288 THE JOURNEYMAN. 



rising a step or two higher in the scale of society, I find 

 it is one thing to wish and quite another to attempt. I 

 find, too, that habits long indulged in, and formed under 

 the influence of sentiments such as I describe, must 

 militate so powerfully against me, if that attempt be 

 made, as to leave little chance of success. My lack of a 

 classical education has barred against me all the liberal 

 professions : I have no turn for business matters ; and 

 the experience of about twelve years has taught me that, 

 as an architect or contractor (professions which, during 

 at least that space of time, have been the least fortunate 

 in this part of the kingdom, of all others), I can indulge 

 no rational hope of realizing what I desire. There is 

 one little plan, however, which is rather more a favourite 

 with me than any of the others. I think I have seen 

 men not much more clever than myself, and possessed 

 of not much greater command of the pen, occupying 

 respectable places in the ephemeral literature of the day 

 as editors of magazines and newspapers, and deriving 

 from their labours incomes of from one to three hundred 

 pounds per annum. A very little application, if I do 

 not overrate my abilities, natural and acquired, might fit 

 me for occupying a similar place, and, of course, deriving 

 a corresponding remuneration. But how push myself 

 forward? Simply in this manner. I have lately written, 

 as I dare say you are aware, a small traditional work, 

 which I have submitted to the consideration of some of 

 the literati of Edinburgh, and of which they have signi- 

 fied their approval, in a style of commendation far sur- 

 passing my fondest anticipations. I shall try and get it 

 published. If it succeed in attracting any general notice, 

 I shall consider my literary abilities, such as they are, 

 fairly in the market ; if (what is more probable) it fail, 

 I shall just strive to forget the last two years of my life, 



