carriages at his command, and always to consider himself as a part of a
family who possessed every thing they could wish for in life; he says, he
almost forgot, or rather never thought of the time when he was to have
nothing, and when he should be obliged to provide entirely for himself.
Fortunately for him, his grandfather having early discerned that he had
considerable talents, determined that he should have all the advantages of
education, which he thought would prepare him to shine in parliament.--His
grandfather, however, died when Temple was yet scarcely eighteen.--He had
put off writing a codicil to his will, by which Temple lost the provision
intended for him.--All hopes of being brought into parliament were over.
His uncle, who succeeded to the estate, had sons of his own. There were
family jealousies, and young Temple, as having been a favourite, was
disliked.--Promises were made by other relations, and by former friends,
and by these he was amused and misled for some time; but he found he was
only wasting his life, attending upon these great relations. The unkindness
and falsehood of some, and the haughty neglect of others, hurt his high
spirit, and roused his strong indignation. He, in his turn, neglected
and offended, was cast off at last, or forgotten by most of the fine
promisers.--At which, he says, he has had reason to rejoice, for this threw
him upon his own resources, and made him exert his own mind.--He applied,
in earnest, to prepare himself for the profession for which he was best
fitted, and went to the bar.--Now comes the part of his history for which
he, with reason, blames himself. He was disgusted, not so much by the
labour, as by the many disagreeable circumstances, which necessarily occur
in the beginning of a barrister's course.--He could not bear the waiting
in the courts, or on circuit, without business, without notice. He thought
his merit would never make its way, and was provoked by seeing two or three
stupid fellows pushed on by solicitors, or helped up by judges.--He had so
much knowledge, talent, and eloquence, that he must in time have made a
great figure, and would, undoubtedly, have risen to the first dignities,