as also in the notes on them respectively, we have directed the attention of students to numerous works, they will still find we have made a much more ample enumeration of the titles of books appertaining to nearly every department of the law, especially under the heads of Legal Bibliography, and the Roman or Civil Law. Lest this extensive array of the sources of legal knowledge might create some uneasiness, we now desire to apprise students that these enumerations have not been designed so much for them, as for those much more advanced,-and that, even for such, they are intended mainly as books of reference. The researches of the learned, as well as of students, are sometimes retarded by the want of even this species of acquaintance with books: a law student, therefore, can scarce begin too early to familiarize himself with the sources of knowledge in every branch of his science. To know even the existence of a book, and its general object, is a greater approximation to knowledge than may at first appear obvious. This subject we have sufficiently remarked on in the course of the volume,-and, it is hoped, in such a manner as to fully vindicate the importance we have attached to legal bibliography,— a study eminently compensative, in proportion to the little time and attention which need be gradually bestowed on it.

PROÈM.

"The noblest employment of man, is to assist man.'

Sophocles.

In the various pursuits of man throughout life, method is no less important than industry. If the latter bring us with certainty to the contemplated end, the former facilitates our progress, designates the paths which are the least incumbered, and leads us directly, and often without fatigue, to the object of pursuit.

In the moral, as well as the natural world, we perceive that infinite intelligence, undeviatingly acts upon the principle of order, which is nothing more than the pursuit of that plan or system which attains a desired end, by the most direct path; and in all the endeavours of man, either to acquire or use knowledge, we find his success to be strictly proportioned to the regularity by which he has been directed; and he who has been uniformly the most methodical, though he may not have seen, heard, read, and reflected more than another, has certainly acquired more, both in extent and quality. Like the minute division of labour, method greatly increases its productive powers; but with the superadded advantage, that whilst the division of labour is apt to enfeeble the mind, method, on the con

trary, strengthens and expands it, by imparting the choicest and most nutritious food, and this in such time, place, quantity and kind, as are respectively, the most suitable. Method places in our hands both a torch and clue, to guide us through the surest and easiest ways: it agreeably impresses the mind with confidence, amidst the greatest difficulties, and presents the most distinct and lively pictures of all that is worthy of notice in our path; and finally brings us to the end of our journey, improved, invigorated, and delighted.

In the Arts and Sciences, as lord Bacon emphatically expresses himself, it is the architecture; in argument, it may be compared to the 'discipline of modern nations; it corrects, in some measure, the unequalities of controversial dexterity, and levels on the intellectual field, the giant and the dwarf."* In reading, as lord Bolingbroke says, 'we may acquire by it less learning, but more knowledge; and as this is collected with design, and cultivated with art, it will be at all times of immediate and ready use to us and others."

"Thus useful arms in magazines we place,
All rang'd in order, and dispos'd in grace;
Nor thus alone the curious eye to please,

But to be found, when need require, with ease.'

If we reflect on the shortness of human life, compared with its legitimate objects, the importance of systematic selection appears in a very forcible point of view; but in the acquisition of knowledge, through the medium of books, it is still more manifestly displayed.

*Mack. Vind. Gall. Intro.

If a man should calculate on living to the age of sixty years, and should appropriate forty of them to the study of books, the most that could be accomplished in this time, would be the careful study of about sixteen hundred octavo volumes of five hundred pages each. What is this number, compared with the millions out of which he has to select? How important is it, therefore, that the choice should be judicious, and that after it is made, the whole should be studied with method; and how much more necessary is it to those, who instead of forty years' devotion to books, appropriate not more than a fourth part of that period. We are aware that such calculations cannot be made with mathematical accuracy, but an approximation is sufficient for our purpose, which is to illustrate the great importance of system and judicious selection, in the attainment of knowledge through the channel of books.

It is observed by Dr. Watts, that 'the world is full of books, but there are multitudes which are so ill written, they were never worth any man's reading; and there are thousands more which may be good in their kind, yet are worth nothing when the month, or year, or occasion is past for which they were written. Others may be valuable in themselves, for some special purpose, or in some peculiar science, but are not fit to be perused by any but those who are engaged in that particular science, or business; it is, therefore, of vast advantage for the improvement in knowledge, and saving of time, that a young man should have the most proper books for his reading, recommended by some judicious friend.'

Martin Luther, who, by uniting method with industry, attained an eminence in learning, unknown to the age in which he lived, compares indiscriminate and immethodical readers to such as have no fixed habitation, who dwell every where, reside in no place, and cannot be said to belong to any country. He advises students to confine their attention to the most learned, methodical, and well selected authors, and by no means, to distract themselves with too great a variety of books. Indeed, a judicious selection of nutriment seems no less requisite to the enlargement and invigoration of the mind than of the body; for, as lord Bacon quaintly observes, 'some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested; that is, some books are to be read only in part, others to be read, but not curiously, and some few to be read wholly, and with diligence, and attention. Some books also may be read by deputy, and extracts made of them by others; but that would be only in the less important arguments, and the meaner sort of books.'*

But whilst the student is judicious in his selection, there is another consideration no less worthy his attention. Books are not only to be the best on the subject of which they treat, but they are also to be read in that progressive succession, and each is to be studied with that method, which the gradual enlargement of the mind, on the particular subject, requires. It is not only requisite, therefore, that certain books be designated as most worthy of perusal, but the order in which

*Bacon's Essays, 'Of Studies.'