seems to me rather preposterous that the whole of the ensuing year should be entirely given up to that which will be of not use in future life, and which must prevent me from attending to other things highly useful. Academical honours are perhaps too dearly bought at such a sacrifice.

His friend Launcelot Shadwell, who took his degree in the same year with himself (1800), was seventh wrangler and second chancellor's medallist. In a letter written to his sister soon after the publication of the Tripos, he thus adverts to his friend's position in it.

Shadwell, whom we all expected to be first or second wrangler, had not read enough pure mathematics (i.e. free from all alloy of usefulness), and has studied only Newton, so he is but seventh.

The following passage from the same letter will serve to show the manly spirit with which he bore up under his own failure:

You have heard, my dear sister, by this time that your wishes and exhortations have all been fruitless; it is in vain that you have decked with golden hues your castles in the air.' All my views of ambition are at an end, and you must be content to see poor Tom Denman merely as a brother, without any medal to adorn him, or any honours to recommend him.

I must own that I feel this disappointment more on their account whose expectations I have (perhaps imprudently) raised too high, than on my own, for I had but little right to hope for success where mathematics were in any degree concerned. As it is (he continues), I shall see you so much the sooner, and be free from a long suspense and a disagreeable residence after my friends are gone; but (he adds), I fear that my father will be very much mortified by the

recital I have sent him without any reserve; and as to you, I shall be afraid of looking you in the face for some time yet.

Dr. Denman was mortified, but like a wise man and a kind father, he at once resolved to make the best of the inevitable.

The following passage from a spirited copy of verses, composed by Denman just before he took his degree, shows the same feeling of dislike and contempt for mathematics, and indicates the nature of his own favourite studies and pursuits while at the University:

Where Dulness reigns despotic and serene
And willing Seniors bow before the Queen,
While youthful slaves with baneful labours pine
And delve for dross in mathematic mine;
Where the grave gownsman sleeps o'er Dido's love
And, yawning, asks what Virgil meant to prove;
Where all the truths divine by Plato taught
And all that Horace sung and Tully thought
Are doomed in close obscurity to lie,
Scorned for the withered forms of x and y ;-
I love the bold excursive thoughts that stray
Where joyous Fancy points a fairer way;
I love the soul which free and unconfined
Roams o'er the world and feels for all mankind,
Which dares untutored to reflect, nor shrinks
Bribed or subdued from uttering all it thinks.-
Though the young censure, and the sages sneer,
In Reason's cause undaunted persevere,

Though they should blot thy name with deepest dye
Of the foul charge of Singularity;

Though no snug fellowship shall be the meed

Of thy exertions, dreadless yet proceed;

Nor think that fame and profit can atone

For the sad ruins of a mind o'erthrown.

In another copy of verses written about the same time, after mentioning his failure to secure University

distinctions, he refers with pride to the success with

which he had hidden

Each bitter sigh that rose

For disappointed friends and joyful foes,

and to the elasticity with which his

Long-pent soul more nimbly rose again,

Broke college chains and burned to mix with men.11

His longing to mingle in the real scenes of life, in the tumult of action, was soon gratified. Immediately after taking his degree he left Cambridge for London, there to commence the career which, after arduous but successful labours, conducted him to the highest honours of his profession, and earned for him a name which the world will not willingly let die.'

11 Both the copies of verses from which the above are extracts will be found in Appendix No. II.

CHAPTER III.

LAW STUDIES-SPECIAL PLEADING-MARRIAGE.

A.D. 1800 TO 1804. ÆT. 21-25.

Denman commences his legal studies, April, 1800—In chambers with Merivale at Featherstone Buildings, Holborn-A pupil of Charles Butler-Works hard at real property law-Separate chambers at 25 Old Square, Lincoln's Inn-Pupil of Dampier, and of Tidd-His diligence as a law student-In 1803 begins practice as a Special Pleader -His first legal employment-Denman keeps up his school and college friendships-Merivale-Shadwell-Bland-Hodgson-Drury, &c.-The Rev. Robert Bland-His talent and wild wit-His intimacy with Byron-His marriage-Richard William Vevers-The seriocomic training of Vevers '-Letter from Bland to Denman, 1803— Bland at Old Burlington Street, 1803-Dr. and Mrs. Denman on the virtues of their son-Epistles in verse to Denman from Hodgson and Drury 'Dear lawless democrat with dreadful brow'-Hodgson and Drury both friends of Byron-A dining club established by Denman and his friends-Letter from Bland at Eton to Denman, 1804—John Herman Merivale the most intimate of all Denman's friends-Early letters from Merivale to Denman-Merivale in love with Miss Louisa Drury-Denman falls in love at first sight with Miss Theodosia Vevers -Parentage and family of Miss Vevers-Her maternal connexions— Lord Sondes of Rockingham Castle-The Anderson family-Age of Miss Vevers at marriage-Merivale to Denman on the prospects of his courtship-A young lawyer's notion of wedded bliss in 1804-' Plain living and high thinking'-Dr. Denman consents-Extracts of letters from Denman to Miss Vevers-They are married at Saxby Church, Oct. 18, 1804-Honeymoon spent at Rockingham Castle-'Aunt Annie's account of the wedding-Congratulatory letters-Note from 'Fanny Anderson,' born Nelthorpe-Letter from Denman's mother to his bride-First London residence of the young couple-Dr. Denman's allowance of 4007. a year-Dr. Joseph Denman displeased at the match -Correspondence on the subject betwen him and Dr. Baillie-Dr. Baillie's letter to Dr. J. Denman of Oct. 15, 1804-Dr. J. Denman's

answer of Oct. 27-Dr. Baillie's reply of Oct. 30, 1804—His favourable report of the bride and good auguries for the happiness of the union-Dr. Baillie's noble and disinterested character-His auguries verified-Extreme happiness and long duration of the marriage-Person, manners, and character of the bride-Numerous family (born between 1804 and 1824) of Denman and his wife.

ON leaving the University, Denman resided for some little time with his father and mother in Old Burlington Street. In April 1800, he took rooms with his friend Merivale, in Featherstone Buildings, Holborn, and commenced his legal studies as pupil of the eminent real property lawyer Charles Butler, not unknown in literature as author of the Book of the Catholic Church,' and of the Lives of Bossuet and Fenelon.'

Here the ex-Cambridge student worked hard and honestly in mastering the elements of our intricate systems of land-tenure and conveyancing, at Coke on Littleton,' Gilbert on Uses, the rule in Shelley's case, and the subtle refinements of Contingent Remainders -studies certainly not less abstruse and arid than those mathematical ones which had repelled him at the University, but possessing for his sound and practical understanding the recommendation, which the others wanted, of being directly and visibly connected with the business of his future professional life.

In 1801 Dr. Denman purchased for him a set of chambers at 25 Old Square, Lincoln's Inn. In the same year he became a pupil of Mr. Dampier, an excellent lawyer, afterwards a Judge of the Court of King's Bench,' and, in 1802, he was admitted into the

1 Mr. Dampier said of Denman that he was the only pupil he ever had who studied Coke upon Littleton' of his own accord and with liking.