Page:A catalogue of notable Middle Templars, with brief biographical notices.djvu/16

 it is somewhat remarkable to note, will be found to possess other claims to distinction, and to consist of those who, after admission to the Inn, either wholly or partially abandoned the Law, and found more congenial scope for their abilities in other pursuits. And of these not only is the number, but the variety, remarkable; for amongst them will be noticed representatives of almost every department of intellectual activity—Philosophers and Moralists, Orators and Wits, Historians and Antiquaries, Poets and Dramatists, Artists and Musicians, Journalists and Critics, Mathematicians and Men of Science, Grammarians and Philologists, Essayists and Novelists, even Theologians and Divines; while, of those whose fame rests more upon their actions than their writings, occur the names of Statesmen and Politicians, Soldiers, Sailors, Courtiers, Ambassadors, and even of Merchants and Agriculturists.

This feature of the Catalogue goes to establish the fact that the Inns of Court, whilst primarily "institutions set apart for the study and practice of the Law," have at all times kept up the character originally attributed to them as the resort also of students whose object was general culture as much