[Footnote 5: Mrs Burton wrote verses well. She occasionally published in the 'Gentleman's Magazine.']
"By the way, I may here mention a somewhat important circumstance. The greater part of the entrance fee is paid immediately on passing the Civil Law trial, which you know I wished to do this spring. The whole fee is less than £300, and the part payable _then_ is more than £200. The fees are to be raised, but the increase cannot be levied upon me; it only applies to those who have not commenced their studies at the period of raising. Speak to R. Alcock about this. I daily meet troops of Aberdonians. I dined on Friday last with a young man, Fordyce, and yesterday with Mr J. Jopp. I calculate I have about fifty fellow-citizens connected with law here....
"_Wednesday, half-past two._--Just got my luggage--cost 8s. All right, save that your jars have bolted, and played the very deuce with some of my books, two waistcoats, and a pair of drawers.
"Hoping your cold is better, I remain, my dear mother, your affectionate and dutiful son,
"11 KEIR STREET, EDINBURGH, _20th Nov. 1830_.
"MY DEAR MOTHER,--I have scarcely an instant's time to say a word or so in reply to yours.... It was not _one_ of the jars which burst, but there was a general conspiracy among them all to slip out at the side of the paper.
"I do not board for anything, just get in a little bit of meat or anything I want, can take my own way, and am never annoyed. I breakfasted and dined last Sunday with Mr H. Constable, who is a very agreeable young fellow. He is the proprietor of the Miscellany.[6] By the way, I find out that if I do not pass my Civil Law trial before 1832 I shall be compelled to pay £50 to a Widows' Fund. Too bad to make young fellows, who may never have a _widow_ all their _lives_, pay so much. Determined, if I pay it, to get a widow immediately....
[Footnote 6: Probably a mistake. He was the brother of the proprietor.]
"Breakfasted to-day with the B.'s. At the theatre with Mellis day before yesterday. I hope Mary continues better.--Your affectionate son, J. HILL BURTON."
"11 KEIR STREET, EDINBURGH, _1st Dec. 1830_.
"MY DEAR MOTHER,--I have got something to communicate with regard to my prospects of entering the Faculty, which will not be of the most agreeable nature. I was told from the proper authority (I have already mentioned to you) that a Widows' Fund subscription is to be charged against those who enter after 1st January 1832. I have consulted the Act of Parliament, and find it is leviable against those who enter after 1st January 1831. The last examination this year will be on _Tuesday week_,--the last for passing which £50 and an annual payment of £7 is not charged. Now for this examination I intend to prepare myself, unless you inform me _immediately_ that the money, £213, cannot be obtained. See Mr Alcock immediately, and explain this, but tell it to _no other person_, as I should not like it to be known that I had failed. I expect to know your intentions at farthest by _Monday_, as I must then give warning to the Faculty. You must be expeditious, as I can assure you _I_ shall be. The subject is not difficult, and I think I may be able to prepare myself for an ordinary examination. Should I find it _impossible_, I will still reserve to myself, even after you send the money, the power of withdrawing. The Widows' subscription (as the Act states) is repayable to those who are rejected or die before joining, and I presume the entry-money is so too. If it is _not_, I should insure my life.