XXXVI Inaugural Address. 
attention of the student, abridge his labour, enable him to 
save time, guide his enquiries, relieve the tediousness of pris 
vate research, and impress the priaciples of his pursuit more 
effectually upon his memory.(1) 
The Student of Law in Canada has no assistance of this 
description ; he toils alone in an extensive field of abstruse 
science which he finds greatly neglected, and therefore too 
hastily deems to be despised, and, discouraged from the com- 
mencement of his labours, he is left to his own exertions, and 
is compelled to clear and prepare the path of his own instruc- 
tion, almost without aid of any kind. 
Would not an effort to relieve him in this arduous aod 
solitary task, as one among the first fruits of this Society, be 
highly worthy of its views and character? And is it too 
much to say, that a public Institution, which would enable 
those who intend to pursue the profession of the Law to lay 
the foundation of their studies ina solid scientifical method, 
and afford them more ample knowledge of the peculiar sys- 
tem of Jurisprudence by which we are governed, would be 
productive of great and lasting benefit, not merely to the 
student, but to the public at large? 
it is not, however, my inteation, upon the present occa« 
sion, to press this subject any further. The system to which 
I have just alluded is one of real merit, it is built upon the 
soundest foundations of natural and universal Justice, ap 
proved by experience, and is most admired by those who 
Know it best, Its claims to notice ave therefore so apparent, 
that [ shall indulge myself in the hope, that the influence of 
this Society will soon be exerted for the establishment of 
some Institution of a public description, in which the Law 
may be (aught As A scrence—A science which, though hither - 
to neglected, is of the first importance to mankind, and 
“« with all its defects, redundancies and errors, is the united 
** reason of ages—the pride of the human intellect’”(2) 
(1) Vide Sir James Mackintosh’s discourse on the Study of the Law 
of Nature and of Nations, p. 2. 
(2) Burke’s Works, Ato, vol. 3. p. 154. 
a 
