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234 BURKE so exactly as to deceive the public; and pursued the principles of his opponent to consequences, which, in the opirnion of his biographers, necessarily resulted from those principles, and which rendered their falsity manifest. " Ireland," says Dr. Bissett, " though often the mother, is seldom the nurse of genius." She does not seem to have any exception in favour of Mr. Burke, or he cer- tainly would never have deserted her for Scotland. We are told he became ambitious of the logical chair at Glas- gow; but, whether the application came too late, or whe- ther the university was unwilling to receive a stranger, certain it is, Burke was unsuccessful. One account says, that he was passing the old college gate, when a label affixed to it, struck his eye, inviting all the candidates for the professorship to a competition, although it was known that a successor was already fixed upon. Burke was still young enough to be taken in by this form; although he had enjoyed the behefit of an academic education, and might have learnt, we think, to suspect the seeming fair- ness of such challenges. Disappointed in Glasgow, Burke betook himself to London. His first arrival in the metropolis was in 1753; and he immediately entered himself of the Temple. Here he studied with unremitting diligence; but his exertions were not confined to the acquisition of knowledge, for, although, from the death of his elder brother, his ultimate expectations were considerable, yet, as his father was still alive, and had other children, his allowance was small; and he found it necessary to supply the deficieney by his own exertions, and we are told, he became a frequent contributor to the periodical publications. His manners at this period of his life, were engaging; his habits and conversation were long remembered at the Grecian coffee- house (then the rendezvous of the templars), and they left a strong and favourable impression of his talents and morals. On the other hand, his detractors have ridiculed bim for passing his leisure with Mrs. Woffington the