Page:The Green Bag (1889–1914), Volume 01.pdf/120

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The Law School of the University of Pennsylvania.

THE LAW SCHOOL OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA. By C. Stuart Paiterson, Dean of the Department of Law of the Unwersity of Pennsylvania

THE University of Pennsylvania, founded in 1749, in the city of Philadelphia, has so far prospered that in this year (1889) it has in its College, Medical, Dental, Veterinary, Biologi cal, Law, and Philosophical depart ments one hundred and sixty-nine professors, lecturers, and instructors, and twelve hundred and twenty-two students. Thanks to the untiring and self-sacrificing efforts of its Provost and Trustees, and to the enthusiasm with which Provost Pepper has inspired every one who is in any capacity con nected with the University, a great advance has been made within a few years. The University Law School has now six chairs of instruction, and one hundred and forty-four students; but that law school dates only from April 2, 1850. In 1790 a professorship of law was established in the college de partment. Mr. Justice Wilson, of the Supreme Court of the United States, having been elected the professor, de livered his introductory lecture on December 15 of that year, "in the quaint old-fashioned hall of the Acad emy," in the presence of President Washington and his Cabinet, the Houses of Congress, the Executive and Legis lative Departments of the governments of the State of Pennsylvania and the City of Phila delphia, the Judges of the Courts, the mem bers of the Bar, and last, but not least, Mrs. Washington, Mrs. Hamilton, and many other ladies.1 But Mr. Justice Wilson's course of lectures, though commenced under such 1 Historical Sketch of the Department of Law of the University of Pennsylvania, by Hampton L Carson, Esq.

brilliant auspices, do not seem to have progressed beyond their first year. No further effort seems to have been made before 181 7 to give instruction in law to the students of the University. On March 20 of that year, Charles Willing Hare, Esq., of the Philadelphia Bar, was elected Pro fessor of Law, and delivered his introduc tory lecture in the following month. But he, like Mr. Justice Wilson, lectured for but one