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prodigal in every power; for he seemed endowed with a superabundance of some talents at the expense of others of greater use. He possessed, indeed, some of the constituents of genius, and these, it may be, important ones; but his mind wanted that economy among its faculties, that adapt- ation of one to all, which, far more than the prominence of any singly, are to be regard- ed as the real constituents of power. Tak- ing his character as a whole, it was evident- ly defective, inasmuch as he was a subject rather of wonder than esteem, This was, to be sure, in a moral, not an intellectual view; and it may perhaps be objected, that Jock's country contemporaries were but indifferently qualified to judge of anything besides the bearings of conduct on the or- dinary business of life. In common with many men whose claim to genius is indis- putable, Jock's life was without an aim. Finding, however, that wit, though it might occasionally procure him fame, was in his case of little service in securing a liveli- hood, he was compelled, reluctantly enough we may presume, to betake himself to      some occupation. To hard labour he had always a marked aversion, and showed no      little ingenuity in evading it. His friends suggested a trade, but they would have