Nor is this all; for (as few perſons of birth, or fortune, or even of ſcholaſtic education, will ſubmit to the drudgery of ſervitude and the manual labour of copying the traſh of an office) ſhould this infatuation prevail to any conſiderable degree, we muſt rarely expect to ſee a gentleman of diſtinction or learning at the bar. And what the conſequence may be, to have the interpretation and enforcement of the laws (which include the entire diſpoſal of our properties, liberties, and lives) fall wholly into the hands of obſcure or illiterate men, is matter of very public concern.
The inconveniences here pointed out can never be effectually prevented, but by making academical education a previous ſtep to the profeſſion of the common law, and at the ſame time making the rudiments of the law a part of academical education. For ſciences are of a ſociable diſpoſition, and flouriſh beſt in the neighbourhood of each other: nor is there any branch of learning, but may be helped and improved by aſſiſtances drawn from other arts. If therefore the ſtudent in our laws hath formed both his ſentiments and ſtyle, by peruſal and imitation of the pureſt claſſical writers, among whom the hiſtorians and orators will beſt deſerve his regard; if he can reaſon with preciſion, and ſeparate argument from fallacy, by the clear ſimple rules of pure unſophiſticated logic; if he can fix his attention, and ſteadily purſue truth through any the moſt intricate deduction, by the uſe of mathematical demonſtrations; if he has enlarged his conceptions of nature and art, by a view of the ſeveral branches of genuine, experimental, philoſophy; if he has impreſſed on his mind the ſound maxims of the law of nature, the beſt and moſt authentic foundation of human laws; if, laſtly, he has contemplated thoſe maxims reduced to a practical ſyſtem in the laws of imperial Rome; if he has done this or any part of it, (though all may be eaſily done under as able inſtructors as ever graced any ſeats of learning) a ſtudent thus qualified may enter upon the ſtudy of the law with incredible advantage and reputation. And if,
