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DUBLIN UNIVKKHI > 



He was afterwards introduced to the Duke of Devonshire by Mr 

 Abercromby. Both were interested in his welfare, and he sought their 

 aid to procure some metropolitan employment, which would enable him 

 to pursue the study of medicine without expense to his father. His 

 request was kindly met, but with an expressed desire that he should 

 abandon his studies, and enter the Government service. 



Furnished with a letter to Lord Melbourne, then Chief Secretary, he 

 went to Dublin in 1827, and was appointed to the third clerkship in 

 the Constabulary and Yeomanry Office. The duties were onerous, but 

 were entered on with zeal and determination. To his father he writes : — 

 " I have determined not to embark in any other study at present be- 

 sides that of making myself acquainted with the duties of my office." 

 In another letter he says: — "I have been hard at work for ten days 

 from 10 o'clock until after 7 o'clock." And in 1828 he writes: — " I 

 am at present too hardly worked to attend to any very serious studies." 



On the 6th of January, 1829, he writes thus : — " New Year's day, 

 though aholiday, I devoted to finishing off all business connected with the 

 last year. When done, I made a comparison between the quantity of 

 duty performed by me since I came into office, and a similar period of 

 my predecessor's (viz., 13 months). My correspondence occupies 

 1281 pages; his, 491. Letters have increased seven-fold, and other 

 business in proportion. I merely mention this to prove that our labours 

 are something more than nominal." 



His subsequent letters to his father show that he did not find scope 

 for his energies in the routine duties of the office, and that he longed 

 for a change. 1829. "Should any opportunity be afforded you, I 

 wish you would let it be understood how gladly I should accept any 

 more personally active employment, holding out brighter prospects, 

 though without even so much of present emolument ; as, in the changes 

 in Government regulations about to be made, I may be thrown out, 

 when too late to turn with hope of success to any other pursuit. My 

 former occupations and acquirements would be of much advantage to 

 me in other ways, but are of no use to me at present." 



The following is in a more animated style, caused, doubtless, by the 

 pleasure of having spent an entire day in the open air, engaged in agree- 

 able excitement in company with one of his most valued friends : — " Yes- 

 terday was the King's birth-day, and instead of going to the review, I 

 went with "W. Todhunter to Howth, on a cruise against the seals. We 



