paths of learning, that within the compass of three
months, he diligently perused the writings of Locke and Malebranche,
and made himself master of the first six and of the eleventh and twelfth
books of Euclid's Elements. He considered Puffendorf and Grotius with
uncommon care, acquired a tolerable degree of knowledge in the French
language, and his imagination was so captivated with the desire of
learning, that, seeing no prospect of a war, or views of being provided
for in the service, he quitted the army, and went through a regular
course of university education. Having made such progress in his
studies, he resolved to qualify himself for the church, and acquired
such a stock of school divinity, under the instructions of a learned
professor at Edinburgh, that he more than once mounted the rostrum
in the public hall, and held forth with uncommon applause. But being
discouraged from a prosecution of his plan, by the unreasonable
austerity of some of the Scotch clergy, by whom the most indifferent
and innocent words and actions were often misconstrued into levity and
misconduct, he resolved to embrace the first favourable opportunity
of going abroad, being inflamed with the desire of seeing foreign
countries; and actually set out for Holland, where, for the space of
two years, he studied the Roman law, with the law of nature and nations,
under the famous professors Tolieu and Barbeyrac.

"Having thus finished his school education, he set out for Paris, with
a view to make himself perfect in the French language, and learn such
useful exercises, as might be acquired with the wretched remnant of his
slender estate, which was by that time reduced very low. In his journey
through the Netherlands, he went to Namur, and paid his respects to
Bishop Strickland and General Collier, by whom he was received with
great civility, in consequence of letters of recommendation, with which
he was provided from the Hague; and the old general assured him of his
protection and interest for a pair of colours, if he was disposed to
enter into the Dutch service. Though he was by that time pretty well
cured of his military quixotism, he would not totally decline the
generous proffer, for which he thanked him in the most grateful terms,
telling the general that he would pay his duty to him on his return from
France, and then, if he could determine upon re-engaging in the army,
should think himself highly honoured in being under his command.

"A