University of Virginia Library

9.—LAW.

Professor Davis.—In this school are taught the Law
Nature and Nations, the Science of Government, Constitutional
Law, the Common and Statute Law, Equity and Maritime
and Commercial Law.

The school is divided into two classes. The text-books
studied by the junior class, are Vattel's Law of Nature and
Nations, the Federalist, the Virginia Report of '99, and
Blackstone's Commentaries. Those studied by the senior,
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, Fonblanque's
Equity and Mitford's Pleadings; to which it is proposed to
add a treatise on Commercial and Maritime Law.

On these books, 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, to refer in connection with
it to the leading cases and authorities, American and English,
illustrative of the topic under consideration, and generally, to
offer such comments as he deems necessary to its thorough
understanding. In these prelections, the statute law of
Virginia and the United Stats, and its effects on the pre-existing
law, are particularly explained. Each prelection is
preceded by an examination on the last together with its text.

On Government, and on various topics of national, constitutional
and municipal law, not discussed in the text-books.
ectures are delivered; on which, also, the class are examined.

Students not wishing to study Municipal Law, can enter
for that portion only of the junior course which embraces National
Law, Government and Constitutional Law; which poriton,
those wishing to study Municipal Law only, can if they
choose omit.

The students of this school have recently 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 issues produced decided in the appropriate mode,
and the members exercised in conveyancing by having to prepare
and submit to the Society the necessary deeds to effectuate
supposed agreements, &c.

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 Profesors,
Officers, and Students.