Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1846-11-07

before our readers this morning. elcgan, aud
letter (never before in ptin the amented rs ,Kx-
written IN answer to inquiries from young Carolina plan
ter relative the study necessary to enable hin
to play his part gracefully and successfully As staesma,
and Publeis,, in the affairs Of his native land Tho learn
ing the practical wisdom and the kindly spirit o. this nd
mabe letter will but increase the high esteem Of all VIII
read It for the lamened writer and add TO the un,e,
regret that such light OF humanity should have been %
| Prema,urely suenchcd in the grave
| WASHINGTON. Oct 10. ls4i
DRAk Sik avail myself OF the first moment Of leisur,
have tound since your letter forwarded to me from
Ohareston to answer IL and will begin by assuring yo,
that not only were apologies calling upon me quit,
superhuous but that have seldom felt com pment
nan ms' mPhed 10 your referring to such n sub
ec ana been more interested and eager 10 comb,
with request from the agreeable manner Of making IL
In Short your letter strikes the language Of one who
has decided vocation for that side he stands ready TO un
oeriake and am delighted to offer you OF the fruit.
" my own experience, because quite sure you will
| make good use OF them.
What you aim Is, ls make yourself master of IN,
great seienfia erilis, Quincuan has ito
theoretically the philosophy Of legislation and the con.tu
non OF civil society IN the boades Seceptaon OF the term
-lneudinR All the influences, political juridcal and mo-
raj that affect the dcsnies Of mankind united in bod.
polite; and, 3D. how best that knowledse 10 ae
eoun' In the actual service OF the State. This is noble
object end will pardon saving IL is the yery
one proposed myself in boyhood aud Of which have ne
yer for moment lost sight since and 10 which every
thing else IN my studies and pursuits has been in NV view,
merely subdiary and instrumental. Ii true that
from favorable circumstances. enabled TO pursue any
studies with leisure, aud greater extent than
Americans are usually permitted Do have ACQUIRED
mshy thnss that are generally reekoned merely oraaHsa
is1i but never made sscrice attain them They
Nefe picked up because iound them my pah-hy the
sds OF The great road travel and from which
was determined noikag should ever tempt the to dey,t
never could reconcile myself the idea Of what il called
tersry he-ihai is, TO lite Of eontempisve and epicu-
rean however elegant sloth from
passed in the midst Of the business of men in p-oo
ting the great actual interests of society Not 10 act on
the minds OF ones conemP me to be living
in vain.
Your questions although distinguished as they are dis.
aneushaoie IN speculation as well as IN Practice must
tor some purposes be considered together The sort of
education you would give yourself that OF the citizen Of
on ancient corimo7westh-whch always fitted hin, ,o
perform all the Offices public and private of peacc ara
war; whatever his avorte tastes and studies might be-
thus IN the most palmy state OF Athenan genius about
the breaking out of the Peloponnesan war; ali their grea
wits were practical men-Sophocles was general Socrate.
stawa soldier, &c Thueydides, the historian is most
notable example OF the thing. Indeed, am firmly
convinced that OF the OF the SURPRISING excel
lence OF Greek literature the very fact that enu.
Always rled IN the herce struggles OF public e and con
strained 10 be thoroughly sEPeeHeed in the passions and
ways Of men.
This being assumed yon must begin by making your..
1atsyer' and thorough one mean, you master
backsone's Commentaries, with kents and Story's-anS
not content with that you study Coke's Instu,es
not the Coke LitIleon merely, but the Institutes
hold 1t for certain that take lead in the do
bates OF THIS county without this Of knowledge and
that his lead IN will be pretty nearly proportoned 10 hi.
stock Of IT, Look, for instance, Judge MARsHALLs Il,
argument the Jonathan Robbns-tbe mo-,
triumphant exhibition OF ability yet in Congress
and which none but lawyer could have made. And 40
o! all our other great men-a like the Roman Patrcans
lawyers. 1t course Read Mr. JEFFTKcSs State Papers
when he was Secretary OF State and how he discusses
great principles Of law True they were r1ther of infer,
Hai'oE-! than nuEeiPnl-bu that nothing. The law u
nations is oLy t-anch OF the 'C,tnmou Law n, =, l.
that mighty Common Lats Of the English rae,
nay constitutes The whole body aud 5ux OF our
ana without thorough knowledge Of which, nobody tau.
ly understands those Institutions These as have been
preaching Tor the last twelve years altogether Risor
cal II you want TO know what they mean or are Won
musi look TO the monuments OF the past magma eharts
(which has generally been transcribed IN our Star. Con-,
sttuons, the Petition Of Right in 62s-the BIZ of Rig5,
IN l6ss-'he Act OF Settlement 1903, &c Then the
Lex Pariamenrara (Iilselis Precedents &c)
Then ss branch Of this study, which has never been
explored as deserves 10 teI the history and re-
mains OF the commonwealth Of England-the scbo, Of
republican sthers-Whiieloc Prynne HARRINGTON
aud dneytogetheT with the champions Of the lar. Dy
side, Hobbies. "a Of wonderful abities Clarendon
&c. Then, little later, the writings Of Locke The was
the guide and master Of ancestors very words are
copied in the Declaration OF Independence Hoadly &c
But although from the sources mentioned, you will draw
great deal Of theoretical knowledge you must add 10 if,
that thorough height into the history times without
which. ones views OF institutions ike ours must no
superficial. The history OF England is stll 10 be vy,sn
Humes, except as mere writing, uash-a arrago of pre-
JUDGE and romance. Lngad's is very much better espe
ciay IN doing more justice Of creates, eemeo
q modern social progress, the influence of the Romsp
Catholic Church, subject miserably misapprehended bv
most English writers Haliam's Constitutional History
very good work but thorough enough neither does il
60 back far enough. There Is work written bv foreis
that in my judgment throws light upon the formn
ZION OF society and government in England than any thing
in the English language-Tneys "Hisoire de la conousts
dc PAngeiere par les Normands," which is believe
Iansised-bui you either do should oy all means know
treneh-and, | would recommend you to read in TIN.
conneTion, Meyers Institutions Judeiares-he part Of IL
relating 10 English law is very striking.
take Tor granted, you say you are planter that
leisure to study these things thoroughly and So
men ohef thlhgs-a"ays' however VITA view busi-
ness and to oral aud written discussion When say Won
must be a lawyer, do not Attorney but a Conn
selor and Advocate, and profound Joris and Public.
Now this last, be that does not study the Girl
LaH-the basis Of all European legislation The Ciyi
ans are the greatest masters u utdcl philosophy 10 be
any where Poiher's works IN practical jurisprudence are
scarcely nvailed, for the unerrng judgment with which he
brings TO hear the subtes metaphysics law and caus
/ iry upon questions Of fuUm The Iustitute,
Of Justinan, with the Commentaries Of Heineccns ana
Nnnius will soon let you into the clements Of the Civil
Law. The modern school Of Germany orc still futber on
1rsng the bounds OF the science and Clearing I'd the d.
cuitos left unexplained by the doctors OF pns, times The
celebrated Professor Savgny whose history Of the Roman
La" IN NE middle age, has altered te whole face that
study together with such works Mr. Guizots Hi,t,rv
OF Civilization in frlnce, in vols) s noy pu bl shing
great elementary work, Of which have received four VOL
/ umes.
hyou could acquire German you would find il the rnost
anor-saVbg conn'anee m the world. am quito sure II
had gone Gouingen, % INTENDED, 10 my youth nses
o. gong 70 EdnbrO, might have dispensed with half the
books have since found 10 be unworthy Of notice from
| critical student The Germans arc now. and have FOR
some time past been, eating this very subject Of the phil
osophy Of society and legislation style peculiar to the
selves for they distance all her aquirers both in ya.,
and accurate research snd acute criticism You must, a,
all evenw, get Heeens works the History Of Antqui-
| ~ and his Manual of Modern History, &c.
For Greek history let Anachltss Travels &c alone
they ere good for nothing. Get Boeckh's Public Econo.
my = Muefs Dorans; 3, Hormann's Manual Of Greek
History a. Waohsmuh's Greek Antiquities s. Schlosser.
History OF tie Ancient World.
May venture 70 request you procure and read paper
Of my own 10 the 18th No. Of the n Y Repieis on Inc
Constitutional History OF Greece and especially the demo
mocraey Of Athens aud Demoshsnes in the I7tb
number Of the same work would send them If had 60
pies TO spare as do scud Article from the ssme period
icoi on Roman Legislation, which will be suitable sun.
pement to this letter Itdeycopes more fully many Of bs
thoughts expressed here.
In order 10 pursue your studies without hindranee AM
with perfect fruit, On adequate kno~lodgo Of Latin 4
Indispensable, and Il is easily acquired by any ono VIII,
will only perseyero from day 70 day. ii,to BY little TAX,
any Laun Book you are n read Tiyy's II .
tory, Tor instance end siudy critically, over and over
until you orc familiar with ne forms uansatng frat in
10 bngsh, and then "a transatng the knglisn into Latin
ard yos wi. soon know enough for any purposes srau