In the year 1818 George Borrow was articled to an eminent solicitor in Norwich, with whom he continued five years.

He did not devote himself much to his profession, his mind being engrossed by another and very different subject--namely philology, for which at a very early period he had shown a decided inclination, having when in Ireland with his father acquired the Irish language.

At the expiration of his clerkship he knew little of the law, but was well versed in languages, being not only a good Greek and Latin scholar, but acquainted with French, Italian, and Spanish, all the Celtic and Gothic dialects, and likewise with the peculiar language of the English Romany Chals or Gypsies.

This speech or jargon, amounting to about eleven hundred and twenty-seven words, he had picked up amongst the wandering tribes with whom he had formed acquaintance on Mousehold, a wild heath near Norwich, where they were in the habit of encamping.

By the time his clerkship was expired his father was dead, and he had little to depend upon but the exercise of his abilities such as they were.