Professor Beverley Tucker's Valedictory Address to His Class [pp. 597-602]

SOUTHERN LITERARY MESSENGER.
VOL I.] RICHMOND, JULY 1835. [No. 11.
T. W. WHITE, PRINTER AND PROPRIETOR. FIVE DOLLARS PERt ANNUM.
Professor Beverley Tuckerrs Valedictory Ad dress to his Class.
The following correspondence and address have been
sent us for publication, by the members of Professor
Tucker's class at William and Mary College. We give
place to them with pleasure, and commend the admonitions of the amiable and learned professor to all young
gentlemen about to enter upon the practice of the law.
The friendly and paternal spirit of his advice, gives an
uncommon interest to this production, and shows that
his have indeed been "labors of love."
WILLIAMSBURG, 5th July, 1835.
]Much Esteemed Friend: I am requested, in the name of your class, to
solicit you either to have your Valedictory Address published, or deliver it to us for that purpose. I sincerely hope for your compliance; and
although our exercises for the present session have
ended-although we no longer stand in the relation of students and professor-and notwithlistanlding we are about to part (some of us) perhaps
forever, we must hope that the tie which has bound
us together for the last eight months, instead of
weakening, will continue to "grow with our growth
and strengthen with our strength," and that the
day is far distant when that union shall break.
Go where we may, a fond recollection of your
past services will be long cherished by us. We
know the interest you have felt, and still feel in
our welfare, and I hope your exertions lo promote
the interest of those who have been placed under
your care, are duly appreciated. You have done
your duty, and all that has been wanting must be
charged to us. You have given us a chart by
which to steer our political ship, and should we
succeed in stemming the current of opposition,
may you live to enjoy our triumph. Permit me
now, in conclusion, to tender you our united sentiments of the highest esteem and respect.
WM. T. FRENCH.
WILLIAMISBURG, July 5, 1835.
My Dear French: —
I have great pleasure in complying with the
request of my young friends, so far as to hand the
lecture to the printer. I am not aware of any
merit in it, such as your partiality sees, to justify
me in permitting you to incur the expense of pub.
lication. But in that partiality and its source,
1 have more pleasure and more pride than I could
have in any composition. Self-love will not permit me to believe that I possess the friendship of
those who have been placed under my care without having deserved it. Self-love is " much a
liar," but is always believed; and she could hard VoL. I.-76
F.
ly tell me a tale more acceptable. To acquit myself faithfully and satisfactorily of the duties of a
new and untried station, was the engrossing wish
of my heart during the whole course. When I
remember the manner in which my class went
through their examination, and reflect on the
pleasures of our intercourse, the marks of confidence which I continually received, and the affectionate feelings with which we part, I am sure I
have not altogether failed. But I should be unjust to you, if I did not say that I am sensible how
much your assiduity has done to supply the defects
of my instructions.
May God bless and prosper you all, (for I speak
to all,) and make your success in life not only honorable to yourselves and me, but to your friends
and country. May each of you be a gem added
to the brightcrown with which the glory of her sons
encircles the gray head of the venerable and kindly
old college. If ever there was a heart in walls of
brick anti mortar, it is surely there; and cold is
he whose heart does not warm to it. In her name,
once again I say God bless you.
Yours faithfully,
B. TUCKER.
ADDRESS.
Neither duty nor inclination will permrit me to
take leave of you, young gentlemen, without offering a few remarks, of general application to the
subject of our late studies.
We part, perhaps to meet no more. Some of
you go into the active business of life, some to
pursue your researches under other guidance. To
both alike, my experience may enable me to suggest thoughts, and to offer advice, which may be
found of some practical value.
Whether your immediate destination is to the
bar or the closet, you will alike find the necessity
of continuing your studies. To give them such a
direction as may be profitable and honorable to
you, is my sole remaining duty.
There are many branches of the law which you
will still find time to investigate at leisure. Many
years will probably elapse, before you will be
called to take the sole management of any case
involving valuable rights or intricate questions.
The land law, and the perplexing minutiae of
chancery jurisdiction, will be of this description.
When engaged in such cases, you will commonly
find yourself associated with older and abler counsel, from whom you will then obtain, at a glance,
more insight into these difficult subjects than I
have been able to afford. Under such guidance,
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