The Book-Hunter
get a widow immediately....
[Footnote 6: Probably a mistake. He was the brother of the
proprietor.]
"Breakfasted to-day with the B.'s. At the theatre with Mellis day
before yesterday. I hope Mary continues better.--Your affectionate
son, J. HILL BURTON."
* * * * *
"11 KEIR STREET, EDINBURGH,
_1st Dec. 1830_.
"MY DEAR MOTHER,--I have got something to communicate with regard
to my prospects of entering the Faculty, which will not be of the
most agreeable nature. I was told from the proper authority (I have
already mentioned to you) that a Widows' Fund subscription is to be
charged against those who enter after 1st January 1832. I have
consulted the Act of Parliament, and find it is leviable against
those who enter after 1st January 1831. The last examination this
year will be on _Tuesday week_,--the last for passing which L50 and
an annual payment of L7 is not charged. Now for this examination I
intend to prepare myself, unless you inform me _immediately_ that
the money, L213, cannot be obtained. See Mr Alcock immediately, and
explain this, but tell it to _no other person_, as I should not
like it to be known that I had failed. I expect to know your
intentions at farthest by _Monday_, as I must then give warning to
the Faculty. You must be expeditious, as I can assure you _I_ shall
be. The subject is not difficult, and I think I may be able to
prepare myself for an ordinary examination. Should I find it
_impossible_, I will still reserve to myself, even after you send
the money, the power of withdrawing. The Widows' subscription (as
the Act states) is repayable to those who are rejected or die
before joining, and I presume the entry-money is so too. If it is
_not_, I should insure my life.
"If you consent to my arrangements, you must send me a certificate
of my age--an extract from the Register of Baptisms, or something
of that sort. I suppose Cordiner can give it you....
"Should I not pass my Civil Law trial immediately, I will still
have the satisfaction of passing at some early period, avoiding an
additional L60 which it is intended will be imposed, and from which
no advantage, either real or fortuitous, is to be expected. Now the
Widows' Fund, you know, when one has a widow, will be a very good
sort of thing--L80 per annum, I believe. So if any lady wishes me
to marry her, she had better advise me by all means to join the
scheme. I know of no way of making one's own by it just now but by
marrying some old advocate's widow who is on the list.
"What you do, do quickly. Write me as soon as you can, and
_definitely_, with bill for the money if possible--if not, a plain
statement of its impossibility. I will work hard till I hear from
you. How are you all? I am in good health, and remain, my dear
mother, your affectionate and dutiful son, J. HILL BURTON."
* * * * *
"EDINBURGH, _4th December 1830_.
"MY DEAR MOTHER,--I this morning received your and Mr Alcock's
letters, enclosing a bill for L200 and order for L33, and having no
opportunity to-morrow, I take this occasion to acknowledge receipt
and return thanks. Tell Mr Alcock I am afraid I will never be able
to repay him his kindness in procuring me this sum upon my very
cavalier notice. With regard to yourself, you know, I suppose, we
have a pretty long account together, and the balance somewhat
against me, as it will always remain.
"I suppose you will have received my hurried note of last night. I
thought you had entirely forgot my L20 amid the other weighty
matters you had to settle for me. I am still preparing and covering
the Civil Law with rapid strides, but to make one's self master of
a subject so intricate in a fortnight is something of a
consideration; however, I do not despair. I am doing my best, and
if I do not use my utmost endeavour, after what has been done for
me by others, I will allow you to call me anything you please.
"Still I beg you will not make yourself too sanguine of my success.
In the meantime tell _no one_, not even Robertson, what I am
attempting, that in the case of my being remitted to my studies
(that is the term), it may not be generally known. I give in my
name for examination on Monday next--it takes place on Tuesday
fortnight. But I do not know when I will be acquainted with the
issue. Do not be afraid that I will confuse or disturb myself much
about it. You know I have been accustomed to such things, as eels
are to be skinned.
"While writing, I have been interrupted by a porter who has come
seething in with a large box. To open a parcel is a most
interesting thing, and the imagination revels with pleasure over
its uncertain contents; but the rich and varied stores of this have
exceeded expectation. I am glad you sent the certificate of
baptism. I do not consider it at all necessary to write by post, as
this goes by a most careful hand; but should I not hear next week
of your having received it, then I _shall_ write by post. Perhaps I
may enclose a receipt to Mr Alcock. He 'hinted,' it seems, 'the
danger of placing so much money,' &c. I have not time to let my
imagination run loose just now, or else I might have pictured to
myself the thousand things which might be done with such a
treasure; but I assure you I never should have thought of anything
(as things now stand) but the intended destination of it, and of
_that_ I shall have enough to think. But you know the fable, or
story rather, of the Priest and the Hostler. I have not time to
tell it you now, but perhaps Robertson can furnish you with it....
"I remain, my dear mother, your sincerely affectionate son, J. HILL
BURTON."
* * * * *
"EDINBURGH, _15th December 1830_.
"MY DEAR MOTHER,--If you had not been in expectation of such an
event, I might have commenced my letter after William's manner,
with saying, 'You will be surprised to hear I have passed,' but as
the matter stands, I must begin with--'I have the satisfaction of
informing you, &c.' It is just about a quarter of an hour since I
was examined, the time being deferred from yesterday to to-day. The
questions were very easy, at least I thought them so, and I think I
answered each. If there were any I did not answer, it was from
abstracting my attention from the more trifling to the more
difficult branches of the law. So far of my examinations are over;
but you must hold in mind that if I do not pass my SCOTS Law trial
in a year, the L50 must still be paid. One thing I have lost by
preparation, the chance of gaining the prize in the Civil Law
class. This is given by the greatest number of correct answers to
one hundred questions. Ten of these have already been answered. _I_
only accomplished _seven_ of them, and consider I have forfeited my
chance. Seven is a good proportion out of ten difficult questions;
but as the person who gains the prize is seldom deficient by above
two or three, I do not conceive I have a chance. You may now tell
whom you please that I have passed, but need not be publishing it
to all the world. Had I _not_ passed, I should have been called a
rash foolish fellow for attempting it; but as it is, it will be
said I have done quite right. You may tell Robertson 'and them,'
and Mrs Brown; and tell Mrs B. I will now have time to write her,
and send a barrel of oysters.... Ask Robertson and Sim and
Cordiner, and so on, to drink my health. I go to a party at Mr
Constable's to-night, the only place (excepting Mr Dauney's) I have
been engaged at since I arrived. I have had nothing whatever to
interfere with my studies for this last fortnight. Tell James and
Mary I can now have time to read their letters. On Saturday Mr G.B.
called on me, asking me to attend a prayer-meeting, and finding I
was busy, told me if I saw things in as clear a light as he did, I
would see the vanity of attending to these earthly things. I trust,
without irreligion, one may say he is mistaken. I write from Mr
Constable's, which is near the Post-office. My dinner-hour is long
past, and the post is just going, so I must bid you adieu. Write me
soon, and inform me how you are pleased with the contents of this.
My 'passage' only cost me 10s. of fee, and 2s. 6d. as fine for
being absent from the Society. I hope you are all well, and remain,
my dear mother, your affectionate and dutiful son, J. HILL BURTON."
* * * * *
"EDINBURGH, _17th December 1830_.
"MY DEAR MOTHER,--I supposed you received my last letter, written
somewhat hurriedly, but of which I suppose you were able to
discover the principal fact. Since writing, I have been relaxing
myself a little, and going about making a few calls, a thing I have
neglected of late; but I beg you will not suppose this to be a hint
that I am to grow idle. I intend, indeed, to be very busy all
winter. I expect to hear from you soon, and to know what is doing
in Aberdeen. I called upon Mrs H. to-night, who told me my
grand-aunt had been very unwell lately. I trust this is a mistake;
but not having heard from your quarter for some days, the fact may
be so, without my having known it.... I just despatched the
oysters, and I would wish that you could send to Mr Dyce, and
inquire whether they have come free of expense, as I left money
with the seller to pay the coach-hire. I have not sent you any, as
they are rather dear--8s. 8d. for a barrel with two hundred. Now, I
presume you might buy the same number in Aberdeen for about quarter
the sum.
"I live here in a sort of honourable solitude--few acquaintances,
and few annoyances; it is just the sort of life I like. I am to
have one or two of the young men I know to spend Saturday evening
with me, and to discuss your nice plum-cakes which I have just cut.
Among them is a young Pole--a Count Lubienski, a very agreeable and
intelligent gentleman--a class-fellow.
"I may now, by the way, give you the history of my discoveries with
respect to the Widows' Fund, &c., which I presume have proved
rather mysteriously annoying to you. When I first heard the report
of the matter, I called on the librarian and requested information.
He told me that those who did not pass before 1832, had to pay it.
_I_ then said it was due at passing the Civil Law trials, and so,
&c.; and then the man shrugged his shoulders, and allowed I had
convinced him it was only payable by those who did not pass their
_Civil Law_ trials before 1832, and I said no more about the
matter. Dining, however, with Dauney on Tuesday fortnight last, I
heard an observation which led me to a different conclusion, so I
procured the Act as soon as might be, and saw how the matter lay.
"Presuming I had a whole month before me, I determined to try the
thing, notwithstanding the shaking of heads of those to whom I was
_obliged_ to communicate it.
"Finding, on inquiry, that there would be no opportunity of being