LORD KENYON. 367 



tender affections. If, on the other hand, they 

 marry rich women, these are commonly unequal 

 to them in some material circumstance, in age, 

 education, habits, or personal appearance. But 

 a sacrifice to interest, in so momentous a con- 

 cern, is surely no pledge, that they will not 

 make others of less importance, in the exercise 

 of their profession. Barristers are much less 

 exposed to this cause of ill conduct in the pur- 

 suit of employment. Marriage gives to them 

 no advantage in it ; and hence, they generally 

 either enter into that state later in life than 

 physicians, or remain single to the end of it. 



What I have said, my Lord, seems sufficient 

 to show, that the physicians of London are often 

 placed in situations, in which temptations to do 

 mean things for money are known by experience 

 to act forcibly. But collections of men appear 

 to be more or less virtuous, nearly in proportion 

 to the number and greatness of the enticements 

 to vice, with which they are surrounded. The 

 principles of honour may, indeed, become more 

 firmly fixed in the bosoms of some few indivi- 

 duals of uncommon make, from the very at- 

 tempts which are made to loosen their hold ; 

 but- though gold is purified and brightened by 

 fire, common metals are by the same agent 

 turned into dross. According to the model of 

 prayer, which has been given to us by the divine 



