struction of our courts, in a most clear and ingenious manner." 3 Bla. Com. p. 271. Note. 20. Lord Nottingham, in the duke of Norfolk's LEONARD. case, 3 Chan. Ca. 35, said that "he considered Leonard's Reports one of the best books that had lately come out." 21. In 1 Keb. 676, Hide C. J. after citing a case from Popham, says that "he vouches this case because he heard it, and not for the authority of the book, which is none." Of the same opinion is lord Holt in 1 Ld. Ray. 626. 22. Per Ld. Hardwicke. "Levinz, though a good lawyer, is sometimes a very careless reporter." 23. Style's Reports are particularly important as containing the only common law cases reported for some years during the usurpation. РОРНАМ. LEVINZ. STYLE. 24. In the case of Lloyd v. Johnes, 9 Vez. jun. 54, MITFORD. lord Eldon remarks of Mitford's Treatise on Pleadings in Chancery, that "it was a wonderful effort to collect what is to be deduced from authorities speaking so little what is clear, and that the surprise is not from the difficulty of understanding all he has said, but that so much can be understood." 25. Per Bull. J. Doug. 83. "12 Mod. is not a book 12 MODERN. of any authority." 26. Lord Coke, in his preface to 10 Rep. says that PLOWDEN. Plowden's Commentaries are rendered particularly valuable, as they were compiled principally for the improvement of students. Barrington, speaking of some cases reported by Salkeld, observes that "he cannot indeed say that these cases are well reported, which must not surprise, as sir Edward Coke asserts that there are four erroneous cases in that most accurate of all reporters, Plowden, when the whole number contained in his Commentaries amounts only to forty-three. Vid. Barr. Observ. on 1 Rich. 2, note (t.) Mr. Hargrave observes that it may be well to state that the English edition of Plowden's Commen 1 taries, which must deservedly bear as high a character as any book of reports ever published in our law, has a great number of additional references and some notes, and that both of these are generally very pertinent, and shew great industry and attention in the editor. Co. Litt. 23. a. The above example will sufficiently illustrate the utility of this species of note book. Let not the student, however, quietly repose on the opinions of others; he has a judgment of his own, which should be exercised; he should regard such a note book as an auxiliary, not as an oracle. He should read with the inquiring spirit of a philosopher, able and willing to form opinions; but, at the same time, let him respect the judgments of the learned. Whilst, with Boyle, he regards "authority as a long bow, the effect of which depends upon the strength of the arm which draws it; and reason as a cross-bow, of equal efficacy in the hands of the dwarf and giant," he should be well assured that it is reason which he summons to his aid, and not that self-confidence and vanity which so frequently characterize juvenile minds. 8th. NOTE BOOK OF DOUBTS AND SOLUTIONS. In a science as extensive and complicated as law, difficulties will often be encountered, which the mind is not sufficiently matured to solve; and which no one is at hand to explain. In this situation we are unwil ling to abandon the pursuit, and to advance is impossible The only relief from such a dilemma is, to record our doubts in a note book, under the hope that at some future day, after the sources of information have better developed themselves, and the mind has been gradually strengthened, the solution will present itself. This note book is attended by great and peculiar advantages; it occasions much reflection; compels investigation, and all future reading becomes, in some measure, tributary to it. The plan of this note book is as follows. The doubts, as they arise, are to be numerically inserted on the left hand page of the book; and the solutions, or the sources of information, are to occupy the right; these answers or references are to be designated by the same numbers as the doubts or queries. When a question is answered, or nothing more than authorities cited, there should be a marginal note to the question, referring to the answer or references, and the page of the note book. As the solutions and references will occupy more space than the questions, they cannot be placed, in all cases, opposite to each other; hence there is a necessity for referring to the page of the note book, as well as to the number of the solution. The correspondence of the numbers designating the questions and answers is useful, as it more certainly, and at once points out their connexion. It is no inconsiderable advantage attending this species of note book, that it gives the student a faithful picture of his gradual improvement; it places before him an accurate chronicle of his legal career, and he may often have occasion to be amused at the simplicity of some of his early queries, and also to be pleased with the progressive maturity of his inquiries, and the proportionate correctness and solidity of his answers. Some of his doubts he will solve, perhaps, on the day in which they were inserted; others, months, and even years after; but let the solution come when it may, he will remember his former difficulty, and referring to the index of his note book for the query, will be able to add the answer. DEBATING SOCIETIES. As few questions are so simple as not to admit of disputation, there has been much vain contention on the tendency of debating societies. It would be thought, we imagine, very strange entirely to proscribe conversation, on the score of the many sophisms advanced in it, the many unprofitable arguments it occasions, the improper passions it excites, and the thousand wrong opinions it gives birth to; arguments usually adduced in opposition to debating, which, however, is nothing more than conversation conducted in a more regular form, and adjusted by stricter rules of argumentation. Nothing is more certain than the uselessness, or even injury of debating societies, conducted as they frequently are, except their great utility when composed of such as love truth, and enter into debate as one avenue of approach to it. While, however, it appears to us thus absurd wholly to condemn these juvenile associations, because of some incidental evils, we acknowledge how unprofitable they generally are from the idle speculation, the sophism, captiousness, and violence which prevail in them. There is in science so large a body of truths whose right understanding is of great practical utility, that it is at best but serious idleness to throw away time in the discussion of topicks useless in themselves, and more so from the improbability of ever arriving at any certain conclusions concerning them. Even in the sciences least subtile and abstruse, there is so much unavoidable errour, so much involuntary sophism, so much difficulty in demonstrating even substantial truth, that there can be no need of the assumption of false. positions, or the support of ingenious sophistry, to sharpen the wits of disputants, and exercise them in the arts of logical offence and defence. A judicious selection, therefore, of useful subjects, and candour, moderation, and patience in their investigation, (qualities without which conversation and writing are, no less than formal controversy, utterly unconducive to truth,) are certainly necessary to render such associations what they are capable of becoming,-very profitable schools to those who deem worth attainment, not only the possession of knowledge, but the power of imparting it. The man of books must sooner or later emerge into the world; must find his most cherished theories controverted; contend often and long in the support of opinions he had looked on as self-evident; demonstrate many errours whose very manifestness renders demonstration difficult, and encounter many sophisms which his own sincere love of truth prevented ever occuring to his mind. There are few retired students who have not experienced something of this. Debating societies, while they accustom him to opposition, may instruct him, at the same time in the arts and means |