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much graver order of men, in but a dubious 

 kind of way, I can readily pardon their being 

 somewhat jealous, and consequently a little 

 petulant, on the subject of their pretensions: 

 but I never can allow them, upon the ground 

 of some doubtful exhibition of skill, however 

 occasionally brilliant, to supersede the legiti- 

 mate claim of the more meritorious individuals, 

 who by a scientific cultivation of themselves, 

 shall seek to establish their practice upon the 

 firmer foundation of principle; and for whom 

 I consider the higher distinctions of our order 

 as exclusively reserved. I feel myself more 

 immediately called on to hold this language, as 

 I finally return to my more manageable, but 

 aspiring, friends ; who, with the eager hope of 

 more early attaining these distinctions, may 

 have resolved on putting themselves under my 

 direction ; and to whom I am bound by inclina- 

 tion, as well as duty, to hold forth every encou- 

 ragement. I applaud their zeal ; and beg once 

 more to assure them, that I have been doing 

 my best to direct that zeal most effectually to 

 its object. But they must ever bear in mind, 

 that these honours will not be conferred with- 

 out their going through the regular course of 

 previous study : and much is to be done, from 

 the time when a man commences with writing 



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