New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-10-29
Legal ADVILE FROM RUFUS CHOATE

AN INTERESTING LETTER FROM THE GREAT
MASSACHUSETTS LAWYER TO A LAW STUDENT.
Among the papers Of the late Edmund Carleton.
OF Littleton. ~ H., is letter from Rufus Choate.
outlining course OF reading for a law student
which will interest lawyers and others. At the time
the letter written Mr.. Carleton was private
tutor in the family Of John c. Calhoun, with
whom he lived After this engagement he read
Law in Virginia and was admitted to the bar there.
Returning TO his native State nc became a well
known lawyer and phllanthropst. The Bar Asso-
citation In ew-Hampshire is about to publish the
Choate letter. 1t was written upon sheet OF let
ter paper. and folded. wafered and directed in the
fashion of that day.
After much study the chrography has been de-
ciphered-al but word. which is indicated by
brackets This is unintelgibie even to Joseph II.
Choate. The letter reads as follows:
Mr. Edmund Carleton. City Of Washington. ID. C.
Care OF Dr. T. SewaM 49,
Dear Sir: / have had an answer 10 your letter
lying by ne for long time in the hope that DR..
sewall would procure 1t from me. as was
wiling to make you pay FOR what / afraid you
VIII hardly be able TO read II you read Will be
81 revived es yours ana shed 0 be une to wait
any longer 1t gave me great pleasure to hear
TO have 1t confirmed by yourself. Some Of that
young female SOCIETY into when you nave become
have known, and your attachment TO our much
than even mine If you are not EASILY reconciled by
IL 10 at least one years exile Miss NJ mas nne
er and so f has AM Miss s her lain casmaie
| feel warm attachment to them both and 10 the
others of that circle. and may well thank them
for some Of the hsPPesS moments Of my LIE Nay
ton to those OF them who remember me? A niece
Of DR.. SIS E. c. W. is a special favorte
OF mine and of everybody. You know her. too. l
/ am sorry to say reference to your suggestion
as the encouragement with which the law meets
in the Eastern States that | really DO think
Massachusetts, at least at all promising stand for
every comparatively old community and in all
kinds of business the profession is full to overflow
ing and starvation; and IN this country particularly
the complaint is general and earnest. The amount
Ui b tbe condon Of our fofeeH Commerce and
lawyers and merchants rich or poor together.
s a T ARE % last ns only o r 70
.eving their fallen fortunes; the former loungo In
scarcity OF cients and the stl greater scarcity OF
fees and the neglect of merit ! suspect. however.
at any rate the fluctuations OF a capricous and
uncertain commerce affect It's lawyers but liite.
and the people generally. | am inclined 10 fancy.
dered orthodox exhausted ne.ghborhood But after
al all situations are very much alike. The frst
wll-Inust be years OF hard labor and scanty reve-
nue.; at least shall surely find 1t. and then the
wortR lust about as much as those OF another
only we both love New England little TOO sin
worth anything away from It, when. OF course. We
could pass at the west end OF the city OF Wash
I should be very happy to suggest ANYTHING that
would be OF service In the outset or your proles-
sional reading, but | very much doubt II / have
thought enough about the proper course OF study
TO be able You viii find much excellent matter.
however, along with great deal OF bad taste in
the composition, In Hormans course, the mercy
legal part OF which Is very we'll the other TO You
vice The letters the study OF the law, too are
worth reading and a little book mentioned by Hon.
man and which ! found In French's bookstore,
Pennsylyana-aye., is still better-the 'Barrster.
cous TO lay broad and deep foundation in the
first place for "A future course OF historical reading
that shall embrace the whole history of modern
Europe. The common law Is really or Middle Age
growth. and It's true essential spirit can never be
well understood but by who has lived much In
feudal times. has mingled IN the strifes ana AIDED
In the public councils and drunken al the feasts or
that proud baronia aristocracy> which shaped tho
first forms OF government and the first forms OF
jurisprudence that were reared upon the suhsiding
flood Of civil revolution and anarchy which had
rolled over the Roman world. For this purpose
Hallam's Middle Ages and then Robertsons IN
PRODUCTION 10 his CHARLES W are the best ana are
indispensable. Then would naturally follow Hume's
England and then ! should think one might plunge
at once into the elementary writer's on English
common law
II was great mistake in my own course Of read
Ing that passed Blackstone so hastily and super
ncially He Il the first author, and really mink
that one or two years In the beginning would be
well spent him. The largest part OF the nrht
volume. though. the analysis of the English constr
tuition H. as law entirely useless; but you may
political studies along with De Iolme 90, Ihe red
eraist. etc. The rest of his four volumes. WIN
the exception OF few chapters here and 'here' !
should Impress every word OF 1t on my memory ana
refer ana around which TO dispose and arrange
all your after acquisitions Once fully master OF
this inimabe analysis and digest OF the english
common Law. the rest OF the course 10 easy ana de-