ficiency, that he left behind him about a hundred and fourſcore volumes of his own compiling upon the ſubject; and became, in the opinion of Cicero[1], a much more complete lawyer than even Mutius Scaevola himſelf.
I would not be thought to recommend to our Engliſh nobility and gentry to become as great lawyers as Sulpicius; though he, together with this character, ſuſtained likewiſe that of an excellent orator, a firm patriot, and a wiſe indefatigable ſenator; but the inference which ariſes from the ſtory is this, that ignorance of the laws of the land hath ever been eſteemed diſhonourable, in thoſe who are entruſted by their country to maintain, to adminiſter, and to amend them.
But ſurely there is little occaſion to enforce this argument any farther to perſons of rank and diſtinction, if we of this place may be allowed to form a general judgment from thoſe who are under our inſpection: happy, that while we lay down the rule, we can alſo produce the example. You will therefore permit your profeſſor to indulge both a public and private ſatisfaction, by bearing this open teſtimony; that in the infancy of theſe ſtudies among us, they were favoured with the moſt diligent attendance, and purſued with the moſt unwearied application, by thoſe of the nobleſt birth and moſt ample patrimony: ſome of whom are ſtill the ornaments of this ſeat of learning; and others at a greater diſtance continue doing honour to it’s inſtitutions, by comparing our polity and laws with thoſe of other kingdoms abroad, or exerting their ſenatorial abilities in the councils of the nation at home.
Nor will ſome degree of legal knowlege be found in the leaſt ſuperfluous to perſons of inferior rank; eſpecially thoſe of the learned profeſſions. The clergy in particular, beſides the common obligations they are under in proportion to their rank and fortune, have alſo abundant reaſon, conſidered merely as clergy-
- ↑ Brut. 41.
