fidence of uninterrupted success; and on those who, from necessity, adopt the shorter course, we enjoin, as far as may be practicable, an uninterrupted continuance of their studies after they have engaged in practice; as the first year or two thereafter are generally but little occupied by business. This plan is adviseable, as studious habits, if once from any cause abandoned, are not easily regained; but, on the other hand, it requires at this time much caution, lest a zeal for study should occasion them to neglect the interests of the few clients they may have. BALTIMORE, DECEMBER, 1816. A COURSE OF LEGAL STUDY. "Qui studet optatam cursû contingere metam, Multa tulit, fecitque puer, sudavit et alsit."......HOR. ART. POET. LAW, in its most comprehensive signification, is that system of rules to which the intellectual and physical worlds are subjected; either by God their creator, or by man; by which the existence, rest, motion, and conduct of all created and uncreated entities are regulated, and on the due observance of which their being or happiness depends. Law, as applied to human conduct generally, signifies that body of rules established for the regulation of human economy, whether national or individual; dictated to us by the light of nature, or by revelation; or prescribed by human superiours for individual observance; or ordained by the consent, express or implied, of sovereign states, for the guidance of international conduct; and to which those respectively, to whom the rules are directed, are obliged to make their actions conformable. Law, or "The Law," is an abstract term, and as a genus means nothing more than the totality of individual laws contemplated as one body, without reference either to their origin or application. In this point of view, it is a mere fictitious entity. Law in the concrete signifies a rule of action and, according to the subject of its application, admits of numerous divisions. Law in the concrete, as it prescribes rules of human conduct, may be advantageously studied under the following titles or divisions, which we presume will be found to embrace as much of this widely extended science as an individual should aspire to attain; and in its prosecution we would advise the student to take the subjects in the order in which we have arranged them, both in the general and particular syllabus, subject, however, to the qualifications contained in our Introduction. up GENERAL SYLLABUS. I MORAL AND POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY. II. THE ELEMENTARY AND CONSTITUTIONAL PRINCIPLES OF THE MUNICIPAL LAW OF ENG LAND: AND HEREIN, 1ST. OF THE FEUDAL LAW. 2D. THE INSTITUTES OF THE MUNICI PAL LAW GENERALLY. 3D. OF THE ORIGIN AND PROGRESS OF THE COMMON LAW. III. THE LAW OF REAL RIGHTS AND REAL RE MEDIES. IV. THE LAW OF PERSONAL RIGHTS AND PerSONAL REMEdies. V. THE LAW OF EQUITY. VI. THE LEX MERCAToria. VII. THE LAW OF CRIMES AND PUNISHMENTS. VIII. THE LAW OF NATIONS. IX. THE MARITIME AND ADMIRALTY LAW. X. THE CIVIL OR ROMAN LAW. XI. THE CONSTITUTION AND LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. XII. THE CONSTITUTION AND LAWS OF THE SEVERAL STATES OF THE UNION. XIII. POLITICAL ECONOMY. AUXILIARY SUBJECTS. 1st. The GeogrAPHY, NATURAL, CIVIL AND PoLITICAL HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 2D. FORENSICK ELOQUENCE AND ORATORY. 3D. LEGAL BIOGRAPHY AND BIBLIOGRAPHY. 4TH. PROFESSIONAL DEPORTMENT. PARTICULAR SYLLABUS. TITLE I. "Natura enim juris explicanda est nobis, eaque ab hominis repetenda naturâ." CIC. DE LEG. LIB. I, C. v. MORAL AND POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY. 1st. The Bible. (Note 1.) E. 2d. Cicero's Offices. (Note 2.) (Note 4.) E. 5th. Aristotle's Ethics, Gillies's translation. (Note 5.) 6th. Beattie's Elements of Moral Science, the following titles: 1st. "Psychology." 2d. "Natural Theology." (Note 6.) 3d. "Moral Philosophy." 7th. Paley's Moral and Political Philosophy, the first five Books. (Note 7.) 8th. Locke's Essay concerning Human Understanding; (especial attention to be paid to the following chapters:) |