believed, and at any rate they are both, as they respectively apply, constituent parts of the general jurisprudence of the land. We have in this respect an immense advantage over the English nation: the administration of the civil and the common law is committed to the same Judges; and the same body of jurists is called upon to practise both. Hence it becomes necessary to our practitioners to become acquainted with the two codes, by which ▾ means the law will become in their hands a more expanded and more liberal science. The fruits of the study of the civil law, which has lately become fashionable among us, are already to be perceived in erudite works of jurisprudence, and in the able decisions of federal and State Judges who bave shewn by their examples what advantages may be derived from an acquaintance with that beautitul system of moral philosophy applied to human affairs.

The common law, the civil law,* the law commercial and maritime, the law of nature and nations, the constitutional and federal law of our country, and the jurisprudence of the different States, form together the aggregate of the great body of American law. It is impossible that such a vast,

As far as it is a part of our legal system; for there ought to be a selection of those titles that are proper to be taught in our schools of jurisprudence and the rest, if studied at all, should only be considered as a matter of mere cu riosity. For this reason, it is suggested that a re-publication of those parts of the English translation of Domai's Civil Law, which are of real use, and are not in opposition to our national institutions, would be found of great advan tage to the profession. It might be comprised in one octavo volume.

such a diversified field of knowledge can be well or successfully cultivated without the aid of academical instruction. Therefore we may hope in time, if success attends this institution, to see its chairs filled with professors of each of these branches of our noble science.

Ever since the establishment of the federal constitution, the necessity of academical instruction for the students of the law has been felt throughout the United States. It was not long after that memorable epoch, that the late Judge Wilson gave his celebrated lectures, which if he had continued, would have laid an excellent foundation for the edifice that we are now endeavouring to raise. Untoward circumstances prevented him from longer giving way to the zeal by which he was animated, and the country will long lament that as a professor he was only shewn to the legal world. Fata eum tantum ostenderunt.

The exertions of Judge Reeves were remarkably successful in establishing in Connecticut a respectable law school, consisting of students from all parts of the union. This is a proof of the eagerness with which the country is disposed to support and patronise similar institutions. But we are informed that Judge Reeves has given up his professorship, and that it has fallen into other hands, with what success we know not.

In the university of Cambridge, in the State of Massachusetts, there is a law chair established,

where lectures are regularly delivered by two professors of eminent knowledge and talents,* but not on different branches of the law. If that justly celebrated seminary were situated elsewhere than in one of the most remote parts of our union, there would be no need, perhaps, of looking to this city for the completion of the object which we have in view. Their own sagacity would suggest to them the necessity of appointing additional professors for each important branch of our legal system, and thus under their hands would gradually rise a noble temple dedicated to the study of our national jurisprudence. But their local situation, and that alone, precludes every such hope; for otherwise the world well knows that they are neither wanting in inclination or ability to pursue any great object that may redound to their fame and the benefit of their country.

Not long since, our fellow-citizen Charles W. Hare, deeply impressed with a strong sense of the necessity of regular legal instruction, and moved by motives of the purest patriotism, accepted the appointment of law professor in the university of this State, which had been vacant since the resignation of Judge Wilson, and gave a course of gratuitous lectures, in which he displayed those brilliant talents with which nature and a refined education have endowed him. Unfortunately for us, his private affairs called him to another part of the world,

The Honourable Chief Justice Parker and the Honourable Asahel Stearns.

and thus was his useful career at least interrupted. By these examples we see that the most eminent talents have been successively exerted in these United States to attain that great object which the country imperiously calls for, which must at some day or other be carried into execution, and the honour of effecting which courts your acceptance. In time, when this institution shall have attained a sufficient degree of maturity, it may be annexed to the University of Pennsylvania, and shine there by the side of our celebrated medical school; but the first efforts must be made by the profession, and our infant academy must be reared under its wings, until it shall be worthy of being presented to our alma mater, who, I am convinced, will be disposed, in the mean time, to afford us all the aid in her power.

If I have succeeded in convincing you, gentlemen, not only of the importance, but of the necessity of this institution, I may indulge a hope that you will be disposed to support it with your patronage.* Feeble as it may at present appear, if you are but disposed to encourage it, it will rise with gigantic steps, and in the end realise the fondest hopes of its patriotic founders. It originated with a society of young students, who weekly met together under the denomination of a Law Society for the discussion of legal questions. Societies of this description have long existed in London among the students in the Temple; but their object has been

* The bar of Philadelphia was present by invitation.

rather to exercise themselves in public speaking than to increase their knowledge of jurisprudence. For it is but little, after all, that unpractised scholars can communicate to each other. Similar societies have been established in this city from time to time; but none of them have been able to boast of long duration. At last, a number of young gentlemen met together last autumn for the same purpose, sensible of the inefficacy of similar associations for the purpose of solid learning, fell upon the idea of engaging an elder barrister to preside at their meetings and direct their exercises. Being honoured with an application from this society to accept the office of their president, it struck me at once that upon this foundation a school of jurispru dence might be raised, which, if successfully and and firmly established, would redound to the bonour of the State and the permanent advantage of the country. I therefore accepted their invitation, and communicated to them the object I had in view, which I had the pleasure to find not only met with their approbation, but excited their warmest zeal, which was displayed in their efforts to carry it into effect. A committee was appointed from their body, with whom I consulted for several weeks, and when our plan was considerably matured, we associated to ourselves a few members of the bar, with whom, after much consultation, the project was settled, which has been since carried into exe. cution. It was agreed to form a society of such members of the profession as should be inclined to B b