When the other objections, which I have related, occurred to me, my enthusiasm instantly, like a flash of lightning, consumed them; but this stuck to me, and troubled me.

I had ambition.

I had a thirst after worldly interest and honours, and I could not extinguish it at once.

I was more than two hours in solitude under this painful conflict.

At length I yielded, not because I saw any reasonable prospect of success in my new undertaking (for all cool-headed and cool-hearted men would have pronounced against it), but in obedience, I believe, to a higher Power.