Going in, he inquired about its privileges, and became a regular borrower of books.

Peter had always been a reader, but now he gave from three or four hours a day to books, aside from his law study.

Although he was slow, the number of volumes, he not merely read, but really mastered was marvellous.

Books which he liked, without much regard to their popular reputation, he at once bought; for his simple life left him the ability to indulge himself in most respects within moderation.

He was particularly careful to read a classic occasionally to keep up his Greek and Latin, and for the same reason he read French and German books aloud to himself.