264 REPORT OF THE PENNSYLVANIA AND OHIO CANAL COMMISSIONERS. good tenants (with few exceptions) and at fair rates, and but one house vacant, (of which the city corporation have possession (in the whole estate.) [Остовки Resolved, that the report and resolution be referred to the Committee of Ways and Means, with instructions to bring forward an ordinance appropriating $40,000 from the funds of the estate of Stephen Girard, for the cer-specific improvement of the City Property, in accordance with the special provisions of the Will. I have also to inform you, that the Executors of Stephen Girard, passed over to me on the 15th inst.,a tificate for 100 shares of stock in the Philadelphia Ex change Company, the par value of which is $10,000. All of which is respectfully submitted by your obedient servant, BRITAIN COOPER, Treasurer. On motion of Mr. Wetherill, the Select Council concurred in a resolution of Common Council, respecting the petition of Samuel Guss, and Messrs. Wetherill and Lippincott, were appointed a committee on the subject. The subjoined communication from the committee on Scott's Legacy, was received and laid on the table: The supplementary ordinance relative to Wills' Hospital was agreed in Common Council, by the casting vote of the President, so that the choice of the Trustees shall devolve upon both Councils in joint ballot. Select Council refused to concur and appointed Messrs. Meredith and Price a committee of Conference. Common Council refused to recede, and appointed Messrs. Toland and Gilder, a Committee of Conference. The Committee reported that they could not agree, and the ordinance remains unacted upon. Mr. Chandler offered a resolution that the Library Committee be instructed to enquire into the expedien. To the Select and Common Councils of Philadelphia.cy and practicability of preparing a new digest of the The committee charged with the management of the City Ordinances. Adopted. fund, left by the late John Scott, of Edinburgh, to the corporation of Philadelphia, for rewarding the authors of useful inventions and improvements, offer the following report: Premiums have been awarded, 1. To N. C. Barrabino, M. D. of Philadelphia, for an improvement in the stomach pump-a Medal and Twenty dollars. 2. To Samuel D. Breed, of Philadelphia, for his discovery of the means of cementing leather soals, on the outside of gum elastic or caoutchouc shoes and boots as a substitute for pegging or sewing-a Medal and Twenty dollars. Mr. Groves offered the annexed resolution, which was laid on the table. Resolved, That a committee of three members of the Select, and three members of the Common Council, be appointed to take into consideration and report on the propriety of erecting a depot and Market house on the public square at the intersection of High and Broad streets. COMMON COUNCILS. The President submitted a communication from the City Commissioners, enclosing a printed statement of their expenditures and receipts for Market Rents, &c. during the third quarter of this year, and also of the expense of new paving and repaving in the middle district to the 30th inst. Also, an account of the appropriations overdrawn--as follows:- No. 3. Cleansing the city Received for sales of street dirt Appropriated. Expended. Overdrawn. 3,400 The President submitted a communication from R.H. Smith, City Clerk, enclosing a statement of his receipts for entries of hackney coaches, carts, drays, &c. and also of his payments to the City Treasurer for the third quarter of the year. Referred to the Committee of Ways relative to the opening of Cherry street, from Schuylkill Mr. Gilder, called up an item of unfinished business 5th street to the river Schuylkill, which was adopted, and concurred in by Select Council. Mr. Chandler offered a resolution that the Market of erecting a new Market House, in the eastern part of Committee be directed to enquire into the expediency the city, and if their opinion be favourable to designate the place of location. ́ Adopted. Messrs. Neff, Worrell and Meredith, of the Select and Messrs. Gilder, Montelius and Lancaster, of the Common Council, were appointed a Committee on the Delaware Avenue. From the Ravenna, (O.) Courier, Sept. 27. REPORT Of the Ohio Canal Commissioners to the Legislature of this proposed canal, as is within the limits of this state, The survey and location of so much of the route of was commenced by Sebried Dodge, Esq. in the month of October, and finished in the month of December last. From the experience which Mr. Dodge has had, as an engineer for three years past in the actual construction of part of the Ohio canal, as well as from his science and intelligence, the Board are warranted in placing full confidence in the general correctness of his ex-minations, plans, and calculations. The shortness of the time employed in these surveys precluded the possibility of ascertaining, with minute accuracy, all the topo. graphical facts of minor importance connected with the location. Still, however, enough has been ascertained to determine the practicability of the proposed work, and to afford data for estimates on its cost, which cannot vary very materially from the truth. The route within this state has been found fully as fa vorable as was anticipated; and it has been ascertained beyond doubt that the summit, as well as the lower le vels can be abundantly supplied with water. Commencing at the village of Akron where the proposed canal will unite with the Ohio canal in a large and commodious basin, the line pursues an eastwardly direction, crossing the Little Cuyahoga in the village of Middlebury; thence in a northwesterly direction through the township of Tallmadge, until it approaches near the main Cuyahoga at the centre of north and south road in the township of Stow, thence continuing nearly the same general course along the south and southeast bank Dr. Huston, from the joint committee to whom was of that river until it passes the village of Franklin, it submitted the resolution relative to appropriating enters the immediate valley of the Breakneck creek or $40,000 from the Funds of the estate of Stephen Girard south branch of the Cuyahoga, and passing up that valfor the improvement of City property, reported in fa-ley in an eastwardly course, it crosses the summit be vour of the resolution, and the report was adopted. In Select Council the resolution was amended by the following substitute, which was afterwards adopted by and Means. Common Council. tween the waters of the Cuyahoga and Mahoning Branch of Big Beaver about half a mile southeast of the village of Ravenna. The line then descends rapidly in to the valley of the west branch of the Mahoning river, crosses that stream near its southwesterly bend, continues along its north bank re-crossing that branch and also the south or main branch, a mile above the junction of those streams, then leaving the immediate neighbor. hood of the river, the line pursues an eastwardly course, again approaching the river opposite the village of Warren, and thence continues in the immediate valley of the river on the right bank, in a southeastwardly direction to the line between the state of Ohio and Pennsylvania. Some deep cutting occurs in the swamp near the vil lage of Middlebury: the whole extent in length which exceeds proper cutting is upwards of a mile-the average depth about 12 feet. An embankment of considerable magnitude is necessary to sustain the level of the canal across the valley of the Little Cuyahoga in the village of Middlebury. The greatest elevation of this embankment is twenty feet to bottom of canal, the whole will contain about 34,000 cubic yards. The object in view in the location of this part of the line, was to adopt such a level as would preserve a proper medium between excessive deep cutting on the one hand, and of too high an embankment on the other; one or both of which difficulties, to a greater or less extent, it is necessary to encounter. After leaving the village of Middlebury, the line pass. es over a tract of uneven and in some places steep sideling ground for about one and a half miles, requiring some deep cutting and a considerable number of embankments across ravines or on side hills. The earth is however of a character to be easily removed, and is of a good quality for canaling. Continuing thence northeastwardly, the face of the country and elevation are remarkably well adapted to make a cheap and safe canal, until the line approaches the Cuyahoga in Stow. Between Stow and Franklin, the line passes along a side hill sloping northwardly toward the river; in some places steeper than could be desired, in others nearly level, or sloping so gently as to present a very favorable location. This part of the line is intersected by several ravines, two or three of which are of considerable depth, and one, the valley of Plumb creek, is six chains in breadth, requiring a large embankment. Near the village of Franklin a small amount of sandstone rock excavation will occur. As the slope of the ground is here very gentle, affording an opportunity of choosing the location, a large amount of rock excavation may be avoided, although the rock approaches near the surface. in length, and is sufficient for the supply of the summit level and the contiguous levels, in ordinary seasons, during more than one half of the year. In the dryest seasons, when the flow of water is reduced to the least quantity, it yields about two hundred and forty cubic feet per minute. The quantity of water in this stream may be considerably increased during dry seasons, by using the lake at its head as a reservoir, retaining its waters in the wet season and letting them flow in the dry. 2d. By forming reservoirs of four lakes or ponds near the summit-These bodies of water, Muddy Pond, Sandy Pond, Brady's Lake, and Lake Pippin, may be easily converted into valuable and convenient reservoirs for the supply of the summit and the adjacent levels. The two former will contain an area of about two hundred and forty acres, when the water is raised to the contemplated heighth. Water to the depth of twenty feet, or even more, may be accumulated, retained, and drawn off from these ponds for the use of the canal, and conducted into it by means of a feeder of seventy-eight chains in length. A depth of eight or ten feet of water on the area of Brady's Lake and Lake Pippin, may be made available to supply the canal in dry seasons. These two lakes will together contain an area of about two hundred and seventy acres. The two former ponds may be filled with water to any desirable height, by conducting a branch of the Breakneck into them by a short feeder, and the two latter by means of the proposed feeder from the main Cuyahoga. It is computed, that three hundred and twenty-five million cubic feet of water may be reserved for use in these reservoirs, which will admit a uniform flow into the canal of upwards of eleven hundred cubic feet per minute, for two hundred days before it will be exhausted. 3d. By a feeder from the main Cuyahoga.—The waters of the main Cuyahoga may be conducted into the summit level of the canal by a feeder of seven miles sixteen chains in length. The quantity of water running in the river at the place whence this feeder is to be taken, may be computed at from 2,800 to 3,000 cu. bic feet per minute in the dryest season. Although the waters of the main Cuyahoga alone are probably sufficient to supply the summit level of the Canal and the lower levels dependant on receiving a supply from the neighborhood of the summit, still it is desirable to draw only so much water from the CuyahoIt is proposed to cut down the summit near Ravenna, whole extent of the deep cut at this place will be sixty-sult to the owners of mills, manufactories, and mill pritwenty-seven feet at the highest part of the ridge. The a as may be absolutely necessary, and to rely as much as possible on the other sources. Vast injury must resix chains in length, and its average depth below the vileges, and to the country, to which the water power natural surface seventeen feet and eighty hundredths. of the Cuyahoga is of incalculable value, from diverting As the length of the deep cut is not great, and the earth into any other channel a considerable portion of its waappears favorable for the operation, it is even question-ters in dry seasons. In descending eastwardly, from able whether good policy would not require reducing the Ravenna summit, a small supply of water may be the summit level still lower. Every foot of reduction obtained from the west branch of the Mahoning, about in the elevation of the summit will of course save double three miles from the summit; and as the canal descends that amount of lockage, will aid the supply of water by the valley of the stream, its accumulated waters, with diminishing the expenditure, and will afford greater fa- that which has escaped from the canal by leakage, may cilities for the construction of feeders and reservoirs. be brought into the canal. About twenty miles eastwardly from the summit, it is supposed that a feeder from Silver creek, the most durable branch of the Mahoning, may be introduced; and at Warren the whole volume of the Mahoning river, in dry seasons, may be brought into the canal, if desirable. The only difficulties encountered between the summit level and the state line worthy of notice, are the wash banks which the river on one side, and the hill or table land on the other, render it impossible to avoid. These banks necessarily enhance the expense of construction and increase the danger to which the canal will be exposed when made. The aggregate length of these banks is not greater than must ever be expected in fol lowing the valleys of rivers-nor is their character pe caliarly unfavorable. It is estimated that the united length of banks requiring to be protected against the current of the river will be two miles forty-seven chains It is proposed to supply the summit level of the canal with water by the following means: 1st. By a Feeder from Breakneck creek. This stream may be introduced by a feeder of three miles six chains VOL. XII. 34 By an economical and proper use of the means of supplying the canal with water, above described, it is confidently believed that it will not be necessary to divert from their natural course any considerable part of the waters of the Cuyahoga. the state of Ohio, is as follows: From Akron (Portage Summit 22 miles 79 chains. peake and Ohio or the Pennsylvania Canal, a direct intercourse between the great Lakes of the northwest on the one hand, and the Delaware and Chesapeake Bays and Atlantic Ocean on the other, will be carried on to an immense extent. To the interests of Pennsylvania, and of those engag ed in the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, as well as to Ohio, the proposed canal is of the first importance. It is the most advantageous route between Pittsburg and Lake Erie, the most direct from the western parts of Lake Erie, Detroit, and the northwestern lakes to Pittsburg, Philadelphia, and Baltimore; it unites with the navigation of Lake Erie at a point further west, and longer clear from obstruction by ice than any where in Pennsylvania; and above all it intersects the Ohio Canal before it strikes the lake, and by that means precludes the necessity of trans-shipment, and avoids the danger of lake navigation, as it respects the commercial intercourse between the state of Ohio and the ports of the Delaware and Chesapeake. Should the Pennsylvania and Ohio Canal be completed, we shall see an active commerce between the city of Pittsburg and the western part of the state of Pennsylvania, on the one hand, and the country bordering on the Ohio river below the mouth of the Scioto, on the other, carried on through that canal and the Ohio canal, during those seasons when the water in the upper part of the Ohio river is too low for steamboat navigation. The profit of this work to the proprietors must be commensurate to its commercial importance; and it is believed to offer one of the best opportunities for a profitable investment of capital than can be afforded in the United States. Respectfully submitted. feet. 213 13-100ths feet. Columbus, Jan. 17, 1828. 313 13-100ths feet. To overcome this rise and fall, there have been locat ISAAC MINOR, ed 36 locks, of which 11 are west and 25 east of the DU PONCEAU'S ADDRESS BEFORE THE LAW Ravenna Summit. ACADEMY. A series of addresses delivered before the Law Acad Of the commercial importance of th's canal when finished, no doubt can be entertained by those who un derstand the interest and geography of our country.emy has been placed in our hands, `with an intimation The route passes through one of the most wealthy dis that their insertion in the Register would be gratifying tricts of our state; and when executed, it will, together to the members of that institution: we therefore, cheerwith the Ohio canal, open a direct and convenient chan- fully comply, by inserting this week, the address of Penel of commerce between the interior of Ohio and the ter S. Du Ponceau, Esq. which although not the first great manufacturing and commercial city of Pittsburg, together with the whole of west Pennsylvania. Between in the order of time, may aptly be considered as introthese sections of country an extensive and highly bene- ductory to the remainder of the series-as it furnishes ficial commerce now exists, which must increase with the an historical account of the rise and progress of this growing population of our common country, and with Academy; and points out the advantages to be derived the development of its resources. by the members, from their connexion with it. It is however only by looking forward to the time when the great Pennsylvania canal, in the construction of which that state is now engaged, and the contemplated Chesapeake and Ohio Canal shall have connected the Chesapeake with the Ohio river, the Potomac and the Delaware, that the importance of the Pennsylvania and Ohio canal can be duly appreciated. When these works shall have been executed, the farmer in the centre of our state may put the produc tion of his fields on board of a boat which will convey them to Washington, Alexandria, Baltimore, or Philadelphia, without unloading or re-shipping; and the merchant may bring his goods from either of those cities to his own door, without risk or change in the manner of transportation, and for an expense not exceeding one third of the present cost, Address delivered before the Law Academy of Phila delphia, on the opening of the Session 1831-2, by Peter S. Du Ponceau, LL. D., Provost of the Acade my. Gentlemen of the Law Academy: Ten years have elapsed since this Institution was established in its present form and under its present name. Before that time there had existed only ephe meral associations of students of law, denominated Law Societies, which seldom lasted more than two or three years, and were never heard of beyond the walls, where, without compass to steer by, and without guides in whom they could confide, they performed their modest Through the northern part of the Ohio Canal, the exercises." It was my good fortune, in the winter of proposed Pennsylvania and Ohio Canal, and the Chesa-1784-5, or perhaps in that which next preceded it, for recollection is not very particular on this point, to be a member of one of those societies, with the late but for ever illustrious Judge Washington, who at that early period of his life displayed the germ of those talents by which he was afterwards so eminently distinguished, and won the affection of his fellow students by the excellence of his heart. What became of that Society after I left it, I have not been able to learn; one more of its members only I remember, John Wilkes Kittera, who became distinguished afterwards at the bar, and in the senate. I believe it was dissolved soon after the admission to practice of those who then composed it. From this time until the year 1811, I heard no more of Law Societies in this city, although some might have existed without my knowing it. In that year there was one formed, which for the first time conceived the idea of calling to their aid, one of the elder members of the bar, and I was honoured with the office of their Presi dent. How, and by whom the idea was suggested to them I cannot tell, much less how they came to make choice of my humble person; all I can say is, that the moment the offer was made to me, I perceived all the good effects that might result from this honorable coalition of experienced age with unexperienced youth; and I accepted without hesitation. But the time was not yet come for the seed to bear fruit; the society lasted only two years, and was then dissolved. I have for tunately preserved the volume of its records. It is in the possession of your Secretary, and I recommend its being kept with care. The opinions delivered by the President were not preserved, but there is no reason to regret their loss. The seed however had been sown, and it bore its fruits in due time. Towards the latter end of 1820, a in the art of public speaking, so as to unite the talent of the orator with the science of the jurist. It To this society, and under its patronage and direction was to be annexed, a "Law Academy," to consist of students at law, and such junior practitioners at the bar, residing within the city and county of Philadelphia, as should be willing to become members thereof, was also agreed, that the faculty of the academy should consist of a provost, a vice provost, and such professors as should be provided by the board of trustees, elected by the society, and invested with ample powers for the administration of its affairs. The constitution of that society may be found at large, in the 1st and only volume of Hall's Journal of Jurisprudence, being a contin uation of his valuable Law Journal. Under this constitution the society was incorporated on the 12th of January, 1821. On its organization, the venerable William Tilghman was chosen its President, William Rawle, Esq. Vice President, John K. Kane, Secretary, and Benjamin Tilghman, Treasurer. The Trustees were Charles Chauncey, Thomas Kittera, John M. Scott, Bloomfield M'Ilvaine, and John Keating, Jr. of the two last of whom death has deprived the profession and their country. By a schedule to the constitution of the society, it was provided, that the Law Society then existing in the city of Philadelphia, should be invited to form itself into a Law Academy, to be annexed to the parent society, under its constitution, which invitation that society immediately complied with, and the whole system was accordingly organized, and began to be carried into execution. The constitution of the patron society had, as I have said before, directed that the officers of the Law Acadmy should consist of a provost, a vice provost, and such professors as should be thereafter provided by the board of trustees. These officers, except the profes new Law Society was formed, and again I was chosen their President. In that Society there were young men of exalted views, some of whom had been lately admit. ted at the bar: among those were particularly distins, were left to the choice of the academy, who did guished one of your Vice Provosts, and the late lamented John Keating, Jr. who, if he had lived, would most probably be also seated on this bench. Those gentlemen suggested the appointment of a committee from their body, to confer with me on the subject. I regret that all their names are not present to my memory. By that committee the plan of this academy was formed. It was found necessary in the beginning to have the aid and support of the bench and bar, who very condescendingly acceded to our wishes.A society was accordingly formed, to consist exclusively of "Judges of the Courts of the United States, and of this State, of Attornies and Counsellors at Law, and of Students of Law, having attained the age of twenty-one years. Here for the first time, gentlemen, you see students of law associating on an equal footing with venerable judges, and with the most learned, most experienced, and most celebrated members of the legal profession. As soon as a student attained the age at which the law ceased to consider him as an infant, he became entitled to full membership in that most respectable association, and to sit by the side of his instructors, and of the judges of the land. He became the patron of the younger students, a concurred in making the laws which he was with ti. m called upon to obey. I believe a similar instance cannot be found in the annals of our profes sion. This association assumed the name of "The Society for the Promotion of Legal Knowledge and Forensic Eloquence." Its principal object, as avowed in the preamble to its constitution, was, "to connect with the mode of instruction at that time exclusively pursued, a more scientific and academical system, whereby not only a greater degree of jurisprudential knowledge might be acquired, but the students might be exercised * John K. Kane, Esq. me the honor to elect me their provost, and James Gib. son, Esq. was chosen to fill the station of vice provost. The place of professor was filled afterwards by the appointment of the board of trustees. The Hon. Joseph Barnes, now president of the district court for the city and county of Philadelphia, was appointed professor of the common and statute law, and read two courses of. lectures which gave general satisfaction. An unforeseen accident prematurely dissolved the society with which our academy was so happily and so successfully connected. They had appointed their annual meeting for the election of officers, to be held in the room where the supreme court of the state then held their sittings. Unfortunately, at the hour when the election was to take place, the door keeper was missing, the door was locked and could not be opened, the members after waiting some time dispersed, and no election was held. There was no provision in the constitution for such an emergency; the venerable Tilghman was of opinion that the society could not proceed without a new charter of incorporation. Several meetings were held for that purpose; but now began the proposals of amendments and additions to the existing constitution, the discussions were prolonged until the meetings became less and less numerous, the thing was dropped altogether, and the society was not re vived. But the academy did not lose courage. They considered that they might go on without the aid of the parent society, and that their faculty, of which they gradually increased the number, might supply its place. In some degree, their expectations were not deceived, yet the dissolution of that society is an event ever to be regretted. I must be permitted to say here, in honour of our departed Chief Justice Tilghman, that while the parent society continued, he was one of the most active and zealous amongst its members, and that he never failed, to my recollection at least, in attending to any of its meetings. He was also amongst the first supporters of the plan of its institution, and his influence contributed not a little to bring it into existence. In remembrance of these services, and not willing to remain entirely unconnected with that excellent man, the academy elected him their patron, which title he retained till the day of his death, when the academy did not forget to pay a tribute of respect to his memory. What the academy has done since is known to us all. I think I may safely say, that no association of young students has distinguished itself as this academy has done. It was a happy idea of your faculty to include among your scholastic exercises, the writing of disser tations on legal subjects; several were produced of considerable merit, which the academy deemed worthy of publication. But I must not omit to speak of one, the work of considerable labor and research, not in the form of a pamphlet, but of a volume, which received the pointed approbation of a Marshall and a Kent, was quoted by foreign jurists, and now forms a part of the library of Equity lawyers in this country. The author of that treatise had not attained the age of twenty-one years. I wish I could have omitted mentioning that work, as its author is now sitting on the bench of this academy to which you have very properly elevated him; but historical truth has its laws, which no regard to the modest feelings of individuals should ever permit to be infringed. Barnes, add to their numerous avocations, the hard and fatiguing duties of a professor of law, without receiving some compensation for their labour. It is neither just, nor natural to expect it. The time will come, however, when we shall be able to attain this most desirable object, and I hope we shall always keep it in view. Nothing is impossible to courage and perseverance. In the mean while, gentlemen, we ought to think of some substitute. It is well known that the members of the bar generally, are friendly to our institution. This interest is manifested in many ways, but particularly by their recommending to their students to become members of it. I am convinced that there is not one of them, but, if properly applied to, would with pleasure deliver at least one lecture on some legal subject in each season, without expecting for it any fee or reward, but that of having contributed to the advancement of our science, and rendered service to the rising generation. And I hope I may be permitted to add, that there are some among them, whose number is sufficiently large, who would consider it as a duty-I allude to the almuni of our academy, who, after their admission at the bar, have retired as honorary members. They would thus honorably repay the benefits they have received from it. The connection between them and us, while it nominally continues,ought not to be broken in fact by their admission at the bar. You have shown that you do not consider it so, by electing some of the most conspicuous among them, to be members of your faculty. Let them, therefore, reciprocate the feeling, and give the most unequivocal proofs of it, by communicating to you in the form of lectures, the fruits of the knowledge they have acquired among you. Unfortunately this wise regulation of our academy has for some time fallen into disuse. The same regard to truth obliges me to tell you in what manner that happened. One of our young members who had always distinguished himself in our debates, had undertaken to write a dissertation on a very nice but interest- At a future day, those lectures, collected and preing topic of the Common Law. He had written it, and served as I hope they will be, will form interesting vothose who had been admitted to the favor of its peru- lumes, which will be sought after by our posterity, and sal, spoke highly in its praise. But being shortly after- perpetuate the names and the fame of their authors. wards admitted at the bar; what I shall take the liberty The fame of a practising lawyer, however learned, eloto call a much to be regretted diffidence induced him quent, and able he may be, is fugitive and transitory to withhold his work from the academy, and there is and seldom lasts beyond his life, unless he leaves be reason to believe that he has since destroyed it. Other hind him some traces of the knowledge and eloquence members were disheartened by this example, which as that he possessed. The names of Marshall, Hamilton, an officer of this academy, I am compelled to say was Livingston and Kent, will never be forgotten, while ma blameable, and which I do not hold up to you as worny on the eloquence of whose lips, and the effusions of thy of imitation. Who would praise Virgil for directing the Eneid to be burnt after his death? Now that the force of this example is sufficiently spent, I hope, gentlemen, that we shall return to our former practice, and that the writing of legal dissertations by the members of this institution will be resumed. The academy has acquired a name at home and abroad which must be sustained, and that can only be done by hard labour, the fruit and the results of hard study. It is not enough even to do as we have done; we must do more; for in the paths of science there is no baiting place, and those who do not advance, cannot even expect to remain stationary, they must inevitably re cede. Since the resignation of Judge Barnes, there has been no professor attached to this academy. The parent society was no longer there, to aid us with its powerful influence. Had it continued, not only that influence, and the respectability which their appointment would confer on the individual chosen, would have induced some one to fill the office, but through their means, funds might also have been provided to make it worth the while of an able jurist to devote a part of his time to your instruction, and to give lustre to this institution. Your faculty have done what they could to supply this deficiency; they do not however despair of being able to do it,and as our members increase, our means of providing a moderate salary for a qualified lecturer will increase likewise. You must not always expect, gentlemen, that members of our profession, whose time is profitably engaged in its practice, will, like Judge * Antony Lausatt, Esq. whose minds, all who heard them have hung enraptur ed, will be forgotton by posterity, because they have left nothing behind but an empty name. There is great reason to believe that you will thus receive the aid, if properly applied for, not only of those gentlemen of our profession who are connected with this academy, but of the members of the bar at large. There has been of late years a general disposi tion manifested in the men most distinguished not only for their talents, but for their high stations in society, to contribute personally to the advancement of our youth in every kind of knowledge. For this purpose, such men as Story and M'Lean have not disdained to de scend from their high and dignified seats, and the Ev. erett's, the Kent's, the Hopkinson's, the Sergeant's, the Ingersoll's, the Dallas's, and several others, all highly distinguished in public or professional life, have gone even beyond the limits of their own states, to impart instruction and advice to associations of youthful students, under the names of Phi-Beta-Kappa, Philomathean, Philoclean, Zelosophic, Cliosophic, Peithosophian, and know not how many other denominations of societies, for whom they might perhaps feel a particular attachment, from some former connection or otherwise, but still with the same view of being useful to the rising generation. And just now we hear that Berrien, the late distinguished attorney general of the United States, will come next year from distant Georgia to be present at the commencement of our university, and there deliver an instructive discourse to one of the youthful as sociations of that venerable institution. Such is the respect paid by our greatest men to the youth of our country, of which I believe there is not another exam |