Hamilton.--By perseverance in illicit love, her mind became gradually debased. Sentiment and affection, though still very strong, began now to be surpassed by mere sensual desire, and though Hamilton had no reason for jealousy, the fidelity of Collings was now owing much more to the closeness of his attentions than to the firmness of her constancy. She gradually became negligent about her employment, and not long after relinquished it entirely. Hamilton could not help perceiving her degeneracy, and coolling in his own passion, but conscious that he himself was the cause of her apostacy from virtue, and afterwards from delicacy, felt keen remorse. Her situation soon came to require retirement; the fruits of their affection was a fine boy, born the very day his father reached the 24th year of his age. Hamilton was now extending his acquaintance among gentlemen of the law, and also men of literary eminence. He had the honour to be known to Gibbon, who thought very highly of his talents and erudition, perhaps, not the less that a masterly review of the history was found to be the production of Hamilton. He occasionally met Dr. Samuel Parr, bishops Watson and Horseley, and was very intimate with Paley. He knew Dr. Gillies, and received much valuable information from the accurate and well digested knowledge of that elegant scholar. He was well acquainted with the philological research, sportive humour, and convivial hilarity of the younger Burney; the unassuming manners, careless and thoughtless deportment, but profound erudition of a Porson. Our hero, encouraged by the high praises bestowed upon his literary essays, determined to bring forward a work of some magnitude and importance.