attention of late; and on which, during the solemn interval of my confinement, I had more frequent opportunities of meditating than on any former occasion. I hope and trust that I have thought more seriously on this subject, and have pursued a more regular train of sound reasoning and selfexamination on account of my illness, than if I had enjoyed an uninterrupted series of good health. The time is now arrived when, after having passed through the regular forms of an academic education, it is expected that a young man should select his profession; and on the foundation (which he either has, or ought to have laid in the university) of sound learning and good morals, should begin to raise a superstructure of such materials as may render him an ornament to his profession, and a satisfaction to his friends.

"I should here feel myself guilty of much ingratitude, or at least of much unpardonable neglect, if I did not, at this period of my life, return you my most sincere and unfeigned thanks for the repeated testimonies of affection and generosity, which I have experienced for upwards of two-and-twenty years at your hands: more especially do I feel myself indebted to you, during the last four years, for placing me in a situation in which I have enjoyed numberless happy hours; have formed friendships and connexions, which are a source of honest pride and satisfaction; and have had an opportunity (which I hope I have not

entirely thrown away) of making great proficiency in such studies and acquirements, as must and will be the chief basis of my future usefulness and happiness. If such be the obligations which I owe to your kindness, what must be my insensibility to every tie of affection, and to every principle of honourable feeling, were I deficient in my expressions of gratitude to the benevolent author of so many blessings. Indeed, sir, I am neither ungrateful nor insensible. It has not been my custom, hitherto, to make long professions, nor to enter into a detail of my internal feelings; and, perhaps, owing to a deficiency of this kind, I may have suffered in your opinion, on some particular occasions, more than I deserved. It now appears, therefore, to be the more advisable to unfold myself at large, observing, at the same time, that the chief faults and errors of which I hitherto have been, and of which I am still, I fear, too susceptible, have not arisen from any source of moral depravity, or innate viciousness; but from an evil, which I see much too prevalent among young men, and from the contagion of which I have not been entirely able to escape; I mean, the want of resolution to resist temptation, when it is opposed to their better convictions. A very moderate acquaintance with the younger part, at least, of mankind, will convince any observer, that a certain degree of irresolution is by no means inconsistent with many better qualities, and often

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has its origin rather in the influence of external example, than in any real viciousness of the heart. But I can truly say that I am very desirous of becoming such as your most sanguine wishes could expect, and I look up to a superior Power for assistance not to violate these my resolutions. "It appears to me, that in reviewing the respective merits of the different professions, and in determining upon one of them, a very intimate self-examination is requisite, previous to the formation of any fixed resolution. It has been my endeavour for five months past to pursue this difficult undertaking; and I hope I have not failed in the attempt. The church and the law are the two subjects to which I have directed my attention. I have consulted my own inclinations, abilities, deficiencies, merits, and demerits, and examined them in as many points of view as I have been able, in order to determine which of those professions was the best calculated to promote my own happiness, and the welfare of others. My present determination is in favour of the former, principally from the following considerations. The sacred profession is in itself without doubt the most respectable and the most useful in which any man of principle and education can possibly be engaged. The benefits which it is the province of the clergyman to bestow on his fellow-creatures are more widely disseminated, and are in themselves more intrinsically valuable,

than those of every other profession or employment united together. To a conscientious mind, therefore, that line of life appears to be the most eligible, in which he may be enabled to do the most solid good to mankind.

"One further argument with myself for preferring the church to the law is, that I have found, from four years' experience, a strong inclination to study several branches of literature, which are far more connected with the church than with the law, as neither their nature nor the time. requisite to be bestowed upon them would allow the lawyer to exercise himself in them. What these are shall be the subject of future information to you. At present, my desire of becoming a VERY good general scholar is so much stronger than that of becoming an EXTREMELY good particular one, that I am convinced I could not throw aside the hopes of pursuing my favourite views in that way, and dedicating myself solely to one, and that perhaps not the most inviting, without the utmost regret.

"Your affectionate son, LEGH RICHMOND."

In these views Dr. Richmond ultimately expressed his acquiescence, though his own wishes inclined him to recommend the choice of the bar; and thus was the profession of the church determined upon, for which he subsequently

proved to be so singularly qualified, and in which his influence and services were so widely felt and acknowledged.

He continued to reside at Cambridge till the end of the Midsummer term, in 1797, pursuing those studies which were more immediately connected with his future destination.

The following letter, the last that he wrote from college to his father, expresses his sentiments more fully on the subject of the ministry, and of his preparation for those duties, on which he was now on the eve of entering. It is dated June 30th, 1797 :—

"My dear Father,

"I take this opportunity of returning you my most hearty and sincere thanks for all your kindness to me during my stay at Cambridge, for nearly the last eight years. I look back on the time which I have there spent, with a considerable mixture of pain and pleasure. That I have done things which I ought not to have done, and neglected to do things which I ought to have done, is most true: yet have I added very considerably to my stock of literary information-have gained the good-will and approbation of many respectable and good men-have made acquaintances and friends of several literary and worthy charactershave enabled myself, I trust, by the improvement of my abilities, such as they are, hereafter to