an aphorism in as constant repetition with a student, as his "Ave" with the suppliant of a certain creed. No doubt the truism is distressing, but it is salutary. If, thought I, I devote myself to this "sage and serious doctrine," it must be at the sacrifice of pursuits infinitely more pleasurable, though certainly less profitable, if estimated by the Hudibrastic standard—

"What is the worth of any thing

But so much money as 'twill bring ?"

Then, too, I had scruples, suggested by admiration of Consistency and reverence of Truth, which, perhaps, but for lofty prototypes in punctilio, I might have coyly concealed. To lie like truth,—to imitate in one particular a celebrated parliamentary refugee,

"Hazer lo blanco negro, y lo negro blanco,”

and with the consciousness of crime to assume and argue as for innocency, were hard to be reconciled with preconceived notions of the sanctity of Right, or made conformable to a moral creed, of which it was a primary article that "The simple energy of Truth needs no ambiguous interpretation." Yet if such reasons could prevail upon the noble and highminded father of Hale, with so much force as to

induce him to retire from the practice of his profession, to what can we look for a more effective confutation of their right to prevail, than to the character of his illustrious son?-in the contemplation of which I derived a quietus for this order of compunctious visitings.

My countenance was not always "sicklied o'er with the pale cast of" parchment which it now wears, and on the eve of my entry at Lincoln's-inn, I cogitated on a subject of mutual concern with myself and grandmother (not Blackstone). I had still sympathy enough with rustic vulgarity to look lovingly on a visage whose ruddy tinge betokened a connexion with the heart, a connexion, the existence of which in lawyers is sometimes disputed by the profane, on other grounds than that of a bloodless physiognomy. It was grievous to think that ere long I might as strikingly resemble "a thing that ne'er had life" as did respectively H- and B- and P-, whose ghostly apparitions flitted before me, like weird and warning monitors, their livid features dilating in awful elongation, till the sphere proper to the masticatory process appeared in each like an emporium of ivory tusks. And these, not long since, had been "sweet-faced men as one shall see in a summer's day;"

and, fitted once to personate Pyramus, could henceforth be counted as stars-perhaps only as satellitesin the Apothecary line for ever! But the "venerable Maid" has no more regard for the pride of the physical constitution, than Miss Mary-Ann Walker for the pride of the political; and

"The visage wan, the purblind sight,"

are phases and signs which the prejudices of the multitude obstinately identify with ability. I remember once on the circuit leaving the court-house or hall at Salisbury, on the heels of smiling Mr. M—; and as he turned a corner, while I remained at the window of a book-shop, I overheard a countryman say to his companion, alluding to the comely barrister, "Now, if I did want a laayer, I wouldna choose he; -he be a dale too fat and pleasant-looking for a laayer!"

Enfin, (dissyllabic darling of our neighbours, help me to an end!) enfin, I became that which I am. Blackstone, in his "Farewell to the Muse," enumerates a train of penalties, contingent with the fervent embrace of "fair Justice," which are penalties although poetically clothed, as pills made palatable with sweetmeat are still physic. But, comprehensive as is his

catalogue of contingent ills, there is a remainder unmentioned, before which all recited evils "hide their diminished heads:" can the briefless need a reminder that their condition is not included in his detail of professional calamities? But the sanguine temperament of youth is not prone to anticipate chagrin or privation, and dwells more interestedly on arenas of legal contention-anticipates the applausing hum of courts, the murmured homage to eloquence-forefancies championship and conquest; and preconceives the florid invocation, resistless argument, and eloquent propitiation of a decree, on which are suspended the absorbing interests of Life, and Fame, and Honor;and speeds, by an ideal path, to renown, preferment, ease. Soon, on the stoicism of adolescence, ambition works; and soon I looked at this, the bright side of the scene. Hume (the historian) estimates a natural disposition to view things on the sunny side, as more than equivalent to a fortune of £10,000 a year.—A living economist might think the calculation hasty, and feel disposed to cavil at so large a "tottle." In embracing law I had, moreover, home anticipations— not to realise, for they were utopian, but to cherish, for they were fond. Advising, after twelve months application, with a visitor at the paternal residence,

on a plain principle, a copious (and superfluous) use of technicalities convinced my father that my time had been well spent, and threw around me the halo of an oracle in the dim eyes of a venerable maternal ancestor, who would " die happily could she live to see me a judge❞—her ne plus ultra of forensic dignity. Dear old Lady! without this anodyne her "sleep of death" was peaceful as a pleasant dream, and little recked she of the superadded "labor and sorrow" that must have been entailed on her by the fruition of her wish. For my own part, my aspirations are less presumptious; and a silk gown, which never would have occurred to her as a desideratum with men, would appease my longings and be gratefully acknowledged.

Prolixity, O Reader! is, as thou mayest haply know, peculiar to the Law and its disciples; and if herein I stand accused of circumlocution, would that I could truly interpret to thee that encouragement to expatiate which now I feel, in assured freedom from the frowns of impatient jurymen, ungifted with eye or ear to comprehend the subtleties of the statute-book, and willing to cut off Magna Charta from their children, so they-sires of the spirit of Esau-might 'scape judicial durance vile, devour their pottage at-home, and rejoin their aprons.