Item 105 - Letter from Kenelm Digby to Henry Sidgwick

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Refers to their conversation about the teaching of law in the schools at Oxford, which he believes is not in a very satisfactory state. Discusses the required reading when he was examining - Stephens's Blackstone - as compared with the reading required today. Doubts that it is possible to 'make the school work satisfactorily as regards law', things being the way they are. Gives three reasons for this situation: the narrowness of the field examined; the insufficiency of the teaching; the lack of a suitable textbook. Refers to the relevance of the history of law. Laments the almost total lack of instruction in English Law in Oxford, and the unsatisfactory character of the examination. As regards international law, he does not think it to be a satisfactory subject, for two reasons: knowledge of Roman Law is required; a knowledge of modern European history is required. States the need for teachers and books, such as those by Austin and Bentham, and claims that Maine's Ancient law can be understood 'by any one of average intelligence'.