it you now, but perhaps Robertson can furnish you with it....

"I remain, my dear mother, your sincerely affectionate son, J. HILL
BURTON."

* * * * *

"EDINBURGH, _15th December 1830_.

"MY DEAR MOTHER,--If you had not been in expectation of such an
event, I might have commenced my letter after William's manner,
with saying, 'You will be surprised to hear I have passed,' but as
the matter stands, I must begin with--'I have the satisfaction of
informing you, &c.' It is just about a quarter of an hour since I
was examined, the time being deferred from yesterday to to-day. The
questions were very easy, at least I thought them so, and I think I
answered each. If there were any I did not answer, it was from
abstracting my attention from the more trifling to the more
difficult branches of the law. So far of my examinations are over;
but you must hold in mind that if I do not pass my SCOTS Law trial
in a year, the L50 must still be paid. One thing I have lost by
preparation, the chance of gaining the prize in the Civil Law
class. This is given by the greatest number of correct answers to
one hundred questions. Ten of these have already been answered. _I_
only accomplished _seven_ of them, and consider I have forfeited my
chance. Seven is a good proportion out of ten difficult questions;
but as the person who gains the prize is seldom deficient by above
two or three, I do not conceive I have a chance. You may now tell
whom you please that I have passed, but need not be publishing it
to all the world. Had I _not_ passed, I should have been called a
rash foolish fellow for attempting it; but as it is, it will be
said I have done quite right. You may tell Robertson 'and them,'
and Mrs Brown; and tell Mrs B. I will now have time to write her,
and send a barrel of oysters.... Ask Robertson and Sim and
Cordiner, and so on, to drink my health. I go to a party at Mr
Constable's to-night, the only place (excepting Mr Dauney's) I have
been engaged at since I arrived. I have had nothing whatever to
interfere with my studies for this last fortnight. Tell James and
Mary I can now have time to read their letters. On Saturday Mr G.B.
called on me, asking me to attend a prayer-meeting, and finding I
was busy, told me if I saw things in