University of Virginia Library

X.—LAW.

Professor Davis.—This school is arranged into two classes. The
subjects studied by the Junior class are the Law of Nature and Nations,
the Science of Government, Constitutional Law, and the elementary principles
of Jurisprudence. The text-books used by this class, are Wheaton's
International Law, the Federalist, the Virginia Report of '99, and Blackstone's
Commentaries; in addition to which, lectures are delivered on Government,
and on various topics of National and Constitutional Law not
discussed in the text-books.

The subjects studied by the Senior class are the Common and Statute
Law, Equity and Maritime and Commercial Law. And the text-books
used by this class, are Coke upon Littleton, (Thomas's edition,) Stephen
on Pleading, Starkie on Evidence, (the first vol.) Toller on Executors,
Chitty on Contracts, Bayley on Bills, Story's Equity, and Mitford's Pleadings;
in addition to which lectures are delivered on Maritime and Commercial
Law, and on several important topics included in the other branches
of the course.

The design of this arrangement is to embrace in the junior course, those
studies which not only form an essential part of a liberal professional education,
but which, from their universal interest and importance, constitute a
highly useful branch of general education; whilst the senior course is exclusively
occupied with the study of the theory and practice of the Law, as
a profession.

Students can attend either or both the classes; and those not wishing to
study Municipal Law at all, can enter for that portion of the junior course
which includes National Law, Government and Constitutional Law, which
portion, those wishing to study Municipal Law only, can, if they choose,
omit.

On the text-books of both classes, prelections are delivered by the Professor,
in which it is his object to supply what is deficient, and explain what
is obscure in the text, and to offer such comments as he deems necessary
to the thorough understanding of the subject under consideration. In the
prelections on Municipal Law, he refers to the leading cases and authorities,
American and English, illustrative of the topic treated by the author,
and particularly explains, in its appropriate connection, the Statute Law of
Virginia and the United States, and its effects on the pre-existing law.
Each prelection is preceded by an examination on the last, together with
its text. On the lectures delivered, the class are also examined.

To assist them in their regular studies, and to accustom them to legal investigations,
and forensic discussions, the students of this school have instituted
a Law Society, at the meetings of which the Professor presides.
In it, questions connected with the studies of the school are discussed, fictitious
cases litigated in the form of regular pleadings, and the issue produced
decided in the appropriate mode, and the members exercised in conveyancing,
&c.

The students of Law, in common with the students of the other schools,
have the use of the extensive Library of the institution; the Law department
of which is large and valuable.

Religious exercises are performed at the University every Sunday, by a
Minister of the Gospel, residing there, whose services are rendered on the
private invitation of the Professors, Officers and Students.

Fencing, Gymnastics, &c., are taught by Major A. Penci.