CHAPTER IV RETURN TO BALTIMORE, 1821-STUDY OF LAW IN THE OFFICE OF GENERAL HARPER There can be no doubt that in the resignation of Mr. Latrobe, the Government lost a most efficient and capable officer; but the Government's gain would have been unquestionably a loss to the country, and especially to his native city Baltimore, where, as is shown in his subsequent career, he took an active part in every matter which could lead to its improvement and progress. We have considered Mr. Latrobe's life up to the period of his leaving West Point and entering Mr. Robert Goodloe Harper's office December 20, 1821. Mr. Latrobe was eighteen years and six months old, when he entered the arena to attain success in the profession which he had chosen for his life work. It was customary in the old days of chivalry, upon a knight entering the lists, for a herald to give some account of him, so that the champion who was about to break a lance might be known. In these days, when photography is used to such an extent that children are represented almost from the day they were born and during the different periods of life until the end, there is no difficulty in getting a picture of the subject; but at the period of which I speak-1821-there was nothing of this kind, and I am not in possession of any picture or description of Mr. Latrobe which would enable me to give an idea of the man, except from a very meagre account of himself. He has already stated that when he went to West Point in A SILHOUETTE OF JOHN H. B. LATROBE By himself, with the note "John II. B. L. before he went to West Point" PENCIL SKETCH OF JOHN H. B. LATROBE By himself, with the note "Attempt at myself then a Cadet by myself” CHAPTER IV RETURN TO BALTIMORE, 1821-STUDY OF LAW IN THE OFFICE OF GENERAL HARPER There can be no doubt that in the resignation of Mr. Latrobe, the Government lost a most efficient and capable officer; but the Government's gain would have been unquestionably a loss to the country, and especially to his native city Baltimore, where, as is shown in his subsequent career, he took an active part in every matter which could lead to its improvement and progress. We have considered Mr. Latrobe's life up to the period of his leaving West Point and entering Mr. Robert Goodloe Harper's office December 20, 1821. Mr. Latrobe was eighteen years and six months old, when he entered the arena to attain success in the profession which he had chosen for his life work. It was customary in the old days of chivalry, upon a knight entering the lists, for a herald to give some account of him, so that the champion who was about to break a lance might be known. In these days, when photography is used to such an extent that children are represented almost from the day they were born and during the different periods of life until the end, there is no difficulty in getting a picture of the subject; but at the period of which I speak-1821-there was nothing of this kind, and I am not in possession of any picture or description of Mr. Latrobe which would enable me to give an idea of the man, except from a very meagre account of himself. He has already stated that when he went to West Point in |