it'affords one more example of the careless and slipshod wording by which our legislation is so frequentiy disgraced, and of the manner in which an Act of Parliament may consequently fail, to a great extent, to effert the very object which it was intended to secure. Surely it can hardly be regarded otherwise than as a gross anomaly that whilst a inanufacturer may not keep, without a licence, a quantity of ammunition containing more than 5lb., a dealer may keep a number of cartridges containing more than 50015. of gunpowder, which would be about the weight of that article in this case, we believe, supposing the 50,400 cartridges to hare contained the ordinary regulation charges.

THE LEGAL EDUCATION ASSOCIATION: The vast importance of the speech of Sir ROUNDELL PALMER, delivered in the Hall of the Middle Temple on Wednesday evening, justifies us in giving to it the greatest prominence. We reported the proceedings at Lincoln's-inn, in July last year very fully, but at that time no steps to disarm the association had been taken by the Inns of Court. Some steps for this purpose have now been taken, and when, therefore, they fail to arrest the progress of reform from without--when, in fact, Sir ROUNDELL Paller denounces the attempt to bolster up the present system by instituting a narrow collegiate course for the members of a particular inn, and characterises the movement as retrograde, overyone must admit that the present is a critical period in the history of the Inns of Court, and a most important epoch for the profession of the law in the United Kingdom.

The speech of Sir R. Pamer is so exhaustive that it requires no explanatory comment from us. Suffice it to say here that he considers that whatever collegiate course the Inns of Court may adopt, a central school of law, under public control, for testing the education of persons seeking to practise the law, is absolutely essential. His second great point is, that there ought to be no separation or division of students with regard to their ultimate career, whether at the Bar or as solicitors and attorneys--that the latter, if they choose, should have the means of obtaining the highest possible education, and that a difference should be made only at the examinations, which should be framed us to their subjects with a view to the career selected by the students.

The frequent applauso accorded to Sir ROUNDELL Palier, and the formidable array of eminent lawryers by whom li vam sepse ported, afford snflicient evidence that the movement now inaugurated is one which cannot be opposed, and that next year will not come to an end without legislative sanction having been given to the scheme of the Legal Education Association.

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the object, amongst others, of having it ready to fit in with any comprehensive organisation of legal education which may be established either by the Inns of Court or any body external to them.

The University of Cambridge appointed a syndicate to confer with this association.

The senate of the University of London passed the following resolution :

“That the senate, while regarding many of the suggestions of the Legal Education Association as deserving of the maturest consideration, are nevertheless of opinion that the proposals to assume the name of a Uni. versity and to confer degrees, present preliminary objections to their cooperating with the association.'

It will be observed that the point to which the senate of the University of London objects is not by any means an essential part of the scheme, and it may be here added that the resolutions which the president subse. quently moved in the House of Commons were so framed as to get rid of that preliminary objection by omitting the name “University,” and by leaving the question of granting degrees for further consideration.

The University of Edinburgh forwarded to your committee a valuable report, in which it points out some of the advantages which have been gained by a common system of legal education for both branches of the profession in Scotland.

The University of Glasgow also appointed a committee to inquire and report as to whether it could either co-operate with the association or give it any information which might be useful.

Previously to the meeting in July, 1870, the promoters of the association had forwarded to the honourable societies of the four Inns of Court the original circular explaining the objects of the movement. After the for. mation of the association your committee forwarded to each of those learned bodies a copy of the “ Proposals for a University or School of Law," and copies of the other papers issued by the association. These papers were accompanied by an official letter couched in the same terms as that addressed to the different Universities. Similar communications were also made to the Incorporated Law Society, the Metropolitan and Provincial Law Society, and the various provincial law societies.

In consequence of these communications, the four Inns appointed a joint committee to meet and confer upon the subject; and on the 24th of April last, at the request of this joint committee, a deputation from the executive committee of the association waited upon them for the purpose of stating their objeos and wishes respecting legal education."

The deputation consisted of the following gentlemens-Sir Roundell Palmer, Q.C., M.P.; Mr. Abdy; Mr. Sheldon Amos ; Mr. R. Paul Amphlett, Q.C., M.P.; Mr. Robert Baxter: Mr. Bryce; Mr. J. M. Clabon ; Mr. Mon. tagne Cookson ; Mr. Robert Curling ; Mr. George Dawes ; Mr. Kenelm E. Digby: Mr. Henry Freshfield : Mr. William A. Jevons ; Mr. Charles Harrison, jun. ; Mr. Arthur Hobhouse, Q.C.; Mr. J. V. Longbourne ; Sir H. S. Maine ; Mr. J. C. Mathow ; Mr. G. Osborne Morgan, Q.C., M.P.; Mr. F. S. Reilly; Mr. H. C. Rothery; Mr. Arthur Ryland; Mr. Thomas Webster, Q.C.; Mr. John Westlake.

On the 5th May the hon. secretaries wrote to the chairman of the joint committee (the Vice-Chancellor Malins), to inquire whether that committee wished for any further conference with the deputation ; adding that, as the council of the association were very desirous of knowing as speedily as possible the views entertained by the Inns of Court on the proposals of the association, they would most respectfully ask for an early decision by the Inns of Court on the subject. To this letter no reply has been received by your committee.

It is, however, understood that the joint committee, by a small majority, passed resolutions to the following effect :- "That it is not desirable that the education of students for the bar and the education of the articled clerks of solicitors and attorneys should be under one joint system of management: That there should be a compulsory examination of students for the bar before they are called to the bar, or if they are allowed to practise under the bar : That the Inns of Court shonld estsblish such an examination : and that such examination be carried into effect under the direction and through the instrumentality of the Council of Legal Educa. tion, under amended regulations, the council being increased in number and authority.” These resolutions have been since adopted by the respective Benches of Lincoln's.inn and the Inner Temple, and a resolution expressing acquiescence in them is understood to have been also passed by the Benchers of Gray's-inn.

The executive committee think it right to observo, with respect to the last resolution. that the separate committees which the Honourable So. cieties of the Middle Temple and Gray's-inn had appointed for considering the scheme of the association, had previously reported in favour of the two most important principles of the scheme, namely, a general school of law, and a system of legal education common to both branches of the Profession.

The committee appointed by the Middle Temple recommended “that there should be a legal university to superintend and control the education of students for the profession of the law, consisting of such bodies or members as are contemplated by the council of the Legal Education Association.

The committe appointed by Gray's Inn recommended " That there should be a legal university, or some one body with united action to providemeans for the education of students for the legal profession, with power to prescribe the educational qualifications which shall be required from students on their admission as students, and on their being called to the bar, or admitted as attorneys.” They were also of opinion “ that such body should not be formed of the four Inns of Court exclusively, but that no other body should be associated with the four Inns of Court save and except the Incorporated Law Ssciety.”

The Council of the Incorporated Law Society having summoned a a general meeting of its members, the society passed the following resolution:

“That this society approves generally of the proposals of the Legal Education Association for a University or School of Law, and is willing to co-operate with it on the footing

"(1) That all the several branches of legal study will be open to all who may become students without distinction or classification, leaving them to determine with which branch of the profession they will ultimately connect themselves; and that the course of instruction and examination of all members of the university intending to be barristers shall not be distinct and separate from the course of instruction and examination of those intending to be attorneys or solicitors, and that an examination by the proposed university shall be equally compulsory or both branches.

(2) That no preponderance be given to the Bar or to attorneys and solicitors on the governing body.”

At a general meeting of the Metropolitan and Provincial Law Association the following report of the committee of management was adopted :

“That the principle of requiring examination before admission to prac

:

THE MEETING IN MIDDLE TEMPLE HALL. At four o'clock on Wednesday, Sir Roundell Palmer took the chair at a very large meeting in the fine hall of the Middle Temple, to receive the report of the Executive Committee. He was supported by Sir E. Ryan on his right, and Vice-Chancellor Sir John Wickens on his left. There were present Also Mr. Charles Pollock, Q.C., the Hon. G. Denman, Q.C., Mr. T. Hughes, Q.C., Mr. H. T. Cole, Q.C., Mr. Quain, Q.C., Mr. Forsyth, Q.C., Mr. J.J. Powell, Q.C., Mr. Prentice, Q.C., Mr. T. Chambers, Q.C. (Common Sergeant), and many other leading members of the Profession.

The report of the executive was as follows :

When the association was formally constituted in July 1870, the trans. action of its business was entrusted to an exocntive committee of the council which was then appointed. This committee have exercised the dis. cretionary power which was given to them of adding to the council and to their own number, by placing on the council many leading members of both branches of the profession, as well as some others, who have expressed approval of, and interest in, the work of the association. Wherever the committee have found that members of the council were anxious to afford active practical help in this work, they have gladly availed themselves of their services by making them members of their own body.

At the first meeting of the committee on the 18th Nov. 1870, they care. fully considered and adopted a paper headed, “ Proposals for a University or School of Law," prepared by Sir Roundell Palmer, which set forth generally the scheme of the association. Printed copies of these proposals, of a report of the proceedings at the meeting in Lincoln's-inn Hall, and of the original circular issued by the promoters of the movement, were sent to evory barrister and solicitor in London and the provinces. Copies of these papers were also sent to every member of both Houses of Parliament, and were circulated in the colonies.

The circulation of these papers led to an immediate and general recog. nition, not only by the Profession, but by the public, of the importance of, and necessity for, sueh an organised school of law as that suggested by the association ; which, with a staff of permanent and highly qualified teachers, would afford to all classes of students, whether intending or not intending to follow the Legal Profession, common opportunities for systematic legal instruction; and which would conduct, through an indepen. dent board of competent examiners, suitable examinations as an indispen. gable test of fitness to practise law in any of its branches. The general principle of such an organisation at once received the hearty approval of many distinguished Judges and ex.Judges, of a large number of barristers, attorneys, solicitors, and others, of eminent teachers of law, and of most of our leading journals of every shade of political opinion.

By the direction of the committee, copies of the proposals and of the other papers of the association were forwarded to the universities of the United Kingdom, with the expression of a hope that those learned bodies might take the matter into their consideration, and inform the council whether their co-operation in attaining the object proposed might be expected, and under what conditions, if at all, it might be obtained. The results of these communications have been as follows:

The University of Oxford appointed a committee to consider the question; and since the present movement began it has effected a complete reconstruction of its machinery for teaching and examining in law, with

a

tise haring been first insisted upon by our branch of the profession, it is gratifying to us as solicitors to find that the great value of this principle has been proved by experience, and that its importance is now generally acknowledged.

* That the committee earnestly desire the establishment, under control of Government, of an examining body in the fuonity of law, whose cristiti. cate of fitness shall be indispensable to adinission to the praetice of the profession in either of the branches into which it is now divided : and that sneb exsnination should be the same for all students, without reference to the branch of the profession with which they may ultimately connect themselves.

** That while the body of solicitors would be willing to leave to any examining body the determination of the subjeots and amount of general and professional knowledge required from all who desire to practise the lar: it would not, in the opinion of the committee, be desirable that such faculty or body should have power to insist upon the candidate for examimistion having been educated at any partioular college or school, or on any partienlar system of instruction.

" That while in the opinion of the committee there shonld be only one examining body or facnlty, which should be under control of Government, it maay be found expedient to establish one or more public schools of educa tion in the law, but such public schools should be open to all students with ont distinction in the course of instruction between the branches of the profession which the students may propose to enter. And the committee is further of opinion, that it would not be right that any faculty constituted for the examination of candidates should have the charge of any school or elasses intended to prepare students for such examination.

** That so far as the objects of the Legal Education Association accord with the foregoing resolutions, the committee tenders its cordial support.”

Resolutions approving of the proposals have also been received from the Incorporated Law Societies of 'Liverpool, Birmingham, Manchester, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, and Gateshead, and the Denbighshire and Flintshire Law Association.

On the 5th July last, Sir Roundell Palmer laid before your committee two resolutions. These resolutions, as subsequently placed on the notice paper of the Honse of Commons, were in the following terms :

*1. That, in the opinion of this House, it is desirable that a general sehool of law should be established in the metropolis, in the government of which the different branches of the legal profession in England may be suitably represented ; and that, after the establishment thereof, no person should be admitted to practise in any branch of the legal profession, either at or below the bar, or as an attorney or solicitor in England, without a certiticate of proficiency in the study of law, granted after proper examinations by such general school of law.

"2. T'lat an humble address may be presented to Her Majesty, praying that Her Majesty may be graciously pleased to take into consideration the expediency of establishing and incorporating, under Her Majesty's royal charter, a general school of law in the metropolis, in the government of which the different branches of the legal profession in England may be suitably represented ; and assuring Her Majesty, that, if it shall appear to Her Majesty to be expedient to provide by such charter that, after the time when such general school shall be fully established, no person shall be admitted to practise in any branch of the legal profession either at or below the bar, or as an attorney or solicitor in England, without a certificate of proficiency in the study of the law, granted after proper examinations by such general school of law, this House will be prepared to concur in such legislation as may be requisite to enable Her Majesty so to do.”

A short statement of the reasons in support of these resolutions was prepered by a sub-committee, and by direction of your committee, a copy of this statement was sent to every member of the House of Commons.

As soon as it became known that Sir Ronndell Palmer had given notice that he would move the resolutions in the House of Commons, some of those who were favourable to the movement drew up a form of petition by members of the Inns of Court, praying that the House would take the Decessary steps for establishing such a school of law as the resolutions indicated. To this petition (which was presented by Sir Roundell Palmer when he introduced his motion on the 11th Aug.) 400 signatures were obtained within a very short space of time. Amongst these signatures were those of Sir William Erle, late Chief Justice of the Common Pleas ; Sir J. T. Coleridge, Sir Joseph Napier, Sir Edward Ryan, and of the following Professors at the University of Oxford, namely, Sir H. S. Maine, Corpus Professor of Jurisprudence ; Mr. Mountague Bernard, Professor of International Law; Mr. Bryce, Regius Professor of Civil Law; and Mr. Kenelm E. Digby, Vinerian Reader of Law. The petition was also signed by Mr. Abdy, Regius Professor of Civil Law at Cambridge; by Mr. Sheldon Amos, Professor of Jurisprudence at University College ; and by eighteen Queen's Counsel. Petitions in favour of the motion were also presented by the Incorporated Law Society and other law societies.

Though the speech with which Sir Roundell Palmer introduced these resolutions was received with marked attention, the requirements of other public business at that late stage of the session made it impossible to derote to the consideration of the motion the time needed for its full discussion. It is, however a significant and gratifying indication of the interest which has beer created in the subject outside of the profession, that the speech delivered by our president was reprinted at the expense of a non-legal member of Parliament for circulation amongst his fellow-mem. bers. Within the profession the efforts of the association have received a atill more signal mark of approval. On the 15th July last Sir Roundell Palmer received the following letter from Lord St. Leonards :

“Boyle Farm, 14th July, 1871. “My dear Sir Roundell Palmer,- I have been considering the proposal to establish a legal college, in which you take such a great interest. No one is more bound than I am to support such a foundation. I request you, therefore, to put down my name as a subscriber of 400 guineas, half to the foundation, and the other half to establish a prize for merit in such a manner as you and those who act with you may direct. Let me know when you will be ready to receive it.-Ever faithfully yours,

“ST. LEONARDS." A donation of 1051. has also been made by Daniel Sturdy, Esq., of Cedars Road, Clapham Common, to be applied in any way which may be thought fit for the encouragement of learning, in connection with the proposed school of law. Both these spontaneous and liberal gifts have been now received, and invested in Consols, in the joint names of Mr. Clabon, the treasurer of the association, and Sir Ronndell Paliner : and the dividends will be in like manner, invested and accumulated, until the proper time for deciding upon their ultimate application arrivos.

It is understood that the Honourable Society of the Inner Temple have made a bench order which will come into operation at the beginning of next

year, and which provides that a sum of 20001. a year may be devoted to the payment of additional lecturers and tutors for the exclusive benefit of students of the Inn. It also provides that special prizes shall be offered to students who shall submit to examinations, conducted under the direction of the society. It should be added that the order assumes that the causoli. dated rules of the four Inns will be so altered as to make examination before a call to the Bar compulsory in all casos.

It also deserves notice that during the present year public law schools have been established at two of the most important centres of population and basiness in the provinces; at Manchester, by the trustees of Owen's College, assisted by the Incorporated Law Association of Manchester, and at Liverpool by the Incorporated Law Society of that town. Both these sehools have been formed under the superintendence of Professor Bryce, as principal, assisted by Mr. Albert Dicey, Mr. Erskine Holland, and Mr. Thompson. They were opened in October, and they number at Manchester forty-six students, and at Liverpool ninety-five. Great assistance will no doubt be rendered to a central metropolitan university or law school, if it can be aided in this way by subsidiary schools established in the provinces.

Whilst congratulating the members upon the extensive support the association has received, and the approval which its proposals have drawn forth from so many sources, and, in particular, upon the recognition by all the Inns of Court of the necessity for a compulsory examination as a condi. tion for admission to the Bar ; and by the Inner Temple of increased provision for teaching the law; all of which signs of advance may fairly be regarded as results of the attention drawn to the subject of legal education by the labours of this association; your committee, at the same time, desire emphatically to express their opinion that nothing short of the proposals of the association for a central school of law, open to students for both branches of the profession, and to tho public, and governed by a public and responsible board, can be accepted as a satisfactory solution of the difficulties in the way of legal education.

It will be seen from the financial statement which will be laid before you by the treasurer, that liberal contributions have been made to the fonds required for the expenses of the association. These expenses have hitherto been almost exclusively those of printing and advertising ; but the donations already received, and the assurances which have come from other qnarters, make it quite clear that should any larger expenditure be required in order to carry out the views of the association, the money will be readily subsoribed.

Sir ROUNDELL PALMER moved that this report, taken as read, should be adopted. He said-Gentlemen, I cannot commence the business of to-day without expressing the satisfaction with which I see so large a number of friends of our common object assembled together, or without thanking the Honourable Society of the Middle Temple for their gracious and most liberal act in placing this splendid hall at our disposal. (Hear, hear.) It will be in the recollection of all, probably, that a meeting was held at Lincoln's-inn, in July last year, in order to set in motion that association which was then formed for the purpose of obtaining a better recognised system of legal education in this country. You are all probably aware of the general nature of the steps since taken. An executive council was formed which immediately set itself to work and issued proposals, which of course are not to be taken in their details or their language as the laws of the Modes and Persians incapable of being altered, but which sought to put upon a proper footing the general objects, and express in a sufficiently intelligible manner the views entertained as to what was the best mode of accomplishing them Those proposals were widely circulated, and the executive council put themselves in communication with different bodies with whom it was deemed desirable to com operate-with the different universities, the Inns of Court, and law societies in town and country, the Incorporated Law Society, and the Metropolitan and Provincial Law Association. The result of those communications in many respects-as to the opinions elicited, even from such as have not expressed a willing co-operation to the association-has been extremely important. I shall presently refer to some of those results a little more in detail, and therefore pass them over at present. Before the close of the last session of Parliament it was thought right to break ground in the House of Commons. It was extremely well known that, looking to the late period of the session, and owing to the difficulty found in carrying through Parliament measures of great public importance, to which the Government devoted their whole strength, that to take any effective steps to carry resolutions was practically out of the question; nor, indeed, was it really desirable to do it in the only way possible under such circumstances, with an exhausted House after a tedious session, and at twelve o'clock at night or one in the morning, with, of course, a very small attendance of members of sufficient energy and interest in the subject not to go to bed, and when common lawyers were upon circuit. It would not only have been unsatisfactory, but, in my opinion, unwise, if an opportunity had occurred, to take a division, even supposing it might have been a favourable division upon the particular resolutions at that time submitted to Parliament. Any majority so obtained, or perhaps a unanimous vote if it could have been obtained, would not have been accepted by any person who did not agree with our views, as a conclusive and satisfactory indication of the sense of Parliament. All that could then be attempted was to ventilate the subject, to show we were in earnest and meant this matter to proceed, and meant to obtain the support of the Government for our object. Of course, it was a great object to us to hear criticisms on the particular form in which our objects were embodied, to be put in possession of the views which had occurred to those not entirely with us, which in some respects might be founded upon misapprehension or misconception of our objects, or what we might consider necessary to carry them into effect, or might give us notice of points of objection which might deserve and require cons sideration, all of which are manifestly great advantages as enabling us to make a better and more satisfactory approach to Parliament on the subject. That approach we mean to make with your approval as soon as: Parliament meets. (Applause.) One of the first things which will be done will be to put on the notice paper of the House of Commons a renewed notice in such a forin as upon full consideration may be thonght most wise. That course being taken early, it may be confidently expected that a fair field will be obtained for the discussion of it, and an early night and a whole night with an unexhausted House, and the attention of all who take an interest in it. We may look forward to an actual vote and resolution of the House, and I confess I feel pretty confident, if we conduct our approaches wisely, that resolution will be in our favour. (Applanse). I wish to call attention particularly to what we state at the end of this report to be the principle upon which we think the association: onght to take its stand. We have adverted to what has taken place elsewhere and to the opinions which have been expressed by the various

bodies with whom we have been in communication; and state it to be the opinion of the executive committee and we trust that by adopting the report it will become the opinion of the association that nothing short of a central school of law, open to students for both branches of the profession and to the public, and governed by a public and responsible board, can be accepted as a satisfactory solution of the difficulties in the way of legal education. Now we have on a former occasion glanced generally at the difference between the position of legal education in this country, and its position in other parts of the British Empire and in other civilised nations of the world. And before I enter upon the con. sideration of what has been advanced in the we.y of objection to our scheme, and the difficulties which may stand in our way, I should like to avail myself of the information I have received through Mr. Anderson, from an eminent Scotch Professor, Mr. Muirhead, to put you in possession of the position of this matter in our sister kingdom of Scotland. This is important, because such a comparison as will result from these facts will naturally challenge an answer to the ques. tions whether the system in operation there is or is not substan. tially that which we want to introduce here; and secondly, whether, if it is found to work well there, any reason can exist for believing it would work ill in England. What I find to be the facts in Scotland are these : The Faculty of Advocates, revising former rules in 1866, made the rules under which they are at present governed with respect to admission to their bar. They require, as indispensable to admission to the Faculty, certain attendances at lectures, a course of academical instruction, and certain examinations. Now see what the attendances are : Attendance during at least one session as a pupil in a class of Scotch law, and a class of conveyancing in a Scotch University; attendance during at least one session as a pupil in a class of civil law, in a class of international law, in a class of constitutional law, either in a Scotch university or such other university as may be approved by the governing, body of the Faculty; and, lastly, attendance upon a class of medical jurisprudence, either in a university or a school recognised as qualifying for university degrees. Then they require examination in civil law, international law and in Scotch law by examiners appointed by themselves, with whom they associate the Law Professor of the University of Edinburgh. With regard to the teaching of the Faculty of Law in the University of Edinburgh, I find it as effective as this : First year, 120 lectures and fourteen examinations in civil law, and an equal number in Scotch law; eighty lectures, and eight examinations in conveyancing ; Scotch law the second year, and conveyancing the third ; and either in the second or third year, seven-five lectures in public law, that is natural and international law; about forty in constitutional law and legal history, and about fifty in medical jurisprudence. The University of Edinburgh has therefore a course of academical instruction, lectures, and examinations, and I believe the case is very much the same in France, Italy, Spain, and Belgium. Perhaps in some respects it might be stated, as far as duration of time occupied in preparatory studies goes, to be more severe there than in Scotland. With respect to Writers to the Signet, they are also required to attend the same lectures at the same place and in the same classes in civil law, Scotch law, and conveyancing, and to be examined in Scotch law and conveyancing, as necessary qualifications for admission to this branch of the profession. And I have been told that no evil or mischief has at any time arisen, or even been surmised to be liable to arise, from the union in the same class, and under the same course and system of instruction, of gentlemen intending to follow the different branches of the profession in Scutland. (Applause.)

Now, I think there is a very good practical illustration of the thing which we want, and of the success with which it may be accomplished, and with your permission I will now go to the practical question which has been raised, and which we have had to consider in our communications with the different bodies with whom it has been our duty to communicate. And first of all, following the same order I took in glancing at the subject in the House of Commons, I will refer to what has been suggested on the part of the old Universities-Oxford and Cambridge. In a general way they express their desire to co-operate with us, but the time for going into any questions of detail with them does not arise until we have overcome preliminary difficulties. Leading men among them have manifested themselves zealous and interested in our objects, which they think highly important, and they believe may be made to work together with their own in such branches of legal knowledge as those Universities can communicate. But coming nearer home, there is one University in which there is an important school of law, the University of London, and it is not at all surprising that in some points of view, our scheme should present itself to that university under a different aspect from that in which it is seen in the more remote universities of Oxford and Cambridge. It is most legitimate on the part of the University of London, while heartily sympathising with our object, to consider in what respect it might affect their own school of law, and how far co-operation with us would be prejudicial to their own useful. ness in their own way. I am never afraid to deal with objectors of that class, who have the same objects in view. All we want is that a certifi. cate of examination, founded on proficiency in the necessary knowledge, shall be an indispensable qualification to the practice of the legal profession. Whether that certificate should be identical with a university degree, which, in point of fact, never was the view of the council, and whether the certificate should be granted by a body which should be able to give university degrees, is of minor importance.

The attorneys and solicitors of England are represented by different societies, more particularly by the Incorporated Law Society and the Metropolitan and Provincial Law Association, and those bodies have ex. pressed themselves with a caution not unbecoming the position which they occupy, but still cordially and sincerely, and as I believe with a very great concurrence and preponderance of opinion among them, as favourable to our objects. The Incorporated Law Society state that they do so upon the footing that there shall be po premature separation or distinction of students while undergoing instruction in the law school, or in the examination with reference to the branch of the profession which they may intend to follow, and that there shall be no preponderance on the governing body of the institution either of the Bar or the attorneys. We entirely appreciate the motive and feeling which has led them to think it right to signify these views, and although we do not, and cannot pledge ourselves as to the precise manner in which the future university may be constituted, which will ultimately depend upon other authorities, namely the government of the country, and not entirely upon ourselves--yet we have had no hesitation in Baying that there is nothing in the principle of those views opposed to our viowe. We do not desire in the future university to introduce premature separation and distinction of classes with reference to the practice of one branch or the other. We desire to make the education to be given as free, open, and liberal as it possibly can be, and to postpone to a later

stage any consideration of the difference between one branch of the profession and the other, and although it is impossible to say what might be regarded by one man or another as preponderance in the government of the insti. tution when formed, yet, as far as the object of putting the Bar in the government of the future university into a position of invidious superi. o:ity over the attorneys and solicitors, or on the other hand of swamping the due influence of the Bar by giving representation to mere numbers, which would of course give attorneys and solicitors the advantage, nothing is further from our purposes than either the one or the other. We think that when the Government of the country, when the ministers of the Crown, come to settle the terms of the proposed charter, they ought to do it with the view to the efficiency of the institution for the objects for which it is established, and with that view only, and so as to avoid raising invidious questions of any kind as between representatives of any class of persons in the legal profession. The Metropolitan and Provincial Law Association have also given us cordial approval and support, but they have expressed it in a guarded manner, and rather as a full indication of particular views on certain im. portant subjects. They say that the education to qualify for practice ought not to be required to be given at any particular college or school, or on any particular system of instruction. In our judgment it is essential that we should not only have examinations, but provide in the central law school as good a system of instruction as we possibly can give, but we do not consider it by any means essential that we should require everybody who is to pass the examination to receive his education and instruction from our professors and in the central school of law. It was never a part of our scheme to insist upon a monopoly of education, still less to confine to monopolists of legal education also the task of examining those whom they taught. My own individual view has never been that it would be expedient or desirable to endeavour to get a monopoly of legal instruction for the central institution. Make it so good, that people of their own accord will come to it for the sake of what they will learn there. (Applause.) As a general rule it is adverse to the success of an institution to give it a monopoly. It is no part of our plan, and I hope it will not become a part. The learned gen. tleman then noticed with satisfaction the establishment of law schools in the provinces, reading the paragraph from the report and making the cor, rection that at Manchester there are sixty students, and at Liverpool ninety-eight; and went on to notice that the Metropolitan and Provincial Law Association expressed a desire that there should be one board of examiners under the control of the Government. I doubt, he said, whether it was the intention of the learned body to say that every department of the executive Government should have the control of the examiners. That is a matter which they may consider at the proper time. My own impression is that public control and responsibility is vitally im. portant; yet it does not follow that you cannot establish an institution which may be trusted to appoint its own examiners, or that the examiners should be appointed by any department of the Government. That is a question to be discusssed upon its merits. The senate of our law school might, I think, be trusted to appoint impartial and capable examiners. It is said that we should not vest the examining power in the hands of those interested in drawing, students to particular schools. That would be accomplished by leaving it in the hands of a body in whom you could trust.

The learned Chairman then noticed the objections of the now Solicitor. General (Mr. Jessel), who, be said, in his remarks in the House of Commons had entirely misapprehended the scheme and intentions of the association. Then turning to the Inns of Court he proceeded to deal with a suggestion that the candidates for practice at the bar ouget to receive a higher legal training than those intended for the branch of the profession not involving ultimately the same qualification. It is, he said, a misapprehension to suppose that there is anything whatever either in the principles of our scheme, or in what is likely to be the practical operation of it which militates against that view. In Scotland the Faculty of Advocates, when they come to consider whom they will admit to the Bar, require attendance on certain lectures and certain examinations in particular subjects, and the Writers to the Signet require attendance on certain lectures, and examinations on certain subjects, the subjects and lectures in the two cases not being altogether the same. The body calling to the Bar, may say certain things are required for the Bar and certain things required for the solicitors and attorneys. The distinction is to be in the hands of the body calling to practice. If you give the best possible education in the university, those intended for every branch of the legal profession will find iv the university what they want; you do not deprive anyone of any class of study, and you do not oblige everyone to swallow everything.

Referring to the Inns of Court, he said :- I believe that as cordial and as general a concurrence in our objects and our views as at this stage could be given by any sensible person, was given by the governing body of the Middle Temple, and all honour and praise to them for it. I have no reason to think that they have changed their minds, although I have no doubt if they find our objects impracticable, they will do the best they can to attain the desired end. The use of this fine hall which they have granted to us shows, not only their courtesy, but also that they approve of our views. Gray's-inn agrees with us to a very great extent indeed-to an extent covering all the principles of our scheme, although guarding them. selves by saying that they were not disposed to associate any body with the Inns of Court in the governing body of the law school, save the Incor; porated Law Society. Then as to the proceedings of Lincoln’s-inn and the Inner Temple. On the 22nd of last June the aggregate committees of the four inns, by a small majority, carried resolutions, that in the opinion of this committee it is not desirable that the education of the students for the bar and the education of the articled clerks of solicitors and attorneys should be under ono general system of manage. ment. Secondly, that the committee was of opinion, and recommended that there should be a compulsory examination of students for the bar before call to the bar or practice under the bar; and that the four Inns of Court should establish such examination. Thirdly, that the committee were of opinion and recommended that such examinations should be carried into effect under the direction and through the instrumentality of the Council of Legal Education. And, fourthly, that the consolidated regulations should be amended, and the Council of Legal Education in. creased in pumber and authority.” It will be seen by these resolutions that we obtained one considerable point--I may fairly call it a victory. They agreed for the first time that there should be a compulsory examination for the Bar. (Applause.)

Proceeding to deal with the distinction between the Bar and attorneys and solicitors, the learned chairman said :- I have thought, and still think, that in every point of view it is unnecessary to make a distinction during study, and in every point of view unwise- unwise, because that distinction