That I may, with ease, discharge the various duties of the day, I propose that " Strutting Chanticleer," and myself, should unroost at the same hour. With this resolve, I couple a determination to study law with plodding diligence, and to make my profession and a course of history my capital objects. Memorandum.-Belles Lettres must be considered a subaltern pursuit. If I rise at the dawn, and study jurisprudence till noon, I shall have the satisfaction to reflect that I have discharged my legal duty for the day. This course, duly persisted in, will probably make me something more than a tyro in the language of the law. If I pore over my folios with the diligence I propose, I shall acquire, in Blackstone's phrase, such a legal apprehension, that the obscurities, which at present confound me, will vanish, and my journey through the wilderness of law will, peradventure, become delectable. Tuesday.-Overslept myself-did not rise till nine. Dressed and went out, intending to go to the office; but as the morning was uncommonly beautiful, I recollected an aphorism of Doctor Cheyne's, that exercise should form part of a student's religion. Accordingly I rambled through the woods for two hours. The magic of rural scenes diverted Fancy, who, on my return to the office, I wished to retire, that her elder sister Judgment might have an opportunity to hold a conference with the sage Blackstone: but the sportive slut remained, dancing about, and I found my spirits so agitated, that, to calm them, I took up a volume of plays, and read two acts in Centlivre's Busy Body. Afternoon, 2 o'clock.-Took up a folio, and began to read a British statute; meanwhile, I received a billet, importing that a couple of my college cronies were at a neighbouring inn, who wished me to make one of a select party. I complied. The sacrifices to Mercury and Bacchus wore away the night, and it was day before I retired to the land of drowsyhead, as Thomson quaintly expresses it. Wednesday.-Rose at ten-sauntered to the office, and gaped over my book. Low spirits and a dull morning had raised such a fog around my brain, that I could hardly discern a sentiment. Opened a "dissertation on memory"-read till my own failed. I then threw away my book, and threw myself on the bed; I can't tell how long I remained there; but somebody shaking me by the shoulder, I opened my eyes and saw-the maid, who came to inform me it was 8 o'clock in the evening, and that coffee was ready. Thursday-Went out at seven, with a determination to attend to business; thought I might venture to call at a friend's house-on my entrance saw a brace of beauties, whose smiles were so animating that they detained me, "charmed by witchery of eyes," till noon. I returned to my lodgings, and finding my spirits too sublimated for serious study, I beguiled the remainder of the afternoon by writing a sonnet to Laura. Evening.-Lounged to my book-shelf, with an intent to open Blackstone, but made a mistake, and took down a volume of Hume's History of England. My attention became quite engrossed by his narrative of the reign of Henry I., a versatile, brilliant genius, who blended, in one bright assemblage, ambition, prudence, eloquence, and enterprise, and who received and merited what I think the most glorious of all titles-that of Beauclerc, or the polite sholar. The formidable folios, which stood before me, seemed frowningly to ask, why I did not link to my ambition that prudence which formed part of Henry's fame? The remorseful blush of a moment tinged my cheek, and I boldly grasped a reporter; but straightway recollecting that I had recently supped, and that, after a full meal, application is pernicious to health, I adjourned the cause Prudence versus Meander, till morning. Friday.-Rose at the dawn, which is the first time I have complied with my resolution of unroosting with the cock." Projecting many things but accomplishing none," is the motto to my coat of arms. Began my studies, noting, with nice care, the curious distinction in law, between general and special Tail; at length I grew weary of my task, and thought, with Shakspeare's Horatio, that " 'twere considering too curiously to consider thus." Began to chat with my companions. We are, when indolent, ever advocates for relaxation; but whether an attorney's office is the place where idling should be tolerated is a question which I do not wish to determine in the negative. Finished my morning studies with "Hafen Slawkenbergius's tenth decade." Afternoon.-Did nothing very busily till four. Seized with a lethargic yawn which lasted till seven, when a dish of coffee restored animation, and, on the entrance of a friend, fell into general conversation-made a transition to the scenes of our boyish days, and, till midnight, employed memory, in conjuring up to view the shades of our departed joys. Saturday-Slept but little last night. My imagination was so busy in castle-building, that she would not repose. Dreamed that Lord Coke threw his " Institute" at me. Rose at ninelooked abroad, and the atmosphere being dusky, and my spirits absent on furlough, felt unqualified for reading. For several days there has been a succession of gloomy skies. The best writers affirm that such weather is unfriendly to mental labour. The poet says "While these dull fogs invade the head, -Took up a magazine, which I carefully skimmed, but obtained no cream. Cracked, in the Dean of St. Patrick's phrase, a rotten nut, which cost me a tooth and repaid me with nothing but a worm.-Breakfasted; reflected on the occurrences of the week. In the drama of my life, Procrastination and Indolence are the principal actors. My resolutions flag, and my studies languish. I must strive to check the irregular sallies of fancy. I never shall be useful to others, till I have a better command of myself. Surely one abiding in the bowers of ease may improve, if industry be not wanting. Alfred could read and write eight hours every day, though he fought fifty-six pitched battles and rescued a kingdom; and Chatterton, the ill-fated boyish bard, composed, though cramped by penury, poems of more invention than many a work which has been kept nine years, and published at a period of the ripest maturity. When I fly from business, let ambition, therefore, think on and practise these things. I determine, next week, to effect an entire revolution in my conduct, to form a new plan of study, and to adhere to it with pertinacity. As this week is on the eve of expiration, it would be superfluous to sit down to serious business. I therefore amused myself by dipping |