Page:Preliminary Lecture to the Course of Lectures on the Institutions of Justinian (Wilde, 1794, bim eighteenth-century preliminary-lecture-to-t wilde-john 1794).pdf/4

 fall on me. I certainly had no rah confidence in my qualifications otherwie; and my friends beides knew, as well as I did myelf, that neither my habits nor inclinations were greatly academical. Yet the tation was mot honourable: and in my circumtances alo (if my abilities could at all compas the duty) to decline the offer would have been a crime. I did not deliberate long: and I lot les time till in taking the neceary meaures upon my reolution. So far as in a mot inignificant peron, and in a till more inignificant life, any thing could have been done by me to create either enmity or favour, there was nothing that I had to hope (as I was well aware) from the ruling political interet in Scotland. It was then with me jut as it is now; in power equally and in wihes. Neither was want Rh