FOUR DISTINCT COURSES.

NOTE.

The Student will perceive that the present volume contains
four distinct courses; to either of which he may resort-viz.

1st. All the works, &c. mentioned in the thirteen Titles or 'Parti-
cular Syllabuses,' and in the nine Divisions of 'Auxiliary Sub-
jects. These would probably occupy him six or seven years;
and are addressed to the notice of lawyers, as well as of
students. Such students as complete this course may be deno-
minated PROLYTE.

2d. A shorter course which embraces the foregoing works, with the

exception of those designated by the letter E. This will pro-
bably occupy the student about four years; and those who have
finished this course may be called LYTE.

3d. A still more limited course, which comprehends those works, &c.
which remain after omitting all that are designated by the
letters E. and e. This residue may probably occupy the student
three years. Those who accomplish this course may be deno-
minated PAPINIANISTE.†

4th. The last course embraces either of the three preceding, with
the exception of such Titles as well as works, as are also desig-
nated by *. This course will probably require the same time as
the preceding, and is intended for those who are to pursue their
profession in the interior or out of the maritime cities. It omits
some Titles, and also numerous works in some of the others.

+ Should there be any (which we trust will never be the case) who will be content to glean a few works from the first and second Titles only of this volume, they may assume the name of DUPONDII, or students of small consideration, from the most common coin known in the Roman Empire, of the value of a penny sterling. Such Elementary attainments may sometimes pass them to the Bar; but as they have scarce attained 'ad limina legitimæ scientiæ,' they will never reap the honours of those 'qui juris nodos, legumque ænigmata solvunt.'

The extensive learning of Admirality and Maritime Law, of the Lex Mercatoria, the Roman or Civil Law, &c. need not be studied by them, much beyond the elements embraced by the first and second Titles of the course. But as their peculiar studies are somewhat enlarged, or should be, on the remaining topics, and as they are equally destined to the high honours of the other classes, they may be entitled to the names of Prolyte, Lytæ, or Papinianista, according to the course they have pursued. And, in order to exclude all mistake or difficulty in making the selection for either of the four courses, we have presented towards the close of the volume, summaries of all the courses; cautioning the student, however, to study our volume in the mode prescribed, and not to resort hastily to those summaries, but only after having faithfully adhered to the advice, not only in our introductory remarks, but in the course of the volume.

The Advertisement,' and 'Proem,' to which we particularly refer the student, will more fully explain our views on these several courses.

Students in consulting the following course of study, should, bear in mind, that in all of the Syllabuses and Divisions, the Notes therein alluded to, and which are designated by numbers, will be found by corresponding numbers under their proper heads; there being, throughout the volume, a series of notes on all works and topics, enumerated under each Title and Division. The table of contents, and the indexes, will enable them to find with ease, any subject embraced in the volume.

Qui studet optatam cursû contingere metam,

Multa tulit, fecitque puer, sudavit et alsit.-Hor. Epis. Ad. Pison.

Method is the light and life of study: without it the simplest subject is dark, and with it the most abstruse is often easy, and even pleasing.

LAW, in its most comprehensive signification, is that system of rules to which the intellectual and physical worlds are subjected; either by God their creator or by man; by which the existence, rest, motion, and conduct of all created and uncreated entities are regulated, and on the due observance of which their being or happiness depends.

Law, as applied to human conduct generally, signifies that body of rules established for the regulation of human economy, whether national or individual; dictated to us by the light of nature, or by revelation; or prescribed by human superiors for individual observance; or ordained by the consent, express or implied, of sovereign states, for the guidance of international conduct; and to which those respectively, to whom the rules are directed, are obliged to make their actions conformable.

Law, or 'The Law,' is an abstract term, and as a genus means nothing more than the totality of individual laws contemplated as one body, without reference either to their origin or application. In this point of view, it is a mere fictitious entity.

Law, in the concrete, signifies a rule of action, and, according to the subject of its application, admits of numerous divisions.

Law in the concrete, as it prescribes rules of human conduct, may be advantageously studied under the following titles or divisions, which we presume will be found to embrace as much of this widely extended science as an individual should aspire to attain; and in its prosecution we would advise the student to take up the subjects in the order in which we have arranged them, both in the general and particular syllabus, subject, however, to the qualifications contained in our Introduction.

Titles.

GENERAL SYLLABUS.

I. MORAL AND POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY.
II. THE ELEMENTARY AND

CONSTITUTIONAL

PRINCIPLES OF THE MUNICIPAL LAW OF
ENGLAND; OF THE UNITED STATES, AND OF
THE ROMAN OR CIVIL LAW: AND HEREIN,

1ST. OF THE FEUDAL LAW.

2D. OF THE ORIGIN AND PROGRESS OF

THE COMMON LAW.

3D. OF THE INSTITUTES OF THE MUNI

CIPAL LAW OF ENGLAND.

4TH. OF THE INSTITUTES OF THE AME

RICAN LAW.

5TH. OF THE INSTITUTES OF THE ROMAN,

OR CIVIL LAW.

III. THE LAW OF REAL RIGHTS AND REAL RE

MEDIES.

IV. THE LAW OF PERSONAL RIGHTS AND PER

SONAL REMEDIES.

V. THE LAW OF EQUITY.

VI. THE LEX MERCATORIA.

VII. THE LAW OF CRIMES AND PUNISHMENTS.

VIII. THE LAW OF NATIONS.

IX. THE MARITIME AND ADMIRALTY LAW.

X. THE CIVIL OR ROMAN LAW,

XI. THE CONSTITUTION AND LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

XII. THE CONSTITUTION AND LAWS OF THE SEVERAL STATES OF THE UNION.

XIII. POLITICAL ECONOMY.

Divisions.

AUXILIARY SUBJECTS.

1ST. THE GEOGRAPHY, AND CIVIL, STATISTICAL, AND POLITICAL HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES.

2D. FORENSIC ELOQUENCE AND ORATORY.

3D. LEGAL BIOGRAPHY AND BIBLIOGRAPHY.

4th. Legal REVIEWS, ESSAYS, JOURNALS, MAGA

ZINES, &c.-BRITISH, FRENCH, GERMAN,

AND AMERICAN.