politeness hindered me from making direct inquiries. By indirect
means I could gather nothing but that his state was opulent and
independent, and that he had two sisters whose situation resembled
his own.

Though, in conversation, he appeared to be governed by the
utmost candour; no light was let in upon the former transactions of
his life. The purpose of his visit to America I could merely guess
to be the gratification of curiosity.

My future pursuits must be supposed chiefly to occupy my
attention. On this head I was destitute of all stedfast views.
Without profession or habits of industry or sources of permanent
revenue, the world appeared to me an ocean on which my bark was set
afloat, without compass or sail. The world into which I was about
to enter, was untried and unknown, and though I could consent to
profit by the guidance I was unwilling to rely on the support of
others.

This topic being nearest my heart, I frequently introduced
into conversation with my friend; but on this subject he always
allowed himself to be led by me, while on all others, he was
zealous to point the way. To every scheme that I proposed he was
sure to cause objections. All the liberal professions were
censured as perverting the understanding, by giving scope to the
sordid motive of gain, or embuing the mind with erroneous
principles. Skill was slowly obtained, and success, though
integrity and independence must be given for it, dubious and
instable. The mechanical trades were equally obnoxious; they were
vitious by contributing to the spurious gratifications of the rich