AFTER staying for some days at St Andrews, I proceeded to pay a few visits I had long before promised to certain of my fellow-students who resided in the neighbouring district of Fife, and reached Edinburgh about the end of the month. One of the first things I did here was to go in quest of a gentleman, from whom, Mr Mather had informed me by letter, I should receive money for my voyage and immediate expenses abroad. This person received me with great politeness, and surprised me not a little by intimating that Mr Mather (acting for his wife, my guardian) had lodged the whole of my fortune in the hands of one of the bankers of the city, and that, upon signing some necessary papers, I might, if I pleased, assume forth-with the entire and uncontrolled command of the money. This procedure struck me as not a little strange certainly; but, after a moment's consideration, I felt extremely pleased with it. I am completely thrown off, said I;—well, thank God I am not to go pennyless into the wide world—this is some comfort. In a word, I signed the releases next day, and walked to the bank with an order for the money in my pocket. My first intention had been to draw out a hundred guineas, and carry them with me to Holland; but, when the cashier had counted fifty pieces, the heap appeared so prodigious, that I was content to leave the rest of my wealth where it was.

Under whatever circumstances, a sum of money, whether in hard cash, as in this instance, or in any less substantial shape, can no more be put into a man's pocket without to a certain extent elevating his spirits, than a bumper of champagne can be poured down his throat. So, at least, I have commonly found the case to be; and this particular occasion formed no exception to the rule. I walked down to Leith to inquire about the Rotterdam smacks, at a much more swinging, and, at the same time, more leisurely pace, than I should have been able to set forth had my purse contained only enough to pay for a smack ticket.