parison, and enlarged intercourse with mankind; and his general knowledge will be augmented through every pure and original channel of information. His philanthropy will be ardent, and his patriotism not Jess spirited than rational. His various acquirements and his engaging manners will render him not only the delight of his friends, but the ornament of his country.

CHAPTER IV.

THE PROFESSIONS.

THE topics which have been considered in the preceding chapters present a sufficient choice of interesting subjects of application to a student, who is desirous that the lights of useful knowledge may irradiate his mind from various points.

Should his fortune be sufficiently ample to exempt him from the necessity of following a profession, he will have more leisure to pursue his classical and philosophical studies. Having improved his relish for useful reading by requisite application, he will not be compelled to have recourse to rural diversions, or insipid amusements, merely because he is ignorant of any other method to employ his leisure hours. He may enlarge his acquaintance with instructive books, and derive a pure and exalted pleasure from his general reading. In his intercourse with the world he will soon be convinced that his attainments give him

great advantages over the vulgar and illiterate, that they qualify him to take comprehensive views of what is passing around him, and that they put him in possession of many particular facts, many useful observations, and many general principles, which may be applied with the best effect to his various concerns. In every stage of life he will experience the great advantage and satisfaction, which flow from an understanding refined by taste, cultivated by learning, and elevated by religion.

But the elementary parts of learning are most important, when considered as the groundwork of the professions. Few of these parts indeed can be said to be entirely unconnected with them; and there are none which do not communicate some important truth, annex some pleasing appendage, or supply some elegant ornament to improve, adorn, and complete the professional character. And it is the exercise of a profession which will enable a young man to render his attainments immediately instrumental to the good and happiness of others, as well as of himself.

If such be the advantages resulting from application to classical learning and philosophy, of what high importance is it to the student, to explore with circumspection, and cultivate with diligence, the extensive and pleasant field of general knowledge, previous to pursuing the more confined path of professional research!

As preparatory studies are advantageously combined with professional pursuits, so may they impart great assistance to each other. The physician renders himself more extensively useful in the course of his tice by some knowledge of the laws of his country, and the clergyman by his acquaintance both with me

prac

dicine and law.*

And the occupation both of the physician and the barrister must ever, in the opinion of all well-disposed persons, be rendered more respectable by a uniform attention to the duties of religion.

In regard to the professions in general, it cannot surely admit of a question, whether the man, who perfectly understands the principles of his profession, and the branches of knowledge immediately connected with it, and who properly applies his various information, has not the greatest advantage over him, who, although possessed of superior abilities, has neglected the cultivation of his mind. Splendid talents are indeed the peculiar gifts of nature, and cannot be acquired by the greatest efforts of application, or procured by the most profound and extensive learning. But by the assistance of application and of learning alone splendid talents will be carried to their proper degree of improvement. And without them it is a fact warranted by experience, that the most brilliant parts will be of little use either to the possessor or the public.

1. THE PROFESSION OF THE LAW.

This profession is highly useful to the public, and may prove no less honourable than advantageous to the student, who conscientiously follows it. If he aspires to eminence at the bar, he ought to be blessed with a firm consitution, to enable him to discharge the

* Gisborne's Duties, vol. ii, p. 131. Percival's Medical Jurisprudence, p. 44. Blackstone's Comment. vol. i, p. 13.

duties and support the fatigues of his profession with ease and pleasure. His memory should be quick and retentive, his judgment clear and acute, his understanding sound and comprehensive, his religious principles firm, his moral character pure, his disposition benevolent, and his ardour for distinction not liable to be damped by difficulties, but in every stage of his career strong and unabating.*

When he considers the dignity and the importance of the study, in which he is engaging, in all its relations to general good, he will be deeply impressed with the profound sentiments expressed by the venerable Hooker, particularly in the following eloquent passage "Of law there can be no less acknowledged, than that her seat is the bosom of God, her voice the harmony of the world, all things in heaven and earth do her homage, the very least as feeling her care, and the greatest as not exempted from her power, both angels and men, and creatures of what condition soever, though each in different sort and manner, yet all with uniform consent admiring her as the mother of their peace and joy." Ecclesiastical Polity, b. i, ad finem.

By contemplating the characters and perusing the works of the most eminent orators he will perceive to what an elevation the honour of the profession has been advanced; and, not to recur to the trite instances of ancient times, the examples furnished by a Lord Mansfield, a Sir William Jones, and a Lord Eldon,

*The character which Cicero has given of Hortensius, and the description of his own early studies, furnish excellent illustrations of this part of my subject. See Cicero de Claris Orat. sect. 301, 306, &c. Ed. Proust.

dicine and law.* And the occupation both of the physician and the barrister must ever, in the opinion of all well-disposed persons, be rendered more respectable by a uniform attention to the duties of religion.

In regard to the professions in general, it cannot surely admit of a question, whether the man, who perfectly understands the principles of his profession, and the branches of knowledge immediately connected with it, and who properly applies his various information, has not the greatest advantage over him, who, although possessed of superior abilities, has neglected the cultivation of his mind. Splendid talents are indeed the peculiar gifts of nature, and cannot be acquired by the greatest efforts of application, or procured by the most profound and extensive learning. But by the assistance of application and of learning alone splendid talents will be carried to their proper degree of improvement. And without them it is a fact warranted by experience, that the most brilliant parts will be of little use either to the possessor or the public.

I. THE PROFESSION OF THE LAW.

This profession is highly useful to the public, and may prove no less honourable than advantageous to the student, who conscientiously follows it. If he aspires to eminence at the bar, he ought to be blessed with a firm consitution, to enable him to discharge the

Gisborne's Duties, vol. ii, p. 131. Percival's Medical Jurisprudence, p. 44. Blackstone's Comment. vol. i, p. ~~