds and Boswell were II
three engaged in very important case, which was
make new appointment for the examination Of
Attorneys. Mr.. Stephens, Mr., James 1. Brady and
Mr.. Gilbert were appointed Court OF Examiners
The hour appointed for the examination was
o'clock, A. M, but by the time the names OF the
applicants, which amounted to about 800, were call
ed over, and the prellminarles Tor the examination
arranged, It was five O'Clock.
Mr. Gilbert commenced the examination by
asking the question, SLOW were actions dlvldedF'
The answer was "into civil and criminal" The
learned examiner continued to examine upon that
branch of egaljurisprudence for about twenty mi
nutes; after which he took up the subject OF the
jurisdiction Of the Supreme Court, and the duties
and responsibilities of the Judges and inferior Off
GERS of that tribunal and continued his examination
for half an hour. He was followed by Mr. Brady,
who examined as to the antiquity OF the office OF
Sheriff. and the duties OF that officer The learned
gentleman next examined in detail the mode of
prose cutting and defending suits at law, and Mr..
Stephens, closed by a searching examination INTO
the incidental proceedings OF litIgated suits The
examination concluded about o'clock
We are not altogether pleased with either the ex-
amners or the students Our fist objection Is, the
class was too numerous, and, necessarily the ques.
tons put to each of the candidates were like angels
the examiners did not in our judgment, strictly car
ny out their instructions according 10 their spirit and
meaning, and we aude particularly TO Mr. Brady,
who, to use legal phrase, was too fond OF Leading
the witness. On the part OF certain OF the students
there was great want Of method and clearness In
their answers which evlnced great lack OF legal
and technical language; aid there were others OF
them who could give no answer in any language
but upon the whole, the examination was rather
credItable to all parties, and perhaps the failures
which we found IT necessary to notice, proceeded
rather from the weakness of their nerves than the
thickness of their heads
The examination for the admission Of counseors
took place in the Circuit Court and commenced at
8 o'clock precisely trhe Ion. Mr.. Browne, member
Of Congress, Daniei Lord, Jr and 49, Haishtt,
Esqrs were appointed Examiners. Mr.. Lord took
the centre Feat; Mr. Brown sat on his right and Mr..
Haight on his eft The latter gentleman
commenced the examination on the gene
raj principles OF law and continued it for half an
hour He was followedby Mr. Browne, who examln-
ed on the subject of dover and widows. This
gentleman put some very knotty questions. We re.
collect one he put to fat Pory gentleman, who sat
at the head of the class. "What is the meaning OF
damages in dower?" said the examiner The fat
porily gentleman had to give it up 1t was passed
the next and until it through five six,
but they all had to give it up. Mr.. Browne then
one of the river counties, who he said must know
something about dover, but he said nothing about
widows. The question was put to him, MIR. Browne
kindly adopting MIR. Brady's plan, and 1t was an
swered
After Mr.. Browne had got through, the examina-
ton was taken up by Mr.. Lord, who began with the
alien law, and to do the gentlemen justice they SEEM
ed TO be quite at home upon that branch OF the sub
of corporations ''What is a corporationl" said
Mr. Lord to a young Blackstone from the West
'1tis fictitious man. sir" said young Blackstone
'No sir, it is artificial person." said the learned
examiner. We did not distinctly hear the name of
this person when called, and lest we should be
guilty of missioner we will say nothing more about
it, except that we recolect he sat next to gentle
man who wears big o. to his name. Mr.. Lord
ty in the U. States, and finished with the general law
Of tenures and contingent remanders and their skill
and knowledge in this difficult branch of law surpass
ed most sanguine expectations. Afterthe examln-
alton was concluded, MIR. Browne addressed the au-
dience-He said he felt exceedingly pleased with
the neral answering OF the candidates That him.
self and his learned friends were fast falling into the
scar Of the yellow leaf (ahough by the bye, we
thought both himself and his learned friends were
now in the prime of life, and full vgor of manhood,
but be that itmay, he said SOY and IN the course
of human events, we shall shortly be called on 10
render our last accounts, and to go TO that bourn
from which traveller returns. 1t was truly gra-
tiying to himself and his colleagues to know that
whenever that event happened, there were so many
gentem fully competent TO fill their places with
honor to themselves and advantage 10 the public =
The Honorable Member continued TO say that the
profession of the law was the highest and most
honorable OF the learned professions, and he hoped
the gentlemen who had omuch distinguished them
selves this evening by the research and industry dis
played in their answers to the several questions put
in the course of this prOtracted examination would
continue 10 uphold the honor and dignity Of the pro-
fesson. 1t true, said the learned examiner,
that this noble and useful profession had been often
disgreced and brought into dsrepute with the public,
both by the ignorance and knaverv of men not quall
fed either by nature education 10 appreciate It's
beauties or It's usefulness; men,, who avaed them
selves OF its advantages and used them for their
base and selfish ends The honorable gentleman con.
tinued at great length, in strain of impassioned
eloquence to descaLt the beauties of legal sci-
encr, and the great satisfaction and advantages to
be derived from il, when properly understood, and
concluded by exhorng the candidates TO strict
attention 10 the interests of their clients; and in all
to faithful and honorable discharge of their
professional duties.
Although there were several break downs amongst
the candidates in the progress of this examination,
yet we cannot say we are intoerably out OF humor
with them. The answering was IN general good,
and several OF the gentlemen acquitted themselves
very credltaby. 1t may be considered invidieus to
mention names, bat it would be injustice to omit
mention of the following gentlemen: We could not
help admlrlng the selfpossession of Mr. Beeley,
the and grace with which he kept his seat, and
the tact and readiness with which he gave his an
swers. Mr. Dan Egan, of Wall street, distinguished
himself by the correctness of his answers. This
gentleman did not miss single question. Mr.. Bar
Der, OF Chambers street, displayed considerable
search and knowledge in the most difficult and alb
struse part OF law learning, and the last, not least
Mr.. Philip Murat Joachimson was armed at all
points Blythe bye, I'VE forgot--there is another,
fair haired youth, whose name we could not then
learn, but we afterwards ascertalned that he was
the son OF a respectable widow lady, residing on
Long Island. This young gentleman distinguished
himself in an especial manner. The quckness and
of hand manner in which he gave his answers, dis.
played an uncommon degree OF industry and lntelli-
gence.
From all these facts we have no doubt that there
will not be any lack of black letter learning or To-
renslc talent at the New York bar for the next 20
years.
BLOODY EXECUTION OF LYNCH LAW The New
Orleans Bee OF the Sd, gives account OF the cold
blooded butchery of Mr.. Adams and brother, Of
Covington, by band of 20 armed men. Adams
had succeeded in law suit against some of them
He was shot deliberately in the day time, and then
other brother had called on the Governor for aid to
arrest them.