l8 3 8 '39- DELIGHT AT SUCCESS. 8i 



every one, and prodigal of good words and benefits to all 

 around me. I am in an ocean of self-contentment, swayed 

 about by every changing impulse ; I am a fettered slave 

 with my limbs set free, and my ears undoomed to listen to 

 the music of my chains. In short, though the ' world is all 

 before me where to choose,' and I am rudderless, compass- 

 less, unprovided with ammunition, and about to taste of 

 'the fever, and the strife here, where men sit and hear 

 each other groan,' I am as light-hearted and as gay as if 

 ' heaven had opened on my view/ and I had left ' earth and 

 its dull cares behind me.' 



" Like the thirsty convalescent from a malignant dis* 

 temper, who declared, as he drank his invigorating wine 

 draught, that the gods knew not what nectar was, for they 

 never had the 'yellow fever,' so I say, that you must try 

 the tortures of a medico's fortnight before his examination, 

 before you can revel, like a summer fly, in the feeling of 

 perfect liberty. 



" By working devouringly in gulps at my cabbage leaves, 

 I managed to go over a great deal ; and though I very 

 nearly knocked myself up with this sort of work, now that 

 it is over I am perfectly well satisfied, glad that I have the 

 power to work double tides when there is a need for it" 



From his cousin James, the following congratulatory letter 

 was received : 



" Glasgow, $th July, 1839. 



" MY DEAR GEORGE, I received the news of your dis- 

 tinction with very great pleasure, which was the more 

 enhanced as it relieved me of certain doubts and fears \ 

 had begun to entertain about your success, for Miss Mackay 

 had not heard of it, and you know I did not hear from home 



