Ixix 



are frequently disposed to undervalue some of the departments of knowledge, 



particularly ancient literature, — which have always been cherished, and justly so, 

 as an essential part of the university course. Those departments of study are too 

 often stigmatized as antiquated, and not adapted to the ' spirit of the age ' ; while 

 an urgent call is made for what is designated by the vague and undefined name of 

 useful knowledge. Such persons seem to mistake the true purpose of a university 

 education ; which is not to qualify a young man for any one particular profession 

 or business, but to develope the powers of his mind, and to store it with all that 

 general information in science and literature which shall be really useful to him, 

 by its permanent influence in any station in life." 



Note C. Page xxxvi. 



In the Law Reporter, before referred to, it is justly said of Mr. Pickering, " that 

 he was a thorough, hard-working lawyer, for the greater part of his days in full 

 practice, constant at his office, attentive to all the concerns of business, and to what 

 may be called the humilities of his profession. He was faithful, conscientious, 

 and careful in all that ho did ; nor did his zeal for the interests committed to his 

 care ever betray him beyond the golden mean of duty. The law, in his hands, 

 was a shield for defence, and never a sword with which to thrust at his adversary. 

 His preparations for arguments in court were marked by peculiar care ; his brief 

 was very elaborate. On questions of law he was learned and profound, but his 

 manner in court was excelled by his matter. The experience of his long life 

 never enabled him to overcome the native, childlike diffidence which made him 

 shrink from public displays. He developed his views with clearness, and an in- 

 variable regard to their logical sequence ; but he did not press them home by 

 energy of manner or any of the ardors of eloquence. 



" His mind was rather judicial than forensic in its cast. He was better able to 

 discern the right than to make the wrong appear the better reason. He was not 

 a legal athlete, snuffing new vigor in the hoarse strifes of the bar, and regarding 

 success alone ; but a faithful counsellor, solicitous for his client, and for justice too. 

 It was this character that led him to contemplate the law as a science, and to 

 study its improvement and elevation. He could not look upon it merely as a 



