most conspicuous. He, even then, had a high reputation for the clearness and soundness of his judgment, and the superiority of his taste.

I had been upwards of twelve months pursuing this course of preparation, when I began to grow impatient-the fault of youth. My father would have wished me to remain longer, and put a work into my hand, extremely well written, but anonymous, on the study of the law. The work has been attributed, I think erroneously, to Sir James Mackintosh. The writer was of opinion that thirty years of age was soon enough to come to the bar; and, as I was only turned of twenty-one, nine years would have to be passed in preparation! It might do in England, I thought; but the plan was not suited to America, at least to me. My father yielded to my impatience, but not without good advice. "The profession of the law," said he, "is the road to honour and preferment in this country; but, in a city, you cannot expect to succeed without the utmost diligence and application to business.

You

must always be in your office; and, until you are enabled to lay up something, let that be the only office you will seek ; at least, avoid every thing connected with politics. When you shall attain the age of forty-five or fifty, and have secured a moderate independence, you may exercise yourself with politics, or in any other lawful way; but, until then, your attention must be constantly directed to your business. I will make you up a small library, and a purse of a hundred dollars or so. As my salary is

almost my only dependence, for I have committed a great error in not attending sufficiently to the main chance; you must now swim without a cork jacket. As you write a good hand, you may find support for a while by assisting some lawyer in extensive business, and doing the drudgery of the office. You may assist as clerk of the court, or a notary. But, above all things, beware of going in debt; the man who is in debt is no longer free-he is a slave.'

Such was the parental advice; some of it excellent and some of it too much like that given to Gil Blas by his reverend uncle, and by his affectionate parents, who enjoined him to be honest to every one, but never hinted that he must also be on his guard against the dishonesty of others. If I had been one of those thrifty creatures which, like a cat, will fall upon his feet, even if tossed from a three story window, the advice would not have been necessary; but as I was the reverse of this character, it was like to be of little use, unless favoured by some lucky turn of fortune- —a giant overcome in his castle, or a fair damsel won; incidents, which lie within the scope of romance, but which are not so common in real life.

1

CHAPTER XIII.

ARRIVES IN BALTIMORE-VISITS THE THEATRE-INTRODUCTION TO THE BAR-THE DIFFICULTY OF GETTING INTO PRACTICE-MOYENS D'Y PARVENIR.

Ir was about the beginning of December, about eight o'clock in the evening, that I stopped at the Indian Queen in the city of Baltimore, having arrived in the stage in company with a young gentleman of Carlisle. It was the first time in my life I had ever been in a large town, and compared to the villages where I had passed my early days, this city was a London. The reader's imagination will better furnish him an idea of the effect upon the mind of a country youth of his first entry into a great city, than can be given by the most faithful description. Although I could see but little, except the glare of the lights in every direction, the illuminated shops, and the crowds hastening along the side walks, nor could hear anything but the mingled rumbling, composed of a thousand different sounds, I was lost in amazement. My companion, after supper, proposed a visit to the theatre. As he was no stranger to the ways of the town I put myself under his guid

ance.

We accordingly repaired to this place of amusement, which was much more fashionable than it is at the present day. On entering the row of boxes I was almost blinded by the blaze of light which burst upon me. Add to this, the pealing sounds of the orchestra, the sea of heads below, and the multitude of persons of both sexes in costly and fashionable dress, and the reader may imagine the effect produced. After the first moments of wonder were passed, I felt oppressed by a sense of the solitude of the scene. I had never felt so lonesome in the midst of the wildest forests. When I considered the mass of human beings amongst whom I was thus cast, the addition of my person or its withdrawal would produce about as much effect, as the addition or subtraction of a single drop of water to or from the ocean. Among all this multitude not a single eye or thought rested upon me. Suddenly, the curtain rose, my attention was at once arrested, and my mind relieved from this unpleasant mood. The play was Hamlet; and the players were Cooper and Wood, Mrs Warren and Mrs Wood. This was indeed new to me, and delightful. Mrs Warren, although somewhat en bon point, had a beautiful head and arm, her voice was full, and as soft as velvet. Cooper was then considered the perfection of acting, and certainly possessed that extraordinary combination necessary to form a great actor—a fine person, countenance and voice, with intellect and feeling. I had no idea, before, of what could be done by the voice and gesture.

Al

though the stage manner does not suit the bar, yet I was convinced, there was room for cultivation even there. Correct pronunciation, distinct articulation, and proper emphasis are requisite in all public speakers, and a thousand faults which shock a person of taste, are studiously shunned by the masters of the scenic art. It is a school in which much may be learned by the orator. It was thought so by the ancients. Demosthenes was listened to with indifference, until he was taught by a player how to deliver his speeches; and Cicero received the benefit of similar tuition.

It was nearly twelve o'clock before we got back to the hotel, where we found a cold supper prepared for us. I paid my respects to the wing of a boiled fowl, while my companion gobbled up a dozen or two of horrid looking things called oysters! I slept but little that nightevery sound was strange, especially the cry of the watchmen, and I began to fear that, like Macbeth, I was to sleep no more.' The next morning I found the office of Mr Nisbet, son of the great Dr Nisbet former president of the college of Carlisle. Mr Nisbet was then in good practice as a lawyer, highly respectable in his profession, and possessed ofevery good and noble quality of the heart. He received me in the most friendly manner; offered to introduce me to his friends which I soon found to be almost every man in the city, to move for my admission to the bar; and told me in the mean time to make myself at home in his office. All this was well so far. It was a good beginning, and if improved might lead to something.