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The lottery of the law, therefore, is very far from being a

perfectly fair lottery; and that as well as many other liberal

and honourable professions, is, in point of pecuniary gain,

evidently under-recompensed.

Those professions keep their level, however, with other

occupations; and, notwithstanding these discouragements, all the

most generous and liberal spirits are eager to crowd into them.

Two different causes contribute to recommend them. First, the

desire of the reputation which attends upon superior excellence

in any of them; and, secondly, the natural confidence which every

man has, more or less, not only in his own abilities, but in his

own good fortune.