at the concluſion, or during the acquiſition of theſe accompliſhments, he will afford himſelf here a year or two's farther leiſure, to lay the foundation of his future labours in a ſolid ſcientifical method, without thirſting too early to attend that practice which it is impoſſible he ſhould rightly comprehend, he will afterwards proceed with the greateſt eaſe, and will unfold the moſt intricate points with an intuitive rapidity and clearneſs.
I shall not inſiſt upon ſuch motives as might be drawn from principles of oeconomy, and are applicable to particulars only: I reaſon upon more general topics. And therefore to the qualities of the head, which I have juſt enumerated, I cannot but add thoſe of the heart; affectionate loyalty to the king, a zeal for liberty and the conſtitution, a ſenſe of real honour, and well grounded principles of religion; as neceſſary to form a truly valuable Engliſh lawyer, a Hyde, a Hale, or a Talbot. And, whatever the ignorance of ſome, or unkindneſs of others, may have heretofore untruly ſuggeſted, experience will warrant us to affirm, that theſe endowments of loyalty and public ſpirit, of honour and religion, are no where to be found in more high perfection than in the two univerſities of this kingdom.
Before I conclude, it may perhaps be expected, that I lay before you a ſhort and general account of the method I propoſe to follow, in endeavouring to execute the truſt you have been pleaſed to repoſe in my hands. And in theſe ſolemn lectures, which are ordained to be read at the entrance of every term, (more perhaps to do public honour to this laudable inſtitution, than for the private inſtruction of individuals[1]) I preſume it will beſt anſwer the intent of our benefactor and the expectation of this learned body, if I attempt to illuſtrate at times ſuch detached titles of the law, as are the moſt eaſy to be underſtood, and moſt capable of hiſtorical or critical ornament. But in reading the complete courſe, which is annually conſigned to my care, a more regular method will be neceſſary; and, till a better is propoſed,
- ↑ See Lowth’s Oratio Crewiana, p. 365.
