law, and with an extraordinary aptitude and dili-
gence, not only mastered the details of legal practice,
but comprehended, beyond others, the great principles
both of English and of French jurisprudence as prac-
tised in Lower Canada. Ambitious of excellence, he
resolved to complete his studies of the latter in France
itself. Of means he had little, but she, confiding in
his honor, consented that the estate left to her by her
father should be sold, to furnish him with the neces-
sary funds for his maintenance in Paris. In that gay
capital -- whilst taking advantage of libraries, and
sitting at the feet of the Gamaliels of the French Bar,
-- he associated with gamesters and courtezans, and
was at length left with resources barely sufficient to
enable him to return to Canada. Settling in Montreal,
his extraordinary acquaintance with both schools of
law, his impassioned and versatile eloquence, his ready
repartee, his habitual, grim and grotesque humour,
his outrageous sallies of wit, his unmerciful logic, his
fierce invective, his irony, his sarcasm, and his deep,
irresistible scorn, all heightened by his singularly
expressive personal presence, and eyes kindling with
lambent fire, made him a forensic antagonist with
whom few willingly chose to deal. He soon became
the favorite counsel for the defence. Extensive prac-
tice, and its concomitant, a large income, were now
his, and his betrothed, who, in giving him her
fortune, felt as though she had given him nothing
till with it she had given him herself, day by day
looked for the nuptial tie, and at length besought him
to relieve her from what had become a doubtful and
even a dishonorable position. But such was no longer
in his thoughts. Instead of performing towards her

[[7]]

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v?