and desolate the land we hold most dear-life, play conspicuous parts, may possibly hang that liberty, property, religion-and all. country's destiny.

Our Anglo-American union has organized a

The friends of constitutional liberty and justice cannot, therefore be too jealous of the great moral revolution, and is now, with the assumption by the legislature of any portion of world's gaze upon it, testing a mighty problem judicial power. Let that department, within for all mankind. The Mississippi valley may its allotted sphere, prescribe the rule of con- soon hold a preponderating authority in the duct and of right; but never suffer it to take councils of that union. In this hopeful valley from any freeman his chartered right to be the educated and professional classes, and estried and judged by the constitutional tribunal pecially the enlightened in jurisprudence, will of impartail and enlighted judgment. possess a controlling power; and among these, and perhaps decisive influence. Transylvania's sons must exercise a pervading

And if it be the legislative will that a wife may be divorced from her husband for any It is on this ground that we feel especially prescribed cause, ought or not the decisive the peculiar importance and momentous requestion whether the cause exists be deter-sponsibility of this law Department. mined in the same manner as all other questions knows that it may not bless, save or destroy of fact involving public right? This is an im- the hopes, not of this generation only, but of portant enquiry.

Who

unborn millions? Even the Parliament of England, whose will strive to illustrate its beneficence! Knowledge, Will you, its pupils, all is law, never, in the plentitude of omnivorous fidelity, pure love of country, and honorable power, grants a divorce until the only fact ambition will be your best armor in the conflict upon which it will dissolve marriage has been for which you are preparing. With these alone established by a regular trial and sentence in you may hope to be useful in your day, and an ordinary court of justice., And not only expect to achieve virtuous renown. Any other was this the invariable practice also of Virgi panoply would be a dead weight which might nia prior to our separation from her, but Keu-crush you to the level of the vulgar herd of tucky never departed from it until the year useless drones or ephemeral bustlers. 1805-when, for the first time, her legislature Resolve to be useful, and the end is almost passed an act peremptorily divorcing a husband attained. Correggio, when a boy, resolved to be a distinguished artist-and that instant, his But our purpose here is neither decision nor fate was sealed, and posthumous fame was sediscussion-but only general suggestion for cured. And it is credibly reported of an emiinciting reflection and research. And, therenent American, that, when taking final leave fore, our allotted time being about to expire, of college, with nothing but "poverty and we will now close the subject, by only repeat-parts" and a fixed resolution to become what ing, that God himself instituted marriage and he has already been, he said to the President declared, in the very act of his creation, that of the institution, "You shall, one day, hear "it is not good for man to be alone."

from his wife.

from DANIEL WEBSTER." And now DartPupils academic, medical, jurisprudential mouth, like the mother of Washington, is can-all-We welcome you to the classic halls of nonized by the association of her name with Transylvania. Partially dismantled for years, that of her illustrious son. Will all or any of she is now, at last, completely rigged and you, in the votive spirit of the New Hampshire manned; and, with all her sails hoisted and boy, resolve, as he once resolved, to illustrate her tri-colored banner floating in the light the name of this your ALMA MATER? Shall of an auspicions re-dawning, she launches on Transylvania ever hear from you? And what a broad sea, with flattering hopes of surviving shall she heart The long line of her distinevery adverse gale and triumphantly surmount-guished sons has already hallowed her fame ing every opposing billow. Though patched and shed a lustre on this western world. and renovated from hull to mast, she is the MAGNA MATER VIRUM, Cornelia-like, she is same old ARGO that, in the infancy of the justly proud of her jewels. Will you add to West and Kentucky's heroic age, gallantly their number, or will you cast a shade on her bore aloft the "golden fleece" of science. Em- bright escutcheon? barked on this long-tried, good old ship, you May you all contribute to swell the volume need no insurance. She will neither sink nor of her fame-may you ennoble your own fail. May your voyage, be prosperous, and names, and earn a grateful remembrance that land you well equipped for the rich harvest shall never fade away. And, when you come that ripens before you in this valley of hope. A to take your last leave of these scholastic walls, better theater was never prepared for the use- may you, each and all, make a sacramental ful employment of honest talents, or the hon-resolve that Transylvania shall hear from you? orable development of a noble patriotism. and when she does, may the intelligence be The age, in which you live to act, is evidently such as to swell her venerable heart with a most portentous. The country on whose mother's joy.

bosom providence has been pleased to cast Thus, on a subject full of harmony and full your lots, is full of promise; and on the event-joy, we have commenced with "HARMONY," ful drama in which it may be your fortune to and close with "Jox.”

PRELECTION.

LEXINGTON, Feb. 24th, 1847.

DEAR SIR: At a meeting of the Senior Class of the Transylvania Law School, the undersigned were appointed a Committee representative of the wishes of the whole Class, who, through us, solicit for publication a copy of the able and eloquent Valedictory Address delivered to our Class last evening. Hoping to receive a favorable response, we have the honor to be.

Your friends and obedient servants,
DAVID KERR.

LEXINGTON, February 26th, 1847.

GENTLEMEN: The Valedictory, of which you so courteously request a copy for publication, is the substance of one prepared by me for a similar occasion ten years ago. It is-as it is-yours.

And may you, and those you represent, each and all, carefully follow its counsels, exemplify its principles, and attain the destinies to which they point, and, if properly regarded, will surely conduct you.

Truly your friend,

GEORGE ROBERTSON.

Messrs. Kerr, &c., &c.

ADDRESS.

Gentlemen of the Senior Class of the

may be usefully and honorably distinguished. Law Department of Transylvania: Your recent opportunities and your prefessional Our didatic course is now finished. We as pretensions, impose on you peculiar obligaperceptors, and you as pupils, are here together tion to your ALMA MATER, to yourselves, your for the last time; and the memories of the past, friends and your country. Much will be exand the prospects of the future, now all at once pected, much required of you—and be assured clustering, around our hearts, impress this that all you have and can acquire and do, will closing scene with an unusual pathos and so-be necessary for the proper fulfillment of your lemnity. various duties, or the realization of high and

Your voyage of discovery, though toilsome, honorable anticipations. has, we trust, been correspondingly profitable. We may presume that most, perhaps all of And now, in sight of TERRA FIRMA, it is natural you, are destined first for the Bar. The sphere that each of you should feel some of the emo-of the popular and enlightened Lawyer is very tions of Virgil's voyager, when-cheered with comprehensive and elevated. It embraces the the first glimpse of recognized land, long personal, social, and civil rights of his fellow sought and desired as his home-he cried out | men, and all the various and important interests ITALIUM! ITALIUM! But, unlike his joy, yours and relations that depend on human laws. To is mixed with sorrow--and, unlike his hope, act usefully and honorably in such a sphere, yours is clouded with the unknown shadows of requires careful discipline, great knowledge and rare endowments, moral and intellectual. After long and interesting associations, pecu-Ministering at the alter of Justice, lawyers liarly endearing we shall all soon part-should have clean hands, wise heads, and where or when to meet, or whether ever again pure hearts, lest they profane the temple of on earth, no one knows; and where you are jurisprudence, and sacrifice the lives, the libto land, and what is to be your doom, the un-erty, the property, and the reputation of those written page of time to come alone can tell.

uncertain destinies.

Having now finished your soholastic course, you will soon take leave of this institution, of your preceptors, and of each other, and enter as men, each for himself and in his own strength, on the sober and important business of active life, in which your own conduct may fix your destinies for good or forill, for weal or for woe, for time and for eternity.

who repose on their counsel and trust in their protection. The welfare of society depends, to a great extent, on the character and conduct of legal men. And, notwithstanding the prevalence of a vulgar prejudice against them as a class, they have an acknowledged and commanding influence, and therefore must necessarily do much good or much harm. In an intoductory discourse we made some general Although our professional relations are now suggestions once, respecting the eminent dignidissolved, we feel it our duty before we sepa-ty of jurisprudence and the high rank and inrate, to tender to you the offering of our fare-fluence of the gentlemen of the bar; and those well blessing and parting counsel; and this last suggestions have been since coroborated on an duty, resulting from our recent relations, is not interesting occasion, illustrated with much learthe least difficult to us or important to you.ning by an eminent citizen attached to a rival In attempting to discharge it we feel its pecu-profession, who, in estimating the relative inliar delicacy and responsibility; and therefore,fluence of the various classes of society, concowith becoming sensibility and solicitude, we ded the second place to the lawyers-the first invoke your candid consideration of the vale-being, of course, allotted by him to the fair. dictory suggestions which we will proceed to Such a juxtaposition, ifdeserved, should be as offer with all the sincerity and plainness of a parting friend.

inspiring as it must be grateful and honorable. But to merit and maintain it, requires a Having been under our tutilage, and bearing purity of purpose, a propriety of conduct, with you our credentials our precepts and our and a degree of intelligence which have not hopes, we feel a solicitude, almost paternal, for always characterized professional men of eveyour future welfare and usefulness. We have ry denomination; and this is an age of renovafaithfully endeavored by proper tuition, to en- tion and light; all branches of knowledge, and lighten your minds with the elements of juris-all orders of society, are in a rapid progress of prudence and to prepare you for becoming, in proper time, useful citizens, sound jurists and enlightened statesmen. In all these relations you

improvement. To maintain its high rank and ensure a benificent influence, the western Bar must be quickened by the regenerating spirit of

the times, and must elevate the professional follow the safer guides-reason and the harstandard and advance in that knowledge and mony of the law in all its parts. in those virtues which will become more and Whenever consistent with other and more more befitting their American character. To important engagements, make it a rule to debe useful or successful on the forensic arena, vote some portion of every secular day to the you must, gentlemen, be panoplied with the reading of law; and whenever you can, conarmor of legal learning, literary taste, gener- verse on legal subjects-this will tend to give al science, habitual prudence, moral principle, clear and practical conceptions of legal princiand practical wisdom. A thorough knowledge ples, an habitual directness and facility of scientific and practical law, should be the in communicating what you know, and a leading object of your professional ambition taste for legal investigations which could not and pursuit. otherwise be acquired.

Public expectation, the dignity of your profession, the interests of justice, and your own duty and fame, will demand the attainment of what you will profess to have-an accurate knowledge of the laws of your country in all their departments and relations. The want of such knowledge cannot be supplied by fidelity, however undeviating; integrity, however scrupulous; miscellaneous learning, however extensive; or talents, however solid or brilliant.

But the habit of intensely thinking and carefully writing on the more abstruse doctrines of the law will be still more useful. Unless we meditate on what we read, and see, and hear. until we rightly understand it, we can never make it our own, or use it properly or effectually, Reading and observation only supply materials for meditation; and intellectual ruImination is to the mind what mastication and deglutition are to the body. But it is intense into a congenial and vitalizing essence, the alithinking alone that can digest and assimilate, ment of the mind. Intensity of thought is as indispensable to the nutriment of the mind, as the gastric solvent and vascular labaratory are to animal digestion and life. No man was ever truly great or useful who did not think much and well; and many have been practically wise without reading books. Patrick Henry's chief book was the volume of nature-but he thought with a peculiar interest and intensity—and thus, the carver of his own fortune, he became one of nature's tallest noblemen. But he did not know much law. To have acquired that sciread as well as thought much. Proper reading euce it was indispensable that he should have furnishes food; right thinking digests it; and careful writing and speaking rectify it, and circulate the vital product. "Much reading makes the full man, much thinkBacon has saiding makes the correct man, and much writing makes the perfect man.

Do not repose in confidence, or presume too much on the elementary knowledge you have acquired whilst here. Though you have learned much, you are only initiated into the first principles, and prepared for the successful study of legal science, the most of which is to you, yet a TERRA INCOGNITA, far beyond the range of your circumscribed horizon. You may learn all your lives, and the more you learn the more you will find to be learned. To attain the utmost that can be accomplished, it is important to make a judicious selection of books, to read them properly, and to make a systematic appropriation of all your time. the number, but the kind of books, and the It is not manner of reading them, that will be most useful. The most scientific and approved editions of elementary books should be studied, carefully compared with the cases to which they refer, and tested, when doubtful or anomalous, by principle and analogy-and such text books as Blackstone, Cruise, and Kent should be periodically reviewed as well as occasionally with your professional duties. Let your miscellaneous reading harmonize read. The more important of the adjudged never to indulge it to such an extent, or in Be careful cases should be read carefully and compared such a manner as to seduce from a proper aland collated; and a commonplace manuscript, legiance to the law, or generate ascetic habits arranged by titles, alphabetically, would be or epicurean appetites, incompatible with the both eminently useful by imprinting new doc-robust health and masculine vigor of the legal trines on the mind, and always of great value mind. But general knowledge is as useful to ⚫ for occasional application. An adjudged the lawyer as to any other man. point, unreasonable or inconsistent with anal- will furnish the mind with light, or impart to Whatever ogy or principle, should not be regarded as it vigor, health or discipline, must be peculiarly conclusive evidence of the law, unless it shall useful to one whose professional avocations rehave been long acquiesced in, or more than quire, in an eminent degree, analysis, illustraonce affirmed-and unless, on a survey of all tion, and persuasiveness. material considerations, you feel that it is bet-virtuous knowledge mutually aid each other. All branches of ter to adhere to it, than, by overturning it, to The sciences are united by a common sympathy, produce uncertainty and surprise. STARE called by Cicero coMMUNE VINCULUM. DECISES Should be thus and only thus under-"All are but parts of one stupendous whole, stood and applied. Stability and uniformity Whose body nature is, and God the whole.” require that authority, even when conflicting with principle, should sometimes decide what by general learning. All eminent jurists have been enlightened the law is. But, in all questionable cases, of Bacon, of Hale, should never be forgotten. The example of Cicero,

But

Cicero was one of the most profound philoso- Be careful never to pause in your pursuit after phers and polished scholars of erudite Rome; useful information. The mind cannot remain Bacon's great mind was enlarged and liberal-stationary-if it make no advance, it must retized by universal science; and Hale, among the rograde; nor can morals stand still-and as most learned of his day, and a christian too, nothing can contribute so much to your dignity, was, according to Runnington, of the opinion influence and happiness, as the activity and that "no man could be master of any profession, improvement of your own moral faculties, without having some skill in all the sciences." therefore, if you wish to be happy or usefulThis infallible truth has not been universally if you hope to be gratefully remembered felt. But we have some reason for hoping that among men, and to be ranked with the good a more propitious era has come, or is coming, and great of your species, be ever mindful that when all, who feel true professional pride or God has identified your peace and your honor, have a just sense of professional dignity and your duty and your usefulness, with intellectual obligation, will know that general science can- activity and moral purity and light. Never not be neglected without great danger of abor-neglect the map of nature always unrolled betion and degradation. Civil history, mathe- fore you-nor the sacred volume of revealed matics, philology, geography, moral, political, truth, in which, when properly studied, true and physical philosophy, and medical jurispru- and practical wisdom, elsewhere unattainable, dence, may be deemed essential; and polite will certainly be found; and remember that literature and some acquaintance with the whenover true "Science builds a monument to fine arts will be highly ornamental and useful. herself, she erects an altar to God." Without some acquaintance with these various But do not read more than you can underbranches of knowledge, the lawyer must enter stand, nor oppress the mind or impair the health the arena unarmed, or armed only with the and vigor of the body by excessive or indiscreet rough and unwrought club of dry, hard, tech, study. The studious mind requires occasional nical law, Medical jurisprudence has been too relaxation and relief. Let these be judiciously generally neglected. Every lawyer should ac- afforded by physical exercise and interludes of quire some general and correct knowledge of innocent and improving amusements. anatomy, human and comparative; of physiolo- never suffer the mind to become rusty from ingy; of chemistry; of materia medica; and pa- dolence, to be seduced by the allurements of thology. An accurate and practical acquaint-vice, corrupted by sensuality, or unhinged by ance with the purity and power of your ver- vacuity. Dr. Johnson's expedient for preventnacular tongue should be deemed a SINE QUA ing Hypocondria was-never to be alone when NON. And such an attainment implies no small idle, nor idle when alone; and it is worth being degree of literary taste and study, as well as remembered and tried. Physical exercise, litmuch attention and habit. In fine, it is impor-erary companionship, and moral conversation tant that a lawyer should learn all that it is will be sure antidotes to gloom and cynicism; useful for man to know. And the more he and music, Luther's intellectual Catholicon-learns, the more he will be able and inclined next to the Bible in his judgment, as an adverto learn, and the more humble and less dog-sary of the devil-should not be derided or unmatic and pedantic will he be, and seem to be. dervalued. It exhilerates and tranquilizes the There is no danger that you can know too mind, elevates and purifies the heart, and thus much. Whilst the moral and physical universe contributes much of what scarcely any other is around you, your minds can never be inac-amusement can, as innocently, contribute to active, full, or satisfied. The higher you as- improvement and happiness. Nor are gymnaseend the topless mountain of knowledge, the tic and other athletic exercises, for health or clearer will be your horizon; but, should you amusement, either useless or incompatible climb to where no mortal footstep has ever with personal dignity or intellectual eminence. been, you will then be but the more sensible to They not only tend to impart vigor and health the evidence of your own inferiority and igno-to the body, clasticity and tone to the mind, and rance, when, from your peerless eminence, for simplicity to the moral character, but, when the first time, the interminable wilderness of properly regulated, they render us more amiaunexplored knowledge, indistinctly opened to ble and useful. Behold Professor Playfair, your enlarged vision, will appear as a world, when a septegenaire, with the spring and muscontrasted with the little spot which, in a life- cle of manhood, leaping with the young athtime of toil, you had belted and enclosed as letes of Edingburg-Alexander Hamilton, your intellectual domain, and which, so insig-playing marbles with his little children-Patnificant in your more comprehensive eye, seems rick Henry tumbling with his household Gods, to the microscopic vision of those below you and playing the fiddle for them to dance-and to be the NE PLUS ULTRA of human attainment. a Chief Justice Marshall, throwing aside the A judicious distribution of your employments, TOGA PRETEXTA, and as a youth, con amore, and a systematic allotment of your time will pitching quoits with the young men of Richafford you leisure for every reasonable purpose mond. These and many others of the distinand enable you to acquire a mass and a kind of guished great men were exemplars of the simknowledge which can be attained by no other ple dignity, amiable condescension, and practical utility of true wisdom. Knowledge, to

means.