 of insipid quiet, must have hung heavy upon a youth of M--'s active
disposition, had not he found exercise for the mind, in reading books of
amusement, history, voyages, and geography, together with those that treated of
the art of war ancient and modern, for which he contracted such an eager
appetite, that he used to spend sixteen hours a day in this employment. About
that time, he became acquainted with a gentleman of learning and taste, who
observing his indefatigable application, and insatiable thirst after knowledge,
took upon himself the charge of superintending his studies; and by the direction
of such an able guide, the young soldier converted his attention to a more solid
and profitable course of reading. So inordinate was his desire of making speedy
advances in the paths of learning, that within the compass of three months, he
diligently perused the writings of Lock, and Malbranche, 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 enflamed 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 Barbyrac.
    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
