APPENDIX, (3) 



vivacity of his difpofition then allowed him to become. With AccountofLor* 



\incom.mon beauty of countenance and pleafantnefs of manner, 



the favourite of every relation and acquaintance, he did not 



then (as is common with young men fo circumftanced) apply 



to his ftudies with the conftant and unremitting affiduity which 



is calculated to attain deep learning. But he had a readinefs 



and acutenefs that could eafily perform his exercifes when he 



wiflied to perform them. After going through the ordinary 



courfe of clafTes at the Univerfity, confifling of the Latin and 



Greek languages, of Logic, Philofophy, the Civil and Scots 



Law, he was admitted Advocate in the year 1766. 



For fome time after his coming to the bar, he retained 

 fomewhat of that gaiety of deportment and of condu<5l, which 

 are not exadlly fuited to the dry and uninviting paths that con- 

 du6l men to legal eminence. His manners and difpofition 

 were better fitted for the lefs ferious and more engaging fociety 

 of men of fafhion and pleafure. During feveral years he lived 

 a good deal in fuch fociety, and gave but little promife of that 

 attention and application to buiinefs for which he was after- 

 wards diftinguifhed. Though not unremittingly attentive, how- 

 ever, to his profeflion, he was never negle(5lful of its duties j 

 and when any particular cafe was put into his hands, he gave 

 very convincing proofs, both of his general talents, and of his 

 power of application to bufinefs in detail. 



But it was not long before he felt the propriety of fecluding 

 himfelf more than he had hitherto done from the fcenes of 

 conviviahty and amufement, which had interfered with a more 

 ferious and determined application to his profeflion. He had 

 lent to lighter fociety a certain gaiety and fportfulnefs of mind, 

 which, in a character of lefs native vigour and ability, might 

 have been fatal to the future profpe(fts of his life. But he poA 

 fefled an intrinflc character, which it was not difficult ^or him 

 to refume ; and from that pride and dignity of foul which he 



(a 2) always 



