It is calculated to keep me forever fixed in that state of useless and disgraceful insignificancy, which has been my lot for some years past.

At an age bearing close upon twenty-five, when many of the characters who were born for the benefit of their fellow-creatures have rendered themselves conspicuous among their cotemporaries, and founded a reputation upon which their memory remains, and will continue to the latest posterity--at that period, I still find myself as obscure, as unknown to the world, as the most indolent, or the most stupid of human beings.

In the walks of active life I have done nothing.

Fortune, indeed, who claims to herself a large proportion of the merit which exhibits to public view the talents of professional men, at an early period of their lives, has not hitherto been peculiarly indulgent to me.

But if to my own mind I inquire whether I should, at this time, be qualified to receive and derive any benefit from an opportunity which it may be in her power to procure for me, my own mind would shrink from the investigation.