APPENDIX. .65 



Account of 



Having thus, by the improvement of his tafte, and the ac- LoTprendent 

 quifition of a philofophic fpirit, made the beft preparation for 

 eminence in any Uberal employment, he decided for the Bar 

 the profeffion to which thofe accompUfhments lend the mo t 

 diftinguifhed luftre of any, and where they moft materially 

 contribute to the advancement of the perfon poffeffed of them. 

 For fome time he had hefitated between this profeffion and his 

 father's ; and it is faid to have been in a great meafure owing 

 to the ftate of his health, that he gave up thoughts of the 



latter. c j 1 • 



When he had refolved on going to the Bar, he fixed his re- 

 fidence at Edinburgh, and devoted himfelf to the ftudy of the 

 law, with that zeal and earneftnefs with which, during his 

 whole life, he was remarkable for following every objed that 

 had once determined his choice *. Yet with all his diligence in 

 this necefTary occupation, as the turn of his mind led him to no 

 bafe or trifling purfuits, he was able to find time, and negleded 

 not to employ it, for cultivating the humaner and more liberal 

 ftudies. Even at this time, he continued to read the claffics ex- 

 tenfively, particularly the better Greek authors, having for his 

 affiftant the late Mr George Muirhead, afterwards ProfefTor 

 of Humanity at Glafgow, whofe reputation as a claffical fcholar 



is well known. 



In the month of July 1742, he was called to the Bar. Where 

 he had not long continued, before the moft favourable opinion 

 came to be entertained, among the perfons bell entitled to judge, 

 of the proficiency he had made in the knowledge of the law, 

 and of his excellent qualifications, both for counfel and debate. 

 His elocution was copious and eafy ; his feledion of argument 

 judicious, and his mode of prefenting it, in the higheft degree 

 perfpicuous and plain ; and he accompanied it with a manner 

 of delivery fo weighty and fervent, as carried home to the 



Vol. II. (I) l^^^"^"*" 



♦ His ufual hour of going to bed at this period was four of the morning. 



