CHAP, iv.] CHOICE OF A PROFESSION, 1830. 55 



merely, my own. My distaste increased instead of 

 diminishing. . . . Indeed I could not have tolerated the 

 idea of such a struggle of mind, but in the hopes of after 

 a few years of drudgery reaching a sheriffship, which by 

 adding 3001. or 400. to my income might enable me to 

 pursue my darling studies at leisure. But my view now 

 is, that it is better to live upon little, than embitter the 

 happiness of life by being more independent in fortune. 

 ... It is my present object to show that, independent of 

 in some respect at home, it would not be for my real 

 happiness or advantage now to go from home. 1st, then, 

 11 iv age is decidedly against me, and it would not be for 

 a long time I could be prepared for such a course of 

 education. 2nd. My attainments are very different from 

 the Cambridge method. Could it be otherwise when I 

 have been entirely my own master? ... I should literally 

 have to begin from the A, B, C of mathematics, and my 

 preconceived and too advanced ideas must, you will see, 

 be disadvantageous in a regular course of study such as 

 in my youth I never had the advantage of pursuing. 

 3rdly. Mathematics I have little esteem for, except 

 heir practical application. This is quite otherwise 

 at Cambridge, and some precious years of my life would 

 be spent in the acquisition of theoretical knowledge, 

 instead of practical, which is far more in my line. . . . 

 4 tli. My classical learning was always on a very low 

 ; 1 have no time to write on this subject, but content 

 If with saying that from many circumstances, not 

 all at least under my own control, it has been very im- 

 ct; and though, as to enjoyment, I have pleasure 

 \ ing that I believe I have extracted more unsullied 

 delight from the perusal of my favourite Latin authors 

 than the nicest grammatical knowledge could have given, 



i his is not the point at a University. 

 I Yom all these causes, and my anxious attachment to 

 , ami my recollections of past sacrifico, \\hen such a 

 in ight have been desirable, I HUM dismiss for ever 

 1 1 "in my mind the thoughts of an English I'niversiiy 

 (duration. , You will a.sk what is to be done. 1 



