SpecimensoftheTableTalk

SamuelTaylorColeridge

TABLETALK

December29,1822

CHARACTEROFOTHELLO—SCHILLER'SROBBERS-SHAKSPEARE—SCOTCHNOVELS—LORDBYRON—JOHN

KEMMBLE—MATHEWS

Othellomustnotbeconceivedasanegro,butahighandchivalrousMoorishchief.Shakspeare learned the sprit of the character from theSpanishpoetry,whichwasprevalentinEnglandinhistime.

Jelousydoesnotstrikemeasthepointinhispassion;Itakeittoberatheranagony that the creature, whom he had believed angelic, withwhom he hadgarnered up his heart, and whom he could not help still loving, should beproved impure and worthless. It was the struggle not to love her. It was amoralindignationandregretthatvirtureshouldsofall:—"Butyetthepityofit, Iago!—O Iago! thepity of it, Iago!" In addition to this, his hourourwasconcerned:Iagowouldnothavesucceededbutbyhintingthatthishonourwascompromised. There is no ferocity in Othello; his mind is majestic andcomposed.Hedeliberatelydeterminestodie;andspeakshislastspeechwithaviewofshowinghisattachmenttotheVenetianstate,thoughithadsupersededhim.

Schiller has thematerial Sublime; to produce an effect he sets you awhole

townonfire,andthrowsinfantswiththeirmothersintotheflames,orlocksupafatherinanoldtower.ButShakspearedropsahandkerchief,andthesameorgreatereffectsfollow.

Lear is the most tremendous effort of Shakspeare as a poet; Hamlet as aphilosopher or meditater; and Othello is the union of the two. There issomething gigantic and unformed in the former two; but in the latter, everythingassumes itsdueplaceandproportion,and thewholematurepowersofhismindaredisplayedinadmirableequilibrium.

IthinkOldMortalityandGuyManneringthebestoftheScotchnovels.

Itseems,tomyear,thatthereisasadwantofharmonyinLordByron'sverses.Isitnotunnaturaltobealwaysconnectingverygreatintellectualpowerwithutterdepravity?Doessuchacombinationoftenreallyexistinrerumnaturae?

Ialwayshadagreatliking—Imaysay,asortofnondescriptreverence—forJohnKemble.Whataquaintcreaturehewas!Irememberaparty,inwhichhewas discoursing in his measured manner after dinner, when the servantannounced his carriage. He nodded, and went on. The announcement tookplace twice afterwards; Kemble each time nodding his head a little moreimpatiently, but still going on. At last, and for the fourth time, the servantentered, and said,—"Mrs. Kemble says, sir, she has the rheumat_ise_, andcannot stay." "Add_ism!_" dropped John, in a parenthesis, and proceededquietlyinhisharangue.

Kemblewouldcorrectanybody,atanytime,andinanyplace.DearCharlesMathews—a true genius in his line, inmy judgment—toldme hewas onceperforming privately before theKing.TheKingwasmuch pleasedwith theimitationofKemble,andsaid,—"I likedKembleverymuch.Hewasoneofmyearliestfriends.Irememberoncehewastalking,andfoundhimselfoutofsnuff.Iofferedhimmybox.Hedeclinedtakingany—'he,apooractor,couldnot put his fingers into a royal box.' I said, 'Take some, pray; you willobl_ee_geme.' UponwhichKemble replied,—'It would become your royalmouthbettertosay,obl_i_geme;'andtookapinch."

Itisnoteasytoputmeoutofcountenance,orinterruptthefeelingofthetimebymereexternalnoiseorcircumstance;yetonceIwasthoroughlydoneup,asyouwouldsay.Iwasreciting,ataparticularhouse,the"Remorse;"andwasinthemidstofAlhadra'sdescriptionofthedeathofherhusband,whenascrubbyboy, with a shining face set in dirt, burst open the door and cried out,—"Please, ma'am, master says, Will you ha'; or will you not ha', the pin-round?"

January1.1823.

PARLIAMENTARYPRIVILEGE.—-PERMANENCYANDPROGRESSIONOFNATIONS.—KANT'SRACESOFMANKIND.

Privilege is a substitution for Law, where, from the nature of thecircumstances, a law cannot act without clashing with greater and moregeneralprinciples.TheHouseofCommonsmust,ofcourse,havethepoweroftakingcognizanceofoffencesagainstitsownrights.SirFrancisBurdettmighthavebeenproperlysent to theTowerfor thespeechhemade in theHouse ;butwhenafterwardshepublisheditinCobbett,andtheytookcognizanceofitasabreachofprivilege, theyviolatedtheplaindistinctionbetweenprivilegeandlaw.

As a speech in the House, the House could alone animadvert upon it,consistentlywith theeffectivepreservationof itsmostnecessaryprerogativeoffreedomofdebate;butwhenthatspeechbecameabook,thenthelawwastolooktoit;andtherebeingalawoflibel,commensuratewitheverypossibleobjectof attack in the state,privilege,whichacts,orought toact,onlyasasubstitute forother laws,couldhavenothing todowith it. Ihaveheard thatonedistinguishedindividualsaid,—"Thathe,forone,wouldnotshrinkfromaffirming, that if the House of Commons chose to burn one of their ownmembersinPalaceYard,ithadaninherentpowerandrightbytheconstitutiontodoso."Thiswassaid,ifatall,byamoderate-mindedman;andmayshowtowhatatrocioustyrannysomepersonsmayadvanceintheory,undershadowofthiswordprivilege.

TherearetwoprinciplesineveryEuropeanandChristianstate:PermanencyandProgression.

InthecivilwarsoftheseventeenthcenturyinEngland,whichareasnewandfreshnowastheywereahundredandsixtyyearsago,andwillbesoforevertous,thesetwoprinciplescametoastruggle.Itwasnaturalthatthegreatandthe good of the nation should he found in the ranks of either side. In theMohammedanstates,thereisnoprincipleofpermanence;and,therefore,theysinkdirectly.Theyexisted,andcouldonlyexist,intheireffortsatprogression;when they ceased to conquer, they fell in pieces. Turkey would long sincehavefallen,haditnotbeensupportedbytherivalandconflictinginterestsofChristianEurope.TheTurkshavenochurch;religionandstateareone;hencethereisnocounterpoise,nomutualsupport.ThisistheveryessenceoftheirUnitarianism.Theyhavenopast;theyarenotanhistoricalpeople;theyexistonlyinthepresent.Chinaisaninstanceofapermanencywithoutprogression.ThePersiansareasuperiorrace:theyhaveahistoryandaliterature;theywerealwaysconsideredby theGreeksasquitedistinct from theotherbarbarians.

TheAfghansarearemarkablepeople.Theyhaveasortofrepublic.EuropeansandOrientalistsmaybewellrepresentedbytwofiguresstandingbacktoback:thelatterlookingtotheeast,thatis,backwards;theformerlookingwestward,orforwards.

Kantassignsthreegreatracesofmankind.Iftwoindividualsofdistinctracescross,athird,ortertiumaliquid,isinvariablyproduced,differentfromeither,asawhiteandanegroproduceamulatto.Butwhendifferentvarietiesofthesameracecross, theoffspringisaccordingtowhatwecallchance; it isnowlikeone,nowliketheotherparent.Notethis,whenyouseethechildrenofanycouple of distinctEuropean complexions,—asEnglish andSpanish,GermanandItalian,RussianandPortuguese,andsoon.

January3.1823.

MATERIALISM.—GHOSTS.

Either we have an immortal soul, or we have not. If we have not, we arebeasts;thefirstandwisestofbeasts,itmaybe;butstilltruebeasts.Weshallonlydifferindegree,andnotinkind;justastheelephantdiffersfromtheslug.Butbytheconcessionofall thematerialistsofall theschools,oralmostall,we are not of the same kind as beasts—and this alsowe say fromour ownconsciousness.Therefore,methinks,itmustbethepossessionofasoulwithinusthatmakesthedifference.

ReadthefirstchapterofGenesiswithoutprejudice,andyouwillbeconvincedat once. After the narrative of the creation of the earth and brute animals,Moses seems topause, and says:—"AndGod said,Letusmakeman inourimage,afterour likeness."And in thenext chapter, he repeats thenarrative:—"AndtheLordGodformedmanofthedustoftheground,andbreathedintohis nostrils the breath of life;" and then he adds these words,—"and manbecamealivingsoul."Materialismwillneverexplainthoselastwords.

Define a vulgar ghost with reference to all that is called ghost-like. It isvisibility without tangibility; which is also the definition of a shadow.Therefore, a vulgar ghost and a shadow would be the same; because twodifferent things cannot properly have the same definition. A visiblesubstancewithoutsusceptibilityofimpact,Imaintaintobeanabsurdity.

Unlesstherebeanexternalsubstance,thebodilyeyecannotseeit;therefore,inallsuchcases,thatwhichissupposedtobeseenis,infact,notseen,butisanimageofthebrain.Externalobjectsnaturallyproducesensation;buthere,

intruth,sensationproduces,asitwere,theexternalobject.Incertainstatesofthe nerves, however, I do believe that the eye, although not consciously sodirected,may,byaslightconvulsion,seeaportionofthebody,asifoppositetoit.Thepartactuallyseenwillbycommonassociationseemthewhole;andthewholebodywill thenconstituteanexternalobject,whichexplainsmanystories of persons seeing themselves lying dead. Bishop Berkeley onceexperienced this.He had the presence ofmind to ring the bell, and feel hispulse;keepinghiseyestillfixedonhisownfigurerightoppositetohim.Hewas in a high fever, and the brain image died away as the door opened. IobservedsomethingverylikeitonceatGrasmere;andwassoconsciousofthecause, that I told a person what I was experiencing, whilst the image stillremained.

Of course, if the vulgar ghost be really a shadow, there must be somesubstance of which it is the shadow. These visible and intangible shadows,withoutsubstancestocausethem,areabsurd.

January4.1828.

CHARACTEROFTHEAGEFORLOGIC.—PLATOANDXENOPHON.——GREEKDRAMA.——KOTZEBUE.—BURKE.—

PLAGIARISTS.

Thisisnotalogicalage.Afriendlatelygavemesomepoliticalpamphletsofthe times of Charles I. and the Cromwellate. In them the premisses arefrequentlywrong,butthedeductionsarealmostalwayslegitimate;whereas,inthewritings of the present day, the premisses are commonly sound, but theconclusions false. I think a great deal of commendation is due to theUniversityofOxford forpreserving the studyof logic in the schools. It is agreatmistaketosupposegeometryanysubstituteforit.

Negatively,theremaybemoreofthephilosophyofSocratesintheMemorabiliaofXenophonthaninPlato:thatis,thereislessofwhatdoesnotbelongtoSocrates;butthegeneralspiritof,andimpressionleftby,Plato,aremoreSocratic.

InÆschylus religionappears terrible,malignant,andpersecuting:Sophoclesis the mildest of the three tragedians, but the persecuting aspect is stillmaintained:Euripides is like amodernFrenchman,never sohappyaswhengivingaslapatthegodsaltogether.

KotzebuerepresentsthepettykingsoftheislandsinthePacificOceanexactly

assomanyHomericchiefs.Richescommanduniversalinfluence,andallthekingsaresupposedtobedescendedfromthegods.

IconfessIdoubttheHomericgenuinenessof.ItsoundstomemuchmorelikeaprettinessofBionorMoschus.

—Illiad.Z.vi.482]

Theverygreatestwriterswritebestwhencalm,andexertingthemselvesuponsubjects unconnected with party. Burke rarely shows all his powers, unlesswherehe is in a passion.TheFrenchRevolutionwas alone a subject fit forhim.Wearenotyetawareofall theconsequencesof thatevent.Weare toonearit.

Goldsmithdideverythinghappily.

Youabusesnuff!Perhapsitisthefinalcauseofthehumannose.

Arogueisaroundaboutfool;afoolincircumbendibus.

Omneignotumpromagnifico.Adunghillatadistancesometimessmellslikemusk,andadeaddoglikeelder-flowers.

Plagiarists are always suspicious of being stolen from,—as pickpockets areobservedcommonlytowalkwiththeirhandsintheirbreeches'pockets.

January6.1823.

ST.JOHN'SGOSPEL.—CHRISTIANITY—EPISTLETOTHEHEBREWS.—THELOGOS.—REASONANDUNDERSTANDING.

St. John had a twofold object in hisGospel and his Epistles,—to prove thedivinity, and also the actual human nature and bodily suffering, of JesusChrist,—thathewasGodandMan.Thenotionthattheeffusionofbloodandwater from the Saviour's side was intended to prove the real death of thesuffereroriginated, I believe,with somemodernGermans, and seems tomeridiculous:thereis,indeed,averysmallquantityofwateroccasionallyinthepræcordia:butinthepleura,wherewoundsarenotgenerallymortal,thereisagreat deal. St. John did not mean, I apprehend, to insinuate that the spear-thrustmadethedeath,merelyassuch,certainorevident,butthattheeffusionshowedthehumannature."Isawit,"hewouldsay,"withmyowneyes.Itwasreal blood, composed of lymph and crassamentum, and not amere celestialichor,asthePhantasmistsallege."

I think the verse of the three witnesses (1 John, v. 7.) spurious, not only

becausethebalanceofexternalauthorityisagainstit,asPorsonseemstohaveshown;butalso,because,inmywayoflookingatit,itspoilsthereasoning.

St.John'slogicisOriental,andconsistschieflyinpositionandparallel;whilstSt.PauldisplaysalltheintricaciesoftheGreeksystem.

Whatevermaybe thoughtof thegenuinenessorauthorityofanypartof thebook of Daniel, it makes no difference in my belief in Christianity; forChristianity iswithin aman, even as he is a being giftedwith reason; it isassociatedwith yourmother's chair, andwith the first-remembered tones ofherblessedvoice.

I do not believe St. Paul to be the author of the Epistle to the Hebrews.Luther's conjecture is veryprobable, that itwasbyApollos, anAlexandrianJew.Theplan is too studiously regular forSt.Paul. Itwasevidentlywrittenduring the yet existing glories of the Temple. For three hundred years thechurch did not affix St. Paul's name to it; but its apostolical or catholiccharacter, independently of its genuineness as to St. Paul, was never muchdoubted.

The first three Gospels show the history, that is, the fulfilment of theprophecies in the facts. St. John declares explicitly the doctrine, oracularly,andwithout comment,because,beingpure reason, it canonlybeprovedbyitself. For Christianity proves itself, as the sun is seen by its own light. Itsevidenceisinvolvedinitsexistence.St.Paulwritesmoreparticularlyforthedialectic understanding; and proves those doctrines, which were capable ofsuchproof,bycommonlogic.

St.Johnusedthetermtechnically.Philo-Judæushadsouseditseveralyearsbefore the probable date of the composition of this Gospel; and it wascommonlyunderstoodamongsttheJewishRabbisatthattime,andafterwards,ofthemanifestedGod.

Our translators, unfortunately, as I think, render the clause "withGod;" thatwouldberight,iftheGreekwere.

By the preposition in this place, is meant the utmost possible proximity,withoutconfusion;likeness,withoutsameness.TheJewishChurchunderstoodtheMessiahtobeadivineperson.Philoexpresslycautionsagainstanyone'ssupposing the Logos to be a mere personification, or symbol. He says, theLogos is a substantial, self- existent Being. The Gnostics, as they wereafterwardscalled,wereakindofArians;andthoughttheLogoswasanafter-birth.Theyplacedand(theAbyssandSilence)beforehim.Therefore itwasthatSt.Johnsaid,withemphasis,—"InthebeginningwastheWord."HewasbegotteninthefirstsimultaneousburstofGodhead,ifsuchanexpressionmaybepardoned,inspeakingofeternalexistence.

TheUnderstanding suggests thematerials of reasoning: the Reason decidesuponthem.Thefirstcanonlysay,—Thisis,oroughttobeso.Thelastsays,—Itmustbeso.

April27.1823.

KEAN.—SIRJAMESMACKINTOSH.—SIRH.DAVY.—ROBERTSMITH.—CANNING.—NATIONALDEBT.—POORLAWS.

Kean is original; but he copies from himself. His rapid descents from thehyper-tragic to the infra-colloquial, though sometimes productive of greateffect,areoftenunreasonable.Toseehimact, is like readingShakspearebyflashes of lightning. I do not think him thorough-bred gentleman enough toplayOthello.

Sir JamesMackintosh is thekingof themenof talent.He isamostelegantconverger.HowwellIrememberhisgivingbreakfasttomeandSirHumphryDavy,atthattimeanunknownyoungman,andourhavingaveryspiritedtalkabout Locke andNewton, and so forth!WhenDavywas gone,Mackintoshsaidtome,"That'saveryextraordinaryyoungman;butheisgonewrongonsomepoints."ButDavywas,atthattimeatleast,amanofgenius;andIdoubtif Mackintosh ever heartily appreciated an eminently original man. He isuncommonlypowerfulinhisownline;butitisnotthelineofafirst-rateman.Afterallhisfluencyandbrillianterudition,youcanrarelycarryoffanythingworth preserving. You might not improperly write on his forehead,"Warehousetolet!"Healwaysdealttoomuchingeneralitiesforalawyer.Heis deficient in power in applying his principles to the points in debate. IrememberRobert Smith hadmuchmore logical ability; but Smith aimed atconquestbyanygladiatorialshift;whereasMackintoshwasuniformlycandidinargument.Iamspeakingnowfromoldrecollections.

Canningisveryirritable,surprisinglysoforawitwhoisalwaysgivingsuchhard knocks. He should have put on an ass's skin before he went intoparliament.LordLiverpool is thesinglestayof thisministry;buthe isnotamanofadirectingmind.Hecannot rideon thewhirlwind.Heservesas theisthmustoconnectonehalfofthecabinetwiththeother.Healwaysgivesyouthecommonsenseofthematter,andinthatitisthathisstrengthindebatelies.

Thenationaldebthas,infact,mademoremenrichthanhavearighttobeso,or,rather,anyultimatepower,incaseofastruggle,ofactualizingtheirriches.It is, in effect, like an ordinary, where three hundred tickets have beendistributed,butwherethereis,intruth,roomonlyforonehundred.Solongas

you can amuse the company with any thing else, or make them come insuccessively,alliswell,andthewholethreehundredfancythemselvessureofadinner;butifanysuspicionofahoaxshouldarise,andtheywerealltorushintotheroomatonce,therewouldbetwohundredwithoutapotatofortheirmoney;andthetablewouldbeoccupiedbythelandholders,wholiveonthespot.

Poor-lawsaretheinevitableaccompanimentsofanextensivecommerceandamanufacturing system. InScotland, theydidwithout them, tillGlasgowandPaisleybecamegreatmanufacturingplaces, and thenpeople said, "Wemustsubscribefor thepoor,orelseweshallhavepoor-laws."That is tosay, theyenactedforthemselvesapoor-lawinordertoavoidhavingapoor-lawenactedforthem.ItisabsurdtotalkofQueenElizabeth'sactascreatingthepoor-lawsofthiscountry.Thepoor-ratesaretheconsiderationpaidby,oronbehalfof,capitalistsforhavinglabouratdemand.It is theprice,andnothingelse.Thehardshipconsistsintheagriculturalinteresthavingtopayanundueproportionoftherates;foralthough,perhaps,intheend,thelandbecomesmorevaluable,yet,atthefirst,thelandownershavetobearallthebrunt.Ithinkthereoughttobeafixedrevolvingperiodfortheequalizationofrates.

April28.1823.

CONDUCTOFTHEWHIGS.—REFORMOFTHEHOUSEOFCOMMONS.

The conduct of theWhigs is extravagantly inconsistent. It originated in thefatalerrorwhichFoxcommitted,inpersisting,afterthefirstthreeyearsoftheFrenchRevolution,wheneveryshadowoffreedominFrancehadvanished,ineulogizingthemenandmeasuresofthatshallow-heartedpeople.Sohewentongradually, furtherand furtherdeparting fromall theprinciplesofEnglishpolicyandwisdom,tillatlengthhebecamethepanegyrist,throughthickandthin,ofamilitaryfrenzy,undertheinfluenceofwhichtheverynameoflibertywasdetested.Andthusitwasthat,incourseoftime,Fox'spartybecametheabsolute abettorsof theBuonapartean invasionofSpain, anddidall in theirpowertothwartthegenerouseffortsofthiscountrytoresistit.Now,whentheinvasionisbyaBourbon,andthecauseof theSpanishnationneitherunitednor,indeed,soundinmanyrespects,theWhigswouldprecipitatethiscountryintoacrusadetofightupthecauseofafaction.

I have thehonourof being slightlyknown tomy lordDarnley. In1808-9, Imet him accidentally,when, after a fewwords of salutation, he said tome,

"Areyoumad,Mr.Coleridge?"—"NotthatIknow,mylord,"Ireplied;"whathaveIdonewhicharguesanyderangementofmind?"—"Why,Imean,"saidhe,"thoselettersofyoursintheCourier,'OntheHopesandFearsofaPeopleinvaded by foreign Armies.' The Spaniards are absolutely conquered; it isabsurdtotalkoftheirchanceofresisting."—"Verywell,mylord,"Isaid,"weshallsee.Butwillyourlordshippermitme,inthecourseofayearortwo,toretort your question upon you, if I should have grounds for sodoing?"—"Certainly!" said he; "that is fair!" Two years afterwards, whenaffairs were altered in Spain, I met Lord Darnley again, and, after someconversation,venturedtosaytohim,"DoesyourlordshiprecollectgivingmeleavetoretortacertainquestionuponyouabouttheSpaniards?Whoismadnow?"—"Very true, very true,Mr.Coleridge," cried he: "you are right. It isvery extraordinary. It was a very happy and hold guess." Upon which Iremarked, "I think 'guess' is hardly a fair term.For, has any thinghappenedthathashappened,fromanyothercauses,orunderanyotherconditions,thansuch as I laid down Beforehand?" Lord Darnley, who was always verycourteoustome,tookthiswithapleasantnodofhishead.

Many votes are given for reform in theHouse ofCommons,which are nothonest. Whilst it is well known that the measure will not he carried inparliament, it is aswell topurchase somepopularitybyvoting for it.WhenHuntandhisassociates,beforetheSixActs,createdapanic,theministerslayon their oars for three or fourmonths, until the general cry, even from theopposition,was,"Whydon'ttheministerscomeforwardwithsomeprotectivemeasure?" The present Ministry exists on the weakness and desperatecharacteroftheOpposition.Thesoberpartofthenationareafraidofthelattergettingintopower,lesttheyshouldredeemsomeoftheirpledges.

April29.1823.

CHURCHOFROME.

The present adherents of the church of Rome are not, in my judgment,Catholics.Weare theCatholics.Wecanprove thatwehold thedoctrinesofthe primitive church for the first three hundred years. The council of Trentmade thePapistswhat theyare.A foreignRomishbishophas declared, thatthe Protestants of his acquaintance were more like what he conceived theenlightenedCatholicstohavebeenbeforethecouncilofTrent,thanthebestofthe latter in his days. Perhaps you will say, this bishop was not a goodCatholic.Icannotanswerforthat.ThecourseofChristianityandtheChristianchurch may not unaptly be likened to a mighty river, which filled a wide

channel,andborealongwithitswatersmud,andgravel,andweeds,tillitmetagreat rock in themiddleof its stream.By somemeansorother, thewaterflowspurely,andseparatedfromthefilth,inadeeperandnarrowercourseononesideoftherock,andtherefuseofthedirtandtroubledwatergoesoffontheotherinabroadercurrent,andthencriesout,"Wearetheriver!"

A person said to me lately, "But you will, for civility'ssake,call themCatholics,willyounot?" I answered, that Iwouldnot; for Iwould not tell a lie upon any,much less upon so solemn an occasion. "TheadherentsofthechurchofRome,Irepeat,arenotCatholicChristians.Iftheyare,thenitfollowsthatweProtestantsarehereticsandschismatics,as,indeed,the Papists very logically, from their own premisses, call us. And'RomanCatholics'makesnodifference.Catholicismisnotcapableofdegreesorlocalapportionments.TherecanbebutonebodyofCatholics,exvitermini.TotalkstrictlyofIrishorScotchRomanCatholicsisamereabsurdity."

It is common to hear it said, that, if the legal disabilities are removed, theRomish church will lose ground in this country. I think the reverse: theRomishreligionis,or,incertainhands,iscapableofbeingmade,soflatteringtothepassionsandself-delusionofmen,thatitisimpossibletosayhowfaritwould spread, amongst thehigherordersof society especially, if the seculardisadvantagesnowattendingitsprofessionwereremoved.

April30.1823.

ZENDAVESTA.—PANTHEISMANDIDOLATRY.

TheZendavestamust,Ithink,havebeencopiedinpartsfromthewritingsofMoses.Inthedescriptionofthecreation,thefirstchapterofGenesisistakenalmost literally, except that the sun is created beforethe light, and then theherbsandtheplantsafterthesun;whicharepreciselythetwopointstheydidnotunderstand,andthereforealteredaserrors.

Thereareonlytwoactsofcreation,properlysocalled,intheMosaicaccount,—the material universe and man. The intermediate acts seem more as theresults of secondary causes, or, at any rate, of a modification of preparedmaterials.

Pantheismandidolatrynaturallyendineachother;forallextremesmeet.TheJudaicreligionistheexactmedium,thetruecompromise.

May1.1823.

DIFFERENCEBETWEENSTORIESOFDREAMSANDGHOSTS.—PHANTOMPORTRAIT.—WITCHOFENDOR.—SOCINIANISM.

Thereisagreatdifferenceinthecredibilitytobeattachedtostoriesofdreamsand stories of ghosts. Dreams have nothing in them which are absurd andnonsensical; and, thoughmostof the coincidencesmaybe readily explainedbythediseasedsystemofthedreamer,andthegreatandsurprisingpowerofassociation,yetitisimpossibletosaywhetheraninnersensedoesnotreallyexistinthemind,seldomdeveloped,indeed,butwhichmayhaveapowerofpresentiment.

Alltheexternalsenseshavetheircorrespondentsinthemind;theeyecanseeanobjectbeforeitisdistinctlyapprehended;—whymaytherenotbeacorrespondingpowerinthesoul?Thepowerofprophecymighthavebeenmerelyaspiritualexcitationofthisdormantfaculty.HenceyouwillobservethattheHebrewseerssometimesseemtohaverequiredmusic,asintheinstanceofElishabeforeJehoram:—"Butnowbringmeaminstrel.Anditcametopass,whentheminstrelplayed,thatthehandoftheLordcameuponhim."Everythinginnaturehasatendencytomoveincycles;anditwouldbea miracle if, out of such myriads of cycles moving concurrently, somecoincidences did not take place. No doubt, many such take place in thedaytime;but thenoursensesdriveout theremembranceof them,andrenderthe impression hardly felt; but when we sleep, the mind acts withoutinterruption. Terror and the heated imagination will, even in the daytime,create all sorts of features, shapes, and colours out of a simple objectpossessingnoneoftheminreality.

But ghost stories are absurd. Whenever a real ghost appears,—by which Imeansomemanorwomandresseduptofrightenanother,—ifthesupernaturalcharacteroftheapparitionhasbeenforamomentbelieved,theeffectsonthespectator have always been most terrible,—convulsion, idiocy, madness, orevendeathonthespot.ConsidertheawfuldescriptionsintheOldTestamentoftheeffectsofaspiritualpresenceontheprophetsandseersoftheHebrews;theterror,theexceedinggreatdread,theutterlossofallanimalpower.Butinourcommonghoststories,youalwaysfindthattheseer,afteramostappallingapparition,asyouaretobelieve, isquitewell thenextday.Perhaps,hemayhaveaheadach;butthatistheoutsideoftheeffectproduced.Alston,amanofgenius,andthebestpainteryetproducedbyAmerica,whenhewasinEnglandtoldmeananecdotewhichconfirmswhatIhavebeensaying.Itwas,Ithink,in theuniversityofCambridge,nearBoston, thatacertainyouthtookit into

his wise head to endeavour to convert a Tom-Painish companion of his byappearing as a ghost before him. He accordingly dressed himself up in theusualway,havingpreviouslyextractedtheballfromthepistolwhichalwayslay near the head of his friend's bed. Upon first awaking, and seeing theapparition, the youth who was to be frightened, A., very coolly looked hiscompaniontheghostintheface,andsaid,"Iknowyou.Thisisagoodjoke;butyouseeIamnotfrightened.Nowyoumayvanish!"Theghoststoodstill."Come," said A., "that is enough. I shall get angry. Away!" Still the ghostmovednot."By——,"ejaculatedA.,"ifyoudonotinthreeminutesgoaway,I'llshootyou."Hewaitedthetime,deliberatelylevelledthepistol,fired,and,with a scream at the immobility of the figure, became convulsed, andafterwardsdied.Theveryinstanthebelievedittobeaghost,hishumannaturefellbeforeit.

"LastThursdaymyuncle,S.T.C., dinedwithus, and severalmencame tomeethim.Ihaveheardhimmorebrilliant,buthewasveryfine,anddelightedeveryoneverymuch.Itisimpossibletocarryoff,orcommittopaper,hislongtrains of argument; indeed, it is not always possible to understand them, helaysthefoundationsodeep,andviewseveryquestioninsooriginalamanner.Nothing can be finer than the principleswhich he lays down inmorals andreligion.HisdeepstudyofScriptureisveryastonishing;therestofthepartywerebutaschildreninhishands,notmerelyingeneralviewsoftheology,butinniceverbalcriticism.HethinksitclearthatSt.PauldidnotwritetheEpistleto the Hebrews, but that it must have been the work of some AlexandrianGreek, and he thinks Apollos. It seemed to him a desirable thing forChristianity that it should have beenwritten by some other person than St.Paul;because,itsinspirationbeingunquestioned,itaddedanotherindependentteacherandexpounderofthefaith.

"We fell upon ghosts, and he exposed many of the stories physically andmetaphysically.He seemed to think it impossible that you should really seewiththebodilyeyewhatwasimpalpable,unlessitwereashadow;andifwhatyoufanciedyousawwiththebodilyeyewasinfactonlyanimpressionontheimagination, then you were seeing something out of your senses, and yourtestimonywasfullofuncertainty.Heobservedhowuniformly,inallthebest-attested stories of spectres, the appearancemight be accounted for from thedisturbedstateofthemindorbodyoftheseer,asintheinstancesofDionandBrutus.Uponsomeone's saying thathewished tobelieve these stories true,thinkingthattheyconstitutedausefulsubsidiarytestimonyofanotherstateofexistence,Mr.C.differed,andsaid,hethoughtitadangeroustestimony,andonenotwanted:itwasSaul,withtheScripturesandtheProphetbeforehim,callinguponthewitchofEndortocertifyhimofthetruth!Heexplainedveryingeniously,yetverynaturally,whathasoftenstartledpeopleinghoststories

—such as Lord Lyttelton's—namely, that when a real person has appeared,habited like the phantom, the ghost-seer has immediately seen two, the realmanandthephantom.Hesaidthatsuchmustbethecase.Themanunderthemorbiddelusionseeswiththeeyeoftheimagination,andseeswiththebodilyeyetoo;ifnoonewerereallypresent,hewouldseethespectrewithone,andthebed-curtainswiththeother.When,therefore,arealpersoncomes,heseestherealmanashewouldhaveseenanyoneelseinthesameplace,andheseesthespectrenotawhittheless:beingperceptiblebydifferentpowersofvision,sotosay,theappearancesdonotinterferewitheachother.

"HetoldusthefollowingstoryofthePhantomPortrait:—

"A stranger came recommended to a merchant's house at Lubeck. He washospitably received; but, the house being full, hewas lodged at night in anapartmenthandsomely furnished,butnotoftenused.Therewasnothing thatstruckhimparticularlyintheroomwhenleftalone,tillhehappenedtocasthiseyes on a picture,which immediately arrested his attention. It was a singlehead;buttherewassomethingsouncommon,sofrightfulandunearthly,initsexpression, though by no means ugly, that he found himself irresistiblyattractedtolookatit.Infact,hecouldnottearhimselffromthefascinationofthisportrait,tillhisimaginationwasfilledbyit,andhisrestbroken.Heretiredtobed,dreamed,andawokefromtimetotimewiththeheadglaringonhim.Inthemorning,hishostsawbyhis looks thathehadslept ill,andinquiredthecause,whichwastold.Themasterofthehousewasmuchvexed,andsaidthatthepictureought tohavebeen removed, that itwasanoversight,and that italwayswasremovedwhenthechamberwasused.Thepicture,hesaid,was,indeed,terribletoeveryone;butitwassofine,andhadcomeintothefamilyinsocuriousaway,thathecouldnotmakeuphismindtopartwithit,ortodestroyit.Thestoryofitwasthis:—'Myfather,'saidhe,'wasatHamburghonbusiness,and,whilstdiningatacoffee-house,heobservedayoungmanofaremarkableappearanceenter,seathimselfaloneinacorner,andcommenceasolitarymeal. His countenance bespoke the extreme ofmental distress, andevery now and then he turned his head quickly round, as if he heardsomething,thenshudder,growpale,andgoonwithhismealafteraneffortasbefore. My father saw this same man at the same place for two or threesuccessivedays;andat lengthbecamesomuchinterestedabouthim,thathespoketohim.Theaddresswasnotrepulsed,andthestrangerseemedtofindsomecomfortinthetoneofsympathyandkindnesswhichmyfatherused.HewasanItalian,wellinformed,poorbutnotdestitute,andlivingeconomicallyupontheprofitsofhisartasapainter.Theirintimacyincreased;andatlengththeItalian,seeingmyfather's involuntaryemotionathisconvulsive turningsandshuddering,whichcontinuedas formerly, interrupting their conversationfromtimetotime,toldhimhisstory.HewasanativeofRome,andhadlived

insomefamiliaritywith,andbeenmuchpatronizedby,ayoungnobleman;butuponsomeslightoccasion theyhad fallenout,andhispatron,besidesusingmanyreproachfulexpressions,hadstruckhim.Thepainterbroodedover thedisgraceoftheblow.Hecouldnotchallengethenobleman,onaccountofhisrank;hethereforewatchedforanopportunity,andassassinatedhim.Ofcoursehe fled from his country, and finally had reached Hamburgh. He had not,however,passedmanyweeksfromthenightofthemurder,before,oneday,inthe crowded street, he heard his name called by a voice familiar to him: heturnedshortround,andsawthefaceofhisvictimlookingathimwithafixedeye.Fromthatmomenthehadnopeace:atallhours,inallplaces,andamidstall companies,howeverengagedhemightbe,heheard thevoice, andcouldnever help looking round; and, whenever he so looked round, he alwaysencountered the same face staring close upon him. At last, in a mood ofdesperation,hehadfixedhimselffacetoface,andeyetoeye,anddeliberatelydrawnthephantomvisageas itglareduponhim;and thiswasthepicturesodrawn.TheItaliansaidhehadstruggledlong,butlifewasaburdenwhichhecould now no longer bear; and hewas resolved,when he hadmademoneyenough to return to Rome, to surrender himself to justice, and expiate hiscrimeonthescaffold.Hegavethefinishedpicturetomyfather,inreturnforthekindnesswhichhehadshowntohim.'"

I have no doubt that the Jews believed generally in a future state,independentlyoftheMosaiclaw.ThestoryofthewitchofEndorisaproofofit.Whatwetranslate"witch,"or"familiarspirit,"is,intheHebrew,Ob,thatis,abottleorbladder,andmeansapersonwhosebellyisswelledlikealeathernbottlebydivineinflation.IntheGreekitis,aventriloquist.Thetext(1Sam.ch. xxviii.) is a simple record of the facts, the solution ofwhich the sacredhistorian leaves to thereader. I take it tohavebeena trickofventriloquism,gotupby thecourtiersandfriendsofSaul, topreventhim, ifpossible, fromhazarding an engagement with an army despondent and oppressed withbodings of defeat. Saul is not said to have seen Samuel; the woman onlypretendstoseehim.Andthenwhatdoes thisSamueldo?Hemerelyrepeatsthe prophecy known to all Israel, which the true Samuel had uttered someyearsbefore.ReadCaptainLyon'saccountofthesceneinthecabinwiththeEsquimaux bladder, or conjurer; it is impossible not to be reminded of thewitchofEndor.IrecommendyoualsotolookatWebster'sadmirabletreatiseonWitchcraft.

The pet texts of a Socinian are quite enough for his confutationwith acutethinkers. If Christ had been a mere man, it would have been ridiculousin him to call himself "the Son of man;" but being God and man, it thenbecame, in his own assumption of it, a peculiar andmysterious title. So, ifChristhadbeenamereman,hissaying,"MyFatherisgreaterthanI,"(John,

xv. 28.)would have been as unmeaning. Itwould be laughable enough, forexample,tohearmesay,"My'Remorse'succeeded,indeed,butShakspeareisa greater dramatist than I." But how immeasurably more foolish, moremonstrous,woulditnotbeforaman,howeverhonest,good,orwise,tosay,"ButJehovahisgreaterthanI!"

May8.1824.

PLATOANDXENOPHON.—RELIGIONSOFTHEGREEKS.—EGYPTIANANTIQUITIES.—MILTON.—VIRGIL.

Plato's works are logical exercises for the mind. Little that is positive isadvanced in them. Socratesmay be fairly represented by Plato in themoremoral parts; but in all the metaphysical disquisitions it is Pythagoras.Xenophon'srepresentationofhismasterisquitedifferent.

Observe the remarkablecontrastbetween the religionof the tragicandotherpoets of Greece. The former are always opposed in heart to the populardivinities. In fact, there are the popular, the sacerdotal, and the mysteriousreligionsofGreece,representedroughlybyHomer,Pindar,andÆschylus.Theancients had no notion of a fall of man, though they had of his gradualdegeneracy. Prometheus, in the old mythus, and for the most part inAEschylus,istheRedeemerandtheDeviljumbledtogether.

I cannot say I expect much from mere Egyptian antiquities. Almost everythingreally,thatis,intellectually,greatinthatcountryseemstomeofGrecianorigin.

IthinknothingcanbeaddedtoMilton'sdefinitionorruleofpoetry,—thatitought to be simple, sensuous, and impassioned; that is to say, single inconception, abounding in sensible images, and informing them all with thespiritofthemind.

Milton'sLatinstyleis,Ithink,betterandeasierthanhisEnglish.Hisstyle,inprose,isquiteascharacteristicofhimasaphilosophicrepublican,asCowley'sisofhimasafirst-rategentleman.

IfyoutakefromVirgilhisdictionandmetre,whatdoyouleavehim?

June2.1824.

CRANVILLEPENNANDTHEDELUGE.—RAINBOW.

I confess I have small patience with Mr. Granville Penn's book againstProfessorBuckland.Sciencewillbesuperseded,ifeveryphenomenonistobereferred in thismanner to an actualmiracle. I think it absurd to attribute somuchtotheDeluge.Aninundation,whichleftanolive-treestanding,andboreupthearkpeacefullyonitsbosom,couldscarcelyhavebeenthesolecauseoftherentsanddislocationsobservableonthefaceoftheearth.Howcouldthetropical animals,whichhavebeendiscovered inEnglandand inRussia in aperfectlynatural state,havebeen transported thitherby sucha flood?Thoseanimalsmustevidentlyhavebeennativesofthecountriesinwhichtheyhavebeen found. The climates must have been altered. Assume a suddenevaporationupontheretiringoftheDelugetohavecausedanintensecold,thesolarheatmightnotbesufficientafterwardstoovercomeit.Idonotthinkthatthepolarcoldisadequatelyexplainedbymerecomparativedistancefromthesun.

Youwill observe, that there is nomentionof rainpreviously to theDeluge.Henceitmaybeinferred,thattherainbowwasexhibitedforthefirsttimeafterGod'scovenantwithNoah.However,Ionlysuggestthis.

TheEarthwithitsscarredfaceisthesymbolofthePast;theAirandHeaven,ofFuturity.

June5.1824.

ENGLISHANDGREEKDANCING.—GREEKACOUSTICS.

Thefondness fordancing inEnglishwomen is thereactionof their reservedmanners. It is the only way in which they can throw themselves forth innatural liberty. We have no adequate conception of the perfection of theancienttragicdance.ThepleasurewhichtheGreeksreceivedfromithadforits basisDifference and themore unfit the vehicle, themore livelywas thecuriosityandintensethedelightatseeingthedifficultyovercome.

Theancientscertainly seem tohaveunderstoodsomeprinciples inacousticswhichwehave lost, or, at least, theyapplied thembetter.Theycontrived toconvey the voice distinctly in their huge theatres bymeans of pipes,whichcreatednoechoorconfusion.Our theatres—DruryLaneandCoventGarden—are fit fornothing: they are too large for acting, and too small for abull-fight.

June7.1824.

LORDBYRON'SVERSIFICATION,ANDDONJUAN.

Howlamentably theartofversification isneglectedbymostof thepoetsofthepresentday!—byLordByron,asitstrikesme,inparticular,amongthoseofeminenceforotherqualities.Uponthewhole,IthinkthepartofDonJuaninwhichLambro'sreturntohishome,andLambrohimself,aredescribed,isthebest, that is, themost individual, thing inall IknowofLordB.'sworks.ThefestalabandonmentputsoneinmindofNicholasPoussin'spictures.

June10.1824.

PARENTALCONTROLINMARRIAGE.—MARRIAGEOFCOUSINS.—DIFFERENCEOFCHARACTER.

Up to twenty-one, I hold a father to have power over his children as tomarriage; after that age, authority and influence only. Showme one coupleunhappymerely on account of their limited circumstances, and Iwill showyoutenthatarewretchedfromothercauses.

Ifthematterwerequiteopen,Ishouldinclinetodisapprovetheintermarriageof first cousins; but the church has decided otherwise on the authority ofAugustine,andthatseemsenoughuponsuchapoint.

Youmaydependuponit,thataslightcontrastofcharacterisverymaterialtohappinessinmarriage.

February24.1827.

BLUMENBACHANDKANT'SRACES.—IAPETICANDSEMITIC.—HEBREW.—SOLOMON.

Blumenbachmakesfiveraces;Kant,three.Blumenbach'sscaleofdignitymaybethusfigured:—

1.CaucasianorEuropean.

2.Malay==2.American

3.Negro==3.Mongolian,Asiatic

There was, I conceive, one great Iapetic original of language, under whichGreek, Latin, and other European dialects, and, perhaps, Sanscrit, range asspecies.TheIapeticrace,;separatedintotwobranches;one,withatendencyto migrate south-west,—Greeks, Italians, &c.; and the other north-west,—Goths,Germans,Swedes,&c.TheHebrewisSemitic.

Hebrew, inpointof forceandpurity,seemsat itsheight in Isaiah. It ismostcorruptinDaniel,andnotmuchlesssoinEcclesiastes;whichIcannotbelievetohavebeenactuallycomposedbySolomon,butrathersupposetohavebeensoattributedbytheJews,intheirpassionforascribingallworksofthatsorttotheirgrandmonurque.

March10.1827.

JEWISHHISTORY.—SPINOZISTICANDHEBREWSCHEMES.

Thepeopleofallothernations,but theJewish,seemto lookbackwardsandalso to exist for the present; but in the Jewish scheme every thing isprospectiveandpreparatory;nothing,howevertrifling,isdoneforitselfalone,butallistypicalofsomethingyettocome.

IwouldrathercallthebookofProverbsSolomonianthanasactuallyaworkofSolomon's. So I apprehend many of the Psalms to be Davidical only, notDavid'sowncompositions.

You may state the Pantheism of Spinosa, in contrast with the Hebrew orChristianscheme,shortly,asthus:—

Spinosism.

W-G=0;i.e.theWorldwithoutGodisanimpossibleidea.G-W=0;i.e.GodwithouttheWorldissolikewise.

HebreworChristianscheme.

W-G=0;i.e.ThesameasSpinosa'spremiss.ButG-W=G;i.e.GodwithouttheWorldisGodtheself-subsistent.

March12.1827.

ROMANCATHOLICS.—ENERGYOFMANANDOTHERANIMALS.—SHAKSPEAREINMINIMIS.—PAULSARPI.—BARTRAM'S

TRAVELS.

Ihavenodoubt that the realobject closest to theheartsof the leading IrishRomanists is the destruction of the Irish Protestant church, and the re-establishment of their own. I thinkmore is involved in themanner than thematteroflegislatinguponthecivildisabilitiesofthemembersofthechurchofRome; and, for one, I should he willing to vote for a removal of thosedisabilities, with two or three exceptions, upon a solemn declaration beingmadelegislativelyinparliament,thatatnotime,norunderanycircumstances,couldor should a branchof theRomishhierarchy, as at present constituted,becomeanestateofthisrealm.

Internal or mental energy and external or corporeal modificability are ininverse proportions. In man, internal energy is greater than in any otheranimal;andyouwillsee thathe is lesschangedbyclimate thananyanimal.Forthehighestandlowestspecimensofmanarenotonehalfasmuchapartfromeachotherasthedifferentkindsevenofdogs,animalsofgreatinternalenergythemselves.

For an instance of Shakspeare's power inminimis, I generally quote JamesGurney'scharacter inKingJohn.Howindividualandcomicalhe iswith thefourwordsallowedtohisdramaticlife!AndpraylookatSkelton'sRichardSparrowalso!

Paul Sarpi's History of the Council of Trent deserves your study. It is veryinteresting.

ThelatestbookoftravelsIknow,writteninthespiritoftheoldtravellers,isBartram'saccountofhistourintheFloridas.Itisaworkofhighmeriteveryway.

March13.1827.

THEUNDERSTANDING.

A punwill sometimes facilitate explanation, as thus;—theUnderstanding isthat which stands under the phenomenon, and gives it objectivity. Youknowwhatathingisbyit.Itisalsoworthyofremark,thattheHebrewwordfor the understanding, Bineh, comes from a root

meaningbetweenordistinguishing.

March18.1827.

PARTSOFSPEECH.—GRAMMAR.

There are seven parts of speech, and they agree with the five grand anduniversaldivisionsintowhichallthingsfinite,bywhichImeantoexcludetheideaofGod,willbefoundtofall;thatis,asyouwilloftenseeitstatedinmywritings,especiallyintheAidstoReflection:—

Prothesis.1.Thesis.Mesothesis.Antithesis.2.4.3.Synthesis.5.

Conceiveitthus:—

1.Prothesis, thenoun-verb,orverb-substantive, Iam,which is thepreviousform,andimpliesidentityofbeingandact.

2.Thesis,thenoun.

3.Antithesis,theverb.

Note,eachofthesemaybeconverted;thatis, theyareonlyopposedtoeachother.

4.Mesothesis,theinfinitivemood,ortheindifferenceoftheverbandnoun,itbeing either the one or the other, or both at the same time, in differentrelations.

5. Synthesis, the participle, or the community of verb and noun; being andactingatonce.

Now,modifythenounbytheverb,thatis,byanact,andyouhave—

6.Theadnoun,oradjective.

Modifytheverbbythenoun,thatis,bybeing,andyouhave—

7.Theadverb.

Interjectionsarepartsofsound,notofspeech.Conjunctionsare thesameasprepositions;buttheyareprefixedtoasentence,ortoamemberofasentence,

insteadoftoasingleword.

Theinflectionsofnounsaremodificationsastoplace;theinflectionsofverbs,astotime.

Thegenitivecasedenotesdependence;thedative,transmission.Itisabsurdtotalkofverbsgoverning.InThucydides,Ibelieve,everycasehasbeenfoundabsolute.

Dative:—Thuc.VIII.24.ThisistheLatinusage.

Accusative.—IdonotrememberaninstanceoftheproperaccusativeabsoluteinThucydides;butitseemsnotuncommoninotherauthors:

Yetallsuchinstancesmaybenominatives;forIcannotfindanexampleoftheaccusativeabsoluteinthemasculineorfemininegender,wherethedifferenceofinflexionwouldshowthecase.—

The inflections of the tenses of a verb are formed by adjuncts of the verbsubstantive.InGreekitisobvious.TheEistheprefixsignificativeofapasttime.

—Thuc.II.53.]

_June15.1827.

MAGNETISM.—ELECTRICITY.—GALVANISM.

Perhapstheattributionoranalogymayseemfancifulatfirstsight,butIaminthehabitofrealizingtomyselfMagnetismaslength;Electricityasbreadthorsurface;andGalvanismasdepth.

June24.1827.

SPENSER.—CHARACTEROfOTHELLO.—HAMLET.—POLONIUS.—PRINCIPLESANDMAXIMS.—LOVE.—MEASUREFOR

MEASURE.—BENJONSON.—BEAUMONTANDFLETCHER.—VERSIONOFTHEBIBLE.—SPURZHEIM.—CRANIOLOGY.

Spenser's Epithalamion is truly sublime; and pray mark the swan-likemovementofhisexquisiteProthalamion.Hisattentiontometreandrhythmissometimessoextremelyminuteastobepainfuleventomyear,andyouknowhowhighlyIprizegoodversification.

I have often told you that I do not think there is any jealousy, properly so

called, in the character of Othello. There is no predisposition to suspicion,whichItaketobeanessentialterminthedefinitionoftheword.DesdemonaverytrulytoldEmiliathathewasnotjealous,thatis,ofajealoushabit,andhesayssoastrulyofhimself.Iago'ssuggestions,yousee,arequitenewtohim;theydonotcorrespondwithanythingofalikenaturepreviouslyinhismind.IfDesdemonahad,infact,beenguilty,noonewouldhavethoughtofcallingOthello'sconductthatofajealousman.Hecouldnotactotherwisethanhedidwiththelightshehad;whereas jealousycanneverbestrictlyright.SeehowutterlyunlikeOthelloistoLeontes,intheWinter'sTale,oreventoLeonatus,inCymbeline!The jealousyof the first proceeds froman evident trifle, andsomething like hatred is mingled with it; and the conduct of Leonatus inaccepting the wager, and exposing his wife to the trial, denotes a jealoustemperalreadyformed.

Hamlet'scharacteristheprevalenceoftheabstractingandgeneralizinghabitover thepractical.Hedoesnotwant courage, skill,will, or opportunity; buteveryincidentsetshimthinking;anditiscurious,andatthesametimestrictlynatural,thatHamlet,whoalltheplayseemsreasonitself,shouldheimpelled,atlast,bymereaccidenttoeffecthisobject.IhaveasmackofHamletmyself,ifImaysayso.

AMaximisaconclusionuponobservationofmattersoffact,andismerelyretrospective:anIdea,or,ifyoulike,aPrinciple,carriesknowledgewithinitself,andisprospective.Poloniusisamanofmaxims.Whilstheisdescantingonmattersofpastexperience,asinthatexcellentspeechtoLaertesbeforehesetsoutonhistravels,heisadmirable;butwhenhecomestoadviseorproject,heisameredotard.You see Hamlet, as the man of ideas, despiseshim.

AmanofmaximsonlyislikeaCyclopswithoneeye,andthateyeplacedinthebackofhishead.

InthescenewithOphelia,inthethirdact,Hamletisbeginningwithgreatandunfeigned tenderness; but, perceiving her reserve and coyness, fancies thereare some listeners, and then, to sustain his part, breaks out into all thatcoarseness.

Loveistheadmirationandcherishingoftheamiablequalitiesofthebelovedperson, upon the condition of yourself being the object of their action. Thequalitiesofthesexescorrespond.Theman'scourageislovedbythewoman,whose fortitude again is coveted by the man. His vigorous intellect isansweredbyherinfallibletact.Canitbetrue,whatissoconstantlyaffirmed,thatthereisnosexinsouls?—Idoubtit,Idoubtitexceedingly.

Measure for Measure is the single exception to the delightfulness of

Shakspeare's plays. It is a hateful work, although Shakspearian throughout.Our feelings of justice are grossly wounded in Angelo's escape. Isabellaherselfcontrivestobeunamiable,andClaudioisdetestable.

IaminclinedtoconsiderTheFoxasthegreatestofBenJonson'sworks.Buthissmallerworksarefullofpoetry.

MonsieurThomas and the littleFrenchLawyer are great favourites ofmineamongstBeaumontandFletcher'splays.Howthoseplaysoverflowwithwit!Andyet I scarcelyknowamoredeeply tragic scene anywhere than that inRollo, inwhichEdithpleads forher father's life,and then,whenshecannotprevail,risesupandimprecatesvengeanceonhismurderer.

OurversionoftheBibleis tobelovedandprizedforthis,asforathousandother things,—that it has preserved a purity of meaning to many terms ofnaturalobjects.Without thisholdfast,ourvitiated imaginationswould refineawaylanguagetomereabstractions.HencetheFrenchhavelosttheirpoeticallanguage; and Mr. BlancoWhite says the same thing has happened to theSpanish.

Ihave theperceptionof individual imagesverystrong,butadimoneof therelation of place. I remember theman or the tree, but where I saw them Imostlyforget.

Craniologyisworthsomeconsideration,althoughitismerelyinitsrudimentsand guesses yet. But all the coincidences which have been observed couldscarcelybebyaccident.Theconfusionandabsurdity,however,willbeendlessuntilsomenamesorpropertermsarediscoveredfortheorgans,whicharenottakenfromtheirmentalapplicationorsignificancy.Theforepartoftheheadisgenerally given up to the higher intellectual powers; the hinder part to thesensualemotions.

Silence does not always mark wisdom. I was at dinner, some time ago, incompanywithaman,wholistenedtomeandsaidnothingforalongtime;buthenoddedhishead,andIthoughthimintelligent.Atlength,towardstheendof thedinner, someappledumplingswereplacedon the table, andmymanhadno sooner seen them, than he burst forthwith—"Them's the jockies forme!"IwishSpurzheimcouldhaveexaminedthefellow'shead.

Some folks apply epithets as boys do inmaking Latin verses.When I firstlookedupontheFallsoftheClyde,Iwasunabletofindawordtoexpressmyfeelings.At last, aman, a stranger tome,whoarrivedabout the same time,said:—"Howmajestic!"—(Itwasthepreciseterm,andIturnedroundandwassaying—"Thank you, Sir! that is the exact word for it"—when headded,eodemflatu)—"Yes!howverypretty!"

July8.1827.

BULLANDWATERLAND.—THETRINITY.

BullandWaterlandaretheclassicalwritersontheTrinity.

IntheTrinitythereis,1.Ipseity.2.Alterity.3.Community.Youmayexpresstheformulathus:—

God,theabsoluteWillorIdentity,=Prothesis.TheFather=Thesis.TheSon=Antithesis.TheSpirit=Synthesis.

The author of the Athanasian Creed is unknown. It is, in my judgment,hereticalintheomission,orimplicitdenial,oftheFilialsubordinationintheGodhead,whichisthedoctrineoftheNiceneCreed,andforwhichBullandWaterlandhavesoferventlyandtriumphantlycontended;andbynotholdingtowhich,SherlockstaggeredtoandfrobetweenTritheismandSabellianism.This creed is also tautological, and, if not persecuting, which I will notdiscuss,certainlycontainingharshandill-conceivedlanguage.

HowmuchIregretthatsomanyreligiouspersonsofthepresentdaythinkitnecessarytoadoptacertaincantofmannerandphraseologyasatokentoeachother.Theymust improve this and that text, and theymust do so and so inaprayerfulway;andsoon.Whynotusecommonlanguage?Ayoungladytheotherdayurgeduponmethatsuchandsuchfeelingswerethemarrowofallreligion;uponwhich I recommendedher to try towalk toLondonuponhermarrow-bonesonly.

July9.1827.

SCALEOFANIMALBEING.

IntheverylowestlinkinthevastandmysteriouschainofBeing,thereisaneffort,althoughscarcelyapparent,atindividualization;butitisalmostlostinthemerenature.Alittlehigherup,theindividualisapparentandseparate,butsubordinatetoanythinginman.Atlength,theanimalrisestobeonaparwiththelowestpowerofthehumannature.Therearesomeofournaturaldesireswhichonly remain inourmostperfectstateonearthasmeansof thehigherpowers'acting.

July12.1827.

POPEDOM.—SCANDERBEG.—THOMASÀBECKET.—PUREAGESOFGREEK,ITALIAN,ANDENGLISH.—LUTHER.—BAXTER.—

ALGERNONSIDNEY'SSTYLE.—ARIOSTOANDTASSO.—PROSEANDPOETRY.—THEFATHERS.—RHENFERD.—JACOBBEHMEN.

WhatagrandsubjectforahistorythePopedomis!ThePopeoughtnevertohaveaffectedtemporalsway,buttohavelivedretiredwithinSt.Angelo,andtohavetrustedtothesuperstitiousaweinspiredbyhischaracterandoffice.HespoiledhischancewhenhemeddledinthepettyItalianpolitics.

Scanderbeg would be a very fine subject for Walter Scott; and so wouldThomasàBecket, if it isnotrather toomuchforhim.It involves inessencetheconflictbetweenarms,orforce,andthemenofletters.

Observethesuperiortruthoflanguage,inGreek,toTheocritusinclusively;inLatin,totheAugustanageexclusively;inItalian,toTassoexclusively;andinEnglish,toTaylorandBarrowinclusively.

Luther is, inparts, themostevangelicalwriterIknow,after theapostlesandapostolicmen.

Pray read with great attention Baxter's Life of himself. It is an inestimablework.ImaynotunfrequentlydoubtBaxter'smemory,orevenhiscompetence,inconsequenceofhisparticularmodesofthinking;butIcouldalmostassoondoubttheGospelverityashisveracity.

IamnotenoughreadinPuritandivinitytoknowtheparticularobjectionstothe surplice, over and above the general prejudice against the retenta ofPopery.Perhapsthatwastheonlyground,—afoolishoneenough.

In my judgment Bolingbroke's style is not in any respect equal to that ofCowleyorDryden.ReadAlgernonSidney;his style remindsyouas littleofbooksasofblackguards.Whatagentlemanhewas!

Burke'sEssay on the Sublime andBeautiful seems tome a poor thing; andwhathesaysuponTasteisneitherprofoundnoraccurate.

Well! I am for Ariosto against Tasso; though I would rather praise Aristo'spoetrythanhispoem.

I wish our clever young poets would remember my homely definitions ofprose and poetry; that is, prose = words in their best order;—poetry =

thebestwordsinthebestorder.

I conceive Origen, Jerome, and Augustine to be the three great fathers inrespectoftheology,andBasil,GregoryNazianzen,andChrysostominrespectofrhetoric.

RhenferdpossessedtheimmenselearningandrobustsenseofSelden,withtheacutenessandwitofJortin.

JacobBehmen remarked, that itwas notwonderful that therewere separatelanguagesforEngland,France,Germany,&c.;butratherthattherewasnotadifferentlanguageforeverydegreeoflatitude.Inconfirmationofwhich,seethe infinite variety of languages amongst the barbarous tribes of SouthAmerica.

July20.1827.

NON-PERCEPTIONOFCOLOURS.

Whatissaidofsomepersonsnotbeingabletodistinguishcolours,Ibelieve.Itmay proceed from general weakness, which will render the differencesimperceptible,justastheduskortwilightmakesallcoloursone.Thisdefectismostusualintheblueray,thenegativepole.

I conjecture thatwhen finer experimentshavebeenapplied, the red,yellow,andorangerayswillbefoundascapableofcommunicatingmagneticactionastheotherrays,though,perhaps,underdifferentcircumstances.Rememberthis,ifyouarealivetwentyyearshence,andthinkofme.

July21.1827.

RESTORATION.—REFORMATION.

The elements had been well shaken together during the civil wars andinterregnumundertheLongParliamentandProtectorate;andnothingbutthecowardliness and impolicy of theNonconformists, at theRestoration, couldhavepreventedarealreformationonawiderbasis.Butthetruthis,bygoingover toBredawith their stiff flatteries to the hollow-heartedKing, they putSheldonandthebishopsonthesideoftheconstitution.

TheReformationin thesixteenthcenturynarrowedReform.Assoonasmenbegantocallthemselvesnames,allhopeoffurtheramendmentwaslost.

July23.1827.

WILLIAMIII.—BERKELEY.—SPINOSA.—GENIUS.—ENVY.—LOVE.

William the Third was a greater and much honester man than any of hisministers. I believe every one of them, except Shrewsbury, has now beendetectedincorrespondencewithJames.

Berkeley can only be confuted, or answered, by one sentence. So it iswithSpinosa.Hispremissgranted,thedeductionisachainofadamant.

Geniusmayco-existwithwildness, idleness, folly, evenwithcrime;butnotlong, believe me, with selfishness, and the indulgence of an enviousdisposition. Envy is *, as I once saw it expressed somewhere in a page ofStobaeus:itdwarfsandwithersitsworshippers.

Theman'sdesireisforthewoman;butthewoman'sdesireisrarelyotherthanforthedesireoftheman.

August29.1827.

JEREMYTAYLOR.—HOOKER.—IDEAS.—KNOWLEDGE.

JeremyTaylorisanexcellentauthorforayoungmantostudy,forthepurposeof imbibing noble principles, and at the same time of learning to exercisecautionandthoughtindetectinghisnumerouserrors.

Imustacknowledge,withsomehesitation,thatIthinkHookerhasbeenalittleover-creditedforhisjudgment.

Take as an instance of an idea the continuity and coincident distinctness ofnature;orthis,—vegetablelifeisalwaysstrivingtobesomethingthatitisnot;animal life tobe itself.Hence, inaplant theparts,as the root, thestem, thebranches,leaves,&c.remainaftertheyhaveeachproducedorcontributedtoproduce a different status of the whole plant: in an animal nothing of theprevious states remains distinct, but is incorporated into, and constitutes

progressively,theveryself.

Toknowanythingforcertainistohaveaclearinsightintotheinseparabilityof thepredicate fromthesubject (thematter fromthe form),andviceversâ.This isaverbaldefinition,—arealdefinitionofa thingabsolutelyknown isimpossible. Iknow a circle,when Iperceive that theequalityof allpossibleradii from the centre to the circumference is inseparable from the idea of acircle.

August30.1827.

PAINTING.

Paintingistheintermediatesomewhatbetweenathoughtandathing.

April13.1830.

PROPHECIESOFTHEOLDTESTAMENT.—MESSIAH.—JEWS.—THETRINITY.

IfthepropheciesoftheOldTestamentarenotrightlyinterpretedofJesusourChrist,thenthereisnopredictionwhatevercontainedinitofthatstupendousevent—theriseandestablishmentofChristianity—incomparisonwithwhichalltheprecedingJewishhistoryisasnothing.Withtheexceptionofthebookof Daniel, which the Jews themselves never classed among the prophecies,andanobscuretextofJeremiah,thereisnotapassageinalltheOldTestamentwhichfavoursthenotionofatemporalMessiah.Whatmoralobjectwasthere,forwhichsuchaMessiahshouldcome?WhatcouldhehavebeenbutasortofvirtuousSesostrisorBuonaparte?

I know that some excellent men—Israelites without guile—do not, in fact,expecttheadventofanyMessiah;butbelieve,orsuggest,thatitmaypossiblyhavebeenGod'swillandmeaning, that theJewsshouldremainaquiet lightamongthenationsfor thepurposeofpointingat thedoctrineof theunityofGod. Towhich I say, that this truth of the essential unity of God has beenpreserved,andgloriouslypreached,byChristianityalone.TheRomansnevershutuptheirtemples,norceasedtoworshipahundredorathousandgodsandgoddesses,at thebiddingof theJews; thePersians, theHindus, theChinese,learnednothingofthisgreattruthfromtheJews.ButfromChristianstheydid

learnitinvariousdegrees,andarestilllearningit.ThereligionoftheJewsis,indeed,a light;but it isas the lightof theglow-worm,whichgivesnoheat,andilluminesnothingbutitself.

Ithasbeenobjectedtome,thatthevulgarnotionsoftheTrinityareatvariancewith this doctrine; and itwas added,whether as flattery or sarcasmmattersnot, that few believers in the Trinity thought of it as I did. Towhich againhumbly,yetconfidently,Ireply,thatmysuperiorlight,ifsuperior,consistsinnothingmore than this,—that I more clearly see that the doctrine of TrinalUnityisanabsolutetruthtranscendingmyhumanmeansofunderstandingit,ordemonstratingit.Imayormaynotbeabletouttertheformulaofmyfaithinthismysteryinmorelogicaltermsthansomeothers;butthisIsay,Goandask themostordinaryman,aprofessedbeliever in thisdoctrine,whetherhebelieves inandworshipsapluralityofGods,andhewillstartwithhorroratthebaresuggestion.Hemaynotbeable toexplainhiscreed inexact terms;buthewilltellyouthathedoesbelieveinoneGod,andinoneGodonly,—reasonaboutitasyoumay.

What all the churches of the East andWest, what Romanist and Protestantbelieveincommon,thatIcallChristianity.InnopropersenseofthewordcanI call Unitarians and Socinians believers in Christ; at least, not in the onlyChristofwhomIhavereadorknowanything.

April14,1830.

CONVERSIONOFTHEJEWS.—JEWSINPOLAND.

There is no hope of converting the Jews in the way and with the spiritunhappilyadoptedbyourchurch;and,indeed,byallothermodernchurches.In the first age, the JewishChristiansundoubtedly considered themselves asthe seedofAbraham, towhom thepromisehadbeenmade; and, as such, asuperiororder.WitnesstheaccountofSt.Peter'sconductintheActs,andtheEpistle to theGalatians. St. Paul protested against this, so far as it went tomakeJewishobservancescompulsoryonChristianswhowerenotofJewishblood, and so far as it in anyway led to bottom the religionon theMosaiccovenantofworks;butheneverdeniedthebirthrightof thechosenseed:onthecontrary,hehimselfevidentlybelievedthattheJewswouldultimatelyberestored;andhesays,—IftheGentileshavebeensoblestbytherejectionofthe Jews, how much rather shall they be blest by the conversion andrestoration of Israel!Why dowe expect the Jews to abandon their nationalcustoms and distinctions? The Abyssinian church said that they claimed a

descent from Abraham; and that, in virtue of such ancestry, they observedcircumcision:butdeclaringwithal, that they rejected thecovenantofworks,and rested on the promise fulfilled in Jesus Christ. In consequence of thisappeal,theAbyssinianswerepermittedtoretaintheircustoms.

IfRhenferd'sEssaysweretranslated—iftheJewsweremadeacquaintedwiththe real argument—if theywere addressed kindly, andwere not required toabandon their distinctive customs and national type, but were invited tobecome Christians as of the seed of Abraham—I believe there would be aChristiansynagogueinayear'stime.Asitis,theJewsofthelowerordersaretheverylowestofmankind;theyhavenotaprincipleofhonestyinthem;tograspandbegettingmoneyforeveristheirsingleandexclusiveoccupation.AlearnedJewoncesaidtome,uponthissubject:—"OSir!maketheinhabitantsofHollywellStreetandDuke'sPlaceIsraelitesfirst,andthenwemaydebateaboutmakingthemChristians."

InPoland, theJewsaregreat landholders,andare theworstof tyrants.Theyhave no kind of sympathywith their labourers and dependants. They nevermeetthemincommonworship.Land,inthehandofalargenumberofJews,insteadofbeing,whatitoughttobe,theorganofpermanence,wouldbecometheorganofrigidity,inanation;bytheirintermarriageswithintheirownpale,itwouldbeinfactperpetuallyentailed.Then,again,ifapopulartumultweretotakeplaceinPoland,whocandoubtthattheJewswouldbethefirstobjectsofmurderandspoliation?

April17.1830.

MOSAICMIRACLES.—PANTHEISM.

In themiraclesofMoses, there isa remarkable interminglingofacts,whichwe shouldnow-a-days call simplyprovidential,with suchaswe should stillcallmiraculous.Thepassingof the Jordan, in the3dchapterof thebookofJoshua, is perhaps the purest and sheerest miracle recorded in the Bible; itseemstohavebeenwroughtforthemiracle'ssake,andsotherebytoshowtothe Jews—the descendants of those who had come out of Egypt— thatthesameGodwhohadappearedtotheirfathers,andwhohadbymiracles,inmany respects providential only, preserved them in the wilderness,was their God also. The manna and quails were ordinary provisions ofProvidence, rendered miraculous by certain laws and qualities annexed tothemintheparticularinstance.ThepassageoftheRedSeawaseffectedbyastrongwind,which,wearetold,drovehackthewaters;andsoon.Butthen,

again, the death of the first-born was purely miraculous. Hence, then, bothJewsandEgyptiansmighttakeoccasiontolearn,thatitwasoneandthesameGodwhointerferedspecially,andwhogovernedallgenerally.

TakeawaythefirstverseofthehookofGenesis,andthenwhatimmediatelyfollowsisanexacthistoryorsketchofPantheism.PantheismwastaughtinthemysteriesofGreece;ofwhichtheSamothracianorCabeiricwereprobablythepurestandthemostancient.

April18.1830.

POETICPROMISE.

Inthepresentageitisnexttoimpossibletopredictfromspecimens,howeverfavourable,thatayoungmanwillturnoutagreatpoet,orratherapoetatall.Poetictaste,dexterityincomposition,andingeniousimitation,oftenproducepoems that are very promising in appearance. But genius, or the power ofdoingsomethingnew,isanotherthing.Mr.Tennyson'ssonnets,suchasIhaveseen,havemanyofthecharacteristicexcellenciesofthoseofWordsworthandSouthey.

April19.1830.

It is a small thing that the patient knows of his own state; yet some thingshedoesknowbetterthanhisphysician.

Ineverhad,andnevercouldfeel,anyhorroratdeath,simplyasdeath.

Goodandbadmenareeachlesssothantheyseem.

April30.1830.

NOMINALISTSANDREALISTS.—BRITISHSCHOOLMEN.—SPINOSA.

Theresultofmysystemwillbe,toshow,that,sofarfromtheworldbeingagoddessinpetticoats,itisrathertheDevilinastraitwaistcoat.

Thecontroversyof theNominalistsandRealistswasoneof thegreatestandmostimportantthateveroccupiedthehumanmind.Theywerebothright,andbothwrong. They eachmaintained opposite poles of the same truth; which

truthneitherofthemsaw,forwantofahigherpremiss.DunsScotuswastheheadoftheRealists;Ockham,hisowndisciple,oftheNominalists.Ockham,thoughcertainlyveryprolix,isamostextraordinarywriter.

It is remarkable, that two thirds of the eminent schoolmen were of Britishbirth.ItwastheschoolmenwhomadethelanguagesofEuropewhattheynoware. We laugh at the quiddities of those writers now, but, in truth, thesequidditiesare just thepartsof their languagewhichwehaverejected;whilstweneverthinkofthemasswhichwehaveadopted,andhaveindailyuse.

OneofthescholasticdefinitionsofGodisthis,—Deusest,cuiomnequodestestesseomnequodest:aslongasentencemadeupofasfewwords,andthoseas oligosyllabic, as any I remember.By the by, thatoligosyllabic is awordhappilyillustrativeofitsownmeaning,exopposito.

Spinosa, at the very end of his life, seems to have gained a glimpse of thetruth. In the last letter published in his works, it appears that he began tosuspect his premiss. His unica substantia is, in fact, a mere notion, —asubjectofthemind,andnoobjectatall.

Plato'sworksarepreparatoryexercisesforthemind.Heleadsyoutosee,thatpropositions involving in themselves contradictory conceptions, areneverthelesstrue;andwhich,therefore,mustbelongtoahigherlogic—thatofideas. They are contradictory only in the Aristotelian logic, which is theinstrumentoftheunderstanding.IhavereadmostoftheworksofPlatoseveraltimeswithprofound attention, but not all hiswritings. In fact, I soon foundthatIhadreadPlatobyanticipation.Hewasaconsummategenius.

Mymind is in a state of philosophical doubt as to animalmagnetism. VonSpix,theeminentnaturalist,makesnodoubtofthematter,andtalkscoollyofgivingdosesofit.Thetorpedoaffectsathirdorexternalobject,byanexertionof its own will: such a power is not properly electrical; for electricity actsinvariably under the same circumstances. A steady gaze will make manypersonsoffaircomplexionsblushdeeply.Accountforthat.

May1.1830.

FALLOFMAN.—MADNESS.—BROWNANDDARWIN.—NITROUSOXIDE.

AFallofsomesortorother—thecreation,asitwere,ofthenon-absolute—isthe fundamental postulate of the moral history of man. Without thishypothesis,manisunintelligible;withit,everyphenomenonisexplicable.The

mysteryitselfistooprofoundforhumaninsight.

Madnessisnotsimplyabodilydisease.Itisthesleepofthespiritwithcertainconditionsofwakefulness;thatistosay,lucidintervals.Duringthissleep,orrecessionofthespirit,thelowerorbestialstatesofliferiseupintoactionandprominence. It is an awful thing to be eternally tempted by the pervertedsenses.Thereasonmayresist—itdoesresist—foralongtime;buttoooften,atlength,ityieldsforamoment,andthemanismadforever.Anactofthewillis, inmany instances, precedent to complete insanity. I think itwasBishopButler who said, that he was "all his life struggling against the devilishsuggestionsofhissenses,"whichwouldhavemaddenedhim,ifhehadrelaxedthesternwakefulnessofhisreasonforasinglemoment.

Brown's and Darwin's theories are both ingenious; but the first will notaccountforsleep,andthelastwillnotaccountfordeath:considerabledefects,youmustallow.

Itissaidthateveryexcitationisfollowedbyacommensurateexhaustion.Thatisnot so.Theexcitation causedby inhalingnitrousoxide is an exceptionatleast; it leavesnoexhaustionontheburstingof thebubble.Theoperationofthis gas is to prevent the decarbonating of the blood; and, consequently, iftaken excessively, it would produce apoplexy. The blood becomes black asink. The voluptuous sensation attending the inhalation is produced by thecompressionandresistance.

May2.1830.

PLANTS.—INSECTS.—MEN.—DOG.—ANTANDBEE.

Plants exist in themselves. Insects by, or by means of, themselves.Men,forthemselves.Theperfectionofirrationalanimalsisthatwhichisbestfor them; the perfection of man is that which is absolutely best. There isgrowthonlyinplants;butthereisirritability,or,abetterword,instinctivity,ininsects.

Youmayunderstandbyinsect,lifeinsections—diffusedgenerallyoveralltheparts.

Thedogalone,ofallbruteanimals,hasa,oraffectionupwardstoman.

The ant and the bee are, I think,much nearerman in the understanding orfacultyofadaptingmeanstoproximateendsthantheelephant.

May3.1830.

BLACKCOLONEL.

What an excellent character is the blackColonel inMrs. Bennett's "BeggarGirl!"

If an inscriptionbeput uponmy tomb, itmaybe that Iwas an enthusiasticloverofthechurch;andasenthusiasticahaterofthosewhohavebetrayedit,betheywhotheymay.

May4.1830.

HOLLANDANDTHEDUTCH.

HollandandtheNetherlandsoughttobeseenonce,becausenoothercountryislikethem.Everythingisartificial.Youwillbestruckwiththecombinationsofvividgreenery,andwater,andbuilding;butevery thing is sodistinctandrememberable, that youwould not improve your conception by visiting thecountry a hundred times over. It is interesting to see a country and anaturemade,asitwere,byman,andtocompareitwithGod'snature.

Ifyougo, remark, (indeedyouwill be forced todo so in spiteofyourself,)remark, I say, the identity (for it is more than proximity) of a disgustingdirtiness in all that concerns the dignity of, and reverence for, the humanperson; and a persecuting painted cleanliness in every thing connectedwithproperty.Youmustnotwalkintheirgardens;nay,youmusthardlylookintothem.

TheDutchseemveryhappyandcomfortable,certainly;butitisthehappinessofanimals.Invaindoyoulookforthesweetbreathofhopeandadvancementamongthem.Infact,astotheirvillasandgardens,theyarenottobecomparedtoanordinaryLondonmerchant'sbox.

May5.1830.

RELIGIONGENTILIZES.—WOMENANDMEN.—BIBLICALCOMMENTATORS.—WALKERITECREED.

Youmaydependuponit,religionis,initsessence,themostgentlemanlythingintheworld.Itwillalonegentilize,ifunmixedwithcant;andIknownothingelsethatwill,alone.Certainlynotthearmy,whichisthoughttobethegrandembellisherofmanners.

Awoman's head is usually over ears in her heart.Man seems to have beendesignedforthesuperiorbeingofthetwo;butasthingsare,Ithinkwomenaregenerally better creatures than men. They have, taken universally, weakerappetitesandweakerintellects,buttheyhavemuchstrongeraffections.Amanwith a bad heart has been sometimes saved by a strong head; but a corruptwomanislostforever.

Inevercouldgetmuchinformationoutofthebiblicalcommentators.Cocceiushas told me the most; but he, and all of them, have a notable trick ofpassingsiccissimispedibusoverthepartswhichpuzzleamanofreflection.

TheWalkeritecreed,ordoctrineoftheNewChurch,asitiscalled,appearstobeamiscellanyofCalvinismandQuakerism;butitishardtounderstandit.

May7,1830.

HORNETOOKE.——DIVERSIONSOFPURLEY.——GENDEROFTHESUNINGERMAN.

Horne Tooke was pre-eminently a ready-witted man. He had that clearnesswhich is founded on shallowness.He doubted nothing; and, therefore, gaveyouallthathehimselfknew,ormeant,withgreatcompleteness.Hisvoicewasvery fine, and his tones exquisitely discriminating. His mind had noprogressionordevelopement.Allthatisworthanything(andthatisbutlittle)in theDiversions ofPurley is contained in a short pamphlet-letterwhich headdressedtoMr.Dunning;thenitwasenlargedtoanoctavo,huttherewasnotafootofprogressionbeyondthepamphlet;atlast,aquartovolume,1believe,came out; and yet, verily, excepting newspaper lampoons and politicalinsinuations,therewasnoadditiontotheargumentofthepamphlet,Itshowsabase and unpoetical mind to convert so beautiful, so divine, a subject aslanguageintothevehicleormake-weightofpoliticalsquibs.AllthatistrueinHorneTooke'sbookistakenfromLennep,whogaveitforsomuchasitwasworth,andneverpretendedtomakeasystemofit.Tookeaffectstoexplaintheorigin and whole philosophy of language by what is, in fact, only a mereaccidentofthehistoryofonelanguage,oroneortwolanguages.HisabuseofHarris ismost shallow and unfair. Harris, in theHermes, was dealing—notvery profoundly, it is true,—with the philosophy of language, the moral,

physical, andmetaphysicalcausesandconditionsof it,&c.HorneTooke, inwriting about the formation of words only, thought he was explaining thephilosophyof language,which is a very different thing. In point of fact, hewas very shallow in the Gothic dialects. I must say, all that decantatafabulaabout thegendersof thesunandmooninGermanseemstomegreatstuff.Originally, I apprehend, in thePlatt-Deutsch of the north ofGermanythere were only two definite articles—die for masculine and feminine,anddasforneuter.Thenitwasdiesonne,inamasculinesense,aswesaywiththe same word as article, the sun. Luther, in constructing the Hoch-Deutsch (for really his miraculous and providential translation of the BiblewasthefundamentalactofconstructionoftheliteraryGerman),tookforhisdistinctmasculinearticlethederoftheOber-Deutsch,andthusconstitutedthethreearticlesofthepresentHighGerman,der,die,das.Naturally,therefore,itwouldthenhavebeen,dersonne;butheretheanalogyoftheGreekgrammarprevailed,andassonnehadthearbitraryfeminineterminationoftheGreek,itwas left with its old article die, which, originally including masculine andfeminineboth,hadgrown todesignate the feminineonly.To thebestofmyrecollection, the Minnesingers and all the old poets always use the sun asmasculine; and, since Luther's time, the poets feel the awkwardness of theclassical gender affixed to the sun so much, that they more commonlyintroducePhoebusorsomeothersynonymeinstead.Imustacknowledgemydoubts,whether,uponmoreaccurateinvestigation,itcanbeshownthatthereeverwasanationthatconsideredthesuninitself,andapartfromlanguage,asthefemininepower.Themoondoesnotsoclearlydemandafeminineasthesundoesamasculinesex:itmightbeconsiderednegativelyorneuter;—yetifthe reception of its light from the sunwere known, thatwould have been agoodreasonformakingherfeminine,asbeingtherecipientbody.

AsourthewastheGermandie, so Ibelieveour that stoodfordas,andwasusedasaneuterdefinitearticle.

ThePlatt-Deutsch was a compact language like the English, not admittingmuchagglutination.TheOber-Deutschwasfullerandfonderofagglutinatingwordstogether,althoughitwasnotsosoftinitssounds.

May8.1830.

HORNETOOKE.—JACOBINS.

HorneTookesaidthathisfriendsmight,iftheypleased,goasfarasSlough,—heshouldgonofartherthanHounslow;butthatwasnoreasonwhyheshould

not keep them company so far as their roadswere the same.The answer iseasy.Supposeyouknow,orsuspect,thatamanisabouttocommitarobberyatSlough, thoughyoudonotmean tobehis accomplice, haveyouamoralrighttowalkarminarmwithhimtoHounslow,and,bythusgivinghimyourcountenance,preventhisbeingtakenup?Thehistoryofalltheworldtellsus,thatimmoralmeanswilleverinterceptgoodends.

Enlist theinterestsofsternmoralityandreligiousenthusiasminthecauseofpoliticalliberty,asinthetimeoftheoldPuritans,anditwillbeirresistible;butthe Jacobins played the whole game of religion, and morals, and domestichappiness into the hands of the aristocrats. Thank God! that they did so.England was saved from civil war by their enormous, their providential,blundering.

Can a politician, a statesman, slight the feelings and the convictions of thewhole matronage of his country? The women are as influential upon suchnationalinterestsasthemen.

Horne Tookewas alwaysmaking a butt ofMr.Godwin;who, nevertheless,hadthatinhimwhichTookecouldneverhaveunderstood.IsawagooddealofTookeatonetime:heleftuponmetheimpressionofhisbeingakeen,ironman.

May9.1830.

PERSIANANDARABICPOETRY.—MILESIANTALES.

ImustacknowledgeInevercouldseemuchmeritinthePersianpoetry,whichI have read in translation.There is not a ray of imagination in it, andbut aglimmeringoffancy.Itis,infact,sofarasIknow,deficientintruth.Poetryiscertainly somethingmore thangood sense, but itmust begood sense, at allevents;justasapalaceismorethanahouse,butitmustbeahouse,atleast.The Arabian Nights' Tales are a different thing—they are delightful, but Icannot help surmising that there is a gooddeal ofGreek fancy in them.NodoubtwehavehadagreatlossintheMilesianTales.ThebookofJobispureArabpoetryofthehighestandmostantiquecast.

Thinkof thesublimity, I should rather say theprofundity,of thatpassage inEzekiel, "Son ofman, can these bones live?And I answered,OLordGod,thouknowest."Iknownothinglikeit.

May11.1830.

SIRT.MONRO.—SIRS.RAFFLES.—CANNING.

Sir Thomas Monro and Sir Stamford Raffles were both great men; but Irecognise more genius in the latter, though, I believe, the world saysotherwise.

I never foundwhat I call an idea in any speechorwritingof——'s.Thoseenormouslyprolixharanguesareaproofofweaknessinthehigherintellectualgrasp.Canninghadasenseofthebeautifulandthegood;—-rarelyspeaksbuttoabuse,detract,anddegrade.Iconfinemyselftoinstitutions,ofcourse,anddo not mean personal detraction. In my judgment, no man can rightlyapprehend an abuse till he has first mastered the idea of the use of aninstitution. How fine, for example, is the idea of the unhiredmagistracy ofEngland,takinginandlinkingtogethertheduketothecountrygentlemaninthe primary distribution of justice, or in the preservation of order andexecutionoflawatleastthroughoutthecountry!Yetsomemenneverseemtohave thought of it for one moment, but as connected with brewers, andbarristers, and tyrannical Squire Westerns! From what I saw of Homer, Ithoughthimasuperiorman,inrealintellectualgreatness.

Canningflashedsuchalightaroundtheconstitution,thatitwasdifficulttoseetheruinsofthefabricthroughit.

May12.1830.

SHAKSPEARE.—MILTON.—HOMER.

Shakspeare is the Spinosistic deity—an omnipresent creativeness.Milton isthedeityofprescience;hestandsabextra,anddrivesafierychariotandfour,makingthehorsesfeeltheironcurbwhichholdsthemin.Shakspeare'spoetryischaracterless;thatis,itdoesnotreflecttheindividualShakspeare;butJohnMilton himself is in every line of the Paradise Lost. Shakspeare's rhymedversesareexcessivelycondensed,—epigramswiththepointeverywhere;butinhisblankdramaticverseheisdiffused,withalinkedsweetnesslongdrawnout. No one can understand Shakspeare's superiority fully until he hasascertained, by comparison, all that which he possessed in common withseveralothergreatdramatistsofhisage,andhas thencalculated thesurpluswhichisentirelyShakspeare'sown.Hisrhythmissoperfect,thatyoumaybe

almostsure thatyoudonotunderstandtherealforceofa line, if itdoesnotrunwellasyoureadit.Thenecessarymentalpauseaftereveryhemistichorimperfect line is always equal to the time that would have been taken inreadingthecompleteverse.

I have no doubt whatever that Homer is a mere concrete name for therhapsodiesof the Iliad.Of course therewasaHomer,and twentybesides. Iwill engage to compile twelve books with characters just as distinct andconsistentasthoseintheIliad,fromthemetricalballads,andotherchroniclesofEngland,aboutArthurand theKnightsof theRoundTable. Isaynothingabout moral dignity, but the mere consistency of character. The differentqualitieswere traditional. Tristram is always courteous, Lancelot invincible,and so on.The samemight be donewith the Spanish romances of theCid.There is no subjectivity whatever in the Homeric poetry. There is asubjectivity of the poet, as of Milton, who is himself before himself ineverything hewrites; and there is a subjectivity of thepersona, or dramaticcharacter,asinallShakspeare'sgreatcreations,Hamlet,Lear,&c.

May14.1830.

REASONANDUNDERSTANDING.—WORDSANDNAMESOFTHINGS.

Until you have mastered the fundamental difference, in kind, between thereason and the understanding as faculties of the human mind, you cannotescapeathousanddifficultiesinphilosophy.Itispre-eminentlytheGradusadPhilosophiam.

Thegeneralharmonybetween theoperationsof themindandheart, and thewordswhich express them in almost all languages, iswonderful;whilst theendless discrepancies between the names of things is very well deservingnotice.TherearenearlyahundrednamesinthedifferentGermandialectsforthe alder-tree. I believemanymore remarkable instances are to be found inArabic. Indeed, you may take a very pregnant and useful distinctionbetweenwordsandmerearbitrarynamesofthings.

May15.1830.

THETRINITY.—IRVING.

TheTrinityis,1.theWill;2.theReason,orWord;3.theLove,orLife.Aswedistinguishthesethree,sowemustunitetheminoneGod.Theunionmustbeastranscendantasthedistinction.

Mr. Irving's notion is tritheism,—nay, rather in terms, tri-daemonism. Hisopinion about the sinfulness of the humanity of our Lord is absurd, ifconsideredinonepointofview;forbodyisnotcarcass.Howcantherebeasinfulcarcass?Butwhathesaysiscapableofasounderinterpretation.Irvingcaughtmanythingsfromme;buthewouldneverattendtoanythingwhichhethought he could not use in the pulpit. I told him the certain consequencewouldbe,thathewouldfallintogrievouserrors.Sometimeshehasfiveorsixpages together of the purest eloquence, and then an outbreak of almostmadman'sbabble.

May16.1830.

ABRAHAM.—ISAAC.—JACOB.

Howwonderfully beautiful is the delineation of the characters of the threepatriarchsinGenesis!Tobesure, ifevermancould,withoutimpropriety,becalled,orsupposedtobe,"thefriendofGod,"Abrahamwasthatman.Wearenot surprised that Abimelech and Ephron seem to reverence him soprofoundly. He was peaceful, because of his conscious relation to God; inother respects, he takes fire, like anArah sheikh, at the injuries sufferedbyLot,andgoestowarwiththecombinedkinglingsimmediately.

Isaacis,asitwere,afaintshadowofhisfatherAbraham.Borninpossessionofthepowerandwealthwhichhisfatherhadacquired,heisalwayspeacefuland meditative; and it is curious to observe his timid and almost childishimitation ofAbraham's stratagem about hiswife. Isaac does it before-hand,andwithoutanyapparentnecessity.

Jacob is a regular Jew, and practises all sorts of tricks and wiles, which,accordingtoourmodernnotionsofhonour,wecannotapprove.Butyouwillobservethatallthesetricksareconfinedtomattersofprudentialarrangement,toworldly success and prosperity (for such, in fact, was the essence of thebirthright);andIthinkwemustnotexactfrommenofanimperfectlycivilizedage the same conduct as tomere temporal and bodily abstinencewhichwehavearighttodemandfromChristians.Jacobisalwayscarefulnottocommitany violence; he shudders at bloodshed. Seehisdemeanourafterthe

vengeancetakenontheSchechemites.HeistheexactcompoundofthetimidityandgentlenessofIsaac,andoftheunderhandcraftinessofhismotherRebecca.Nomancouldbeabadmanwho lovedashe lovedRachel. IdaresayLaban thoughtnone theworseofJacobforhisplanofmaking theewesbringforthring-streakedlambs.

May17.1830.

ORIGINOFACTS.—LOVE.

Ifaman'sconductcannotbeascribedtotheangelic,nortothebestialwithinhim,what is there left forus to refer to it,but thefiendish?Passionwithoutanyappetiteisfiendish.

The best way to bring a clever youngman, who has become sceptical andunsettled,toreason,istomakehimfeelsomethinginanyway.Love,ifsincereand unworldly, will, in nine instances out of ten, bring him to a sense andassurance of something real and actual; and that sense alone will makehimthinktoasoundpurpose,insteadofdreamingthatheisthinking.

"Nevermarrybutforlove,"saysWilliamPenninhisReflexionsandMaxims;"butseethatthoulovestwhatislovely."

May18.1830.

LORDELDON'SDOCTRINEASTOGRAMMARSCHOOLS.—DEMOCRACY.

Lord Eldon's doctrine, that grammar schools, in the sense of the reign ofEdwardVI.andQueenElizabeth,mustnecessarilymeanschoolsforteachingLatin and Greek, is, I think, founded on an insufficient knowledge of thehistory and literature of the sixteenth century. Ben Jonson uses the term"grammar"withoutanyreferencetothelearnedlanguages.

It is intolerablewhenmen,who have no other knowledge, have not even acompetentunderstandingofthatworldinwhichtheyarealwaysliving,andtowhichtheyrefereverything.

Althoughcontemporaryeventsobscurepastevents ina livingman's life,yetas soon as he is dead, and his whole life is amatter of history, one action

standsoutasconspicuouslyasanother.

Ademocracy, according to theprescriptofpure reason,would, in fact,beachurch.Therewouldhefocalpointsinit,butnosuperior.

May20.1830.

THEEUCHARIST.—ST.JOHN,xix.11.—GENUINENESSOFBOOKSOFMOSES.—DIVINITYOFCHRIST.—MOSAICPROPHECIES.

Nodoubt,Chrysostom,andtheotherrhetoricalfathers,contributedagooddeal,bytheirrashuseoffigurativelanguage,toadvancethesuperstitiousnotionoftheeucharist;butthebeginninghadbeenmuchearlier.In Clement,indeed,themysteryistreatedasitwastreatedbySaintJohnandSaintPaul;butinHermasweseetheseedsoftheerror,andmoreclearlyinIrenaeus;andsoitwentontilltheideawaschangedintoanidol.

TheerrorsoftheSacramentaries,ontheonehand,andoftheRomanistsontheother, are equally great. The first have volatilized the eucharist into ametaphor;thelasthavecondenseditintoanidol.

JeremyTaylor, in his zeal against transubstantiation, contends that the latterpartofthesixthchapterofSt.John'sGospelhasnoreferencetotheeucharist.Ifso,St.Johnwhollypassesoverthissacredmystery;forhedoesnotincludeitinhisnoticeofthelastsupper.Wouldnotatotalsilenceofthisgreatapostleand evangelist upon this mystery be strange? A mystery, I say; for it is amystery; it is the onlymystery in our religiousworship.Whenmanyof thedisciplesleftourLord,andapparentlyontheverygroundthatthissayingwashard,hedoesnotattempttodetainthembyanyexplanation,butsimplyaddsthe comment, that his words were spirit. If he had really meant that theeucharist should he a mere commemorative celebration of his death, is itconceivable thathewouldlet thesedisciplesgoawayfromhimuponsuchagross misunderstanding? Would he not have said, "You need not make adifficulty;Ionlymeansoandso?"

Arnauld, and the other learned Romanists, are irresistible against the lowsacramentarydoctrine.

The sacrament of baptism applies itself, and has reference to the faith orconviction, and is, therefore, only to be performed once;—it is the light ofman.Thesacramentoftheeucharistisasymbolofallourreligion;—itisthelifeofman.Itiscommensuratewithourwill,andwemust,therefore,wantitcontinually.

Themeaningof theexpression, , "except itweregiven thee fromabove," inthe19thchapterofSt.John,ver.11.,seemstometohavebeengenerallyandgrosslymistaken. It is commonly understood as importing that Pilate couldhavenopower todeliverJesus to theJews,unless ithadbeengivenhimbyGod,which,nodoubt,istrue;butifthatisthemeaning,whereistheforceorconnectionofthefollowingclause,,"thereforehethatdeliveredmeuntotheehaththegreatersin?"InwhatrespectweretheJewsmoresinfulindeliveringJesus up, becausePilate could do nothing except by God's leave? Theexplanation of Erasmus andClarke, and some others, is very dry- footed. IconceivethemeaningofourLordtohavebeensimplythis,thatPilatewouldhavehadnopowerorjurisdiction——overhim,ifithadnotbeengivenbytheSanhedrin, the,and therefore itwas that theJewshadthegreatersin.Therewas also this further peculiar baseness andmalignity in the conduct of theJews.ThemereassumptionofMessiahship,assuch,wasnocrimeintheeyesoftheJews;theyhatedJesus,becausehewouldnotbetheirsortofMessiah:on theotherhand, theRomans carednot forhis declaration that hewas theSonofGod;thecrimeintheireyeswashisassumingtobeaking.Now,hereweretheJewsaccusingJesusbeforetheRomangovernorofthatwhich,inthefirstplace,theyknewthatJesusdeniedinthesenseinwhichtheyurgedit,andwhich, in the next place, had the charge been true,would have been so farfromacrimeintheireyes,thattheverygospelhistoryitself,aswellasallthehistorytothedestructionofJerusalem,showsitwouldhavebeenpopularwiththewholenation.Theywishedtodestroyhim,andforthatpurposechargehimfalselywithacrimewhichyetwasnocrimeintheirowneyes,ifithadbeentrue;butonlysoasagainsttheRomandomination,whichtheyhatedwithalltheirsouls,andagainstwhichtheywerethemselvescontinuallyconspiring!

Observe,Ipray,themannerandsenseinwhichthehigh-priestunderstandstheplaindeclarationofourLord,thathewastheSonofGod."IadjuretheebythelivingGod, that thoutelluswhether thoube theChrist, theSonofGod,"or"theSonoftheBlessed,"asitisinMark.Jesussaid,"Iam,—andhereafteryeshall see the Son of man (or me) sitting on the right hand of power, andcominginthecloudsofheaven."DoesCaiaphastakethisexplicitanswerasifJesusmeant thathewas fullofGod'sspirit,orwasdoinghiscommands,orwalkinginhisways,inwhichsenseMoses,theprophets,nay,allgoodmen,wereandarethesonsofGod?No,no!Hetearshisrobesinsunder,andcriesout, "He hath spoken blasphemy.What further need havewe ofwitnesses?Behold,nowyehaveheardhisblasphemy."Whatblasphemy,Ishouldliketoknow, unless the assuming to be the "Son of God" was assuming to be ofthedivinenature?

One striking proof of the genuineness of the Mosaic books is this,—theycontain precise prohibitions—by way of predicting the consequences of

disobedience—ofallthosethingswhichDavidandSolomonactuallydid,andgloried in doing,—raising cavalry, making a treaty with Egypt, laying uptreasure, and polygamising. Now, would such prohibitions have beenfabricatedinthosekings'reigns,orafterwards?Impossible.

ThemannerofthepredictionsofMosesisveryremarkable.Heislikeamanstandingonaneminence, andaddressingpeoplebelowhim,andpointing tothingswhichhe can, and they cannot, see.Hedoesnot say,Youwill act insuchandsuchaway,andtheconsequenceswillbesoandso;but,Soandsowilltakeplace,becauseyouwillactinsuchaway!

May21.1830.

TALENTANDGENIUS.—MOTIVESANDIMPULSES.

Talent,lyingintheunderstanding,isofteninherited;genius,beingtheactionofreasonandimagination,rarelyornever.

Motivesimplyweakness,andtheexistenceofevilandtemptation.Theangelicnaturewouldactfromimpulsealone.Aduemeanofmotiveandimpulseistheonlypracticableobjectofourmoralphilosophy.

May23.1830.

CONSTITUTIONALANDFUNCTIONALLIFE.—HYSTERIA.—HYDRO-CARBONICGAS.—BITTERSANDTONICS.—SPECIFIC

MEDICINES.

Itisagreaterrorinphysiologynottodistinguishbetweenwhatmaybecalledthegeneralorfundamental life—theprincipiumvitae,and thefunctional life—thelifeinthefunctions.Organizationmustpresupposelifeasanteriortoit:without life, therecouldnotbeor remainanyorganization;but then there isalsoa life in the organs, or functions, distinct from the other. Thus, a flutepresupposes,—demands theexistenceofamusicianasanterior to it,withoutwhomnoflutecouldeverhaveexisted;andyetagain,withouttheinstrumenttherecanbenomusic.

Itoftenhappensthat,ontheonehand,theprincipiumvitae,orconstitutionallife, may be affected without any, or the least imaginable, affection of the

functions;asininoculation,whereonepustuleonlyhasappeared,andnootherperceptible symptom, andyet this has so entered into the constitution, as toindispose it to infection under themost accumulated and intense contagion;and, on the other hand, hysteria, hydrophobia, and gout will disorder thefunctionstothemostdreadfuldegree,andyetoftenleavethelifeuntouched.Inhydrophobia,themindisquitesound;butthepatientfeelshismuscularandcutaneouslifeforciblyremovedfromunderthecontrolofhiswill.

Hysteriamaybefitlycalledmimosa,fromitscounterfeitingsomanydiseases,—evendeathitself.

Hydro-carbonic gas produces the most death-like exhaustion, without anypreviousexcitement.Ithinkthisgasshouldbeinhaledbywayofexperimentincasesofhydrophobia.

There is a great difference between bitters and tonics. Where weaknessproceeds fromexcessof irritability, therebittersactbeneficially;becauseallbittersarepoisons,andoperatebystilling,anddepressing,andlethargizingtheirritability. But where weakness proceeds from the opposite cause ofrelaxation, there tonics are good; because they brace up and tighten theloosened string. Bracing is a correct metaphor. Bark goes near to be acombinationofabitterandatonic;butnoperfectmedicalcombinationofthetwopropertiesisyetknown.

The studyof specificmedicines is toomuchdisregardednow.Nodoubt thehuntingafterspecificsisamarkofignoranceandweaknessinmedicine,yettheneglectofthemisproofalsoofimmaturity;for,infact,allmedicineswillbefoundspecificintheperfectionofthescience.

May25.1830.

EPISTLESTOTHEEPHESIANSANDCOLOSSIANS.—OATHS.

TheEpistle to theEphesians is evidently a catholic epistle, addressed to thewhole of what might be called St. Paul's diocese. It is one of the divinestcompositionsofman.ItembraceseverydoctrineofChristianity;—first,thosedoctrinespeculiar toChristianity,andthen thosepreceptscommonto itwithnaturalreligion.TheEpistletotheColossiansistheoverflowing,asitwere,ofSt.Paul'sminduponthesamesubject.

Thepresentsystemoftakingoathsishorrible.Itisawfullyabsurdtomakeaman invoke God's wrath upon himself, if he speaks false; it is, in myjudgment,asin todoso.TheJews'oath isanadjurationbythe judgeto the

witness:"InthenameofGod,Iaskyou."Thereisanexpressinstanceofitinthehigh-priest'sadjuringorexorcisingChristbythelivingGod,inthetwenty-sixth chapter ofMatthew, and youwill observe that our Lord answered theappeal.

You may depend upon it, the more oath-taking, the more lying, generallyamongthepeople.

May27.1830.

FLOGGING.—ELOQUENCEOFABUSE.

Ihadonejustflogging.WhenIwasaboutthirteen,Iwenttoashoemaker,andbegged him to take me as his apprentice. He, being an honest man,immediatelybroughtme toBowyer,whogot into a great rage, knockedmedown,andevenpushedCrispinrudelyoutoftheroom.BowyeraskedmewhyIhadmademyselfsuchafool?towhichIanswered,thatIhadagreatdesiretobeashoemaker,and that Ihated the thoughtofbeingaclergyman."Whyso?" saidhe.—"Because, to tellyou the truth, sir," said I, "I aman infidel!"For this, without more ado, Bowyer flogged me,— wisely, as I think,—soundly, as I know. Any whining or sermonizing would have gratified myvanity,andconfirmedmeinmyabsurdity;asitwas,Iwaslaughedat,andgotheartilyashamedofmyfolly.

HowrichtheAristophanicGreekisintheeloquenceofabuse!—

We are not behindhand in English. Fancy my calling you, upon a fittingoccasion,—Fool, sot, silly, simpleton, dunce, blockhead, jolterhead, clumsy-pate, dullard, ninny, nincompoop, lackwit, numpskull, ass, owl, loggerhead,coxcomb,monkey, shallow-brain, addle-head, tony, zany, fop, fop-doodle; amaggot-pated,hare-brained,muddle-pated,muddle-headed,Jackan-apes!WhyIcouldgoonforaminutemore!

May28.1830.

THEAMERICANS.

Ideeplyregrettheanti-Americanarticlesofsomeoftheleadingreviews.TheAmericansregardwhatissaidoftheminEnglandathousandtimesmorethan

they do any thing said of them in any other country. The Americans areexcessively pleased with any kind or favourable expressions, and neverforgiveorforgetanyslightorabuse.Itwouldbebetterforthemiftheywereatriflethicker-skinned.

ThelastAmericanwarwastousonlysomethingtotalkorreadabout;buttotheAmericansitwasthecauseofmiseryintheirownhomes.

I, for one, do not call the sod under my feet my country. But language,religion, laws, government, blood,—identity in these makes men of onecountry.

May29.1830.

BOOKOFJOB.

TheBookofJob isanArabpoem,antecedent to theMosaicdispensation. Itrepresentsthemindofagoodmannotenlightenedbyanactualrevelation,butseeking about for one. In no other book is the desire and necessity for aMediator so intensely expressed. The personality of God, the I AM of theHebrews,ismostvividlyimpressedonthebook,inoppositiontopantheism.

Inowthink,aftermanydoubts, that thepassage,"IknowthatmyRedeemerliveth,"&c.mayfairlybetakenasaburstofdetermination,aquasiprophecy."Iknownothowthiscanbe;butinspiteofallmydifficulties,thisIdoknow,thatIshallberecompensed."

Itshouldbeobserved,thatalltheimageryinthespeechesofthemenistakenfrom the East, and is no more than a mere representation of the forms ofmaterialnature.ButwhenGodspeaks,thetoneisexalted;andalmostalltheimagesaretakenfromEgypt,thecrocodile,thewar-horse,andsoforth.Egyptwasthenthefirstmonarchythathadasplendidcourt.

Satan, in the prologue, does notmean the devil, our Diabolus. There is nocalumnyinhiswords.Heisratherthecircuitor,theaccusingspirit,adramaticattorney-general. But after the prologue, which was necessary to bring theimaginationintoaproperstateforthedialogue,wehearnomoreofthisSatan.

Warburton's notion, that the Book of Job was of so late a date as Ezra, iswhollygroundless.HisonlyreasonisthisappearanceofSatan.

May30.1830.

TRANSLATIONOFTHEPSALMS.

Iwish thePsalmswere translated afresh; or, rather, that the present versionwererevised.Scoresofpassagesareutterly incoherentas theynowstand.Ifthe primary visual images had been oftener preserved, the connection andforceofthesentenceswouldhavebeenbetterperceived.

May31.1830.

ANCIENTMARINER.—UNDINE.—MARTIN.—PILGRIM'SPROGRESS.

Mrs.BarbauldoncetoldmethatsheadmiredtheAncientMarinerverymuch,butthatthereweretwofaultsinit,—itwasimprobable,andhadnomoral.Asfortheprobability,Iownedthatthatmightadmitsomequestion;butastothewantofamoral,Itoldherthatinmyownjudgmentthepoemhadtoomuch;and that the only, or chief fault, if Imight say so,was the obtrusion of themoralsentimentsoopenlyonthereaderasaprincipleorcauseofactioninaworkofsuchpureimagination.Itoughttohavehadnomoremoral thantheArabianNights'taleofthemerchant'ssittingdowntoeatdatesbythesideofawell, and throwing the shells aside, and lo! a genie starts up, and sayshemust kill the aforesaid merchant, because one of the date shells had, itseems,putouttheeyeofthegenie'sson.

I tookthethoughtof"grinning for joy," in thatpoem,frommycompanion'sremarktome,whenwehadclimbedtothetopofPlinlimmon,andwerenearlydeadwiththirst.Wecouldnotspeakfromtheconstriction,tillwefoundalittlepuddle under a stone.He said tome,—"You grinned like an idiot!"He haddonethesame.

Undine isamostexquisitework. Itshowsthegeneralwantofanysenseforthe fine and the subtle in the public taste, that this romancemade no deepimpression. Undine's character, before she receives a soul, is marvellouslybeautiful.

Itseemstome,thatMartinneverlooksatnatureexceptthroughbitsofstainedglass. He is never satisfied with any appearance that is not prodigious. HeshouldendeavourtoschoolhisimaginationintotheapprehensionofthetrueideaoftheBeautiful.

Thewood-cutofSlay-goodisadmirable,tobesure;butthisneweditionofthePilgrim'sProgress is toofineabookfor it. It shouldbemuch larger,andonsixpennycoarsepaper.

The Pilgrim's Progress is composed in the lowest style of English, withoutslangorfalsegrammar.Ifyouweretopolishit,youwouldatoncedestroytherealityofthevision.Forworksofimaginationshouldbewritteninveryplainlanguage;themorepurelyimaginativetheyarethemorenecessaryitistobeplain.

This wonderful work is one of the few books which may be read overrepeatedly at different times, and each time with a new and a differentpleasure. I read itonceasa theologian—and letmeassureyou, that there isgreat theological acumen in the work—once with devotional feelings—andonceasapoet.IcouldnothavebelievedbeforehandthatCalvinismcouldbepaintedinsuchexquisitelydelightfulcolours.

June1.1830.

PRAYER.—CHURCH-SINGING.—HOOKER.—DREAMS.

Therearethreesortsofprayer:—1.Public;2.Domestic;3.Solitary.Eachhasits peculiar uses and character. I think the church ought to publish andauthoriseadirectoryofformsforthelattertwo.YetIfeartheexecutionwouldbe inadequate.There isagreatdecayofdevotionalunction in thenumerousbooks of prayers put out now-a-days. I really think the hawker was veryhappy,whoblunderedNewFormofPrayerintoNewformerPrayers.

I exceedingly regret thatour churchpays so little attention to the subjectofcongregational singing. See how it is! In that particular part of the publicworship inwhich,more than in all the rest, the commonpeoplemight, andoughtto,join,—which,byitsassociationwithmusic,ismeanttogiveafittingventandexpressiontotheemotions,—inthatpartweallsingasJews;or,atbest,asmeremen,intheabstract,withoutaSaviour.YouknowmyvenerationfortheBookofPsalms,ormostofit;butwithsomehalfdozenexceptions,thePsalms are surely not adequate vehicles of Christian thanksgiving and joy!Upon this deficiency in our service,Wesley andWhitfield seized; and youknowitistheheartycongregationalsingingofChristianhymnswhichkeepsthehumblerMethodiststogether.LutherdidasmuchfortheReformationbyhishymnsasbyhistranslationoftheBible.InGermany,thehymnsareknownbyheartbyeverypeasant:theyadvise,theyarguefromthehymns,andeverysoulinthechurchpraisesGod,likeaChristian,withwordswhicharenatural

andyetsacredtohismind.NodoubtthisdefectinourserviceproceededfromthedreadwhichtheEnglishReformershadofbeingchargedwithintroducinganythingintotheworshipofGodbutthetextofScripture.

Hooker said,—That by looking for that in the Bible which it is impossiblethatanybook can have,we lose the benefitswhichwemight reap from itsbeingthebestofallbooks.

You will observe, that even in dreams nothing is fancied without anantecedentquasicause.Itcouldnotbeotherwise.

June4.1830.

JEREMYTAYLOR.—ENGLISHREFORMATION.

Taylor'swas a great and lovelymind; yet howmuch and injuriouslywas itpervertedbyhisbeingafavouriteandfollowerofLaud,andbyhisintenselypopishfeelingsofchurchauthority.HisLibertyofProphesying isaworkofwonderful eloquence and skill; but ifwe believe the argument,what dowecometo?Whytonothingmoreorlessthanthis,that—somuchcanbesaidforeveryopinionandsect,—soimpossibleisittosettleanythingbyreasoningorauthority of Scripture,—we must appeal to some positive jurisdiction onearth, ut sit finis controversiarum. In fact, the whole book is the preciseargument used by the Papists to induce men to admit the necessity of asupreme and infallible head of the church on earth. It is one of the workswhichpreeminentlygivescountenancetothesayingofCharlesorJamesII.,Iforget which:—"When you of the Church of England contend with theCatholics,youusetheargumentsofthePuritans;whenyoucontendwiththePuritans, you immediately adopt all the weapons of the Catholics." Taylornever speaks with the slightest symptom of affection or respect of Luther,Calvin,oranyotherofthegreatreformers—atleast,notinanyofhislearnedworks;buthesaints every trumperymonkand friar,down to thevery latestcanonizationsbythemodernpopes.Ifearyouwillthinkmeharsh,whenIsaythat I believe Taylor was, perhaps unconsciously, half a Socinian in heart.Suchastrangeinconsistencywouldnotbeimpossible.TheRomishchurchhasproducedmany suchdevoutSocinians.The cross ofChrist is dimly seen inTaylor'sworks.ComparehiminthisparticularwithDonne,andyouwillfeelthe difference in a moment. Why are not Donne's volumes of sermonsreprintedatOxford?

InthereignofEdwardVI.,theReformersfearedtoadmitalmostanythingonhumanauthorityalone.Theyhadseenandfelt theabusesconsequenton the

popish theory of Christianity; and I doubt not they wished and intended toreconstructthereligionandthechurch,asfaraswaspossible,upontheplanoftheprimitiveages?ButthePuritanspushedthisbiastoanabsolutebibliolatry.Theywouldnotputonacorn-plasterwithoutscrapingatextoverit.Menoflearning, however, soon felt that this was wrong in the other extreme, andindeed united itself to the very abuse it seemed to shun. They saw that aknowledgeoftheFathers,andofearlytradition,wasabsolutelynecessary;andunhappily, in many instances, the excess of the Puritans drove the men oflearningintotheoldpopishextremeofdenyingtheScripturestobecapableofaffordingaruleoffaithwithoutthedogmasofthechurch.TaylorisastrikinginstancehowfaraProtestantmightbedriveninthisdirection.

June6.1830.

CATHOLICITY.—GNOSIS.—TERTULLIAN.—ST.JOHN.

In thefirstcentury,catholicitywas the testofabookorepistle—whether itwereoftheEvangeliconorApostolicon—beingcanonical.Thiscatholicspiritwas opposed to the gnostic or peculiar spirit,—the humour of fantasticalinterpretationof theoldScriptures intoChristianmeanings. It is thisgnosis,orknowingness, which theApostle says puffeth up,—not knowledge, aswetranslate it.TheEpistleofBarnabas,of thegenuinenessofwhich I havenosortofdoubt,isanexampleofthisgnosticspirit.TheEpistletotheHebrewsis theonlyinstanceofgnosis in thecanon: itwaswrittenevidentlybysomeapostolical man before the destruction of the Temple, and probably atAlexandria.For threehundredyears, andmore, itwasnot admitted into thecanon,especiallynotby theLatinchurch,onaccountof thisdifference in itfromtheotherScriptures.Butitsmeritwassogreat,andthegnosisinitissokept within due bounds, that its admirers at last succeeded, especially byaffixingSt.Paul'snametoit,tohaveitincludedinthecanon;whichwasfirstdone,Ithink,bythecouncilofLaodiceainthemiddleofthefourthcentury.Fortunatelyforusitwasso.

IbegTertullian'spardon;butamongsthismanybravuras,hesayssomethingaboutSt.Paul'sautograph.Origenexpresslydeclaresthereverse.

Itisdelightfultothink,thatthebelovedapostlewasbornaPlato.Tohimwasleft the almost oracular utterance of the mysteries of the Christian religionwhile to St. Paul was committed the task of explanation, defence, andassertion of all the doctrines, and especially of those metaphysical onestouching thewill and grace; forwhich purpose his activemind, his learned

education,andhisGreeklogic,madehimpre-eminentlyfit.

June7.1830.

PRINCIPLESOFAREVIEW.—PARTY-SPIRIT.

Notwithstanding what you say, I am persuaded that a review would amplysucceed even now, which should be started upon a published code ofprinciples, critical, moral, political, and religious; which should announcewhat sort of books it would review, namely, works of literature ascontradistinguished fromall thatoffspringof thepress,which in thepresentage supplies food for the craving caused by the extended ability of readingwithout any correspondent education of the mind, and which formerly wasdonebyconversation,andwhichshouldreallygiveafairaccountofwhattheauthor intended to do, and in his own words, if possible, and in addition,affordoneortwofairspecimensoftheexecution,—itselfneverdescendingforone moment to any personality. It should also be provided before thecommencement with a dozen powerful articles upon fundamental topics toappear in succession. You see the great reviewers are now ashamed ofreviewing works in the old style, and have taken up essay writing instead.Hencearose suchpublications as theLiteraryGazette andothers,whichareset up for the purpose—not a useless one—of advertizing new books of allsorts for the circulating libraries. A mean between the two extremes stillremainstobetaken.

Party men always hate a slightly differing friend more than a downrightenemy.Iquitecalculateonmybeingonedayorotherholdeninworsereputeby many Christians than the Unitarians and open infidels. It must beundergonebyeveryonewholovesthetruthforitsownsakebeyondallotherthings.

Truthisagooddog;butbewareofbarkingtooclosetotheheelsofanerror,lestyougetyourbrainskickedout.

June10.1830.

SOUTHEY'SLIFEOFBUNYAN.—LAUD.—PURITANSANDCAVALIERS.—PRESBYTERIANS,INDEPENDENTS,ANDBISHOPS.

Southey'sLifeofBunyanisbeautiful. Iwishhehadillustratedthatmoodofmindwhichexaggerates,andstillmore,mistakes,theinwarddepravation,asinBunyan,Nelson,andothers,byextractsfromBaxter'sLifeofhimself.Whatgenuinesuperstitionisexemplifiedinthatbandyingoftextsandhalftexts,anddemi-semi-texts,justasmemoryhappenedtosuggestthem,orchancebroughtthembeforeBunyan'smind!Histract,entitled,"GraceaboundingtotheChiefofSinners"isastudyforaphilosopher.

forexample,Rabelais,as if tobreak theblow,and toappearunconsciousofwhathehasdone,writesachapterortwoofpurebuffoonery.

He,everynowandthen,flashesyouaglimpseofarealfacefromhismagiclantern,andthenburiesthewholesceneinmist.Themoralityoftheworkisofthemostrefinedandexaltedkind;asforthemanners,tobesure,Icannotsaymuch.

SwiftwasanimaRabelaisiihabitansinsicco,—thesoulofRabelaisdwellinginadryplace.

YetSwiftwasrare.Canany thingbeathis remarkonKingWilliam'smotto,—Recepit,nonrapuit,—"thatthereceiverwasasbadasthethief?"

TheeffectoftheTorywitsattackingBentleywithsuchacrimonyhasbeentomakethemappearasetofshallowandincompetentscholars.NeitherBentleynorBurnetsufferedfromthehostilityofthewits.Burnet's"HistoryofhisownTimes" is a truly valuable book.His credulity is great, but his simplicity isequallygreat;andheneverdeceivesyouforamoment.

June25.1830.

GIOTTO.—PAINTING.

The frescopaintingsbyGiottoandothers, in thecemeteryatPisa, aremostnoble. Giotto was a contemporary of Dante: and it is a curious question,whether the painters borrowed from the poet, or vice versa. Certainly M.AngeloandRaffaelfedtheir imaginationshighlywiththesegranddrawings,especiallyM.Angelo,whotookfromthemhisboldyetgracefullines.

PeoplemaysaywhattheypleaseaboutthegradualimprovementoftheArts.Itisnot trueof thesubstance.TheArtsandtheMusesbothspringforthin theyouth of nations, likeMinerva from the front of Jupiter, all armed:manualdexteritymay,indeed,heimprovedbypractice.

Paintingwentoninpowertill,inRaffael,itattainedthezenith,andinhimtoo

itshowedsignsofatendencydownwardsbyanotherpath.Thepainterbeganto think of overcoming difficulties. After this the descent was rapid, tillsculptorsbegantoworkinveteratelikenessesofperriwigsinmarble,—asseeAlgarotti's tombinthecemeteryatPisa,—andpaintersdidnothingbutcopy,aswellastheycould,theexternalfaceofnature.Now,inthisage,wehaveasortofreviviscence,—not,Ifear,ofthepower,butofatasteforthepower,oftheearlytimes.

June26.1830.

SENECA.

Youmaygetamottoforeverysectinreligion,orlineofthoughtinmoralsorphilosophy,fromSeneca;butnothingiseverthoughtoutbyhim.

July2.1830.

PLATO.—ARISTOTLE.

EverymanisbornanAristotelian,oraPlatonist.IdonotthinkitpossiblethatanyonebornanAristoteliancanbecomeaPlatonist;and IamsurenobornPlatonist can ever change into an Aristotelian. They are the two classes ofmen, beside which it is next to impossible to conceive a third. The oneconsidersreasonaquality,orattribute;theotherconsidersitapower.Ibelievethat Aristotle never could get to understand what Plato meant by an idea.There is a passage, indeed, in the Eudemian Ethics which looks like anexception; but I doubt not of its being spurious, as that whole work issupposedbysometobe.WithPlatoideasareconstitutiveinthemselves.

Aristotlewas,andstillis,thesovereignlordoftheunderstanding;thefacultyjudgingbythesenses.Hewasaconceptualist,andnevercouldraisehimselfintothathigherstate,whichwasnaturaltoPlato,andhasbeensotoothers,inwhich the understanding is distinctly contemplated, and, as it were, lookeddownuponfromthethroneofactualideas,orliving,inborn,essentialtruths.

YetwhatamindwasAristotle's—onlynotthegreatestthateveranimatedthehuman form!—the parent of science, properly so called, the master ofcriticism,andthefounderoreditoroflogic!Butheconfoundedsciencewithphilosophy,whichisanerror.Philosophyisthemiddlestatebetweenscience,

orknowledge,andsophia,orwisdom.

are not Aristotle's. To what passage in particular allusion is here made, Icannotexactlysay;manymightbealleged,butnotoneseemstoexpressthetruePlatonicidea,asMr.Coleridgeusedtounderstandit;andas,Ibelieve,heultimately considered ideas in his ownphilosophy.Fourteenor fifteenyearspreviously,he seems tohavebeenundecidedupon thispoint. "Whether,"hesays, "ideas are regulative only, according to Aristotle and Kant, orlikewiseconstitutive,andonewiththepowerandlifeofnature,accordingtoPlato and Plotinus is the highest problem of philosophy, and not part of itsnomenclature."Essay(E)intheAppendixtotheStatesman'sManual,1816.—

July4.1830.

DUKEOFWELLINGTON.—MONEYEDINTEREST.—CANNING.

IsometimesfeartheDukeofWellingtonistoomuchdisposedtoimaginethathecangovernagreatnationbywordofcommand,inthesamewayinwhichhegovernedahighlydisciplinedarmy.Heseemstobeunaccustomedto,andtodespise,theinconsistencies,theweaknesses,theburstsofheroismfollowedbyprostrationandcowardice,whichinvariablycharacteriseallpopularefforts.He forgets that, after all, it is from such efforts that all the great and nobleinstitutionsoftheworldhavecome;andthat,ontheotherhand,thedisciplineandorganizationofarmieshavebeenonly like theflightof thecannon-ball,theobjectofwhichisdestruction.

Thestock-jobbingandmoneyedinterestissostronginthiscountry,thatithasmore than once prevailed in our foreign councils over national honour andnationaljustice.Thecountrygentlemenarenotslowtojoininthisinfluence.Canningfelt thisverykeenly,andsaidhewasunable tocontendagainst thecitytrained-bands.

July6,1830.

BOURRIENNE.

Bourienne isadmirable.Heis theFrenchPepys,—amanwithright feelings,butalwayswishingtoparticipateinwhatisgoingon,beitwhatitmay.Hehasoneremark,whencomparingBuonapartewithCharlemagne,thesubstanceof

whichIhaveattemptedtoexpressin"TheFriend"butwhichBourriennehascondensed into a sentenceworthy of Tacitus, orMachiavel, or Bacon. It isthis;thatCharlemagnewasabovehisage,whilstBuonapartewasonlyabovehis competitors, but under his age!Bourrienne has donemore than anyoneelsetoshowBuonapartetotheworldashereallywas,—alwayscontemptible,exceptwhenactingapart,andthatpartnothisown.

July8.1830.

JEWS.

The other day I was what youwould call floored by a Jew. He passedmeseveral times crying out for old clothes in themost nasal and extraordinarytone I everheard.At last Iwas soprovoked, that I said tohim, "Pray,whycan'tyousay'oldclothes'inaplainwayasIdonow?"TheJewstopped,andlookingverygravelyatme,saidinaclearandevenfineaccent,"Sir,Icansay'oldclothes'aswellasyoucan;butifyouhadtosaysotentimesaminute,foranhourtogether,youwouldsayOghCloasIdonow;"andsohemarchedoff.Iwassoconfoundedwiththejusticeofhisretort,thatIfollowedandgavehimashilling,theonlyoneIhad.

Ihavehadagooddeal todowith Jews in thecourseofmy life, although Ineverborrowedanymoneyofthem.OnceIsatinacoachoppositeaJew—asymbolofoldclothes'bags—anIsaiahofHollywellStreet.Hewouldclosethewindow;Iopenedit.Hecloseditagain;uponwhich,inaverysolemntone,Isaidtohim,"SonofAbraham!thousmellest;sonofIsaac!thouartoffensive;sonofJacob!thoustinkestfoully.Seethemaninthemoon!heisholdinghisnoseattheeatthatdistance;dostthouthinkthatI,sittinghere,canendureitany longer?"MyJewwasastounded,opened thewindow forthwithhimself,andsaid,"hewassorryhedidnotknowbeforeIwassogreatagentleman."

July24.1830.

THEPAPACYANDTHEREFORMATION.—LEOX.

Duringtheearlypartofthemiddleages,thepapacywasnothing,infact,butaconfederationofthelearnedmeninthewestofEuropeagainstthebarbarismand ignoranceof the times.ThePopewas chief of this confederacy; and so

long as he retained that character exclusively, his power was just andirresistible.Itwastheprincipalmeanofpreservingforusandforourposterityallthatwenowhaveoftheilluminationofpastages.ButassoonasthePopemadeaseparationbetweenhischaracteraspremierclerkinChristendomandasasecularprince;assoonashebegantosquabblefortownsandcastles;thenheatoncebrokethecharm,andgavebirthtoarevolution.Fromthatmoment,those who remained firm to the cause of truth and knowledge becamenecessary enemies to the Roman See. The great British schoolmen led theway;thenWiclifferose,Huss,Jerome,andothers;—inshort,everywhere,butespeciallythroughoutthenorthofEurope,thebreachoffeelingandsympathywent on widening,—so that all Germany, England, Scotland, and othercountries started like giants out of their sleep at the first blast of Luther'strumpet. In France, one half of the people—and that the most wealthy andenlightened— embraced the Reformation. The seeds of it were deeply andwidelyspreadinSpainandinItaly;andastothelatter,ifJamesI.hadbeenanElizabeth, I have no doubt at all that Venice would have publicly declareditselfagainstRome.It isaprofoundquestiontoanswer,whyit is, thatsincethemiddleofthesixteenthcenturytheReformationhasnotadvancedonestepinEurope.

InthetimeofLeoX.atheism,orinfidelityofsomesort,wasalmostuniversalinItalyamongstthehighdignitariesoftheRomishchurch.

July27.1830.

THELWALL.—SWIFT.—STELLA.

JohnThelwallhadsomethingverygoodabouthim.WewereoncesittinginabeautifulrecessintheQuantocks,whenIsaidtohim,"CitizenJohn,thisisafineplacetotalktreasonin!"—"Nay!CitizenSamuel,"repliedhe,"itisratheraplacetomakeamanforgetthatthereisanynecessityfortreason!"

Thelwallthoughtitveryunfairtoinfluenceachild'smindbyinculcatinganyopinions before it should have come to years of discretion, and be able tochooseforitself.Ishowedhimmygarden,andtoldhimitwasmybotanicalgarden. "How so?" said he, "it is covered with weeds."—"Oh," I replied,"that isonlybecause ithasnotyetcome to itsageofdiscretionandchoice.Theweeds,yousee,havetakenthelibertytogrow,andIthoughtitunfairinmetoprejudicethesoiltowardsrosesandstrawberries."

I think Swift adopted the name of Stella, which is a man's name, with afemininetermination,todenotethemysteriousepicenerelationinwhichpoor

MissJohnstonstoodtohim.

July28.1830.

INIQUITOUSLEGISLATION.

Thatlegislationisiniquitouswhichsetslawinconflictwiththecommonandunsophisticated feelingsofournature. If Iwereaclergyman inasmugglingtown, Iwouldnot preach against smuggling. Iwould not bemade a sort ofclerical revenue officer. Let the government,which by absurd duties fosterssmuggling, prevent it itself, if it can. How could I show my hearers theimmorality of going twentymiles in a boat, and honestly buyingwith theirmoney a keg of brandy, except by a long deduction which they could notunderstand?Butwere I in a placewherewreckingwent on, see if Iwouldpreachonanythingelse!

July29.1830.

SPURZHEIMANDCRANIOLOOY.

Spurzheim is a good man, and I like him; but he is dense, and the mostignorant German I ever knew. If he had been content with stating certainremarkablecoincidencesbetweenthemoralqualitiesandtheconfigurationoftheskull,itwouldhavebeenwell;butwhenhebegantomapoutthecraniumdogmatically,hefellintoinfiniteabsurdities.Youknowthateveryintellectualact, however you may distinguish it by name in respect of the originatingfaculties, is truly the act of the entire man; the notion of distinct materialorgans, therefore, in the brain itself, is plainly absurd. Pressed by this,Spurzheimhas,atlength,beenguiltyofsomesheerquackery;andventurestosaythathehasactuallydiscoveredadifferentmaterialinthedifferentpartsororgansof thebrain, so thathe can tell apieceofbenevolence fromabit ofdestructiveness,andsoforth.Observe,also,thatitisconstantlyfound,thatsofar from there being a concavity in the interior surface of the craniumanswering to the convexity apparent on the exterior—the interior is convextoo.Dr.Bailliethoughttherewassomethinginthesystem,becausethenotionof thebrainbeinganextendiblenethelped toexplain thosecaseswhere theintellectremainedafterthesolidsubstanceofthebrainwasdissolvedinwater.

That a greater or less development of the forepart of the head is generallycoincidedentwithmoreorlessofreasoningpower,iscertain.Thelineacrosstheforehead,also,denotingmusicalpower,isverycommon.

August20.1830.

FRENCHREVOLUTION,1830.—CAPTAINR.ANDTHEAMERICANS.

The French must have greatly improved under the influence of a free andregulargovernment(forsuchit,ingeneral,hasbeensincetherestoration),tohaveconductedthemselveswithsomuchmoderationinsuccessastheyseemtohavedone,andtobedisposedtodo.

ImustsayIcannotseemuchinCaptainB.Hall'saccountoftheAmericans,butweaknesses—someofwhichmakemeliketheYankeesallthebetter.HowmuchmoreamiableistheAmericanfidgettinessandanxietyabouttheopinionofothernations,andespeciallyoftheEnglish,thanthesentimentsoftherestoftheworld.

As towhatCaptainHall says about theEnglish loyalty to thepersonof theKing—I can only say, I feel none of it. I respect the man while, and onlywhile, theking is translucent throughhim:I reverence theglasscasefor theSaint'ssakewithin;exceptforthatitistomemereglazier'swork,—putty,andglass,andwood.

September8.1830.

ENGLISHREFORMATION.

The fatal error intowhich thepeculiar characterof theEnglishReformationthrewourChurch,hasbornebitterfruiteversince,—Imeanthatofitsclingingtocourtandstate,insteadofcultivatingthepeople.Thechurchoughttobeamediatorbetween thepeople and thegovernment,between thepoor and therich.As it is, I fear theChurchhas let the hearts of the commonpeople bestolen from it. See how differently the Church of Rome—wiser in itsgeneration—has always acted in this particular. For a long time past theChurchofEnglandseemstometohavebeenblightedwithprudence,asitiscalled.Iwishwithallmyheartwehadalittlezealousimprudence.

September19.1830.

DEMOCRACY.——IDEAOFASTATE.——CHURCH.

Ithasneveryetbeenseen,orclearlyannounced,thatdemocracy,assuch,isnoproperelementintheconstitutionofastate.Theideaofastateisundoubtedlya government—an aristocracy.Democracy is the healthful life-bloodwhichcirculatesthroughtheveinsandarteries,whichsupportsthesystem,butwhichoughtnevertoappearexternally,andasthemereblooditself.

Astate, in idea, is theoppositeof achurch.Astate regardsclasses, andnotindividuals; and it estimates classes, not by internal merit, but externalaccidents, as property, birth,&c.But a church does the reverse of this, anddisregards all external accidents, and looks at men as individual persons,allowingnogradationofranks,butsuchasgreaterorlesswisdom,learning,and holiness ought to confer. A church is, therefore, in idea, the only puredemocracy. The church, so considered, and the state, exclusively of thechurch,constitutetogethertheideaofastateinitslargestsense.

September20.1830.

GOVERNMENT.——FRENCHGEND'ARMERIE.

Alltemporalgovernmentmustrestonacompromiseofinterestsandabstractrights.WhowouldlistentothecountyofBedford,ifitweretodeclareitselfdisannexedfromtheBritishempire,andtosetupforitself?

ThemostdesirablethingthatcanhappentoFrance,withherimmensearmyofgensd'armes,is,thattheservicemayatfirstbecomeveryirksometothementhemselves, and ultimately, by not being called into real service, fall intogeneral ridicule, like our trained bands. The evil in France, and throughoutEurope,seemsnowespeciallytobe,thesubordinationofthelegislativepowerto the direct physical force of the people. The French legislaturewasweakenough before the late revolution; now it is absolutely powerless, andmanifestlydependsevenforitsexistenceonthewillofapopularcommanderofanirresistiblearmy.ThereisnowinFranceadailytendencytoreducethelegislativebodytoameredeputationfromtheprovincesandtowns.

September21.1830.

PHILOSOPHYOFYOUNGMENATTHEPRESENTDAY.

I do not knowwhether I deceivemyself, but it seems tome that the youngmen,whoweremycontemporaries,fixedcertainprinciplesintheirminds,andfollowed themout to their legitimate consequences, in awaywhich I rarelywitnessnow.Nooneseemstohaveanydistinctconvictions,rightorwrong;themindiscompletelyatsea,rollingandpitchingonthewavesoffactsandpersonalexperiences.Mr.——is,Isuppose,oneoftherisingyoungmenoftheday;yethewentontalking,theotherevening,andmakingremarkswithgreatearnestness,someofwhichwerepalpablyirreconcilablewitheachother.He told me that facts gave birth to, and were the absolute ground of,principles;towhichIsaid,thatunlesshehadaprincipleofselection,hewouldnot have taken notice of those facts uponwhich he grounded his principle.Youmusthavealanterninyourhandtogivelight,otherwiseallthematerialsintheworldareuseless,foryoucannotfindthem;andifyoucould,youcouldnotarrangethem."Butthen,"saidMr.——,"thatprincipleofselectioncamefrom facts!"—"To be sure!" I replied; "but there must have been again anantecedent light to see thoseantecedent facts.The relapsemaybecarried inimaginationbackwardsforever,—butgobackasyoumay,youcannotcometoamanwithoutapreviousaimorprinciple."HethenaskedmewhatIhadtosaytoBacon'sinduction:ItoldhimIhadagooddealtosay,ifneedwere;butthat it was perhaps enough for the occasion to remark, that what he wasevidentlytakingfortheBaconian_in_ductionwasmere_de_duction—averydifferentthing.

September22.1830.

THUCYDIDESANDTACITUS.——POETRY.——MODERNMETRE.

Theobject ofThucydideswas to show the ills resulting toGreece from theseparationandconflictofthespiritsorelementsofdemocracyandoligarchy.Theobject ofTacituswas todemonstrate thedesperate consequencesof thelossoflibertyonthemindsandheartsofmen.

Apoetoughtnottopicknature'spocket:lethimborrow,andsoborrowastorepaybytheveryactofborrowing.Examinenatureaccurately,butwritefromrecollection;andtrustmoretoyourimaginationthantoyourmemory.

Really themetreof someof themodernpoems Ihave read,bearsabout thesamerelationtometreproperlyunderstood,thatdumbbellsdotomusic;bothareforexercise,andprettyseveretoo,Ithink.

Nothingeverleftastainonthatgentlecreature'smind,whichlookeduponthedegradedmen and things around him like moonshine on a dunghill, whichshines and takes no pollution. All things are shadows to him, except thosewhichmovehisaffections.

September23.1830.

LOGIC.

Thereare twokindsof logic:1.Syllogistic.2.Criterional.Howanyonecanbyanyspinningmakeoutmore than tenoradozenpagesabout the first, isinconceivable tome; all those absurd formsof syllogisms are one half puresophisms,andtheotherhalfmereformsofrhetoric.

All syllogistic logic is—1. _Se_clusion; 2. _In_clusion; 3. _Con_clusion;whichanswer to theunderstanding, theexperience,and the reason.The firstsays, thisought tobe; the secondadds, this is; and the lastpronounces, thismustbeso.Thecriterionallogic,orlogicofpremisses,is,ofcourse,muchthemostimportant;andithasneveryetbeentreated.

The object of rhetoric is persuasion,—of logic, conviction,—of grammar,significancy.Afourthtermiswanting,therhematic,orlogicofsentences.

September24.1830.

VARRO.—SOCRATES.—GREEKPHILOSOPHY.—PLOTINUS.—TERTULLIAN.

WhatalosswehavehadinVarro'smythologicalandcriticalworks!ItissaidthattheworksofEpicurusareprobablyamongsttheHerculaneanmanuscripts.Idonotfeelmuchinterestaboutthem,because,bytheconsentofallantiquity,Lucretiushaspreservedacompleteviewofhissystem.ButIregretthelossoftheworksoftheoldStoics,Zenoandothers,exceedingly.

Socrates,assuch,wasonlyapoeticalcharactertoPlato,whoworkeduponhisownground.TheseveraldisciplesofSocratescaught someparticularpoints

fromhim,andmadesystemsofphilosophyuponthemaccordingtotheirownviews.Socrateshimselfhadnosystem.

IholdallclaimssetupforEgypthavinggivenbirthtotheGreekphilosophy,tobegroundless.ItsprangupinGreeceitself,andbeganwithphysicsonly.

Thenittookintheideaofalivingcause,andmadepantheismoutofthetwo.Socratesintroducedethics,andtaughtduties;andthen,finally,Platoassertedorre-assertedtheideaofaGodthemakeroftheworld.Themeasureofhumanphilosophy was thus full, when Christianity came to add what before waswanting—assurance.After thisagain, theNeo-Platonists joined theurgywithphilosophy,whichultimatelydegeneratedintomagicandmeremysticism.

Plotinuswasamanofwonderfulability,andsomeofthesublimestpassagesIeverreadareinhisworks.

IwasamusedtheotherdaywithreadinginTertullian,thatspiritsordemonsdilate and contract themselves, and wriggle about like worms— lumbricixsimiles.

September26.1830.

SCOTCHANDENGLISHLAKES.

Thefivefinest things inScotlandare—1.Edinburgh;2.TheantechamberoftheFall of Foyers; 3.The viewofLochLomond from InchTavannach, thehighestof the islands;4.TheTrosachs;5.Theviewof theHebrides fromapoint,thenameofwhichIforget.ButtheintervalsbetweenthefinethingsinScotlandareverydreary;—whereasinCumberlandandWestmorelandthereisa cabinet of beauties,—each thing being beautiful in itself, and the verypassage from one lake, mountain, or valley, to another, is itself a beautifulthing again.TheScotch lakes are so like one another, from their great size,that in a picture you are obliged to read their names; but theEnglish lakes,especially Derwent Water, or rather the whole vale of Keswick, is sorememberable, that, afterhavingbeenonce seen,nooneever requires tobetold what it is when drawn. This vale is about as large a basin as LochLomond;thelatteriscoveredwithwater;butintheformerinstance,wehavetwo lakeswith a charming river to connect them, and lovely villages at thefoot of the mountain, and other habitations, which give an air of life andcheerfulnesstothewholeplace.

ThelandimageryofthenorthofDevonismostdelightful.

September27.1830.

LOVEANDFRIENDSHIPOPPOSED.—MARRIAGE.—CHARACTERLESSNESSOFWOMEN.

Apersononcesaid tome, thathecouldmakenothingof love,except that itwasfriendshipaccidentallycombinedwithdesire.WhenceIconcludedthathehadneverbeeninlove.Forwhatshallwesayofthefeelingwhichamanofsensibilityhas towardshiswifewithherbabyatherbreast!Howpure fromsensualdesire!yethowdifferentfromfriendship!

Sympathy constitutes friendship; but in love there is a sort of antipathy, oropposingpassion.Eachstrivestobetheother,andbothtogethermakeuponewhole.

Luther has sketched themost beautiful picture of the nature, and ends, anddutiesof thewedded life I ever read.St.Paul says it is a great symbol, notmystery,aswetranslateit.

"Most women have no character at all," said Pope and meant it for satire.Shakspeare,whoknewmanandwomanmuchbetter,sawthatit,infact,wastheperfectionofwomantobecharacterless.

EveryonewishesaDesdemonaorOpheliaforawife,—creatureswho,thoughtheymaynotalwaysunderstandyou,doalwaysfeelyou,andfeelwithyou.

September28.1830.

MENTALANARCHY.

Whyneedwetalkofafieryhell?Ifthewill,whichisthelawofournature,werewithdrawnfromourmemory,fancy,understanding,andreason,nootherhell could equal, for a spiritual being, what we should then feel, from theanarchyofourpowers.Itwouldbeconsciousmadness—ahorridthought!

October5.1830.

EARANDTASTEFORMUSICDIFFERENT.——ENGLISH

LITURGY.——BELGIANREVOLUTION.

Inpolitics,whatbeginsinfearusuallyendsinfolly.

Anearformusicisaverydifferentthingfromatasteformusic.Ihavenoearwhatever; I could not sing an air to save my life; but I have the intensestdelight in music, and can detect good from bad. Naldi, a good fellow,remarkedtomeonceataconcert,thatIdidnotseemmuchinterestedwithapieceofRossini'swhichhadjustbeenperformed.Isaid,itsoundedtomelikenonsense verses. But I could scarcely contain myself when a thing ofBeethoven'sfollowed.

I never distinctly felt the heavenly superiority of the prayers in the Englishliturgy, till Ihadattendedsomekirks in thecountrypartsofScotland, Icallthese strings of school boys or girlswhichwemeet near London—walkingadvertisements.

TheBrusselsriot—Icannotbringmyselftodignifyitwithahighername—isa wretched parody on the last French revolution. Were I King William, IwouldbanishtheBelgians,asCoriolanusbanishestheRomansinShakspeare.

Itisawickedrebellionwithoutonejustcause.

October8.1830.

GALILEO,NEWTON,KEPLER,BACON.

Galileowasagreatgenius,andsowasNewton;butitwouldtaketwoorthreeGalileosandNewtonstomakeoneKepler.ItisintheorderofProvidence,thattheinventive,generative,constitutivemind—theKepler—shouldcomefirst;and then that the patient and collectivemind—the Newton—should follow,andelaboratethepregnantqueriesandilluminingguessesoftheformer.Thelawsof theplanetarysystemare, in fact,due toKepler.There isnotamoregloriousachievementofscientificgeniusuponrecord, thanKepler'sguesses,prophecies,andultimateapprehensionofthelawofthemeandistancesoftheplanets as connected with the periods of their revolutions round the sun.Gravitation, too,hehad fullyconceived;but,because it seemed inconsistentwith some receivedobservationson light,hegave itup, inallegiance, ashesays, to Nature. Yet the idea vexed and haunted his mind; "Vexat me etlacessit,"arehiswords,Ibelieve.

We praise Newton's clearness and steadiness. He was clear and steady, no

doubt, whilst working out, by the help of an admirable geometry, the ideabrought forth by another. Newton had his ether, and could not rest in—hecouldnotconceive—theideaofalaw.Hethoughtitaphysicalthingafterall.Asforhischronology,Ibelieve,thosewhoaremostcompetenttojudge,relyonit lessandlesseveryday.HislucubrationsonDanielandtheRevelationsseemtomelittlelessthanmereraving.

Personalexperiment isnecessary, inorder tocorrectourownobservationoftheexperimentswhichNatureherselfmakesforus—Imean, thephenomenaof the universe. But then observation is, in turn, wanted to direct andsubstantiate the course of experiment. Experiments alone cannot advanceknowledge,withoutobservation;theyamuseforatime,andthenpassoffthesceneandleavenotracebehindthem.

Bacon, when like himself—for no man was ever more inconsistent—says,"Prudensqiuestio—dimidiumscientiæest."

October20.1830.

THEREFORMATION.

At the Reformation, the first reformers were beset with an almost morbidanxietynottobeconsideredhereticalinpointofdoctrine.TheyknewthattheRomanists were on the watch to fasten the brand of heresy upon themwheneverafairpretextcouldbefound;andIhavenodoubtitwastheexcessofthisfearwhichatonceledtotheburningofServetus,andalsotothethanksofferedbyalltheProtestantchurches,toCalvinandtheChurchofGeneva,forburninghim.

November21.1830.

HOUSEOFCOMMONS.

——nevermakesafigureinquietude.Heastoundsthevulgarwithacertainenormityofexertion;hetakesanacreofcanvass,onwhichhescrawlseverything.Hethinksaloud;everythinginhismind,good,bad,orindifferent,outitcomes; he is like theNewgate gutter, flowingwith garbage, dead dogs, andmud.Heispreeminentlyamanofmanythoughts,withnoideas:henceheisalwayssolengthy,becausehemustgothrougheverythingtoseeanything.

Itisamelancholythingtolivewhenthereisnovisionintheland.Whereareourstatesmentomeetthisemergency?Iseenoreformerwhoaskshimselfthequestion,WhatisitthatIproposetomyselftoeffectintheresult?

Is the House of Commons to be re-constructed on the principle of arepresentation of interests, or of a delegation ofmen? If on the former, wemay,perhaps,seeourway;ifonthelatter,youcannever,inreason,stopshortofuniversalsuffrage;andinthatcase,Iamsurethatwomenhaveasgoodarighttovoteasmen.

March20.1831.

GOVERNMENT.—EARLGREY.

Governmentisnotfoundedonproperty,takenmerelyassuch,intheabstract;it is founded onunequal property; the inequality is an essential term in theposition. The phrases—higher, middle, and lower classes, with reference tothispointofrepresentation—aredelusive;nosuchdivisionsasclassesactuallyexist in society.There isan indissolubleblendingand interfusionofpersonsfromtoptobottom;andnomancantracealineofseparationthroughthem,except such a confessedly unmeaning and unjustifiable line of politicalempiricismas10_l_.householders.Icannotdiscoverarayofprincipleinthegovernmentplan,—notahintoftheeffectofthechangeuponthebalanceofthe estates of the realm,—not a remark on the nature of the constitution ofEngland, and the character of the property of so many millions of itsinhabitants.Halfthewealthofthiscountryispurelyartificial,—existingonlyinandonthecreditgiventoitbytheintegrityandhonestyofthenation.Thisproperty appears, in many instances, a heavy burthen to the numericalmajority of the people, and they believe that it causes all their distress: andtheyarenowtohavethemaintenanceofthispropertycommittedtotheirgoodfaith—thelambtothewolves!

Necker, you remember, asked the people to come and help him against thearistocracy. The people came fast enough at his bidding; but, somehow orother, theywouldnotgoawayagainwhentheyhaddone theirwork. IhopeLord Grey will not see himself or his friends in the woeful case of theconjuror, who, with infinite zeal and pains, called up the devils to dosomethingforhim.Theycameattheword,throngingabouthim,grinning,andhowling,anddancing,andwhiskingtheirlongtailsindiabolicglee;butwhentheyaskedhimwhathewantedofthem,thepoorwretch,frightenedouthisofwits, could only stammer forth,—"I pray you, my friends, be gone down

again!"Atwhichthedevils,withonevoice,replied,—

"Yes!yes!we'llgodown!we'llgodown!—Butwe'lltakeyouwithustoswimortodrown!"

June25.1831.

GOVERNMENT.—POPULARREPRESENTATION.

The three great ends which a statesman ought to propose to himself in thegovernment of a nation, are,—1. Security to possessors; 2. Facility toacquirers;and;3.Hopetoall.

A nation is the unity of a people. King and parliament are the unity madevisible.Thekingandthepeersareasintegralportionsofthismanifestedunityasthecommons.

Inthatimperfectstateofsocietyinwhichoursystemofrepresentationbegan,the interests of the country were pretty exactly commensurate with itsmunicipal divisions. The counties, the towns, and the seaports, accuratelyenough represented theonly interests thenexisting; that is say,—the landed,theshop-keepingormanufacturing,andthemercantile.Butforacenturypast,atleast,thisdivisionhasbecomenotoriouslyimperfect,someofthemostvitalinterests of the empire being now totally unconnected with any Englishlocalities.Yetnow,whentheevilandthewantareknown,wearetoabandontheaccommodationswhichthenecessityofthecasehadworkedoutforitself,andbeginagainwitharigidlyterritorialplanofrepresentation!Themiserabletendency of all is to destroy our nationality, which consists, in a principaldegree, in our representative government, and to convert it into a degradingdelegation of the populace. There is no unity for a people but in arepresentationofnational interests;adelegation fromthepassionsorwishesoftheindividualsthemselvesisaropeofsand.Undoubtedlyitisagreatevil,that there should be such an evident discrepancy between the law and thepracticeof theconstitution in thematterof therepresentation.Suchadirect,yet clandestine, contravention of solemn resolutions and established laws isimmoral, and greatly injurious to the cause of legal loyalty and generalsubordinationinthemindsofthepeople.Butthenastatesmanshouldconsiderthattheseverycontraventionsoflawinpracticepointouttohimtheplacesinthe body politic which need a remodelling of the law. You acknowledge acertainnecessity for indirect representation in thepresentday, and that suchrepresentationhasbeeninstinctivelyobtainedbymeanscontrarytolaw;whythendoyounotapproximatetheuselesslawtotheusefulpractice,insteadof

abandoningbothlawandpracticeforacompletelynewsystemofyourown?

ThemalignantduplicityandunprincipledtergiversationsofthespecificWhignewspapers are to me detestable. I prefer the open endeavours of thosepublications which seek to destroy the church, and introduce a republic ineffect:thereisasortofhonestyinthatwhichIapprove,thoughIwouldwithjoylaydownmylifetosavemycountryfromtheconsummationwhichissoevidentlydesiredbythatsectionoftheperiodicalpress.

June26.1831.

NAPIER.—BUONAPARTE.—SOUTHEY.

IhavebeenexceedinglyimpressedwiththeevilprecedentofColonelNapier'sHistory of the PeninsularWar. It is a specimen of the true Frenchmilitaryschool; not a thought for the justice of thewar,—not a consideration of thedamnableanddamninginiquityof theFrench invasion.All is lookedatasameregameofexquisiteskill,andthepraiseisregularlyawardedtothemostsuccessfulplayer.HowperfectlyridiculousistheprostrationofNapier'smind,apparentlyapowerfulone,before thenameofBuonaparte!IdeclareIknowno bookmore likely to undermine the national sense of right andwrong inmattersofforeigninterferencethanthisworkofNapier's.

IfA.hasahundredmeansofdoingacertainthing,andB.hasonlyoneortwo,is it very wonderful, or does it argue very transcendant superiority, if A.surpasses B.? Buonaparte was the child of circumstances, which he neitheroriginatednor controlled.Hehadno chanceof preservinghis powerbut bycontinual warfare. No thought of a wise tranquillization of the shakenelementsofFranceseemsevertohavepassedthroughhismind;andIbelievethatatnopartofhisreigncouldbehavesurvivedoneyear'scontinuedpeace.Heneverhadbutoneobstacletocontendwith—physicalforce;commonlytheleast difficult enemy a general, subject to courts- martial and courts ofconscience,hastoovercome.

Southey'sHistoryisontherightside,andstartsfromtherightpoint;butheispersonallyfondoftheSpaniards,andinbringingforwardtheirnationalityinthe prominent manner it deserves, he does not, in my judgment, state withsufficient clearness the truth, that the nationality of the Spaniards was notfoundedonanyjustgroundofgoodgovernmentorwiselaws,butwas,infact,verylittlemorethanarootedantipathytoallstrangersassuch.

In this sense every thing is national in Spain. Even their so calledCatholic

religion is exclusively national in a genuine Spaniard's mind; he does notregardthereligiousprofessionsoftheFrenchmanorItalianatallinthesamelightwithhisown.

July7.1831.

PATRONAGEOFTHEFINEARTS.—OLDWOMEN.

ThedarkestdespotismsontheContinenthavedonemoreforthegrowthandelevation of the fine arts than the English government. A great musicalcomposer inGermanyand Italy is agreatman in society, anda realdignityandrankareuniversallyconcededtohim.Soitiswithasculptor,orpainter,orarchitect.Withoutthissortofencouragementandpatronagesuchartsasmusicandpaintingwillnevercomeintogreateminence.Inthiscountrythereisnogeneralreverenceforthefinearts;andthesordidspiritofamoney-amassingphilosophywouldmeetanypropositionforthefosteringofart,inagenialandextendedsense,withthecommercialmaxim,—Laissezfaire.Paganini,indeed,willmakeafortune,becausehecanactuallysellthetonesofhisfiddleatsomuchascrape;butMozarthimselfmighthavelanguishedinagarretforanythingthatwouldhavebeendoneforhimhere.

TherearethreeclassesintowhichallthewomenpastseventythateverIknewwere tobedivided:—1.That dearold soul; 2.That oldwoman;3.That oldwitch.

July24.1831.

PICTURES.

ObservetheremarkabledifferencebetweenClaudeandTeniersintheirpowerofpaintingvacantspace.Claudemakeshiswholelandscapeaplenum:theairisquiteassubstantialasanyotherpartofthescene.Hencetherearenotruedistances,andeverythingpressesatonceandequallyupontheeye.ThereissomethingcloseandalmostsuffocatingintheatmosphereofsomeofClaude'ssunsets. Never did any one paint air, the thin air, the absolutely apparentvacancybetweenobject andobject, soadmirablyasTeniers.ThatpictureoftheArchersexemplifiesthisexcellence.Seethedistancesbetweenthoseuglylouts!howperfectlytruetothefact!

But oh!what awonderful picture is that Triumph of Silenus! It is the veryrevelryofhell.Everyevilpassionistherethatcouldinanywaybeforcedintojuxtapositionwithjoyance.Markthelust,and,hardby,thehate.EverypartispregnantwithlibidinousnaturewithoutonesparkofthegraceofHeaven.Theanimalistriumphing—notover,but—intheabsence,inthenon-existence,ofthespiritualpartofman.IcouldfancythatRubenshadseeninavision—

AllthesoulsthatdamnedbeLeapupatonceinanarchy,Claptheirhands,anddanceforglee!

ThatlandscapeontheothersideisonlylessmagnificentthandearSirGeorgeBeaumont's,nowintheNationalGallery.Ithasthesamecharm.Rubensdoesnottakeforhissubjectsgrandornovelconformationsofobjects;hehas,yousee,noprecipices,noforests,nofrowningcastles,—nothingthatapoetwouldtake at all times, and a painter take in these times. No; he gets some littleponds,oldtumble-downcottages,thatruinouschâteau,twoorthreepeasants,a hay-rick, and other such humble images, which looked at in and bythemselvesconveynopleasureandexciteno surprise;buthe—andhePeterPaul Rubens alone—handles these every- day ingredients of all commonlandscapes as they are handled in nature; he throws them into a vast andmagnificentwhole,consistingofheavenandearthandall things therein.Heextracts the latent poetry out of these common objects,—that poetry andharmonywhicheverymanofgeniusperceivesinthefaceofnature,andwhichmanymenofnogeniusaretaughttoperceiveandfeelafterexaminingsuchapictureasthis.Inotherlandscapepaintersthesceneisconfinedandasitwereimprisoned;—inRubensthelandscapediesanaturaldeath;itfadesawayintotheapparentinfinityofspace.

SolongasRubensconfineshimselftospaceandoutwardfigure—tothemereanimalmanwithanimalpassions—heis,Imaysay,agodamongstpainters.His satyrs, Silenuses, lions, tigers, and dogs, are almost godlike; but themomentheattemptsanything involvingorpresumingthespiritual,hisgodsandgoddesses,hisnymphsandheroes,becomebeasts,absolute,unmitigatedbeasts.

The Italianmastersdiffer from theDutch in this—that in theirpicturesagesareperfectlyideal.TheinfantthatRaffael'sMadonnaholdsinherarmscannotbeguessedof anyparticular age; it isHumanity in infancy.Thebabe in themangerinaDutchpaintingisafac-simileofsomerealnew-bornbantling;itisjust like the little rabbitswe fathershave all seenwith somedismayat firstburst.

CarloDolce'srepresentationsofourSaviourarepretty,tobesure;buttheyaretoosmoothtopleaseme.HisChristsarealwaysinsugar-candy.

That is a very odd and funny picture of the Connoisseurs at Rome byReynolds.

ThemoreIseeofmodernpictures,themoreIamconvincedthattheancientartofpainting isgone, and something substituted for it,—verypleasing,butdifferent, and different in kind and not in degree only. Portraits by the oldmasters,—take for example the pock-fritten lady by Cuyp—are pictures ofmen and women: they fill, not merely occupy, a space; they representindividuals,butindividualsastypesofaspecies.

Modernportraits—afewbyJacksonandOwen,perhaps,excepted—giveyounot theman,not the inwardhumanity, butmerely the externalmark, that inwhichTomisdifferentfromBill.ThereissomethingaffectedandmeretriciousintheSnakeintheGrassandsuchpictures,byReynolds.

July25.1831.

CHILLINGWORTH.—SUPERSTITIONOFMALTESE,SICILIANS,ANDITALIANS.

It is now twenty years since I read Chillingworth's book; but certainly itseemedtomethathismainposition,thatthemeretextoftheBibleisthesoleandexclusivegroundofChristianfaithandpractice,isquiteuntenableagainsttheRomanists.Itentirelydestroystheconditionsofachurch,ofanauthorityresiding in a religious community, and all that holy sense of brotherhoodwhich is sosublimeandconsolatory toameditativeChristian.HadIbeenaPapist, I should not have wished for a more vanquishable opponent incontroversy. I certainly believeChillingworth to have been in some sense aSocinian.LordFalkland,hisfriend,saidsoinsubstance.Idonotdenyhisskillindialectics;hewasmorethanamatchforKnotttobesure.

Imustbeboldenoughtosay,thatIdonotthinkthatevenHookerputstheideaofachurchonthetruefoundation.

ThesuperstitionofthepeasantryandlowerordersgenerallyinMalta,Sicily,andItalyexceedscommonbelief.ItisunlikethesuperstitionofSpain,whichis a jealous fanaticism, having reference to their catholicism, and alwaysglancing on heresy. The popular superstition of Italy is the offspring of theclimate,theoldassociations,themanners,andtheverynamesoftheplaces.Itispurepaganism,undisturbedbyanyanxietyaboutorthodoxy,or animosityagainst heretics. Hence, it is much more good-natured and pleasing to atraveller's feelings, andcertainlynot awhit less like the true religionofour

dearLordthanthegloomyidolatryoftheSpaniards.

Iwell remember,when inValetta in1805, askingaboywhowaitedonme,what a certain procession, then passing, was, and his answering with greatquickness,thatitwasJesusChrist,wholiveshere(stadicasaqui),andwhenhecomesout,itisintheshapeofawafer.But,"Eccelenza,"saidhe,smilingandcorrectinghimself,"nonèCristiano."

July30.1831.

ASGILL.—THEFRENCH.

Asgill was an extraordinary man, and his pamphlet is invaluable. Heundertook to prove thatman is literally immortal; or, rather, that any givenlivingmanmightprobablyneverdie.Hecomplainsof thecowardlypracticeofdying.HewasexpelledfromtwoHousesofCommonsforblasphemyandatheism, as was pretended;—really I suspect because he was a staunchHanoverian. I expected to find the ravings of an enthusiast, or the sullensnarlingsofaninfidel;whereasIfoundtheverysoulofSwift—anintensehalfself-deceivedhumorism.Iscarcelyrememberelsewheresuchuncommonskillin logic, such lawyer-likeacuteness,andyet suchagraspofcommonsense.Each of his paragraphs is in itself a whole, and yet a link between theprecedingandfollowing;sothattheentireseriesformsoneargument,andyeteachisadiamondinitself.

WasthereeversuchamiserablesceneasthatoftheexhibitionoftheAustrianstandardsintheFrenchhouseofpeerstheotherday?Everyothernationbutthe French would see that it was an exhibition of their own falsehood andcowardice.Amanswearsthatthepropertyintrustedtohimisburnt,andthen,when he is no longer afraid, produces it, and boasts of the atmosphere of"honour,"throughwhichtheliedidnottranspire.

Frenchmen are like grains of gunpowder,—each by itself smutty andcontemptible,butmassthemtogetherandtheyareterribleindeed.

August1.1831.

As there ismuch beast and some devil inman; so is there some angel andsomeGodinhim.Thebeastandthedevilmaybeconquered,butinthislifeneverdestroyed.

IwilldefyanyonetoanswertheargumentsofaSt.Simonist,exceptonthegroundofChristianity—itspreceptsanditsassurances.

August6.1831.

THEGOODANDTHETRUE.—ROMISHRELIGION.

Thereistheloveofthegoodforthegood'ssake,andtheloveofthetruthforthetruth'ssake.Ihaveknownmany,especiallywomen,lovethegoodforthegood'ssake;butveryfew,indeed,andscarcelyonewoman,lovethetruthforthe truth's sake.Yet;without the latter, the formermay become, as it has athousandtimesbeen, thesourceofpersecutionof thetruth,—thepretextandmotiveofinquisitorialcrueltyandpartyzealotry.Toseeclearlythattheloveof thegood and the true is ultimately identical—isgivenonly to thosewholovebothsincerelyandwithoutanyforeignends.

Look through thewholehistoryofcountriesprofessing theRomish religion,andyouwilluniformlyfindtheleavenofthisbesettingandaccursedprincipleofaction—thattheendwillsanctionanymeans.

August8.1831.

ENGLANDANDHOLLAND.

The conduct of this country to King William of Holland has been, in myjudgment, base and unprincipled beyond any thing in our history since thetimesofCharlestheSecond.Certainly,Hollandisoneofthemostimportantallies that England has; and we are doing our utmost to subject it, andPortugal,toFrenchinfluence,orevendominion!Uponmyword,theEnglishpeople, at thismoment, are likeamanpalsied ineverypartofhisbodybutone,inwhichonepartheissomorbidlysensitivethathecannotbeartohaveit somuch as breathed upon,whilst youmay pinch himwith a hot forcepselsewherewithouthistakinganynoticeofit.

August8.1831.

IRON.—GALVANISM.—HEAT.

Ironisthemostductileofallhardmetals,andthehardestofallductilemetals.

Withtheexceptionofnickel,inwhichitisdimlyseen,ironistheonlymetalin which the magnetic power is visible. Indeed, it is almost impossible topurifynickelofiron.

Galvanism is the union of electricity and magnetism, and, by beingcontinuous, it exhibits an image of life;—I say, an image only: it is life indeath.

Heatisthemesothesisorindifferenceoflightandmatter.

August14.1831.

NATIONALCOLONIALCHARACTER,ANDNAVALDISCIPLINE.

Thecharacterofmostnations in theircolonialdependencies is inan inverseratioofexcellencetotheircharacterathome.Thebestpeopleinthemother-countrywillgenerallybetheworstinthecolonies;theworstathomewillbethe best abroad. Or, perhaps, I may state it less offensively thus:—Thecolonistsofawellgoverned-countrywilldegenerate;thoseofanill-governedcountry will improve. I am now considering the natural tendency of suchcolonists if left to themselves;ofcourse,adirectactof thelegislatureof themother-countrywill break in upon this.Where this tendency is exemplified,the cause is obvious. In countries well governed and happily conditioned,none,orveryfew,but thosewhoaredesperatethroughviceorfolly,orwhoaremeretradingadventurers,willbewillingtoleavetheirhomesandsettleinanotherhemisphere;andofthosewhodogo,thebestandworthiestarealwaysstriving toacquire themeansof leaving thecolony,andof returning to theirnativeland.Inill-governedandill-conditionedcountries,onthecontrary,themost respectable of the people are willing and anxious to emigrate for thechance of greater security and enlarged freedom; and if they succeed inobtainingtheseblessingsinalmostanydegree,theyhavelittleinducement,ontheaverage,towishtoabandontheirsecondandbettercountry.Hence,intheformercase, thecolonistsconsider themselvesasmerestrangers, sojourners,birds of passage, and shift to live from hand tomouth,with little regard tolastingimprovementoftheplaceoftheirtemporarycommerce;whilst,inthelattercase,menfeelattached toacommunity towhich theyare individuallyindebted for otherwise unattainable benefits, and for the most part learn toregarditastheirabode,andtomakethemselvesashappyandcomfortableinitaspossible.IbelievethattheinternalconditionandcharacteroftheEnglishand French West India islands of the last century amply verified thisdistinction;theDutchcolonistsmostcertainlydid,andhavealwaysdone.

Analogoustothis,thoughnotfoundedonpreciselythesameprinciple,isthefactthattheseverestnavaldisciplineisalwaysfoundintheshipsofthefreestnations,andthemostlaxdisciplineintheshipsofthemostoppressed.Hence,thenavaldisciplineoftheAmericansisthesharpest;thenthatoftheEnglish;thenthatoftheFrench(Ispeakasitusedtobe);andonboardaSpanishship,thereisnodisciplineatall.

AtGenoa,theword"Liberty"is,orusedtobe,engravedonthechainsofthegalley-slaves,andthedoorsofthedungeons.

August15.1831.

ENGLAND.—HOLLANDANDBELGIUM.

I cannot contain my indignation at the conduct of our government towardsHolland.Theyhaveundoubtedlyforgottenthetrueandwell-recognizedpolicyofthiscountryinregardtoPortugalinpermittingthewarfactioninFrancetotake possession of theTagus, and to bully thePortuguese upon so flimsy—indeed,false—apretextyet,inthisinstance,somethingmaybesaidforthem.

Miguelissuchawretch,thatIacknowledgeasortofmoralityinleavinghimto be cuffed and insulted; though, of course, this is a poor answer to astatesmanwho alleges the interest and policy of the country. But, as to theDutchandKingWilliam:thefirst,asanation,themostancientally,thealteridemofEngland,thebestdeservingofthecauseoffreedomandreligionandmoralityofanypeopleinEurope;andthesecond,theverybestsovereignnowinChristendom,with, perhaps, the single exception of the excellent king ofSweden—was ever any thing so mean and cowardly as the behaviour ofEngland!

TheFivePowershave,throughoutthisconference,beenactuatedexclusivelybyaselfishdesiretopreservepeace—Ishouldrathersay,tosmotherwar—attheexpenseofamostvaluablebut inferiorpower.TheyhaveoverandoveragainacknowledgedthejusticeoftheDutchclaims,andtheabsurdityoftheBelgian pretences; but as the Belgians were also as impudent as they wereiniquitous,—astheywouldnotyieldtheirpoint,whythen—thatpeacemaybepreserved—theDutchmustyieldtheirs!AforeignprincecomesintoBelgium,pending these negotiations, and takes an unqualified oath to maintain theBelgian demands:—what couldKingWilliam or theDutch do, if they everthereafter meant to call themselves independent, but resist and resent thisoutragetotheuttermost?Itwasacrisisinwhicheveryconsiderationofstatebecameinferiortothestrongsenseanddutyofnationalhonour.When,indeed,

theFrenchappearinthefield,KingWilliamretires."Inowsee,"hemaysay,"thatthepowersofEuropearedeterminedtoabettheBelgians.ThejusticeofsuchaproceedingIleavetotheirconscienceandthedecisionofhistory.Itisnow no longer a question whether I am tamely to submit to rebels and ausurper; it is no longer a quarrel between Holland and Belgium: it is anallianceofallEuropeagainstHolland,—inwhichcaseIyield.Ihavenodesiretosacrificemypeople."

WhenLeopold said thathewas called to "reignover fourmillions of nobleBelgians,"Ithoughtthephrasewouldhavebeenmoregermanetothematter,ifhehadsaidthathewascalledto"reininfourmillionrestiveasses."

August20.1831.

GREATESTHAPPINESSPRINCIPLE.——HOBBISM.

O. P.Q. in theMorningChronicle is a clever fellow.He is for the greatestpossible happiness for the greatest possible number, and for the longestpossibletime!SoamI;soareyou,andeveryoneofus,Iwillventuretosay,round the tea-table. First, however, what does O. P. Q. mean by thewordhappiness?and, secondly,howdoeshepropose tomakeotherpersonsagree inhisdefinitionof the term?Don'tyousee theridiculousabsurdityofsettingupthatasaprincipleormotiveofaction,whichis,infact,anecessaryand essential instinct of our very nature—an inborn and inextinguishabledesire?Howcancreaturessusceptibleofpleasureandpaindootherwisethandesire happiness?But,what happiness? That is the question. TheAmericansavage, in scalping his fallen enemy, pursues his happiness naturally andadequately.AChickasaw,orPawneeBentham,orO.P.Q.,wouldnecessarilyhope for the most frequent opportunities possible of scalping the greatestpossiblenumberofsavages,forthelongestpossibletime.Thereisnoescapingthis absurdity, unless you come back to a standard of reason and duty,imperativeuponourmerelypleasurablesensations.Oh!but, saysO.P.Q., Iamforthehappinessofothers!Ofothers!Areyou,indeed?Well,Ihappentobeoneofthoseothers,and,sofarasIcanjudgefromwhatyoushowmeofyour habits and views, I would rather be excused from your banquet ofhappiness.Yourmode of happinesswouldmakememiserable. To go aboutdoing asmuchgood as possible to asmanymen as possible, is, indeed, anexcellentobject foraman topropose tohimself;but then, inorder thatyoumay not sacrifice the real good and happiness of others to your particularviews, which may be quite different from your neighbour's, you mustdo that good to others which the reason, common to all, pronounces to be

good for all. In this sense your finemaxim is so very true as to be ameretruism.

Soyouobject,witholdHobbes, that Idogoodactions for thepleasureofagoodconscience;andso,afterall,Iamonlyarefinedsensualist!Heavenblessyou, andmend your logic!Don't you see that if conscience,which is in itsnatureaconsequence,werethusanticipatedandmadeanantecedent—apartyinsteadofa judge—itwoulddishonouryourdraftuponit—itwouldnotpayon demand? Don't you see that, in truth, the very fact of acting with thismotiveproperlyandlogicallydestroysallclaimuponconsciencetogiveyouanypleasureatall?

August22.1831.

THETWOMODESOFPOLITICALACTION.

There aremanyable andpatrioticmembers in theHouseofCommons—SirRobert Inglis,SirRobertPeel,andsomeothers.ButIgrieve that theyneverhavethecourageorthewisdom—Iknownotinwhichthefailureis—totaketheirstanduponduty,andtoappealtoallmenasmen,—totheGoodandtheTrue,whichexistforall,andofwhichallhaveanapprehension.Theyalwaysset towork—especially,hisgreat eminenceconsidered,SirRobertPeel—byaddressingthemselvestoindividualinterests;themeasurewillbeinjurioustothelinen-drapers,ortothebricklayers;orthisclausewillbearhardonbobbin-net or poplins, and so forth.Whereas their adversaries—the demagogues—alwayswork on the opposite principle: they always appeal tomen asmen;and,asyouknow,themostterribleconvulsionsinsocietyhavebeenwroughtbysuchphrasesasRightsofMan,Sovereigntyof thePeople,&c.,whichnooneunderstands,whichapplytonooneinparticular,buttoallingeneral.

Thedevilworkspreciselyinthesameway.Heisaverycleverfellow;Ihaveno acquaintancewith him, but I respect his evident talents.Consistent truthandgoodnesswillassuredlyintheendovercomeeverything;butinconsistentgoodcanneverbeamatchforconsistentevil.Alas! I look invainforsomewiseandvigorousmantosoundthewordDutyintheearsofthisgeneration.

August24.1831.

TRUTHSANDMAXIMS.

The English public is not yet ripe to comprehend the essential differencebetweenthereasonandtheunderstanding—betweenaprincipleandamaxim—aneternaltruthandamereconclusiongeneralizedfromagreatnumberoffacts.Aman,havingseenamillionmossrosesallred,concludesfromhisownexperienceandthatofothersthatallmossrosesarered.Thatisamaximwithhim—thegreatest amount of his knowledgeupon the subject.But it is onlytrueuntil somegardenerhasproducedawhitemoss rose,—afterwhich themaxim is good for nothing.Again, supposeAdamwatching the sun sinkingunderthewesternhorizonforthefirsttime;heisseizedwithgloomandterror,relievedbyscarcearayofhopethatheshalleverseethegloriouslightagain.Thenextevening,whenitdeclines,hishopesarestronger,butstillmixedwithfear;andevenattheendofathousandyears,allthatamancanfeelisahopeandanexpectationsostrongas toprecludeanxiety.Nowcomparethis in itshighestdegreewith the assurancewhichyouhave that the two sidesof anytrianglearetogethergreaterthanthethird.This,demonstratedofonetriangle,isseentobeeternallytrueofallimaginabletriangles.Thisisatruthperceivedat once by the intuitive reason, independently of experience. It is andmusteverbeso,multiplyandvarytheshapesandsizesoftrianglesasyoumay.

It used to be said that four and fivemake nine. Locke says, that four andfive are nine. Now I say, that four and five are not nine, but that theywillmake nine.When I see four objectswhichwill forma square, and fivewhich will form a pentagon, I see that they are two different things; whencombined, theywill forma thirddifferent figure,whichwecallnine.Whenseparatetheyarenotit,butwillmakeit.

September11.1831.

DRAYTONANDDANIEL.

Draytonisasweetpoet,andSelden'snotestotheearlypartofthePolyolbionare well worth your perusal. Daniel is a superior man; his diction is pre-eminently pure,—of that quality which I believe has always existedsomewhere in society. It is just such English, without any alteration, asWordsworth or Sir George Beaumont might have spoken or written in thepresentday.

Yet there are instances of sublimity inDrayton.When deploring the cuttingdown of some of our old forests, he says, in language which reminds thereader of Lear, written subsequently, and also of several passages in Mr.

Wordsworth'spoems:—

——"ourtreessohack'dabovetheground,Thatwheretheirloftytopstheneighbouringcountriescrown'd,Theirtrunks(likeagedfolks)nowbareandnakedstand,AsforrevengetoHeaveneachheldawither'dhand."

Thatisveryfine.

September12.1831.

MR.COLERIDGE'SSYSTEMOFPHILOSOPHY.

Mysystem, if Imayventure togive itsofineaname, is theonlyattempt, Iknow,evermadetoreduceallknowledgesintoharmony.Itopposesnoothersystem,butshowswhatwastrueineach;andhowthatwhichwastrueintheparticular,ineachofthembecameerror,becauseitwasonlyhalfthetruth.Ihaveendeavoured tounite the insulated fragmentsof truth, and therewith toframe a perfect mirror. I show to each system that I fully understand andrightfullyappreciatewhatthatsystemmeans;butthenIliftupthatsystemtoahigherpointofview,fromwhichIenableittoseeitsformerposition,whereitwas,indeed,butunderanotherlightandwithdifferentrelations;—sothatthefragment of truth is not only acknowledged, but explained. Thus the oldastronomersdiscoveredandmaintainedmuchthatwastrue;but,becausetheywereplacedonafalseground,andlookedfromawrongpointofview,theynever did, they never could, discover the truth—that is, thewhole truth.Assoonastheyleft theearth, theirfalsecentre,andtooktheirstandinthesun,immediately they saw the whole system in its true light, and their formerstationremaining,butremainingasapartoftheprospect.Iwish,inshort,toconnect by amoralcopula natural historywith political history; or, in otherwords,tomakehistoryscientific,andsciencehistorical—totakefromhistoryitsaccidentality,andfromscienceitsfatalism.

Ineverfromaboycould,underanycircumstances,feeltheslightestdreadofdeathassuch.InallmyillnessesIhaveeverhadthemostintensedesiretobereleasedfromthislife,uncheckedbyanybutonewish,namely,tobeabletofinish my work on Philosophy. Not that I have any author's vanity on thesubject:Godknows that I shouldbeabsolutelyglad, if Icouldhear that thethinghadalreadybeendonebeforeme.

Illness never in the smallest degree affects my intellectual powers. I

canthinkwithallmyordinaryvigourinthemidstofpain;butIambesetwiththe most wretched and unmanning reluctance and shrinking from action. Icouldnotuponsuchoccasionstakethepeninhandtowritedownmythoughtsforallthewideworld.

October26.1831.

KEENNESSANDSUBTLETY.

Fewmenofgeniusarekeen;butalmosteverymanofgeniusissubtle.Ifyouaskme the difference between keenness and subtlety, I answer that it is thedifferencebetweenapointandanedge.Tosplitahairisnoproofofsubtlety;for subtlety acts in distinguishing differences—in showing that two thingsapparentlyoneareinfacttwo;whereas,tosplitahairistocausedivision,andnottoascertaindifference.

October27.1831.

DUTIESANDNEEDSOFANADVOCATE.

Thereisundoubtedlyalimittotheexertionsofanadvocateforhisclient.Hehas a right, it is his boundenduty, to do every thingwhichhis clientmighthonestlydo,andtodoitwithalltheeffectwhichanyexerciseofskill,talent,or knowledge of his ownmay be able to produce.But the advocate has noright, nor is it his duty, to do that for his client which his client in foroconscientiaehasnorighttodoforhimself;as,foragrossexample,toputinevidence a forged deed or will, knowing it to be so forged. As to mereconfounding of witnesses by skilful cross-examination, I own I am notdisposedtobeverystrict.Thewholethingisperfectlywellunderstoodonallhands,anditislittlemoreingeneralthanasortofcudgel-playingbetweenthecounseland thewitness, inwhich, I speakwithsubmission toyou, I think Ihaveseenthewitnesshavethebestofitasoftenashisassailant.It isoftheutmost importance in the administration of justice that knowledge andintellectual power shouldbe as far as possible equalizedbetween the crownand the prisoner, or plaintiff and defendant. Hence especially arises thenecessityforanorderofadvocates,—menwhosedutyitoughttobetoknowwhat the law allows and disallows; but whose interests should be whollyindifferentastothepersonsorcharactersoftheirclients.Ifacertainlatitudein

examiningwitnessesis,asexperienceseemstohaveshown,anecessarymeantowardstheeviscerationofthetruthofmattersoffact,Ihavenodoubt,asamoralist, in saying, that such latitude within the bounds, now existing isjustifiable.Wemustbecontentwithacertainquantuminthislife,especiallyinmattersofpubliccognizance;thenecessitiesofsocietydemandit;wemustnotbe righteousovermuch,orwiseovermuch;and,asanold fathersays, inwhatveinmay therenotbeaplethora,when theScripture tellsus that theremayundercircumstancesbetoomuchofvirtueandofwisdom?

Still I think that, upon the whole, the advocate is placed in a positionunfavourabletohismoralbeing,and,indeed,tohisintellectalso,initshigherpowers. Therefore I would recommend an advocate to devote a part of hisleisuretimetosomestudyofthemetaphysicsofthemind,ormetaphysicsoftheology;something,Imean,whichshallcallforthallhispowers,andcentrehiswishesintheinvestigationoftruthalone,withoutreferencetoasidetobesupported. No studies give such a power of distinguishing asmetaphysical,andintheirnaturalandunpervertedtendencytheyareennoblingandexalting.Somesuchstudiesarewantedtocounteracttheoperationoflegalstudiesandpractice,whichsharpen,indeed,but,likeagrinding-stone,narrowwhilsttheysharpen.

November19.1831.

ABOLITIONOFTHEFRENCHHEREDITARYPEERAGE.

I cannot say what the French peers will do; but I can tell you whattheyought to do. "So far," theymight say, "asour feelings and interests, asindividuals,areconcernedinthismatter—ifitreallybetheprevailingwishofour fellow-countrymen to destroy the hereditary peerage—we shall,withoutregret, retire into the ranks of private citizens: but we are bound by theprovisions of the existing constitution to consider ourselves collectively asessentialtothewell-beingofFrance:wehavebeenplacedheretodefendwhatFrance,ashorttimeagoatleast,thoughtavitalpartofitsgovernment;and,ifwedidnotdefendit,whatanswercouldwemakehereaftertoFranceitself,ifsheshouldcometosee,whatwethinktobeanerror,inthelightinwhichweview it? We should be justly branded as traitors and cowards, who haddesertedthepostwhichwewerespeciallyappointedtomaintain.AsaHouseof Peers, therefore,—as one substantive branch of the legislature, we cannever, inhonouror inconscience,consent toameasureof the impolicyanddangerousconsequencesofwhichweareconvinced.

"If, therefore, thismeasure isdemandedby thecountry, let thekingand thedeputies formthemselves intoaconstituentassembly;and then,assuming toactinthenameofthetotalnation,letthemdecreetheabolition.Inthatcasewe yield to a just, perhaps, but revolutionary, act, in which we do notparticipate,andagainstwhichweare,uponthesupposition,quitepowerless.Ifthedeputies,however,consider themselvessocompletely in thecharacterofdelegates as to be at present absolutely pledged to votewithout freedom ofdeliberation,letaconcise,butperspicuous,summaryoftheablestargumentsthat can be adduced on either side be drawnup, and printed, and circulatedthroughout thecountry; and then, after twomonths, let thedeputiesdemandfresh instructions upon this point.One thing, asmen of honour,we declarebeforehand—that, comewhatwill, none of uswho are now peerswill everacceptapeeragecreateddenovoforlife."

November20.1831.

CONDUCTOFMINISTERSONTHEREFORMBILL.—THEMULTITUDE.

The present ministers have, in my judgment, been guilty of two thingspreeminentlywicked,sensupolitico, in their conductupon thisReformBill.First, they have endeavoured to carry a fundamental change in thematerialand mode of action of the government of the country by so exciting thepassions,andplayinguponthenecessaryignoranceofthenumericalmajorityofthenation,thatallfreedomandutilityofdiscussion,bycompetentheads,inthe proper place, should be precluded. In doing this they have used, orsanctioned the use of, argumentswhichmay he appliedwith equal or evengreaterforcetothecarryingofanymeasurewhatever,nomatterhowatrociousinitscharacterordestructiveinitsconsequences.Theyhaveappealeddirectlytotheargumentofthegreaternumberofvoices,nomatterwhethertheuttererswere drunk or sober, competent or not competent; and they have done theutmost in their power to rase out the sacred principle in politics of arepresentationofinterests,andtointroducethemadandbarbarizingschemeofadelegationofindividuals.Andtheyhavedoneall thiswithoutonewordofthankfulness toGod for themanifold blessings ofwhich the constitution assettled at the Revolution, imperfect as it may be, has been the source orvehicleorconditiontothisgreatnation,—withoutonehoneststatementofthemanner in which the anomalies in the practice grew up, or any manlydeclarationoftheinevitablenecessitiesofgovernmentwhichthoseanomalieshavemet.Withnohumility, nor fear, nor reverence, likeHam the accursed,

theyhavebeckoned,withgrinningfaces,toavulgarmob,tocomeandinsultoverthenakednessofaparent;whenithadbecomethem,ifonesparkoffilialpatriotismhadburntwithintheirbreasts,tohavemarchedwithsilentstepsandavertedfacestolaytheirrobesuponhisdestitution!

Secondly, they have made the king the prime mover in all this politicalwickedness:theyhavemadethekingtellhispeoplethattheyweredeprivedoftheir rights, and, by direct and necessary implication, that they and theirancestors foracenturypasthadbeenslaves: theyhavemade thekingvilifythe memory of his own brother and father. Rights! There are no rightswhateverwithoutcorrespondingduties.Lookat thehistoryof thegrowthofourconstitution,andyouwillseethatourancestorsneveruponanyoccasionstated, as a ground for claiming any of their privileges, an abstract rightinherentinthemselves;youwillnowhereinourparliamentaryrecordsfindthemiserablesophismoftheRightsofMan.No!theyweretoowiseforthat.Theytookgoodcaretorefertheirclaimstocustomandprescription,andboldly—sometimes very impudently—asserted them upon traditionary andconstitutionalgrounds.TheBillisbadenough,Godknows;buttheargumentsofitsadvocates,andthemanneroftheiradvocacy,areathousandtimesworsethantheBillitself;andyouwilllivetothinkso.

Iamfar,veryfar,fromwishingtoindulgeinanyvulgarabuseofthevulgar.Ibelieve that the feelingof themultitudewill, inmost cases, be in favour ofsomethinggood;butthisitiswhichIperceive,thattheyarealwaysunderthedomination of some one feeling or view;—whereas truth, and, above all,practicalwisdom,mustbetheresultofawidecomprehensionofthemoreandtheless,thebalanceandthecounter-balance.

December3.1831.

RELIGION.

Areligion,thatis,atruereligion,mustconsistofideasandfactsboth;notofideasalonewithoutfacts,forthenitwouldbemerePhilosophy;—noroffactsalonewithoutideas,ofwhichthosefactsarethesymbols,oroutofwhichtheyarise,oruponwhichtheyaregrounded,forthenitwouldbemereHistory.

December17.1831.

UNIONWITHIRELAND.—IRISHCHURCH.

I am quite sure that no dangers are to be feared by England from thedisannexing and independence of Ireland at all comparable with the evilswhichhavebeen,andwillyetbe,causedtoEnglandbytheUnion.Wehavenever received one particle of advantage from our associationwith Ireland,whilstwe have inmanymost vital particulars violated the principles of theBritish constitution solely for the purpose of conciliating the Irish agitators,and of endeavouring—a vain endeavour—to find room for them under thesamegovernment.Mr.Pitthas receivedgreat credit for effecting theUnion;butIbelieveitwillsoonerorlaterbediscoveredthatthemannerinwhich,andthetermsuponwhich,heeffectedit,madeitthemostfatalblowthateverwaslevelled against the peace and prosperity of England. From it came theCatholicBill. From theCatholicBill has come thisReformBill!Andwhatnext?

The case of the Irish Church is certainly anomalous, and full of practicaldifficulties.Ontheonehand,itistheonlychurchwhichtheconstitutioncanadmit;ontheother,sucharethecircumstances,itisachurchthatcannotactasa church towards five sixths of the persons nominally and legallywithin itscare.

December18.1831.

ASTATE.—PERSONSANDTHINGS.—HISTORY.

Thedifferencebetweenaninorganicandanorganicbodyliesinthis:—Inthefirst—a sheaf of corn—the whole is nothing more than a collection of theindividualpartsorphenomena.Inthesecond—aman—thewholeistheeffectof,orresultsfrom,theparts;it—thewhole—iseverything,andthepartsarenothing.

A State is an idea intermediate between the two—the whole being a resultfrom,andnotameretotalof,theparts,andyetnotsomergingtheconstituentpartsintheresult,butthattheindividualexistsintegrallywithinit.Extremes,especially in politics, meet. In Athens each individual Athenian was of novalue;but takenaltogether,asDemus, theywereeverythinginsuchasensethatno individualcitizenwasany thing. InTurkey there is thesignofunityputforunity.TheSultanseemshimselftheState;butitisanillusion:thereisin fact in Turkey no State at all: the whole consists of nothing but a vastcollectionofneighbourhoods.

When the government and the aristocracy of this country hadsubordinatedpersonstothings,and treated theone like theother,—thepoor,with some reason, and almost in self-defence, learned to setuprightsaboveduties.ThecodeofaChristiansocietyis,Debeo,ettudebes—ofHeathensorBarbarians,Teneo,tenetoettu,sipotes.

Ifmencould learnfromhistory,what lessons itmight teachus!Butpassionandpartyblindoureyes,andthelightwhichexperiencegivesisalanternonthestern,whichshinesonlyonthewavesbehindus!

December27.1831.

BEAUTY.—GENIUS.

TheolddefinitionofbeautyintheRomanschoolofpaintingwas,ilpiùnell'uno—multitude in unity; and there is no doubt that such is the principle ofbeauty. And as one of the most characteristic and infallible criteria of thedifferent ranks of men's intellects, observe the instinctive habit which allsuperiormindshaveof endeavouring to bring, andof never resting till theyhavebrought,intounitythescatteredfactswhichoccurinconversation,orinthestatementsofmenofbusiness.Toattempttoargueanygreatquestionuponfactsonly,isabsurd;youcannotstateanyfactbeforeamixedaudience,whichan opponent as clever as yourself cannot with ease twist towards anotherbearing,oratleastmeetbyacontraryfact,asitiscalled.Iwonderwhyfactswere ever called stubborn things: I am sure they have been found pliableenoughlatelyintheHouseofCommonsandelsewhere.Facts,youknow,arenot truths; they are not conclusions; they are not even premisses, but in thenatureandpartsofpremisses.Thetruthdependson,andisonlyarrivedat,byalegitimatedeductionfromallthefactswhicharetrulymaterial.

December28.1831.

CHURCH.—STATE.—DISSENTERS.

Eventoachurch,—theonlypuredemocracy,becauseinitpersonsarealoneconsidered, and one person à priori is equal to another person,—even to achurch, discipline is an essential condition. But a state regards classes, andclasses as they represent classified property; and to introduce a system of

representationwhichmustinevitablyrenderalldisciplineimpossible,whatisitbutmadness-themadnessofignorantvanity,andrecklessobstinacy?

Ihaveknown,andstillknow,manyDissenters,whoprofesstohaveazealforChristianity;andIdaresaytheyhave.ButIhaveknownveryfewDissentersindeed,whosehatred to theChurchofEnglandwasnotamuchmoreactiveprincipleofactionwiththemthantheirloveforChristianity.TheWesleyans,in uncorrupted parts of the country, are nearly the only exceptions. Thereneverwasanagesincethedaysoftheapostles,inwhichthecatholicspiritofreligionwassodead,andputasideforloveofsectsandparties,asatpresent.

January1.1832.

GRACEFULNESSOFCHILDREN.—DOGS.

Howinimitablygracefulchildrenareingeneralbeforetheylearntodance!

There seems a sort of sympathy between themore generous dogs and littlechildren.Ibelieveaninstanceofalittlechildbeingattackedbyalargedogisveryrareindeed.

January28.1832.

IDEALTORYANDWHIG.

The ideal Tory and the idealWhig (and some such there have really been)agreedinthenecessityandbenefitofanexactbalanceofthethreeestates:buttheTorywasmore jealousof thebalancebeingderangedby thepeople; theWhig, of its being deranged by theCrown.But thiswas a habit, a jealousyonly; they both agreed in the ultimate preservation of the balance; andaccordingly they might each, under certain circumstances, without theslightestinconsistency,passfromonesidetotheother,astheultimateobjectrequired it. This the Tories did at the Revolution, but remained Tories asbefore.

I havehalf amind towrite a critical andphilosophical essayonWhiggism,from Dryden's Achitophel (Shaftesbury), the first Whig, (for, with Dr.Johnson's leave, the devil is no such cattle,) down to——,who, I trust, inGod'smercytotheinterestsofpeace,union,andlibertyinthisnation,willbe

thelast.InitIwouldtakethelastyearsofQueenAnne'sreignasthezenith,orpalmy state, ofWhiggism in its divinestavatar of common sense, or of theunderstanding,vigorouslyexertedintherightdirectionontherightandproperobjectsoftheunderstanding;andwouldthentracetherise, theoccasion, theprogress, and the necessary degeneration of theWhig spirit of compromise,evendown to theprofound ineptitudesof theirparty in thesedays.Acleverfellowmightmakesomethingofthishint.HowAsgillwouldhavedoneit!

February22.1832.

THECHURCH.

Thechurchisthelastrelicofournationality.WouldtoGodthatthebishopsandtheclergyingeneralcouldoncefullyunderstandthattheChristianchurchandthenationalchurchareas little tobeconfoundedasdivided!I think thefateoftheReformBill,initself,ofcomparativelyminorimportance;thefateofthenationalchurchoccupiesmymindwithgreaterintensity.

February24.1832.

MINISTERSANDTHEREFORMBILL.

I could not help smiling, in reading the report ofLordGrey's speech in theHouse of Lords, the other night, when he asked LordWicklowwhether heseriously believed that he, Lord Grey, or any of the ministers, intended tosubverttheinstitutionsofthecountry.HadIbeeninLordWicklow'splace,Ishouldhavebeentemptedtoanswerthisquestionsomethinginthefollowingway:—"Waiving the charge in an offensive sense of personal consciousnessagainst the noble earl, and all but one or two of his colleagues, upon myhonour, and in the presence of Almighty God, I answer, Yes! You havedestroyedthefreedomofparliament;youhavedoneyourbesttoshutthedooroftheHouseofCommonstotheproperty,thebirth,therank,thewisdomofthepeople,andhaveflungitopentotheirpassionsandtheirfollies.Youhavedisfranchised the gentry, and the real patriotism of the nation: you haveagitatedandexasperated themob,and thrownthebalanceofpoliticalpowerintothehandsofthatclass(theshopkeepers)which,inallcountriesandinallages, has been, is now, and ever will be, the least patriotic and the leastconservative of any. You are now preparing to destroy for ever the

constitutionalindependenceoftheHouseofLords;youareforeverdisplacingit from its supremacy as a co-ordinate estate of the realm; andwhether yousucceedinpassingyourbillbyactuallyswampingourvotesbyabatchofnewpeers,orbyfrighteningasufficientnumberofusoutofouropinionsby thethreatofone,—equallyyouwillhave superseded the tripleassentwhich theconstitution requires to the enactment of a valid law, and have left the kingalonewiththedelegatesofthepopulace!"

March3.1832.

DISFRANCHISEMENT.

I am afraid the Conservative party see but one half of the truth. Themereextension of the franchise is not the evil; I should be glad to see it greatlyextended;—thereisnoharminthatperse;themischiefisthatthefranchiseisnominallyextended,buttosuchclasses,andinsuchamanner,thatapracticaldisfranchisement of all above, and a discontenting of all below, a favouredclassaretheunavoidableresults.

March17.1832.

GENIUSFEMININE.——PIRATES.

——'s face is almost the only exception I know to the observation, thatsomething feminine—not effeminate, mind—is discoverable in thecountenancesofallmenofgenius.LookatthatfaceofoldDampier,aroughsailor, but aman of exquisitemind.How soft is the air of his countenance,howdelicatetheshapeofhistemples!

IthinkitveryabsurdandmisplacedtocallRaleighandDrake,andothersofour naval heroes of Elizabeth's age, pirates. Noman is a pirate, unless hiscontemporariesagreetocallhimso.Drakesaid,—"ThesubjectsofthekingofSpainhavedonetheirbesttoruinmycountry:ergo,IwilltrytoruinthekingofSpain'scountry."Woulditnotbesillytocall theArgonautspiratesinoursenseoftheword?

March18.1832.

ASTROLOGY.—ALCHEMY.

It is curious tomarkhow instinctively the reasonhas alwayspointedout tomentheultimateendofthevarioussciences,andhowimmediatelyafterwardstheyhavesettowork,likechildren,torealizethatendbyinadequatemeans.Nowtheyappliedtotheirappetites,nowtotheirpassions,nowtotheirfancy,nowtotheunderstanding,andlastly,totheintuitivereasonagain.Thereisnodoubtbutthatastrologyofsomesortorotherwouldbethelastachievementofastronomy: there must he chemical relations between the planets; thedifference of their magnitudes compared with that of their distances is notexplicable otherwise; but this, though, as itwere, blindly andunconsciouslyseen,ledimmediatelytofortune-tellingandothernonsense.Soalchemyisthetheoreticendofchemistry:theremustbeacommonlaw,uponwhichallcanbecomeeachandeachall;butthentheideawasturnedtothecoiningofgoldandsilver.

March20.1832.

REFORMBILL.—CRISIS.

Ihaveheardbut twoargumentsofanyweightadduced in favourofpassingthis Reform Bill, and they are in substance these:—1. We will blow yourbrainsoutifyoudon'tpassit.2.Wewilldragyouthroughahorsepondifyoudon'tpassit;andthereisagooddealofforceinboth.

Talk tomeofyourpretendedcrisis!Stuff!Avigorousgovernmentwould inonemonthchangeallthedataforyourreasoning.WouldyouhavemebelievethattheeventsofthisworldarefastenedtoarevolvingcyclewithGodatoneendandtheDevilattheother,andthattheDevilisnowuppermost!AreyouaChristian,andtalkaboutacrisisinthatfatalisticsense!

March31.1832.

JOHN,CHAP.III.VER.4.—DICTATIONANDINSPIRATION.—GNOSIS—NEWTESTAMENTCANON.

IcertainlyunderstandtheinthesecondchapterofSt.John'sGospel,ashavingaliquidincrepationisinit—amildreprooffromJesustoMaryforinterferinginhisministerialactsbyrequestsonherownaccount.

Idonotthinkthatwaseverusedbychildtoparentasacommonmodeof

address:betweenhusbandandwifeitwas;butIcannotthinkthat and wereequivalenttermsinthemouthofasonspeakingtohismother.NopartoftheChristopaedia is found in John or Paul; and after the baptism there is norecognitionofanymaternalauthorityinMary.Seethetwopassageswheresheendeavourstogetaccesstohimwhenheispreaching:—"WhosoevershalldothewillofGod, thesame ismybrother,andmysister,andmymother"andalsotherecommendationofhertothecareofJohnatthecrucifixion.

Theremaybedictationwithoutinspiration,andinspirationwithoutdictation;theyhavebeenandcontinuetobegrievouslyconfounded.Balaamandhisasswerethepassiveorgansofdictation;butnoone,Isuppose,willventuretocalleither of thoseworthies inspired. It ismyprofound conviction that St. JohnandSt.Paulweredivinelyinspired;butItotallydisbelievethedictationofanyoneword,sentence,orargumentthroughouttheirwritings.Observe,therewasrevelation.Allreligionisrevealed;—revealedreligionis,inmyjudgment,amerepleonasm.Revelationsoffactswereundoubtedlymadetotheprophets;revelationsofdoctrineswereasundoubtedlymadetoJohnandPaul;—butisitnotamerematterofourverysensesthatJohnandPauleachdealtwiththoserevelations, expounded them, insisted on them, just exactly according to hisownnaturalstrengthofintellect,habitofreasoning,moral,andevenphysicaltemperament?WereceivethebooksascribedtoJohnandPaulastheirbookson the judgmentofmen, forwhomnomiraculousdiscernment ispretended;nay,whom,intheiradmissionandrejectionofotherbooks,webelievetohaveerred. Shallwe give less credence to John and Paul themselves? Surely theheart and soul of every Christian give him sufficient assurance that, in allthingsthatconcernhimasaman,thewordsthathereadsarespiritandtruth,and could only proceed from Him who made both heart and soul.—Understand thematter so, and all difficulty vanishes: you readwithout fear,lestyourfaithmeetwithsomeshockfromapassagehereandtherewhichyoucannotreconcilewithimmediatedictation,bytheHolySpiritofGod,withoutan absurd violence offered to the text.You read theBible as the best of allbooks,butstillasabook;andmakeuseofallthemeansandapplianceswhichlearning and skill, under the blessing of God, can afford towards rightlyapprehending the general sense of it—not solicitous to find out doctrine inmere epistolary familiarity, or facts in clear ad hominem et protemporeallusionstonationaltraditions.

Tertullian, I think, says he had seen the autograph copies of some of theapostles'writings.Thetruthis,theancientChurchwasnotguidedbythemerefact of the genuineness of a writing in pronouncing it canonical;— itscatholicity was the test applied to it. I have not the smallest doubt that theEpistleofBarnabasisgenuine;butitisnotcatholic;itisfullofthe,thoughofthemost simple andpleasing sort. I think the sameofHermas.TheChurch

would never admit either into the canon, although theAlexandrians alwaysreadtheEpistleofBarnabasintheirchurchesforthreehundredyearstogether.It was upwards of three centuries before the Epistle to the Hebrews wasadmitted,andthisonaccountofits;atlength,byhelpofthevenerableprefixofSt.Paul'sname,itsadmirers,happilyforus,succeeded.

SolittledidtheearlybishopsandpreachersthinktheirChristianfaithwrappedup in,andsolely tobe learnedfrom, theNewTestament,—indeed,can itbesaid that there was any such collection for three hundred years? —that Irememberaletterfrom——toafriendofhis,abishopintheEast,inwhichhemostevidentlyspeaksoftheChristianScripturesasofworksofwhichthebishopknewlittleornothing.

April4.1832.

UNITARIANISM.—MORALPHILOSOPHY.

Imakethegreatestdifferencebetweenansandisms.Ishoulddealinsincerelywith you, if I said that I thought Unitarianism was Christianity. No; as Ibelieveandhave faith in thedoctrine, it isnot the truth in JesusChrist; butGodforbidthatIshoulddoubtthatyou,andmanyotherUnitarians,asyoucallyourselves, are, in a practical sense, very good Christians. We do not winheavenbylogic.

Bytheby,whatdoyoumeanbyexclusivelyassumingthetitleofUnitarians?As if Tri-Unitarians were not necessarily Unitarians, as much (pardon theillustration) as an apple-piemustof coursebe apie!The schoolmenwould,perhaps,havecalledyouUnicists;butyourpropernameisPsilanthropists—believersinthemerehumannatureofChrist.

Uponmyword,ifImaysaysowithoutoffence,IreallythinkmanyformsofPantheisticAtheismmoreagreeabletoanimaginativemindthanUnitarianismas it is professed in terms: in particular, I prefer the Spinosistic schemeinfinitely.TheearlySocinianswere,tobesure,mostunaccountablelogicians;but,whenyouhadswallowedtheirbadreasoning,youcametoadoctrineonwhich the heart, at least, might rest for some support. They adored JesusChrist.BothLaeliusandFaustusSocinuslaiddowntheadorabilityofJesusinstrong terms. I have nothing, you know, to do with their logic. ButUnitarianism is, in effect, the worst of one kind of Atheism, joined to theworst of one kind of Calvinism, like two asses tied tail to tail. It has nocovenantwithGod; and looks upon prayer as a sort of self-magnetizing—agetting of the body and temper into a certain status, desirable per se, but

havingnocovenantedreferencetotheBeingtowhomtheprayerisaddressed.

The sum total ofmoral philosophy is found in this one question, IsGood asuperfluousword,—ormerelazysynonymeforthepleasurable,anditscauses;—atmost,ameremodificationtoexpressdegree,andcomparativedurationofpleasure?—Or the question may be more unanswerably stated thus,Is good superfluous as a word exponent of a kind?—If it be, then moralphilosophy isbutasubdivisionofphysics. Ifnot, then thewritingsofPaleyandallhispredecessorsanddisciplesarefalseandmostpernicious;andthereis an emphatic propriety in the superlative, and in a sense which of itselfwouldsupplyandexemplifythedifferencebetweenmostandvery.

April5.1832.

MORALLAWOFPOLARITY.

Itiscurioustotracetheoperationofthemorallawofpolarityinthehistoryofpolitics,religion,&c.Whenthemaximumofonetendencyhasbeenattained,there is no gradual decrease, but a direct transition to itsminimum, till theopposite tendency has attained its maximum; and then you see anothercorresponding revulsion. With the Restoration came in all at once themechanico-corpuscularphilosophy,which,withtheincreaseofmanufactures,trade,andarts,madeeverythinginphilosophy,religion,andpoetryobjective;till, at length, attachment to mere external worldliness and forms got to itsmaximum,—when out burst the French revolution; and with it every thingbecameimmediatelysubjective,withoutanyobjectatall.TheRightsofMan,the Sovereignty of the People,were subject and object both.We are now, Ithink,ontheturningpointagain.ThisReformseemstheneplusultraofthattendency of the publicmindwhich substitutes its own undefined notions orpassions for real objects and historical actualities. There is not one of theministers—except theoneor two revolutionists among them—whohas evergivenusahint,throughoutthislongstruggle,astowhathereallydoesbelievewillbetheproductof thebill;whatsortofHouseofCommonsitwillmakefor the purpose of governing this empire soberly and safely. No; they haveactualizedforamomentawish,afear,apassion,butnotanidea.

April1.1832.

EPIDEMICDISEASE.—QUARANTINE.

There are two grand divisions under which all contagious diseases may beclassed:—1.Thosewhichspring fromorganized livingbeings,and from thelife in them,andwhichenter,as itwere, into the lifeof those inwhomtheyreproduce themselves—such as small-pox and measles. These become sodomesticatedwiththehabitandsystem,thattheyarerarelyreceivedtwice.2.Thosewhich spring fromdead organized, or unorganizedmatter, andwhichmaybecomprehendedunderthewidetermmalaria.

Youmay have passed a stagnant pond a hundred timeswithout injury: youhappentopassitagain,inlowspiritsandchilled,preciselyatthemomentofthe explosion of the gas: the malaria strikes on the cutaneous or veno-glandular system, and drives the blood from the surface; the shivering fitcomes on, till the musculo-arterial irritability re-acts, and then the hot fitsucceeds;and,unlessbarkorarsenic—particularlybark,becauseitisabitteras well as a tonic—be applied to strengthen the veno- glandular, and tomoderate the musculo-arterial, system, a manmay have the ague for thirtyyearstogether.

But if, instead of being exposed to the solitary malaria of a pond, a man,travelling through the PontineMarshes, permits his animal energies to flag,and surrenders himself to the drowsinesswhich generally attacks him, thenblastuponblaststrikesuponthecutaneoussystem,andpassesthroughittothemusculo-arterial,andsocompletelyoverpowersthelatterthatitcannotre-act,andthemandiesatonce,insteadofonlycatchinganague.

Therearethreefactorsoftheoperationofanepidemicoratmosphericdisease.Thefirstandprincipaloneisthepredisposedstateofthebody;secondly,thespecificvirusintheatmosphere;and,thirdly,theaccidentalcircumstancesofweather, locality, food, occupation,&c.Against the second of thesewe arepowerless: itsnature,causes,andsympathiesare toosubtleforoursenses tofinddata togoupon.Against the first,medicinemayactprofitably.Againstthethird,awiseandsagaciousmedicalpoliceoughttobeadopted;but,aboveall, let everymanact likeaChristian, inall charity, and love, andbrotherlykindness,andsincererelianceonGod'smercifulprovidence.

Quarantine cannot keep out an atmospheric disease; but it can, and doesalways,increasethepredisposingcausesofitsreception.

April10.1832.

HARMONY.

Allharmonyisfoundedonarelationtorest—onrelativerest.Takeametallicplate,andstrewsandon it; soundanharmonicchordover thesand,and thegrainswillwhirlaboutincircles,andothergeometricalfigures,all,asitwere,dependingonsomepointofsandrelativelyatrest.Soundadiscord,andeverygrain will whisk about without any order at all, in no figures, andwith nopointsofrest.

Theclerisyofanation,thatis,itslearnedmen,whetherpoets,orphilosophers,or scholars, are these points of relative rest. There could be no order, noharmonyofthewhole,withoutthem.

April21.1832.

INTELLECTUALREVOLUTIONS.—MODERNSTYLE.

There have been three silent revolutions in England:—first, when theprofessionsfellofffromthechurch;secondly,whenliteraturefellofffromtheprofessions;and,thirdly,whenthepressfellofffromliterature.

Commonphrasesare,asitwere,sostereotypednowbyconventionaluse,thatit is really much easier to write on the ordinary politics of the day in thecommonnewspaperstyle,thanitistomakeagoodpairofshoes.

Anapprenticehasasmuchtolearnnowtobeashoemakeraseverhehad;butanignorantcoxcomb,withacompetentwantofhonesty,mayveryeffectivelywieldapen inanewspaperoffice,with infinitely lesspainsandpreparationthanwerenecessaryformerly.

April23.1832.

GENIUSOFTHESPANISHANDITALIANS.—VICO.—SPINOSA.

The genius of the Spanish people is exquisitely subtle, without being at allacute;hencethereissomuchhumourandsolittlewitintheirliterature.ThegeniusoftheItalians,onthecontrary,isacute,profound,andsensual,butnotsubtle;hencewhattheythinktobehumorousismerelywitty.

ToestimateamanlikeVico,oranygreatmanwhohasmadediscoveriesandcommittederrors,yououghttosaytoyourself—"Hedidsoandsointheyear

1720,aPapist,atNaples.Now,whatwouldhenothavedoneifhehadlivednow, and could have availed himself of all our vast acquisitions in physicalscience?"

After the Scienza Nuova read Spinosa, De Monarchia ex rationispraescripto.Theydiffered—Vicointhinkingthatsocietytendedtomonarchy;Spinosa in thinking it tended todemocracy.Now,Spinosa's idealdemocracywasrealizedbyacontemporary—notinanation,forthatisimpossible,butinasect—ImeanbyGeorgeFoxandhisQuakers.

April24.1832.

COLOURS.

Coloursmaybestbeexpressedbyaheptad, the largestpossible formula forthingsfinite,asthepentadisthesmallestpossibleform.Indeed,theheptadofthingsfiniteis inallcasesreducibletothepentad.Theadorabletetractys,ortetrad,istheformulaofGod;which,again,isreducibleinto,andis,inreality,thesamewith,theTrinity.Takecoloursthus:—

Prothesis,Red,orColour.^/1\/\Mesothesis,orIndifferenceof/\RedandYellow=Orange.4/\5Indigo,Violet=Indifference/Synthesis\ofRedandBlue./—6\Thesis=Yellow.23Blue=Antithesis.\Greenindi-/\componi-/\ble/\/\/Towhichyoumustadd\7/whichisspuriousorartificialvsynthesisofYellowandBlue.

Green,decom-ponible

April28.1832.

DESTRUCTIONOFJERUSALEM.—EPICPOEM.

The destruction of Jerusalem is the only subject now remaining for an epicpoem; a subject which, like Milton's Fall of Man, should interest allChristendom,astheHomericWarofTroyinterestedallGreece.Therewouldbe difficulties, as there are in all subjects; and they must he mitigated andthrownintotheshade,asMiltonhasdonewiththenumerousdifficultiesintheParadise Lost. But there would be a greater assemblage of grandeur andsplendour than can now be found in any other theme. As for the oldmythology, incredulus odi; and yet there must be a mythology, or a quasi-mythology, for an epic poem. Here there would be the completion of theprophecies—the termination of the first revealed national religion under theviolentassaultofPaganism,itself theimmediateforerunnerandconditionofthe spread of a revealed mundane religion; and then you would have thecharacteroftheRomanandtheJew,andtheawfulness,thecompleteness,thejustice.Ischemeditattwenty-five;but,alas!venturumexpectat.

April29.1832.

VOXPOPULI,VOXDEI.—BLACK.

Ineversaid that thevoxpopuliwasofcourse thevoxDei. Itmaybe;but itmaybe,andwithequalprobability,apriori,voxDiaboli.Thatthevoiceoftenmillionsofmencalling for the same thing is a spirit, Ibelieve;butwhetherthatbeaspiritofHeavenorHell,IcanonlyknowbytryingthethingcalledforbytheprescriptofreasonandGod'swill.

Black is the negation of colour in its greatest energy. Without lustre, itindicatesorrepresentsvacuity,as,forinstance,inthedarkmouthofacavern;addlustre,anditwillrepresentthehighestdegreeofsolidity,asinapolishedebonybox.

Infiniteformsthereisnorealandabsoluteidentity.Godaloneisidentity.Intheformer,theprothesisisabastardprothesis,aquasiidentityonly.

April30.1832.

ASGILLANDDEFOE.

IknownogenuineSaxonEnglishsuperiortoAsgill's.IthinkhisandDefoe'sironyoftenfinerthanSwift's.

May1.1832.

HORNETOOKE.—FOXANDPITT

Horne Tooke's advice to the Friends of the People was profound:—"If youwishtobepowerful,pretendtobepowerful."

Fox and Pitt constantly played into each other's hands. Mr. Stuart, of theCourier,whowasveryknowinginthepoliticsoftheday,soonfoundoutthegrossliesandimposturesofthatclubastoitsnumbers,andtoldFoxso.Yet,instead of disclaiming them and exposing the pretence, as he ought to havedone, Fox absolutely exaggerated their numbers and sinister intentions; andPitt, who also knew the lie, took him at his word, and argued against himtriumphantlyonhisownpremisses.

Fox's Gallicism, too, was a treasury of weapons to Pitt. He could neverconceivetheFrenchrightwithoutmakingtheEnglishwrong.Ah!Iremember—

—itvex'dmysoultoseeSograndacause,soproudarealmWithGooseandGoodyatthehelm;Wholongagohadfall'nasunderButfortheirrivals'baserblunder,ThecowardwhineandFrenchifiedSlaverandslangoftheotherside!

May2.1832.

HORNER.

IcannotsaythatIthoughtMr.Horneramanofgenius.Heseemedtometobeoneofthosemenwhohavenotveryextendedminds,butwhoknowwhattheyknowverywell—shallowstreams,andclearbecausetheyareshallow.Therewasgreatgoodnessabouthim.

May3.1832.

ADIAPHORI.—CITIZENSANDCHRISTIANS.

———isoneofthosemenwhogofartoshakemyfaithinafuturestateofexistence;Imean,onaccountofthedifficultyofknowingwheretoplacehim.Icouldnotbeartoroasthim;heisnotsobadasallthatcomesto:butthen,onthe other hand, to have to sit down with such a fellow in the very lowestpothouseofheavenisutterlyinconsistentwiththebeliefofthatplacebeingaplaceofhappinessforme.

IntwopointsofviewIreverenceman;first,asacitizen,apartof,orinorderto,anation;and,secondly,asaChristian.Ifmenareneither theonenor theother, but a mere aggregation of individual bipeds, who acknowledge nonational unity, nor believe with me in Christ, I have no more personalsympathywiththemthanwiththedustbeneathmyfeet.

May21.1832.

PROFESSORPARK.—ENGLISHCONSTITUTION—DEMOCRACY.—MILTONANDSIDNEY.

Professor Park talks about its being very doubtful whether the constitutiondescribedbyBlackstoneeverinfactexisted.Inthesamemanner,Isuppose,itisdoubtfulwhetherthemoonismadeofgreencheese,orwhetherthesoulsofWelchmen do, in point of fact, go to heaven on the backs of mites.Blackstone's was the age of shallow law. Monarchy, aristocracy, anddemocracy, as such, exclude each the other: but if the elements are tointerpenetrate, how absurd to call a lump of sugar hydrogen, oxygen, andcarbon! nay, to take three lumps, and call the first hydrogen; the second,oxygen;andthethird,carbon!Don'tyouseethateachisinall,andallineach?

ThedemocracyofEngland,beforetheReformBill,was,whereitoughttobe,inthecorporations,thevestries,thejoint-stockcompanies,&c.Thepower,ina democracy, is in focal points,without a centre; and in proportion as suchdemocraticalpowerisstrong,thestrengthofthecentralgovernmentoughttobeintense—otherwisethenationwillfalltopieces.

Wehavejustnowincalculablyincreasedthedemocraticalactionofthepeople,

and,atthesametime,weakenedtheexecutivepowerofthegovernment.

ItwastheerrorofMilton,Sidney,andothersofthatage,tothinkitpossibletoconstruct a purely aristocratical government, defecated of all passion, andignorance,andsordidmotive.Thetruthis,suchagovernmentwouldbeweakfromitsutterwantofsympathywiththepeopletobegovernedbyit.

May25.1832.

DEVIMINIMORUM.—HAHNEMANN.—LUTHER.

Mercury strongly illustrates the theoryde viminimorum. Divide five grainsinto fiftydoses, and theymaypoisonyou irretrievably. Idon'tbelieve inallthatHahnemannsays;butheisafinefellow,and,likemostGermans,isnotaltogetherwrong,andlikethemalso,isneveraltogetherright.

SixvolumesoftranslatedselectionsfromLuther'sworks,twobeingfromhisLetters,would be a delightfulwork. The translator should be aman deeplyimbuedwith hisBible,with the Englishwriters fromHenry the Seventh toEdwardtheSixth,theScotchdivinesofthe16thcentury,andwiththeoldracyGerman.

HugodeSaintVictor,Luther'sfavouritedivine,wasawonderfulman,who,inthe 12th century, the jubilant age of papal dominion, nursed the lamp ofPlatonicmysticisminthespiritofthemostrefinedChristianity.

June9.1832.

SYMPATHYOFOLDGREEKANDLATINWITHENGLISH.—ROMANMIND.—WAR.

Ifyou takeSophocles,Catullus,Lucretius, thebetterpartsofCicero,andsoon, you may, just with two or three exceptions arising out of the differentidiomsas tocases, translatepageafterpage intogoodmotherEnglish,wordby word, without altering the order; but you cannot do so with Virgil orTibullus:ifyouattemptit,youwillmakenonsense.

There isa remarkablepowerof thepicturesque in the fragmentswehaveofEnnius,Actius,andotherveryoldRomanwriters.ThisvividmannerwaslostintheAugustanage.

MuchastheRomansowedtoGreeceinthebeginning,whilsttheirmindwas,asitwere,tuningitselftoanafter-effortofitsownmusic,itsufferedmoreinproportion by the influence of Greek literature subsequently, when it wasalready mature and ought to have worked for itself. It then became asuperfetationupon,andnotan ingredient in, thenationalcharacter.With theexceptionofthesternpragmatichistorianandthemoralsatirist,itleftnothingoriginaltotheLatinMuse.

Anation,tobegreat,oughttobecompressedinitsincrementbynationsmorecivilized than itself—asGreece by Persia; andRome by Etruria, the Italianstates,andCarthage.IrememberCommodoreDecatursayingtomeatMalta,thathedeploredtheoccupationofLouisianabytheUnitedStates,andwishedthatprovincehadbeenpossessedbyEngland.He thought that if theUnitedStates got hold of Canada by conquest or cession, the last chance of hiscountrybecomingagreatcompactnationwouldbelost.

WarinrepublicanRomewastheoffspringofitsintensearistocracyofspirit,and stood to the state in lieu of trade. As long as there was any thing abextra to conquer, the state advanced: when nothing remained but what wasRoman,then,asamatterofcourse,civilwarbegan.

June10.1832.

CHARMFORCRAMP.

WhenIwasalittlehoyattheBlue-coatSchool,therewasacharmforone'sfootwhenasleep;andIbelieveithadbeenintheschoolsinceitsfoundation,in the time of Edward the Sixth. The march of intellect has probably nowexplodedit.Itranthus:—

Foot!foot!foot!isfastasleep!Thumb!thumb!thumb!inspittlewesteep:Crossesthreewemaketoeaseus,Twoforthethieves,andoneforChristJesus!

And the same charm served for a cramp in the leg, with the followingsubstitution:—

Thedevilistyingaknotinmyleg!Mark,Luke,andJohn,unlooseitIbeg!—Crossesthree,&c.

Andreallyupongettingoutofbed,wherethecrampmostfrequentlyoccurred,

pressing thesoleof thefooton thecoldfloor,and thenrepeating thischarmwiththeactsconfigurativethereuponprescribed,IcansafelyaffirmthatIdonot remember an instance in which the cramp did not go away in a fewseconds.

Ishouldnotwonderifitwereequallygoodforastitchintheside;butIcannotsayIevertrieditforthat.

July7.1832.

GREEK.—DUAL,NEUTERPLURAL,ANDVERBSINGULAR.—THETA.

It is hardly possible to conceive a languagemore perfect than theGreek. Ifyou compare it with the modern European tongues, in the points of thepositionandrelativebearingofthevowelsandconsonantsoneachother,andof the variety of terminations, it is incalculably before all in the formerparticulars, and only equalled in the last byGerman. But it is in variety ofterminationalonethattheGermansurpassestheothermodernlanguagesastosound; for, as to position, Nature seems to have dropped an acid into thelanguage, when a-forming, which curdled the vowels, and made all theconsonantsflowtogether.TheSpanishisexcellentforvarietyoftermination;the Italian, in this particular, themost deficient. Italian prose is excessivelymonotonous.

Itisverynaturaltohaveadual,dualitybeingaconceptionquitedistinctfromplurality.Mostveryprimitivelanguageshaveadual,astheGreek,Welch,andthenativeChilese,asyouwillseeintheAbbéRaynal.

Theneuterpluralgoverning,astheycallit,averbsingularisoneofthemanyinstances in Greek of the inward and metaphysic grammar resistingsuccessfullythetyrannyofformalgrammar.Intruth,theremaybeMulteityinthings;buttherecanonlybePluralityinpersons.

Observealsothat,infact,aneuternouninGreekhasnorealnominativecase,thoughithasaformalone,thatistosay,thesamewordwiththeaccusative.Thereasonis—athinghasnosubjectivity,ornominativecase:itexistsonlyasanobjectintheaccusativeorobliquecase.

It isextraordinarythat theGermansshouldnothaveretainedorassumedthetwo beautifully discriminated sounds of the soft and hard theta; as in thythoughts—thethinetherthat,&c.HowparticularlyfinethehardthetaisinanEnglishtermination,as inthatgrandword—Death—forwhichtheGermans

gutturizeasoundthatputsyouinmindofnothingbutaloathsometoad.

July8.1832.

TALENTED.

I regret to see that vile and barbarous vocable talented, stealing out of thenewspapersintotheleadingreviewsandmostrespectablepublicationsoftheday. Why not shillinged, farthinged, tenpenced, &c.? The formation of aparticiple passive from a noun is a licence that nothing but a very peculiarfelicitycanexcuse. Ifmereconvenience is to justify suchattemptsupon theidiom,youcannot stop till the languagebecomes, in theproper senseof theword,corrupt.MostofthesepiecesofslangcomefromAmerica.

NevertakeaniambusasaChristianname.Atrochee,ortribrach,willdoverywell.EdithandRothaaremyfavouritenamesforwomen.

July9.1832.

HOMER.—VALCKNAER.

IhavethefirmestconvictionthatHomerisameretraditionalsynonymewith,orfigurefor,theIliad.Youcannotconceiveforamomentanythingaboutthepoet,asyoucallhim,apartfromthatpoem.Differenceinmentherewasinadegree,butnotinkind;onemanwas,perhaps,abetterpoetthananother;buthewasapoetuponthesamegroundandwiththesamefeelingsastherest.

The want of adverbs in the Iliad is very characteristic.With more adverbsthere would have been some subjectivity, or subjectivity would have madethem.

TheGreekswerethenjustonthevergeoftheburstingforthofindividuality.

Valckenaer'streatiseontheinterpolationoftheClassicsbythelaterJewsandearlyChristiansiswellworthyourperusalasascholarandcritic.

July13.1832.

PRINCIPLESANDFACTS.—SCHMIDT.

I have read all the famous histories, and, I believe, some history of everycountryandnationthatis,oreverexisted;butIneverdidsoforthestoryitselfasastory.Theonly thing interesting tomewas theprinciples tobeevolvedfrom, and illustrated by, the facts.After I hadgottenmyprinciples, I prettygenerallyleftthefactstotakecareofthemselves.Inevercouldrememberanypassagesinbooks,ortheparticularsofevents,exceptinthegross.Icanrefertothem.Tobesure,ImustbeadifferentsortofmanfromHerder,whooncewas seriously annoyedwith himself, because, in recounting the pedigree ofsomeGermanroyalorelectoralfamily,hemissedsomeoneofthoseworthiesandcouldnotrecallthename.

Schmidtwas aRomanist; but I have generally found him candid, as indeedalmostalltheAustriansare.TheyarewhatiscalledgoodCatholics;but,likeour Charles the Second, they never let their religious bigotry interferewiththeir political well-doing. Kaiser is a most pious son of the church, yet healwayskeepshispapaingoodorder.

July20.1832.

PURITANSANDJACOBINS.

ItwasGod'smercytoouragethatourJacobinswereinfidelsandascandaltoall sober Christians. Had they been like the old Puritans, they would havetroddenchurchandkingtothedust—atleastforatime.

Foronemercy Iowe thanksbeyondallutterance,—that,withallmygastricandboweldistempers,myheadhatheverbeenliketheheadofamountaininblueairandsunshine.

July21.1832.

WORDSWORTH.

I have often wished that the first two books of the Excursion had beenpublishedseparately,underthenameof"TheDesertedCottage."Theywouldhave formed,what indeed they are, one of themost beautiful poems in the

language.

Can dialogues in verse be defended? I cannot but think that a greatphilosophicalpoetoughtalwaystoteachthereaderhimselfasfromhimself.Apoem does not admit argumentation, though it does admit development ofthought.Inprosetheremaybeadifference;thoughImustconfessthat,eveninPlatoandCicero,Iamalwaysvexedthattheauthorsdonotsaywhattheyhavetosayatonceintheirownpersons.Theintroductionsandlittleurbanitiesare,tobesure,verydelightfulintheirway;Iwouldnotlosethem;butIhavenoadmirationforthepracticeofventriloquizingthroughanotherman'smouth.

I cannot help regretting that Wordsworth did not first publish his thirteenbooksonthegrowthofanindividualmind—superior,asIusedtothink,uponthewhole,totheExcursion.YoumayjudgehowIfeltaboutthembymyownpoem upon the occasion. Then the plan laid out, and, I believe, partlysuggestedbyme,was,thatWordsworthshouldassumethestationofamaninmentalrepose,onewhoseprinciplesweremadeup,andsopreparedtodeliverupon authority a system of philosophy. He was to treat man as man, —asubject of eye, ear, touch, and taste, in contact with external nature, andinformingthesensesfromthemind,andnotcompoundingamindoutofthesenses; then he was to describe the pastoral and other states of society,assuming something of the Juvenalian spirit as he approached the highcivilization of cities and towns, and opening a melancholy picture of thepresent state of degeneracy and vice; thence hewas to infer and reveal theproofof,andnecessityfor, thewholestateofmanandsocietybeingsubjectto, and illustrative of, a redemptive process in operation, showing how thisidea reconciledall theanomalies,andpromised futuregloryand restoration.Somethingofthissortwas,Ithink,agreedon.Itis,insubstance,whatIhavebeenallmylifedoinginmysystemofphilosophy.

IthinkWordsworthpossessedmoreofthegeniusofagreatphilosophicpoetthan any man I ever knew, or, as I believe, has existed in England sinceMilton; but it seems to me that he ought never to have abandoned thecontemplativeposition,whichispeculiarly—perhapsImightsayexclusively—fittedforhim.HispropertitleisSpectatorabextra.

July23.1832.

FRENCHREVOLUTION.

Nomanwasmore enthusiastic than Iwas forFrance and theRevolution: ithadallmywishes,noneofmyexpectations.Before1793, Iclearlysawand

often enough stated in public, the horrid delusion, the vilemockery, of thewholeaffair.

WhensomeonesaidinmybrotherJames'spresencethatIwasaJacobin,hevery well observed,—"No! Samuel is no Jacobin; he is a hot-headedMoravian!"Indeed,Iwasintheextremeoppositepole.

July24.1832.

INFANTSCHOOLS.

I have no faith in act of parliament reform.All the great—the permanentlygreat—thingsthathavebeenachievedintheworldhavebeensoachievedbyindividuals,workingfromtheinstinctofgeniusorofgoodness.Theragenow-a-days is all the other way: the individual is supposed capable of nothing;theremustbeorganization,classification,machinery,&c.,asifthecapitalofnationalmoralitycouldbeincreasedbymakingajointstockofit.Henceyousee these infant schools so patronized by the bishops and others,who thinkthemagrandinvention.Isitfoundthataninfant-schoolchild,whohasbeenbawlingalldayacolumnofthemultiplication-table,oraversefromtheBible,growsupamoredutifulsonordaughtertoitsparents?Aredomesticcharitieson the increase amongst families under this system? In a great town, in ourpresentstateofsociety,perhapssuchschoolsmaybeajustifiableexpedient—a choice of the lesser evil; but as for driving these establishments into thecountryvillages,andbreakingupthecottagehomeeducation,Ithinkitoneofthemostmiserablemistakeswhichthewell-intentionedpeopleofthedayhaveyetmade;andtheyhavemade,andaremaking,agoodmany,Godknows.

July25.1832.

MR.COLERIDGE'SPHILOSOPHY.—SUBLIMITY.—SOLOMON.—MADNESS.—C.LAMB—SFORZA'sDECISION.

Thepithofmysystemistomakethesensesoutofthemind—notthemindoutofthesenses,asLockedid.

Couldyoueverdiscover any thing sublime, inour senseof the term, in theclassicGreekliterature?nevercould.SublimityisHebrewbybirth.

I should conjecture that the Proverbs and Ecclesiastes were written, or,perhaps, rather collected, about the time of Nehemiah. The language isHebrewwithChaldaicendings.It is totallyunlikethelanguageofMosesontheonehand,andofIsaiahontheother.

Solomonintroducedthecommercialspiritintohiskingdom.Icannotthinkhisidolatry could have been much more, in regard to himself, than a stateprotectionortolerationoftheforeignworship.

When a man mistakes his thoughts for persons and things, he is mad. Amadmanisproperlysodefined.

Charles Lamb translated my motto Sermoni propriora by—properer for asermon!

IwasmuchamusedsometimeagobyreadingthepithydecisionofoneoftheSforzas of Milan, upon occasion of a dispute for precedence between thelawyers and physicians of his capital;—Paecedant fures—sequanturcarnifices.Ihardlyrememberaneaterthing.

July28.1832.

FAITHANDBELIEF.

ThesublimeandabstrusedoctrinesofChristianbeliefbelong to thechurch;butthefaithoftheindividual,centeredinhisheart,isormaybecollateraltothem.

Faith is subjective. I throw myself in adoration before God; acknowledgemyselfhiscreature,—simple,weak,lost;andprayforhelpandpardonthroughJesus Christ: but when I rise frommy knees, I discuss the doctrine of theTrinityasIwouldaproblemingeometry;inthesametemperofmind,Imean,notbythesameprocessofreasoning,ofcourse.

August4.1832.

DOBRIZHOFFER.

I hardly know any thingmore amusing than the honestGerman Jesuitry ofDobrizhoffer.Hischapteronthedialectsismostvaluable.Heissurprisedthat

there isno form for the infinitive,but that they say,—Iwish, (go,or eat, ordrink,&c.)interposingaletterbywayofcopula,—forgettinghisownGermanandtheEnglish,whichare,intruth,thesame.TheconfidentbeliefentertainedbytheAbiponesofimmortality,inconnectionwiththeutterabsenceintheirmindsoftheideaofaGod,isveryremarkable.IfWarburtonwereright,whichheisnot,theMosaicschemewouldbetheexactconverse.Mydeardaughter'stranslation of this book is, in my judgment, unsurpassed for pure motherEnglishbyanythingIhavereadforalongtime.

August6.1832.

SCOTCHANDENGLISH.—CRITERIONOFGENIUS.—DRYDENANDPOPE.

IhavegenerallyfoundaScotchmanwitha little literatureverydisagreeable.He is a superficial German or a dull Frenchman. The Scotch will attributemerit to people of any nation rather than the English; the English have amorbid habit of petting and praising foreigners of any sort, to the unjustdisparagementoftheirownworthies.

Youwillfindthisagoodgageorcriterionofgenius,—whether itprogressesandevolves,oronlyspinsuponitself.TakeDryden'sAchitophelandZimri,—Shaftesbury and Buckingham; every line adds to or modifies the character,which is, as itwere, a-buildingup to thevery lastverse;whereas, inPope'sTimon,&c.thefirsttwoorthreecoupletscontainallthepithofthecharacter,and the twenty or thirty lines that follow are somuch evidence or proof ofovertactsofjealousy,orpride,orwhateveritmaybethatissatirized.Inlikemanner compare Charles Lamb's exquisite criticisms on Shakspeare withHazlitt'sroundandroundimitationsofthem.

August7.1832.

MILTON'SDISREGARDOFPAINTING.

ItisveryremarkablethatinnopartofhiswritingsdoesMiltontakeanynoticeof thegreatpaintersof Italy,nor, indeed,ofpaintingas anart;whilst everyotherpagebreatheshisloveandtasteformusic.Yetitiscuriousthat,inonepassage in the Paradise Lost, Milton has certainly copied the fresco of the

CreationintheSistineChapelatRome.Imeanthoselines,—

——"nowhalfappear'dThetawnylion,pawingtogetfreeHishinderparts,thenspringsasbrokefrombonds,Andrampantshakeshisbrindedmane;—"&c.

animagewhichthenecessitiesofthepainterjustified,butwhichwaswhollyunworthy,inmyjudgment,oftheenlargedpowersofthepoet.AdambendingoverthesleepingEveintheParadiseLostandDalilahapproachingSamson,intheAgonistesaretheonlytwoproperpicturesIrememberinMilton.

August9.1832.

BAPTISMALSERVICE.—JEWS'DIVISIONOFTHESCRIPTURE.—SANSKRIT.

I think the baptismal service almost perfect. What seems erroneousassumptioninittome,isharmless.Noneoftheservicesofthechurchaffectmesomuchasthis.Inevercouldattendachristeningwithouttearsburstingforthatthesightofthehelplessinnocentinapiousclergyman'sarms.

The Jews recognized threedegreesof sanctity in theirScriptures:—first, thewritings of Moses, who had the ; secondly, the Prophets; and, thirdly, theGoodBooks.Philo,amusinglyenough,placeshisworkssomewherebetweenthesecondandthirddegrees.

The claims of the Sanskrit for priority to the Hebrew as a language areridiculous.

August11.1832.

HESIOD.—VIRGIL.—GENIUSMETAPHYSICAL.—DONQUIXOTE.

I like reading Hesiod, meaning theWorks and Days. If every verse is notpoetry,itis,atleast,goodsense,whichisagreatdealtosay.

There is nothing real in the Georgies, except, to be sure, the verse. Meredidacticsofpractice,unlessseasonedwiththepersonalinterestsofthetimeorauthor,areinexpressiblydulltome.SuchdidacticpoetryasthatoftheWorks

and Days followed naturally upon legislation and the first ordering ofmunicipalities.

All genius is metaphysical; because the ultimate end of genius is ideal,howeveritmaybeactualizedbyincidentalandaccidentalcircumstances.

Don Quixote is not a man out of his senses, but a man in whom theimaginationandthepurereasonaresopowerfulastomakehimdisregardtheevidenceofsensewhen itopposed theirconclusions.Sancho is thecommonsenseofthesocialman-animal,unenlightenedandunsanctifiedbythereason.Youseehowhereverenceshismasterattheverytimeheischeatinghim.

August14.1832.

STEINMETZ.—KEATS.

PoordearSteinmetzisgone,—hisstateofsureblessednessaccelerated;or,itmaybe,heisburiedinChrist,andthereinthatmysteriousdepthgrowsontothe spirit of a justmanmade perfect!Could I for amoment doubt this, thegrasswouldbecomeblackbeneathmyfeet,andthisearthlyframeacharnel-house.Ineverknewanymansoillustratethedifferencebetweenthefeminineandtheeffeminate.

Aloose,slack,notwell-dressedyouthmetMr.——andmyselfinalanenearHighgate.——knewhim,andspoke.ItwasKeats.Hewasintroducedtome,andstaidaminuteorso.Afterhehadleftusa littleway,hecamebackandsaid: "Let me carry away the memory, Coleridge, of having pressed yourhand!"—"Thereisdeathinthathand,"Isaidto——,whenKeatswasgone;yetthiswas,Ibelieve,beforetheconsumptionshoweditselfdistinctly.

August16.1832.

CHRIST'SHOSPITAL.—BOWYER.

ThedisciplineatChrist'sHospitalinmytimewasultra-Spartan;—alldomestictiesweretobeputaside."Boy!"IrememberBowyersayingtomeoncewhenIwascryingthefirstdayofmyreturnaftertheholidays,"Boy!theschoolisyourfather!Boy!theschoolisyourmother!Boy!theschoolisyourbrother!the school is your sister! the school is your first cousin, and your second

cousin,andalltherestofyourrelations!Let'shavenomorecrying!"

No tongue can express goodMrs. Bowyer. Val. Le Grice and I were oncegoingtobefloggedforsomedomesticmisdeed,andBowyerwasthunderingawayatusbywayofprologue,whenMrs.B.lookedin,andsaid,"Flogthemsoundly,sir,Ibeg!"Thissavedus.Bowyerwassonettledattheinterruptionthathegrowledout,"Away,woman!away!"andwewereletoff.

August28.1832.

ST.PAUL'SMELITA.

ThebeliefthatMaltaistheislandonwhichSt.PaulwaswreckedissorootedinthecommonMaltese,andischerishedwithsuchasuperstitiousnationality,that theGovernmentwould run the chance of exciting a tumult, if it, or itsrepresentatives, unwarily ridiculed it. The supposition itself is quite absurd.Not toargue thematterat length,consider these fewconclusive facts:—Thenarrative speaks of the "barbarous people," and "barbarians," of the island.Now,ourMaltawasatthattimefullypeopledandhighlycivilized,aswemaysurelyinferfromCiceroandotherwriters.Avipercomesoutfromthesticksuponthefirebeinglighted:themenarenotsurprisedattheappearanceofthesnake,butimaginefirstamurderer,andthenagodfromtheharmlessattack.NowinourMaltathereare,Imaysay,nosnakesatall;which,tobesure,theMalteseattributetoSt.Paul'shavingcursedthemaway.MelitaintheAdriaticwas aperfectlybarbarous islandas to itsnativepopulation, andwas, and isnow,infestedwithserpents.BesidesthecontextshowsthatthesceneisintheAdriatic.

Yet itmay have been cotton after all—the present product ofMalta.Cicerodescribesanancient templeofJunosituatedonapromontorynear thetown,sofamousandrevered,that,eveninthetimeofMasinissa,atleast150yearsB.C., that prince had religiously restored some relicswhich his admiral hadtaken from it. The plunder of this very temple is an article of accusationagainstVerres;andadeputationofMaltese(legatiMelitenses)cametoRometoestablishthecharge.Theseareallthefacts,Ithink,whichcanbegatheredfrom Cicero; because I consider his expression of nudatae urbes, in theworking up of this article, a piece of rhetoric. Strabo merely marks theposition of Melita, and says that the lap-dogs called [Greek: kunidiaMelitaia]weresentfromthisisland,thoughsomewritersattributethemtotheotherMeliteintheAdriatic,(lib.vi.)Diodorus,however,aSicilianhimselfbybirth,givesthefollowingremarkabletestimonyastothestateoftheislandin

histime,which,itwillberemembered,wasconsiderablybeforethedateofSt.Paul'sshipwreck."TherearethreeislandstothesouthofSicily,eachofwhichhasacityortown,andharboursfittedforthesafereceptionofships.Thefirstof these is Melite, distant about 800 stadia from Syracuse, and possessingseveral harbours of surpassing excellence. Its inhabitants are rich andluxurious .There are artizans of every kind ; the best are thosewhoweaveclothofasingularfinenessandsoftness.Thehousesareworthyofadmirationfortheirsuperbadornmentwitheavesandbrilliantwhite-washing."—Lib.v.c.12.Mela(ii.c.7.)andPliny(iii.14.)simplymarktheposition.—

TheMalteseseemtohavepreservedafondnessandtasteforarchitecturefromthe time of the knights—naturally enough occasioned by the incomparablematerialsathand.

August19.1832.

ENGLISHANDGERMAN.—BESTSTATEOFSOCIETY.

It may be doubted whether a composite language like the English is not ahappier instrument of expression than a homogeneous one like theGerman.We possess a wonderful richness and variety of modified meanings in ourSaxon and Latin quasi-synonymes, which the Germans have not. For "thepomp and prodigality of Heaven," the Germans must have said "thespendthriftness." Shakspeare is particularly happy in his use of the Latinsynonymes,andindistinguishingbetweenthemandtheSaxon.

Thatisthemostexcellentstateofsocietyinwhichthepatriotismofthecitizenennobles,butdoesnotmerge,theindividualenergyoftheman.

September1.1832.

GREATMINDSANDROGYNOUS.—PHILOSOPHER'SORDINARYLANGUAGE.

In chemistry and nosology, by extending the degree to a certain point, theconstituentproportionmaybedestroyed,andanewkindproduced.

Ihaveknownstrongmindswithimposing,undoubting,Cobbett-likemanners,butIhavenevermetagreatmindofthissort.Andoftheformer,theyareat

leastasoftenwrongasright.Thetruthis,agreatmindmustbeandrogynous.Great minds—Swedenborg's for instance—are never wrong but inconsequenceofbeingintheright,butimperfectly.

Aphilosopher'sordinarylanguageandadmissions,ingeneralconversationorwritings ad populum, are as his watch compared with his astronomicaltimepiece.He sets the former by the town-clock, not because he believes itright,butbecausehisneighboursandhiscookgobyit.

January2.1833.

JURIES.—BARRISTERS'ANDPHYSICIANS'FEES.—QUACKS.—CAESAREANOPERATION.—INHERITEDDISEASE.

Icertainlythinkthatjurieswouldbemoreconscientious,iftheywereallowedalargerdiscretion.But,afterall, juriescannotbebetterthanthemassoutofwhichtheyaretaken.Andifjuriesarenothonestandsingle-minded,theyarethe worst, because the least responsible, instruments of judicial or populartyranny.

I should he sorry to see the honorary character of the fees of barristers andphysiciansdoneawaywith.Thoughitseemsashadowydistinction,Ibelieveittobebeneficialineffect.Itcontributestopreservetheideaofaprofession,ofaclasswhichbelongstothepublic,—intheemploymentandremunerationofwhichnolawinterferes,butthecitizenactsashelikesinforoconscientiae.

ThereundoubtedlyoughttobeadeclaratoryactwithdrawingexpresslyfromtheSt.JohnLongsandotherquackstheprotectionwhichthelawisinclinedtothrow around the mistakes or miscarriages of the regularly educatedpractitioner.

IthinkthereareonlytwothingswantingtojustifyasurgeoninperformingtheCaesareanoperation:first, thatheshouldpossess infallibleknowledgeofhisart:and,secondly,thatheshouldbeinfalliblycertainthatheisinfallible.

Can any thing hemore dreadful than the thought that an innocent child hasinheritedfromyouadiseaseoraweakness, thepenalty inyourselfofsinorwantofcaution?

In the treatment of nervous cases, he is the best physician,who is themostingeniousinspirerofhope.

January3.1833.

MASON'SPOETRY.

IcannotbringmyselftothinkmuchofMason'spoetry.Imaybewrong;butallthose passages in the Caractacus, whichwe learn to admire at school, nowseemtomeonecontinuedfalsetto.

January4.1833.

NORTHERNANDSOUTHERNSTATESOFTHEAMERICANUNION.—ALLANDTHEWHOLE.

Naturally one would have thought that there would have been greatersympathy between the northern and north-western states of the AmericanUnionandEngland, thanbetweenEnglandand theSouthernstates.There istentimesasmuchEnglishbloodandspiritinNewEnglandasinVirginia,theCarolinas, &c. Nevertheless, such has been the force of the interests ofcommerce, that now, and for some years past, the people of theNorth hateEnglandwith increasing bitterness,whilst, amongst those of the south,whoare Jacobins, theBritish connection has become popular. Can there ever beanythoroughnationalfusionoftheNorthernandSouthernstates?Ithinknot.Infact,theUnionwillbeshakenalmosttodislocationwheneveraveryseriousquestionbetweenthestatesarises.TheAmericanUnionhasnocentre,anditis impossiblenowtomakeone.Themore theyextend theirborders into theIndians' land, theweakerwill thenational cohesionbe.But I lookupon thestatesassplendidmassestobeused,byandby,inthecompositionoftwoorthreegreatgovernments.

There is a great and important difference, both in politics andmetaphysics,betweenall and thewhole. The first can never be ascertained as a standingquantity; the second, if comprehended by insight into its parts, remains foreverknown.Mr.Huskisson,I thought,satisfactorilyrefutedtheshipowners;and yet the shipping interest, who must know where the shoe pinches,complaintothisday.

January7,1833.

NINTHARTICLE.—SINANDSINS.—OLDDIVINES.—PREACHINGEXTEMPORE.

"Veryfargone,"isquamlongissimeintheLatinofthenintharticle,—asfargone as possible, that is, as was possible for man to go; as far as wascompatiblewith his having any redeemable qualities left in him. To talk ofman's beingutterly lost to good, is absurd; for then hewould be a devil atonce.

Onemistake perpetuallymade by one of our unhappy parties in religion,—and with a pernicious tendency to Antinomianism,—is toconfoundsinwith sins.To tell amodest girl, thewatchful nurseof an agedparent, that she is fullofsins againstGod, ismonstrous,andasshocking toreasonasitisunwarrantablebyScripture.Buttotellherthatshe,andallmenandwomen,areofasinfulnature,and that,withoutChrist's redeeming loveandGod's grace, she cannot be emancipated from its dominion, is true andproper.

No article of faith can be truly and duly preached without necessarily andsimultaneouslyinfusingadeepsenseoftheindispensablenessofaholylife.

How pregnant with instruction, and with knowledge of all sorts, are thesermonsofourolddivines!inthisrespect,asinsomanyothers,howdifferentfromthemajorpartofmoderndiscourses!

Everyattempt,inasermon,tocauseemotion,exceptastheconsequenceofanimpressionmadeonthereason,ortheunderstanding,orthewill,Iholdtobefanaticalandsectarian.

Nodoubt preaching, in theproper senseof theword, ismore effective thanreading; and, therefore, I would not prohibit it, but leave a liberty to theclergymanwhofeelshimselfable toaccomplishit.But,as thingsnoware,IamquitesureIprefergoingtochurchtoapastorwhoreadshisdiscourse:forIneveryetheardmorethanonepreacherwithoutbook,whodidnotforgethisargument in three minutes' time; and fall into vague and unprofitabledeclamation, and, generally, very coarse declamation too. These preachersnever progress; they eddy round and round. Sterility of mind follows theirministry.

January20.1833.

CHURCHOFENGLAND.

WhentheChurchattheReformationceasedtobeextra-national,itunhappilybecame royal instead; its proper bearing is intermediate between the crownandthepeople,withaninclinationtothelatter.

Thepresentprospectsof theChurchweighheavilyonmysoul.Oh! that thewordsofastatesman-likephilosophycouldwintheirwaythroughtheignorantzealotryandsordidvulgarityoftheleadersoftheday!

February5.1833.

UNIONWITHIRELAND.

IfanymodificationoftheUniontakesplace,Itrustitwillbeatotaldivorceavinculomatrimonii. I am surewehave lived a cat anddog life of it.Let ushave no silly saving of one crown and two legislatures; that would bepreservingallthemischiefswithoutanyofthegoods,ifthereareany,oftheunion.

Iamdeliberatelyofopinion,thatEngland,inallitsinstitutions,hasreceivedinjuryfromitsunionwithIreland.MyonlydifficultyisastotheProtestants,to whom we owe protection. But I cannot forget that the Protestantsthemselves have greatly aided in accelerating the present horrible state ofthings, by using that as a remedy and a rewardwhich should have been tothemanopportunity.

IftheProtestantChurchinIrelandisremoved,ofcoursetheRomishChurchmust be established in its place. There can be no resisting it in commonreason.

HowmiserablyimbecileandobjectlesshastheEnglishgovernmentofIrelandbeen for fortyyearspast!Oh! foragreatman—butone reallygreatman,—whocouldfeeltheweightandthepowerofaprinciple,andunflinchinglyputitintoact!Buttrulythereisnovisionintheland,andthepeopleaccordinglyperisheth. See how triumphant in debate and in action O'Connell is!Why?Becauseheassertsabroadprinciple,andactsuptoit,restsallhisbodyonit,andhasfaithinit.Ourministers—trueWhigsinthat—havefaithinnothingbut expedients de die in diem. Indeed, what principles of governmentcantheyhave,whointhespaceofamonthrecantedalifeofpoliticalopinions,andnowdaretothreatenthisandthatinnovationatthehuzzaofamob,orinpiqueataparliamentarydefeat?

I sometimes think it just possible that the Dissenters may once more beanimated by a wiser and nobler spirit, and see their dearest interest in thechurchofEnglandasthebulwarkandgloryofProtestantism,astheydidattheRevolution.ButIdoubttheirbeingabletoresistthelowfactiousmalignitytothechurchwhichhascharacterizedthemasabodyforsomanyyears.

February16.1833.

FAUST.——MICHAELSCOTT,GOETHE,SCHILLER,ANDWORDSWORTH.

BeforeIhadeverseenanypartofGoethe'sFaust,though,ofcourse,whenIwas familiarenoughwithMarlowe's, Iconceivedanddrewup theplanofawork,adrama,whichwastobe,tomymind,whattheFaustwastoGoethe's.MyFaustwasoldMichaelScott;amuchbetterandmorelikelyoriginalthanFaust. He appeared in the midst of his college of devoted disciples,enthusiastic, ebullient, shedding around him bright surmises of discoveriesfully perfected in after-times, and inculcating the study of nature and itssecretsasthepathwaytotheacquisitionofpower.Hedidnotloveknowledgefor itself—for itsownexceedinggreat reward—but inorder tobepowerful.Thispoison-speck infectedhismind from thebeginning.Thepriests suspecthim,circumventhim,accusehim;heiscondemned,andthrownintosolitaryconfinement: this constituted theprologus of the drama.A pause of four orfive years takes place, at the end of whichMichael escapes from prison, asoured,gloomy,miserableman.Hewillnot,cannotstudy;ofwhatavailhadall his study been to him? His knowledge, great as it was, had failed topreservehimfromthecruelfangsofthepersecutors;hecouldnotcommandthelightningorthestormtowreaktheirfuriesupontheheadsofthosewhomhe hated and contemned, and yet feared. Away with learning! away withstudy!tothewindswithallpretencestoknowledge!Weknownothing;wearefools,wretches,merebeasts.AnonIbegantotempthim.Imadehimdream,gavehimwine,andpassedthemostexquisiteofwomenbeforehim,butoutofhis reach. Is there, then, no knowledge by which these pleasures can becommanded?Thatway laywitchcraft,andaccordinglytowitchcraftMichaelturnswithallhissoul.Hehasmanyfailuresandsomesuccesses;helearnsthechemistry of exciting drugs and exploding powders, and some of thepropertiesoftransmittedandreflectedlight:hisappetitesandhiscuriosityareboth stimulated, and his old craving for power andmental domination overothersrevives.AtlastMichaeltriestoraisetheDevil,andtheDevilcomesathiscall.MyDevilwastobe,likeGoethe's,theuniversalhumorist,whoshould

makeall thingsvainandnothingworth,byaperpetualcollationof thegreatwiththelittleinthepresenceoftheinfinite.Ihadmanyatrickforhimtoplay,some better, I think, than any in the Faust. In the mean time, Michael ismiserable;hehaspower,butnopeace,andheeverydaymorekeenlyfeelsthetyrannyofhellsurroundinghim.Invainheseemstohimselftoassertthemostabsoluteempireover theDevil,byimposingthemostextravagant tasks;onething is as easy as another to theDevil. "What next,Michael?" is repeatedeverydaywithmoreimperiousservility.Michaelgroansinspirit;hispowerisacurse:hecommandswomenandwine!but thewomenseemfictitiousanddevilish,and thewinedoesnotmakehimdrunk.Henowbegins tohate theDevil,andtriestocheathim.Hestudiesagain,andexploresthedarkestdepthsof sorcery for a receipt tocozenhell;but all invain.Sometimes theDevil'sfingerturnsoverthepageforhim,andpointsoutanexperiment,andMichaelhearsawhisper—"Trythat,Michael!"Thehorrorincreases;andMichaelfeelsthatheisaslaveandacondemnedcriminal.Losttohope,hethrowshimselfinto every sensual excess,—in themid-career ofwhich he seesAgatha,myMargaret,andimmediatelyendeavours toseduceher.Agatha loveshim;andtheDevil facilitates theirmeetings;butsheresistsMichael'sattempts toruinher,andimploreshimnottoactsoastoforfeitheresteem.Longstrugglesofpassionensue,intheresultofwhichhisaffectionsarecalledforthagainsthisappetites,and,love-born,theideaofaredemptionofthelostwilldawnsuponhismind.ThisisinstantaneouslyperceivedbytheDevil;andforthefirsttimethehumoristbecomessevereandmenacing.AfearfulsuccessionofconflictsbetweenMichaelandtheDeviltakesplace,inwhichAgathahelpsandsuffers.Intheend,aftersubjectinghimtoeveryimaginablehorrorandagony,Imadehimtriumphant,andpouredpeaceintohissoulintheconvictionofasalvationforsinnersthroughGod'sgrace.

TheintendedthemeoftheFaustistheconsequencesofamisology,orhatredand depreciation of knowledge caused by an originally intense thirst forknowledge baffled. But a love of knowledge for itself, and for pure ends,would never produce such a misology, but only a love of it for base andunworthypurposes.ThereisneithercausationnorprogressionintheFaust;heis a ready-made conjuror from theverybeginning; the incredulusodi is feltfrom the first line. The sensuality and the thirst after knowledge areunconnectedwitheachother.MephistophelesandMargaretareexcellent;butFausthimselfisdullandmeaningless.ThesceneinAuerbach'scellarsisoneofthebest,perhapstheverybest;thatontheBrockenisalsofine;andallthesongs arebeautiful.But there is nowhole in thepoem; the scenes aremeremagic-lantern pictures, and a large part of thework is tome very flat. TheGermanisverypureandfine.

The young men in Germany and England who admire Lord Byron, prefer

Goethe to Schiller; but youmay depend upon it,Goethe does not, nor everwill,commandthecommonmindofthepeopleofGermanyasSchillerdoes.Schiller had two legitimate phases in his intellectual character:—the first asauthoroftheRobbers—apiecewhichmustnotbeconsideredwithreferencetoShakspeare,butasaworkofthemerematerialsublime,andinthatlineitisundoubtedly very powerful indeed. It is quite genuine, and deeply imbuedwithSchiller'sownsoul.AfterthisheoutgrewthecompositionofsuchplaysastheRobbers,andatoncetookhistrueandonlyrightfulstandinthegrandhistorical drama—the Wallenstein;—not the intense drama of passion,—hewasnotmasterofthat—butthediffuseddramaofhistory,inwhichalonehehadamplescopeforhisvariedpowers.TheWallensteinisthegreatestofhisworks;it isnotunlikeShakspeare'shistoricalplays—aspeciesbyitself.Youmaytakeupanyscene,anditwillpleaseyoubyitself;justasyoumayinDonQuixote, which you read through once or twice only, but which youreadinrepeatedly.Afterthispointitwas,thatGoetheandotherwritersinjuredbytheirtheoriesthesteadinessandoriginalityofSchiller'smind;andineveryoneofhisworksaftertheWallensteinyoumayperceivethefluctuationsofhistaste and principles of composition. He got a notion of re-introducing thecharacterlessness of the Greek tragedy with a chorus, as in the Bride ofMessina,andhewasforinfusingmorelyricverseintoit.SchillersometimesaffectedtodespisetheRobbersandtheotherworksofhisfirstyouth;whereasheought tohave spokenof themasofworksnot in a right line, but full ofexcellence in their way. In his ballads and lighter lyrics Goethe is mostexcellent. It is impossible topraisehim toohighly in this respect. I like theWilhelm Meister the best of his prose works. But neither Schiller's norGoethe'sprosestyleapproachestoLessing's,whosewritings,formanner,areabsolutelyperfect.

AlthoughWordsworth andGoethe are notmuch alike, to be sure, upon thewhole; yet they both have this peculiarity of utter non-sympathy with thesubjectsoftheirpoetry.Theyarealways,bothofthem,spectatorsabextra,—feeling for, but never with, their characters. Schiller is a thousand timesmoreheartythanGoethe.

I was once pressed—many years ago—to translate the Faust; and I so farentertainedtheproposalastoreadtheworkthroughwithgreatattention,andto revive in my mind my own former plan of Michael Scott. But then Iconsideredwithmyselfwhetherthetimetakenupinexecutingthetranslationmightnotmoreworthilybedevotedtothecompositionofaworkwhich,evenifparallelinsomepointstotheFaust,shouldbetrulyoriginalinmotiveandexecution,andthereforemoreinterestingandvaluablethananyversionwhichI could make; and, secondly, I debated with myself whether it becamemymoral character to render into English—and so far, certainly, lend my

countenance to language—much of which I thought vulgar, licentious, andblasphemous.IneednottellyouthatIneverputpentopaperasatranslatorofFaust.

IhavereadagooddealofMr.Hayward'sversion,andIthinkitdoneinaverymanlystyle;butIdonotadmittheargumentforprosetranslations.Iwouldingeneral rather see verse attempted in so capable a language as ours. TheFrenchcannothelpthemselves,ofcourse,withsuchalanguageastheirs.

February17.1833.

BEAUMONTANDFLETCHER.—BENJONSON.—MASSINGER.

IntheromanticdramaBeaumontandFletcherarealmostsupreme.Theirplaysare in general most truly delightful. I could read the Beggar's Bush frommorningtonight.Howsylvanandsunshinyitis!TheLittleFrenchLawyerisexcellent.Lawritisconceivedandexecutedfromfirsttolastingenuinecomichumour.MonsieurThomas isalsocapital. Ihavenodoubtwhatever that thefirstactand thefirstsceneof thesecondactof theTwoNobleKinsmenareShakspeare's.BeaumontandFletcher'splotsare,tobesure,whollyinartificial;theyonlycaretopitchacharacterintoapositiontomakehimorhertalk;youmust swallow all their gross improbabilities, and, taking it all for granted,attend only to the dialogue. How lamentable it is that no gentleman andscholarcanhefoundtoedit thesebeautifulplays!Did thenameofcriticismeverdescendsolowasinthehandsofthosetwofoolsandknaves,SewardandSimpson?TherearewholescenesintheireditionwhichIcouldwithcertaintyput back into their original verse, andmore that could he replaced in theirnativeprose.WasthereeversuchanabsolutedisregardofliteraryfameasthatdisplayedbyShakspeare,andBeaumontandFletcher?

InBenJonsonyouhaveanintenseandburningart.Someofhisplots,thatofthe Alchemist, for example, are perfect. Ben Jonson and Beaumont andFletcherwould,ifunited,havemadeagreatdramatistindeed,andyetnothavecomenearShakspeare; but nodoubtBen Jonsonwas thegreatestman afterShakspeareinthatageofdramaticgenius.

The styles of Massinger's plays and the Sampson Agonistes are the twoextremesofthearcwithinwhichthedictionofdramaticpoetrymayoscillate.Shakspeare in his great plays is the midpoint. In the Samson Agonistes,colloquial language is left at the greatest distance, yet something of it ispreserved, to render the dialogue probable: in Massinger the style isdifferenced, but differenced in the smallest degree possible, from animated

conversationbytheveinofpoetry.

There'ssuchadivinitydothhedgeourShakspeareround,thatwecannotevenimitatehisstyle.ItriedtoimitatehismannerintheRemorse,and,whenIhaddone, I found I had been tracking Beaumont and Fletcher, and Massingerinstead. It is really very curious. At first sight, Shakspeare and hiscontemporarydramatistsseemtowriteinstylesmuchalike:nothingsoeasyasto fall into that of Massinger and the others; whilst no one has ever yetproduced one scene conceived and expressed in the Shakspearian idiom. IsupposeitisbecauseShakspeareisuniversal,and,infact,hasnomanner;justasyoucansomuchmorereadilycopyapicturethanNatureherself.

February20.1833.

HOUSEOFCOMMONSAPPOINTINGTHEOFFICERSOFTHEARMYANDNAVY.

I was just now reading Sir John Cam Hobhouse's answer to Mr. Hume, Ibelieve, upon the point of transferring the patronage of the army and navyfromtheCrowntotheHouseofCommons.Ithink,ifIhadbeenintheHouseofCommons,Iwouldhavesaid,"that,tenorfifteenyearsago,Ishouldhaveconsidered Sir J. C. H.'s speech quite unanswerable,—it being clearconstitutionallawthattheHouseofCommonshasnot,noroughttohave,anyshare,directlyorindirectly,intheappointmentoftheofficersofthearmyornavy.ButnowthattheKinghadbeenreduced,bythemeansandprocurementof theHonourable Baronet and his friends, to a puppet,which, so far fromhaving any independentwill of its own, couldnot resist ameasurewhich ithated and condemned, it became amatter of grave considerationwhether itwasnotnecessarytovesttheappointmentofsuchofficersinabodyliketheHouseofCommons,ratherthaninajuntaofministers,whowereobligedtomake common cause with the mob and democratic press for the sake ofkeepingtheirplaces."

March9.1833.

PENALCODEINIRELAND.—CHURCHMEN.

ThepenalcodeinIreland,inthebeginningofthelastcentury,wasjustifiable,

as a temporarymean of enabling government to take breath and look aboutthem;andifrightmeasureshadbeensystematicallypursuedinarightspirit,there can be no doubt that all, or the greater part, of Ireland would havebecomeProtestant.ProtestantismundertheCharterSchoolswasgreatlyontheincrease in the early part of that century, and the complaints of theRomishprieststothateffectareonrecord.But,unfortunately,thedrenching-hornwasitselfsubstitutedforthemedicine.

Thereseemstome,atpresent,tobeacurseupontheEnglishchurch,anduponthe governors of all institutions connectedwith the orderly advancement ofnationalpietyandknowledge;itisthecurseofprudence,astheymiscallit—infact,offear.

Clergymen are now almost afraid to explain in their pulpits the grounds oftheirbeingProtestants.Theyarecompletelycowedbythevulgarharassingsofthe press and of our Hectoring sciolists in Parliament. There should benopartypoliticsinthepulpittobesure;buteverychurchinEnglandoughttoresoundwith national politics,—Imean the sacred character of the nationalchurch, and an exposure of the base robbery from the nation itself—for soindeeditis—abouttobecommittedbytheseministers,inordertohaveasopto throw to the Irish agitators,whowill, of course, only cut thedeeper, andcometheoftener.Youcannotbuyoffabarbarousinvader.

March12.1833.

CORONATIONOATHS.

LordGreyhas,inParliament,saidtwothings:first,thattheCoronationOathsonlybindtheKinginhisexecutivecapacity;and,secondly,thatmembersoftheHouseofCommonsareboundtorepresentbytheirvotesthewishesandopinionsof theirconstituents,andnot theirown.Put thesetwotogether,andtellmewhatusefulpartoftheconstitutionalmonarchyofEnglandremains.ItisclearthattheCoronationOathswouldbenobetterthanHighgateoaths.Forinhisexecutivecapacity theKingcannotdoany thing,against thedoingofwhich the oaths bind him; it is only in his legislative character that hepossesses a free agency capable of being bound. The nation meant tobindthat.

March14.1833.

DIVINITY.—PROFESSIONSANDTRADES.

Divinityisessentiallythefirstoftheprofessions,becauseitisnecessaryforallatalltimes;lawandphysicareonlynecessaryforsomeatsometimes.Ispeakofthem,ofcourse,notintheirabstractexistence,butintheirapplicabilitytoman.

Every true science bears necessarily within itself the germ of a cognateprofession,andthemoreyoucanelevatetradesintoprofessionsthebetter.

March17.1833.

MODERNPOLITICALECONOMY.

Whatsolemnhumbugthismodernpoliticaleconomyis!Whatistheretrueofthelittlethatistrueintheirdogmaticbooks,whichisnotasimpledeductionfromthemoralandreligiouscredendaandagendaofanygoodman,andwithwhichwewerenotallpreviouslyacquainted,anduponwhicheverymanofcommon sense instinctively acted? I know none. But what they truly state,theydonottrulyunderstandinitsultimategroundsandcauses;andhencetheyhave sometimes done more mischief by their half- ignorant and half-sophistical reasonings about, and deductions from, well- founded positions,than they could have done by the promulgation of positive error. Thisparticularly applies to their famous ratios of increase betweenman and themeans of his subsistence. Political economy, at the highest, can never be apurescience.Youmaydemonstratethatcertainpropertiesinhereinthearch,which yet no bridge-builder can ever reduce into brick and mortar; but anabstractconclusion inamatterofpoliticaleconomy, thepremissesofwhichneither exist now, nor ever will exist within the range of the wildestimagination,isnotatruth,butachimera—apracticalfalsehood.Forthereareno theorems in political economy—but problems only. Certain things beingactually so and so; the question is, how to do so and so with them.Politicalphilosophy,indeed,pointstoulteriorends,buteventhoseendsareallpractical;andifyoudeserttheconditionsofreality,orofcommonprobability,youmay show forth your eloquence or your fancy, but the utmost you canproducewillbeaUtopiaorOceana.

Youtalkaboutmakingthisarticlecheaperbyreducingitspriceinthemarketfrom8_d_.to6_d_.Butsuppose,insodoing,youhaverenderedyourcountryweakeragainstaforeignfoe;supposeyouhavedemoralizedthousandsofyour

fellow-countrymen, and have sown discontent between one class of societyandanother,yourarticleistolerablydear,Itakeit,afterall.IsnotitsrealpriceenhancedtoeveryChristianandpatriotahundred-fold?

Allisanendlessfleetingabstraction;thewholeisareality.

March31.1833.

NATIONALDEBT.—PROPERTYTAX.—DUTYOFLANDHOLDERS.

Whatevilresultsnowtothiscountry,takenatlarge,fromtheactualexistenceof theNationalDebt? I never couldget a plain andpractical answer to thatquestion.Idonotadverttothepastlossofcapital,althoughit ishardtoseehowthatcapitalcanbesaidtohavebeenunproductive,whichproduces,inthedefenceofthenationitself,theconditionsofthepermanenceandproductivityof all other capital. As to taxation to pay the interest, how can the countrysuffer by a process, underwhich themoney is never oneminute out of thepocketsofthepeople?Youmayjustaswellsaythatamanisweakenedbythecirculation of his blood. There may, certainly, be particular local evils andgrievancesresultingfromthemodeoftaxationorcollection;buthowcanthatdebtbeinanypropersenseaburthentothenation,whichthenationowestoitself, and tonoonebut itself? It is a juggle to talkof thenationowing thecapitalor the interest to thestockholders; itowes to itselfonly.Suppose theinterest to be owing to theEmperor ofRussia, and then youwould feel thedifferenceofadebtinthepropersense.Itisreallyandtrulynothingmoreineffectthansomuchmoneysormoney'sworth,raisedannuallybythestateforthepurposeofquickeningindustry.

I should like to see a well graduated property tax, accompanied by a largeloan.

One common objection to a property tax is, that it tends to diminish theaccumulationofcapital.Inmyjudgment,oneofthechiefsourcesofthebadeconomyofthecountrynowistheenormousaggregationofcapitals.

Whenshallwereturntoasoundconceptionoftherighttoproperty—namely,asbeingofficial, implyinganddemandingtheperformanceofcommensurateduties! Nothing but the most horrible perversion of humanity and moraljustice,underthespeciousnameofpoliticaleconomy,couldhaveblindedmento this truthas to thepossessionof land,—the lawofGodhavingconnectedindissolubly thecultivationofevery roodof earthwith themaintenanceandwatchful labourofman.Butmoney, stock, richesbycredit, transferableand

convertibleatwill,areundernosuchobligations;and,unhappily,itisfromtheselfishautocraticpossessionofsuchproperty,thatourlandholdershavelearnttheirpresenttheoryoftradingwiththatwhichwasnevermeanttobeanobjectofcommerce.

April5.1833.

MASSINGER.—SHAKSPEARE.—HIERONIMO.

Topleaseme,apoemmustbeeithermusicorsense;ifitisneither,IconfessIcannotinterestmyselfinit.

ThefirstactoftheVirginMartyrisasfineanactasIrememberinanyplay.TheVeryWomanis,Ithink,oneofthemostperfectplayswehave.ThereissomegoodfuninthefirstscenebetweenDonJohn,orAntonio,andCuculo,his master; and can any thing exceed the skill and sweetness of the scenebetweenhimandhismistress,inwhichherelateshisstory?TheBondmanisalso a delightful play.Massinger is always entertaining; his plays have theinterestofnovels.

But, like most of his contemporaries, except Shakspeare, Massinger oftendeals in exaggerated passion. Malefort senior, in the Unnatural Combat,howeverhemayhavehad themoralwill tobesowicked,couldneverhaveactuallydoneallthatheisrepresentedasguiltyof,withoutlosinghissenses.Hewouldhavebeen,infact,mad.ReganandGonerilaretheonlypicturesofthe unnatural in Shakspeare; the pure unnatural—and youwill observe thatShakspearehaslefttheirhideousnessunsoftenedordiversifiedbyasinglelineof goodness or common human frailty. Whereas in Edmund, for whompassion, thesenseofshameasabastard,andambition,offersomeplausibleexcuses,Shakspearehasplacedmanyredeemingtraits.Edmundiswhat,undercertaincircumstances,anymanofpowerful intellectmightbe, ifsomeotherqualities and feelings were cut off. Hamlet is, inclusively, an Edmund, butdifferentfromhimasawhole,onaccountof thecontrollingagencyofotherprincipleswhichEdmundhadnot.

ItisworthwhiletoremarktheusewhichShakspearealwaysmakesofhisboldvillains as vehicles for expressing opinions and conjectures of a nature toohazardous for a wise man to put forth directly as his own, or from anysustainedcharacter.

ThepartspointedoutinHieronimoasBenJonson'sbearnotracesofhisstyle;buttheyareverylikeShakspeare's;anditisveryremarkablethateveryoneof

them re-appears in full form and development, and tempered with maturejudgment,insomeoneorotherofShakspeare'sgreatpieces.

April7.1833.

LOVE'SLABOURLOST.—GIFFORD'SMASSINGER.—SHAKSPEARE.—THEOLDDRAMATISTS.

I think I couldpoint out to ahalf linewhat is reallyShakspeare's inLove'sLabourLost,andsomeotherofthenotentirelygenuineplays.Whathewroteinthatplayisofhisearliestmanner,havingtheall-pervadingsweetnesswhichhe never lost, and that extreme condensationwhichmakes the couplets fallintoepigrams,asintheVenusandAdonis,andRapeofLucrece.Inthedramaalone, as Shakspeare soon found out, could the sublime poet and profoundphilosopher find the conditionsof a compromise. In theLove'sLabourLosttherearemanyfaintsketchesofsomeofhisvigorousportraitsinafter-life—asforexample,inparticular,ofBenedictandBeatrice.

Gifford has done a great deal for the text ofMassinger, but not asmuch asmight easily be done.His comparison of Shakspearewith his contemporarydramatistsisobtuseindeed.

In Shakspeare one sentence begets the next naturally; the meaning is allinwoven.Hegoesonkindlinglikeameteorthroughthedarkatmosphere;yet,whenthecreationinitsoutlineisonceperfect,thenheseemstorestfromhislabour,andtosmileuponhiswork,andtellhimselfthatitisverygood.YouseemanyscenesandpartsofsceneswhicharesimplyShakspeare's,disportinghimself in joyous triumphandvigorous funafter agreat achievementofhishighestgenius.

Theolddramatists tookgreat liberties inrespectofbringingparties inscenetogether,and representingoneasnot recognizing theotherunder some faintdisguise. Some of their finest scenes are constructed on this ground.Shakspeare avails himself of this artifice only twice, I think,—in TwelfthNight,wherethetwoarewithgreatskillkeptaparttilltheendoftheplay;andintheComedyofErrors,whichisapurefarce,andshouldbesoconsidered.Thedefinitionofafarceis,animprobabilityorevenimpossibilitygrantedintheoutset,seewhatoddandlaughableeventswillfairlyfollowfromit!

_April_8.1833.

STATESMEN.—BURKE.

Ineverwasmuchsubjecttoviolentpoliticalhumoursoraccessesoffeelings.When Iwasveryyoung, Iwrote and spokevery enthusiastically, but itwasalwaysonsubjectsconnectedwithsomegrandgeneralprinciple,theviolationofwhich I thought I couldpointout.As tomeredetailsof administration, Ihonestly thought that ministers, and men in office, must, of course, knowmuch better than any private person could possibly do; and itwas not till Iwent toMalta, and had to correspondwith official charactersmyself, that Ifully understood the extreme shallowness and ignorancewithwhichmenofsomenotetoowereable,afteracertainfashion,tocarryonthegovernmentofimportant departments of the empire. I then quite assented to Oxenstiern'ssaying,Nescis,mifili,quamparvasapientiaregiturmundus.

Burkewas,indeed,agreatman.Nooneeverreadhistorysophilosophicallyasheseemstohavedone.Yet,untilhecouldassociatehisgeneralprincipleswithsomesordidinterest,panicofproperty,jacobinism,&c.,hewasameredinnerbell. Hence youwill find somany half truths in his speeches andwritings.Nevertheless, let us heartily acknowledge his transcendant greatness. Hewouldhavebeenmoreinfluentialifhehadlesssurpassedhiscontemporaries,asFoxandPitt,menofmuchinferiormindsinallrespects.

As a telegraph supposes a correspondent telescope, so a scientific lecturerequiresascientificaudience.

_April_9.1833.

PROSPECTOFMONARCHYORDEMOCRACY.—THEREFORMEDHOUSEOFCOMMONS.

I have a deep, though paradoxical, conviction that most of the Europeannations are more or less on their way, unconsciously indeed, to puremonarchy; that is, to a government in which, under circumstances ofcomplicatedandsubtlecontrol,thereasonofthepeopleshallbecomeefficientintheapparentwilloftheking.Asitseemstome,thewiseandgoodineverycountry will, in all likelihood, become every daymore andmore disgustedwiththerepresentativeformofgovernment,brutalizedasitis,andwillbe,bythe predominance of democracy in England, France, and Belgium. Thestatesmenofantiquity,weknow,doubted thepossibilityof theeffectiveandpermanent combination of the three elementary forms of government; and,

perhaps,theyhadmorereasonthanwehavebeenaccustomedtothink.

YouseehowthisHouseofCommonshasbeguntoverifyalltheillpropheciesthat were made of it—low, vulgar, meddling with every thing, assuminguniversal competency, flattering every base passion, and sneering at everythingnoble,refined,andtrulynational!Thedirectandpersonaldespotismwillcomeonbyandby,afterthemultitudeshallhavebeengratifiedwiththeruinand the spoil of the old institutions of the land.As for theHouse ofLords,what is theuseofeversomuchfieryspirit, if therebenoprinciple toguideandtosanctifyit?

_April_10.1833.

UNITEDSTATESOFAMERICA.—CAPTAINB.HALL.—NORTHERNANDSOUTHERNSTATES.—DEMOCRACYWITHSLAVERY.—

QUAKERS.

The possible destiny of the United States of America,—as a nation of ahundred millions of freemen,—stretching from the Atlantic to the Pacific,livingunderthelawsofAlfred,andspeakingthelanguageofShakspeareandMilton, isanaugustconception.Whyshouldwenotwish tosee it realized?America would then be England viewed through a solar microscope; GreatBritaininastateofgloriousmagnification!Howdeeplytobelamentedisthespirit of hostility and sneering which some of the popular books of travelshave shown in treating of the Americans! They hate us, no doubt, just asbrothers hate; but they respect the opinion of an Englishman concerningthemselvestentimesasmuchasthatofanativeofanyothercountryonearth.Averylittlehumouringoftheirprejudices,andsomecourtesyoflanguageanddemeanouronthepartofEnglishmen,wouldworkwonders,evenasitis,withthepublicmindoftheAmericans.

CaptainBasilHall'sbookiscertainlyveryentertainingandinstructive;but,inmyjudgment,hissentimentsuponmanypoints,andmoreespeciallyhismodeofexpression,areunwiseanduncharitable.Afterall,arenotmostofthethingsshownupwith somuchbitternessbyhimmerenational foibles,parallels towhicheverypeoplehasandmustofnecessityhave?

WhatyousayaboutthequarrelintheUnitedStatesissophistical.Nodoubt,taxationmay,andperhapsinsomecasesmust,pressunequally,orapparentlyso,ondifferentclassesofpeopleinastate.Insuchcasesthereisahardship;but, in the long run, thematter is fullycompensated to theover-taxedclass.For example, take the householders ofLondon,who complain so bitterly of

the house and window taxes. Is it not pretty clear that, whether suchhouseholder be a tradesman, who indemnifies himself in the price of hisgoods,—ora letterof lodgings,whodoes so inhis rent,—ora stockholder,whoreceivesitbackagaininhisdividends,—oracountrygentleman,whohassavedsomuchfreshlevyonhislandorhisotherproperty,—onewayorother,it comes at last pretty nearly to the same thing, though the pressure for thetime may be unjust and vexatious, and fit to be removed? But when NewEngland, which may be considered a state in itself, taxes the admission offoreignmanufacturesinordertocherishmanufacturesofitsown,andtherebyforces the Carolinians, another state of itself, with which there is littleintercommunion,whichhasnosuchdesireor interest toserve, tobuyworsearticlesat ahigherprice, it is altogether adifferentquestion, and is, in fact,downrighttyrannyoftheworst,becauseofthemostsordid,kind.Whatwouldyou think of a law which should tax every person in Devonshire for thepecuniarybenefitofeverypersoninYorkshire?AndyetthatisafeebleimageoftheactualusurpationoftheNewEnglanddeputiesoverthepropertyoftheSouthernStates.

TherearetwopossiblemodesofunityinaState;onebyabsolutecoordinationof each to all, and of all to each; the other by subordination of classes andoffices.Now,Imaintainthatthereneverwasaninstanceofthefirst,norcanthere be,without slavery as its condition and accompaniment, as inAthens.ThepoorSwisscantonsarenoexception.

Themistake lies inconfoundingastatewhichmustbebasedonclassesandinterestsandunequalproperty,withachurch,whichisfoundedontheperson,andhasnoqualificationbutpersonalmerit.Suchacommunitymayexist,asinthe case of the Quakers; but, in order to exist, it must be compressed andhedgedinbyanothersociety—mundusmundulusinmundoimmundo.

Thefreeclassinaslavestateisalways,inonesense,themostpatrioticclassof people in an empire; for their patriotism is not simply the patriotism ofotherpeople,butanaggregateoflustofpoweranddistinctionandsupremacy.

_April_11.1833.

LANDANDMONEY.

Land was the only species of property which, in the old time, carried anyrespectabilitywithit.Moneyalone,apartfromsometenureofland,notonlydid notmake the possessor great and respectable, but actuallymade him atoncetheobjectofplunderandhatred.WitnessthehistoryoftheJewsinthis

countryintheearlyreignsaftertheConquest.

I have no objection to your aspiring to the political principles of our oldCavaliers; but embrace them all fully, and notmerely this and that feeling,whilst in other points you speak the canting foppery of the Benthamite orMalthusianschools.

_April_14.1833.

METHODSOFINVESTIGATION.

Therearethreewaysoftreatingasubject:—

Inthefirstmode,youbeginwithadefinition,andthatdefinitionisnecessarilyassumedasthetruth.Astheargumentproceeds,theconclusionfromthefirstproposition becomes the base of the second, and so on. Now, it is quiteimpossiblethatyoucanbesurethatyouhaveincludedallthenecessary,andnonebutthenecessary,termsinyourdefinition;as,therefore,youproceed,theoriginal speck of error ismultiplied at every remove; the same infirmity ofknowledgebesettingeachsuccessivedefinition.Henceyoumaysetout, likeSpinosa,withallbutthetruth,andendwithaconclusionwhichisaltogethermonstrous; and yet the mere deduction shall be irrefragable. Warburton's"DivineLegation"isalsoasplendidinstanceofthismodeofdiscussion,andof its inability to lead to the truth: in fact, it is an attempt to adopt themathematicalseriesofproof,inforgetfulnessthatthemathematicianissureofthe truthofhisdefinitionateachremove,becausehe_creates_it,ashecando, inpurefigureandnumber.Butyoucannot_make_anythingtruewhichresultsfrom,or isconnectedwith,realexternals;youcanonly_find_itout.Thechiefuseofthisfirstmodeofdiscussionistosharpenthewit,forwhichpurposeitisthebestexercitation.

2.Thehistoricalmodeisaverycommonone:inittheauthorprofessestofindoutthetruthbycollectingthefactsofthecase,andtracingthemdownwards;but thismode isworse than theother.Suppose thequestion isas to the trueessenceandcharacteroftheEnglishconstitution.First,wherewillyoubeginyourcollectionoffacts?wherewillyouendit?Whatfactswillyouselect,andhowdoyouknowthattheclassoffactswhichyouselectarenecessarytermsin the premisses, and that other classes of facts,which you neglect, are notnecessary? And how do you distinguish phenomena which proceed fromdiseaseoraccidentfromthosewhicharethegenuinefruitsoftheessenceofthe constitution? What can be more striking, in illustration of the utterinadequacyofthis lineof investigationforarrivingat thereal truth, thanthe

politicaltreatisesandconstitutionalhistorieswhichwehaveineverylibrary?AWhigproveshiscaseconvincinglytothereaderwhoknowsnothingbeyondhis author; then comes an old Tory (Carte, for instance), and ferrets up ahamperfulofconflictingdocumentsandnotices,whichproves_his_casepercontra.A.takesthisclassoffacts;B.takesthatclass:eachprovessomethingtrue,neitherproves the truth,oranythinglike_the_truth;thatis, thewholetruth.

3.Youmust,therefore,commencewiththephilosophicideaofthething,thetruenatureofwhichyouwishtofindoutandmanifest.Youmustcarryyourrulereadymade,ifyouwishtomeasurearight.IfyouaskmehowIcanknowthat this idea—myown invention—is the truth,bywhich thephenomenaofhistoryaretobeexplained,Ianswer,inthesamewayexactlythatyouknowthatyoureyesweremadetoseewith;andthatis,becauseyou_do_seewiththem. If Ipropose toyouan ideaorself-realizing theoryof theconstitution,which shall manifest itself as in existence from the earliest times to thepresent,—whichshallcomprehendwithinit_all_thefactswhichhistoryhaspreserved, and shall give them a meaning as interchangeably causals oreffects;—ifIshowyouthatsuchaneventorreignwasanobliquitytotherighthand,andhowproduced,andsuchothereventorreignadeviationtotheleft,andwhenceoriginating,—thatthegrowthwasstoppedhere,acceleratedthere,—thatsuchatendencyis,andalwayshasbeen,corroborative,andsuchothertendencydestructive,ofthemainprogressoftheideatowardsrealization;—ifthis idea, not only like a kaleidoscope, shall reduce all the miscellaneousfragmentsintoorder,butshallalsoministerstrength,andknowledge,andlightto the true patriot and statesmen for working out the bright thought, andbringingthegloriousembryotoaperfectbirth;—then,Ithink,Ihavearighttosaythattheideawhichledtothisisnotonlytrue,butthetruth,theonlytruth.Tosetupforastatesmanuponhistoricalknowledgeonly,isasaboutaswiseastosetupforamusicianbythepurchaseofsomescoreflutes,fiddles,andhorns.Inordertomakemusic,youmustknowhowtoplay;inordertomakeyour facts speak truth, youmust knowwhat the truth iswhichought to beproved,—theideal truth,—thetruthwhichwasconsciouslyorunconsciously,stronglyorweakly,wiselyorblindly,intendedatalltimes.

_April_18.1833.

CHURCHOFROME.—CELIBACYOFTHECLERGY.

Inmy judgment,Protestants loseagreatdealof time ina falseattackwhenthey labour toconvict theRomanistsof falsedoctrines.Destroy thePapacy,

andhelptheprieststowives,andIammuchmistakenifthedoctrinalerrors,suchastherereallyare,wouldnotverysoonpassaway.Theymightremaininterminis,buttheywouldlosetheirstingandbody,andlapsebackintofiguresof rhetoric and warm devotion, from which they, most of them,—such astransubstantiation,andprayersforthedeadandtosaints,—originallysprang.But, so long as the Bishop of Rome remains Pope, and has an army ofMamelukesallover theworld,weshalldovery littlebyfulminatingagainstmeredoctrinalerrors.IntheMilanese,andelsewhereinthenorthofItaly,IamtoldthereisapowerfulfeelingabroadagainstthePapacy.ThatdistrictseemstobesomethinginthestateofEnglandinthereignofourHenrytheEighth.

Howdeepawoundtomoralsandsocialpurityhasthataccursedarticleofthecelibacy of the clergy been! Even the best and most enlightened men inRomanistcountriesattachanotionofimpuritytothemarriageofaclergyman.Andcansuchafeelingbewithoutitseffectontheestimationoftheweddedlife in general? Impossible! and the morals of both sexes in Spain, Italy,France,&c.proveitabundantly.

ThePapalchurchhashadthreephases,—anti-Caesarean,extra-national,anti-Christian.

_April_20.1833.

ROMANCONQUESTOFITALY.

The Romans would never have subdued the Italian tribes if they had notboldly left Italyandconquered foreignnations, and so, at last, crushed theirnext-doorneighboursbyexternalpressure.

_April_24.1833.

WEDDEDLOVEINSHAKSPEAREANDHISCONTEMPORARYDRAMATISTS.—TENNYSON'SPOEMS.

Except in Shakspeare, you can find no such thing as a pure conception ofweddedloveinourolddramatists.InMassinger,andBeaumontandFletcher,itreallyisonbothsideslittlebetterthansheeranimaldesire.Thereisscarcelyasuitorinalltheirplays,whoseabilitiesarenotdiscussedbytheladyorherwaiting-woman.Inthis,asinallthings,howtranscendantoverhisageandhis

rivalswasoursweetShakspeare!

I have not read through allMr.Tennyson's poems,which have been sent tome;butIthinktherearesomethingsofagooddealofbeautyinwhatIhaveseen.Themisfortune is, thathehasbegun towriteverseswithoutverywellunderstanding what metre is. Even if you write in a known and approvedmetre, theoddsare, ifyouarenotametristyourself, thatyouwillnotwriteharmoniousverses;buttodealinnewmetreswithoutconsideringwhatmetremeans and requires, is preposterous. What I would, with many wishes forsuccess,prescribetoTennyson,—indeedwithoutithecanneverbeapoetinact,—istowriteforthenexttwoorthreeyearsinnonebutoneortwowell-known and strictly defined metres, such as the heroic couplet, the octavestanza,ortheocto-syllabicmeasureoftheAllegroandPenseroso.Hewould,probably, thusget imbuedwith a sensation, if not a sense, ofmetrewithoutknowingit,justasEtonboysgettowritesuchgoodLatinversesbyconningOvidandTibullus.Asitis,Icanscarcelyscansomeofhisverses.

_May_1.1833.

RABELAISANDLUTHER.—WITANDMADNESS.

IthinkwithsomeinterestuponthefactthatRabelaisandLutherwereborninthesameyear.Gloriousspirits!gloriousspirits!

——"HosutinaminterHeroasnatumme!"

"Greatwitsaresuretomadnessnearallied,"

saysDryden,andtruesofarasthis,thatgeniusofthehighestkindimpliesanunusual intensity of the modifying power, which detached from thediscriminative and reproductive power,might conjure a platted straw into aroyaldiadem:but itwouldbeat leastas true, thatgreatgenius ismostalienfrommadness,—yea,divided from itbyan impassablemountain,—namely,theactivityofthoughtandvivacityoftheaccumulativememory,whicharenolessessentialconstituentsof"greatwit."

_May_4.1833.

COLONIZATION.—MACHINERY.—CAPITAL.

Colonizationisnotonlyamanifestexpedientfor,butanimperativedutyon,GreatBritain.Godseemstoholdouthisfingertousoverthesea.Butitmustbe a national colonization, such as was that of the Scotch to America; acolonizationofhope,andnotsuchaswehavealoneencouragedandeffectedforthelastfiftyyears,acolonizationofdespair.

Thewonderfulpowersofmachinerycan,bymultipliedproduction,renderthemere _arte facta _of life actually cheaper: thus money and all other thingsbeingsupposedthesameinvalue,asilkgownisfivetimescheapernowthaninQueenElizabeth'stime;butmachinerycannotcheapen,inanythinglikeanequaldegree,theimmediategrowthsofnatureortheimmediatenecessariesofman. Now the _arte facta _are sought by the higher classes of society in aproportion incalculably beyond that in which they are sought by the lowerclasses;andthereforeitisthatthevastincreaseofmechanicalpowershasnotcheapened life and pleasure to the poor as it has done to the rich. In somerespects,nodoubt,ithasdoneso,asingivingcottondressestomaid-servants,andpennygintoall.Aprettybenefittruly!

I think this country is now suffering grievously under an excessiveaccumulationofcapital,which,havingnofieldforprofitableoperation,isinastateoffiercecivilwarwithitself.

_May_6.1833.

ROMANCONQUEST.—CONSTANTINE.—PAPACYANDTHESCHOOLMEN.

TheRomanshadnonationalclerisy;theirpriesthoodwasentirelyamatterofstate, and, as far back as we can trace it, an evident stronghold of thePatriciansagainsttheincreasingpowersofthePlebeians.AllweknowoftheearlyRomans is, that, after an indefinite lapseofyears, theyhad conqueredsomefiftyorsixtymilesroundtheircity.Thenit is that theygotowarwithCarthage, the great maritime power, and the result of that war was theoccupationofSicily.Thencethey,insuccession,conqueredSpain,Macedonia,Asia Minor, &c., and so at last contrived to subjugate Italy, partly by atremendous back blow, and partly by bribing the Italian States with acommunication of their privileges, which the now enormously enrichedconquerorspossessedoversolargeaportionofthecivilizedworld.Theywereordained by Providence to conquer and amalgamate the materials ofChristendom.Theywerenotanationalpeople;theyweretruly—

Romanosrerumdominos—

—andthat'sall.

Under Constantine the spiritual power became a complete reflex of thetemporal.Therewerefourpatriarchs,andfourprefects,andsoon.TheClergyandtheLawyers,theChurchandtheState,wereopposed.

Thebeneficial influenceof thePapacyupon thewholehasbeenmuchover-ratedbysomewriters;andcertainlynocountryinEuropereceivedlessbenefitandmoreharmfromitthanEngland.Infact,thelawfulkingsandparliamentsofEnglandwerealwaysessentiallyProtestantinfeelingforanationalchurch,though theyadhered to the receiveddoctrinesof theChristianityof theday;and it was only the usurpers, John, Henry IV., &c., that went against thispolicy. All the great English schoolmen, Scotus Erigena, Duns Scotus,Ockham,andothers, thosemorningstarsof theReformation,wereheartandsoulopposedtoRome,andmaintainedthePapacytobeAntichrist.ThePopesalways persecuted,with rancorous hatred, the national clerisies, themarriedclergy, and disliked the universitieswhich grew out of the oldmonasteries.The Papacy was, and is, essentially extra- national, and was always soconsideredinthiscountry,althoughnotbelievedtobeanti-Christian.

May8.1833.

CIVILWAROFTHESEVENTEENTHCENTURY.—HAMPDEN'SSPEECH.

IknownoportionofhistorywhichamanmightwritewithsomuchpleasureasthatofthegreatstruggleinthetimeofCharlesI.,becausehemayfeeltheprofoundest respect forbothparties.Theside takenbyanyparticularpersonwasdeterminedbythepointofviewwhichsuchpersonhappenedtocommandatthecommencementoftheinevitablecollision,onelineseemingstraighttothisman,anotherlinetoanother.Nomanofthatagesawthetruth,thewholetruth;therewasnotlightenoughforthat.Theconsequence,ofcourse,wasaviolent exaggeration of each party for the time.TheKing became amartyr,and the Parliamentarians traitors, and vice versâ. The great reform broughtinto act by and under William the Third combined the principles trulycontendedforbyCharlesandhisParliamentrespectively:thegreatrevolutionof1831hascertainly,toanalmostruinousdegree,dislocatedthoseprinciplesof government again. As to Hampden's speech, no doubt it means adeclarationofpassiveobedienceto thesovereign,as thecreedofanEnglishProtestantindividual:everyman,Cromwellandall,wouldhavesaidasmuch;

itwastheantipapisticaltenet,andalmostvauntinglyassertedonalloccasionsbyProtestantsuptothattime.ButitimpliesnothingofHampden'screedastothedutyofParliament.

May10.1833.

REFORMEDHOUSEOFCOMMONS.

Well,IthinknohonestmanwilldenythatthepropheticdenunciationsofthosewhoseriouslyandsolemnlyopposedtheReformBillareinafairwayofexactfulfilment!Formyself, Iown Ididnot expect such rapidityofmovement. Isupposed that the first parliament would contain a large number of lowfactiousmen,whowouldvulgarizeanddegrade thedebatesof theHouseofCommons, and considerably impede public business, and that the majoritywouldbegentlemenmorefondoftheirpropertythantheirpolitics.Butreallythe truth is something more than this. Think of upwards of 160 membersvotingawaytwomillionsandahalfoftaxonFriday,atthebiddingofwhom,shallIsay?andthennoless than70of thoseverymembersrescindingtheirvoteson theTuesdaynext following,nothingwhateverhaving intervened tojustifythechange,exceptthattheyhadfoundoutthatat leastsevenoreightmillionsmoremustgoalsouponthesameprinciple,andthattherevenuewascut in two!OfcourseIapprove thevoteof rescission,howeverdangerousaprecedent;butwhatapictureofthecompositionofthisHouseofCommons!

May13.1833.

FOOD.—MEDICINE.—POISON.—OBSTRUCTION.

1.Thatwhich is digestedwholly, andpart ofwhich is assimilated, andpartrejected,is—Food.

2.Thatwhichisdigestedwholly,andthewholeofwhichispartlyassimilated,andpartlynot,is—Medicine.

3.Thatwhichisdigested,butnotassimilated,is—Poison.

4.Thatwhichisneitherdigestednorassimilatedis—MereObstruction.

Astothestoriesofslowpoisons,Icannotsaywhethertherewasany,orwhat,truthinthem;butIcertainlybelieveamanmaybepoisonedbyarsenicayear

afterhehastakenit.Infact,Ithinkthatisknowntohavehappened.

May14.1833.

WILSON.—SHAKSPEARE'SSONNETS.—LOVE.

ProfessorWilson'scharacterofCharlesLambinthelastBlackwood,TwaddleonTweed-side,isverysweetindeed,andgratifiedmemuch.ItdoeshonourtoWilson,tohisheadandhisheart.

HowcanIwishthatWilsonshouldceasetowritewhatsooftensoothesandsuspendsmybodilymiseries,andmymentalconflicts!Yetwhatawaste,whata reckless spending,of talent, ay, andofgenius, too, inhis Iknownothowmany years' management of Blackwood! If Wilson cares for fame, for anenduringplaceandprominenceinliterature,heshouldnow,Ithink,holdhishand,andsay,ashewellmay,—

"Militavinonsinegloria:NuncarmadefunctumquebelloBarbitonhicparieshabebit."

Twoorthreevolumescollectedoutofthemagazinebyhimselfwouldbeverydelightful.Buthemustnot leave it forothers todo; for some recasting andmuchcondensationwouldberequired;andliteraryexecutorsmakesadworkingeneralwiththeirtestators'brains.

Ibelieveitpossiblethatamanmay,undercertainstatesofthemoralfeeling,entertain something deserving the name of love towards a male object—anaffectionbeyondfriendship,andwhollyalooffromappetite.InElizabeth'sandJames's time it seems to have been almost fashionable to cherish such afeeling;andperhapswemayaccount in somemeasure for itbyconsideringhowvery inferior thewomenof thatage, takengenerally,were ineducationand accomplishment of mind to the men. Of course there were brilliantexceptions enough; but the plays of Beaumont and Fletcher— the mostpopulardramatists thateverwrote for theEnglishstage—will showuswhatsortofwomenitwasgenerallypleasingtorepresent.Certainlythelanguageofthetwofriends,MusidorusandPyrocles,intheArcadia,issuchaswecouldnotnowuseexcept towomen;and inCervantes thesametone issometimesadopted, as in the novel of the Curious Impertinent. And I think there is apassage in the New Atlantis of Lord Bacon, in which he speaks of thepossibilityofsuchafeeling,buthintstheextremedangerofentertainingit,orallowing it any place in a moral theory. I mention this with reference to

Shakspeare'ssonnets,whichhavebeensupposed,bysome,tobeaddressedtoWilliamHerbert,EarlofPembroke,whomClarendoncalls themostbelovedmanofhisage,thoughhislicentiousnesswasequaltohisvirtues.

Idoubtthis.IdonotthinkthatShakespeare,merelybecausehewasanactor,wouldhavethoughtitnecessarytoveilhisemotionstowardsPembrokeundera disguise, though he might probably have done so, if the real object hadperchancebeenaLauraoraLeonora. It seems tome that thesonnetscouldonlyhavecome fromamandeeply in love,and in lovewithawoman;andthereisonesonnetwhich,fromitsincongruity,Itaketobeapurposedblind.These extraordinary sonnets form, in fact, a poem of so many stanzas offourteenlineseach;and,likethepassionwhichinspiredthem,thesonnetsarealwaysthesame,withavarietyofexpression,—continuous,ifyouregardthelover'ssoul,—distinct,ifyoulistentohim,asheheavesthemsighaftersigh.

These sonnets, like the Venus and Adonis, and the Rape of Lucrece, arecharacterized by boundless fertility and laboured condensation of thought,withperfectionofsweetnessinrhythmandmetre.Thesearetheessentialsinthe budding of a great poet. Afterwards habit and consciousness of powerteachmoreease—praecipitandumliberumspiritum.

Everyonewhohasbeeninlove,knowsthatthepassionisstrongest,andtheappetiteweakest,intheabsenceofthebelovedobject,andthatthereverseisthecaseinherpresence.

May15.1833.

WICLIFFE.—LUTHER.—REVERENCEFORIDEALTRUTHS.—JOHNSONTHEWHIG.—ASGILL.—JAMESI.

Wicliffe's genius was, perhaps, not equal to Luther's; but really the more IknowofhimfromVaughanandLeBas,bothofwhosebooksI like, I thinkhimasextraordinaryamanasLutheruponthewhole.Hewasmuchsounderandmoretrulycatholic inhisviewof theEucharist thanLuther.AndIfind,notwithout somepleasure, thatmyownviewof it,which Iwas afraidwasoriginal, was maintained in the tenth century, that is to say, that the bodybroken had no reference to the human body of Christ, but to the CaroNoumenon,orsymbolicalBody,theRockthatfollowedtheIsraelites.

Whitaker beautifully says of Luther;—Felix ille, quem Dominus eo honoredignatusest,uthominesnequissimossuoshaberetinimicos.

Thereisnownoreverenceforanything;andthereasonis,thatmenpossess

conceptions only, and all their knowledge is conceptional only. Now as, toconceive,isaworkofthemereunderstanding,andasallthatcanbeconceivedmaybe comprehended, it is impossible that aman should reverence that, towhichhemustalwaysfeelsomethinginhimselfsuperior.IfitwerepossibletoconceiveGodinastrictsense,thatis,asweconceiveahorseoratree,evenGodhimself could not excite any reverence, thoughhemight excite fear orterror,orperhapslove,asatigerorabeautifulwoman.Butreverence,whichis the synthesis of love and fear, is only due from man, and, indeed, onlyexcitable in man, towards ideal truths, which are always mysteries to theunderstanding, for the same reason that themotion ofmy finger behindmybackisamysterytoyounow—youreyesnotbeingmadeforseeingthroughmy body. It is the reason only which has a sense by which ideas can berecognized,andfromthefontallightofideasonlycanamandrawintellectualpower.

SamuelJohnson,whom,todistinguishhimfromtheDoctor,wemaycalltheWhig,wasaveryremarkablewriter.HemaybecomparedtohiscontemporaryDeFoe,whomheresembled inmanypoints.He isanother instanceofKingWilliam's discrimination,whichwas somuch superior to that of any of hisministers, Johnson was one of the most formidable advocates for theExclusionBill, andhe sufferedbywhippingand imprisonmentunder Jamesaccordingly.LikeAsgill,heargueswithgreatapparentcandourandclearnesstillhehashisopponentwithinreach,andthencomesablowasfromasledge-hammer.IdonotknowwhereIcouldputmyhanduponabookcontainingsomuch sense and sound constitutional doctrine as this thin folio of Johnson'sWorks;andwhatpartyinthiscountrywouldreadsoseverealectureinitasourmodernWhigs!

Aclosereasonerandagoodwriteringeneralmaybeknownbyhispertinentuse of connectives. Read that page of Johnson; you cannot alter oneconjunctionwithoutspoilingthesense.Itisalinkedstrainthroughout.Inyourmodern books, for the most part, the sentences in a page have the sameconnection with each other that marbles have in a bag; they touch withoutadhering.

AsgillevidentlyformedhisstyleuponJohnson's,butheonlyimitatesonepartof it. Asgill never rises to Johnson's eloquence. The latter was a sort ofCobbett-Burke.

James the First thought that, because all power in the state seemed toproceed from the crown, all power therefore remained in the crown;—as if,because the tree sprang from the seed, the stem, branches, leaves, and fruitwere all contained in the seed.The constitutional doctrine as to the relationwhichthekingbearstotheothercomponentsofthestateisintwowordsthis:

—Heisarepresentativeofthewholeofthat,ofwhichheishimselfapart.

May17.1833.

SIRP.SIDNEY.—THINGSAREFINDINGTHEIRLEVEL.

When Sir Philip Sidney saw the enthusiasm which agitated every man,woman,andchildintheNetherlandsagainstPhilipandD'Alva,hetoldQueenElizabeththatitwasthespiritofGod,andthatitwasinvincible.Whatisthespiritwhichseems tomoveandunsettleeveryotherman inEnglandandonthe Continent at this time?Uponmy conscience, and judging by St. John'srule,Ithinkitisaspecialspiritofthedevil—andaveryvulgardeviltoo!

Yourmodernpoliticaleconomistssay that it isaprinciple in theirscience—thatallthingsfindtheirlevel;—whichIdeny;andsay,onthecontrary,thatthetrueprincipleis,thatallthingsarefindingtheirlevellikewaterinastorm.

May18.1833.

GERMAN.—GOETHE.—GOD'SPROVIDENCE.—MAN'SFREEDOM.

GermanisinferiortoEnglishinmodificationsofexpressionoftheaffections,butsuperiortoitinmodificationsofexpressionofallobjectsofthesenses.

Goethe'ssmalllyricsaredelightful.HeshowedgoodtasteinnotattemptingtoimitateShakspeare'sWitches,whicharethreefold,—Fates,Furies,andearthlyHagso'thecaldron.

Mandoesnotmoveincycles,thoughnaturedoes.Man'scourseislikethatofanarrow;fortheportionofthegreatcometaryellipsewhichheoccupiesisnomorethananeedle'slengthtoamile.

Innaturalhistory,God's freedom is shown in the lawofnecessity. Inmoralhistory,God'snecessityorprovidenceisshowninman'sfreedom.

June8.1833.

DOMMIGUELANDDOMPEDRO.—WORKINGTOBETTERONE'S

CONDITION.—NEGROEMANCIPATION.—FOXANDPITT.—REVOLUTION.

There can be no doubt of the gross violations of strict neutrality by thisgovernmentinthePortugueseaffair;butIwishtheTorieshadleftthematteralone,andnotgivenroomtothepeopletoassociatethemwiththatscoundrelDomMiguel.Youcanneverinterestthecommonherdintheabstractquestion;with themit isamerequarrelbetween themen;and thoughPedro isaverydoubtful character, he is not so bad as his brother; and, besides, we arenaturallyinterestedforthegirl.

It is very strange that men who make light of the direct doctrines of theScriptures,andturnuptheirnosesattherecommendationofalineofconductsuggested by religious truth, will nevertheless stake the tranquillity of anempire,thelivesandpropertiesofmillionsofmenandwomen,onthefaithofamaximofmodernpoliticaleconomy!Andthis,too,ofamaximtrueonly,ifatall,ofEnglandorapartofEngland,orsomeothercountry;—namely,thatthe desire of bettering their conditionwill inducemen to labour evenmoreabundantlyandprofitablythanservilecompulsion,—towhichmaximthepasthistory and present state of all Asia and Africa give the lie. Nay, even inEnglandatthisday,everymaninManchester,Birmingham,andinothergreatmanufacturingtowns,knowsthatthemostskilfulartisans,whomayearnhighwagesatpleasure,areconstantlyinthehabitofworkingbutafewdaysintheweek,andofidlingtherest.IbelieveSt.

MondayisverywellkeptbytheworkmeninLondon.Theloveofindolenceisuniversal,ornexttoit.

MustnottheministerialplanfortheWestIndiesleadnecessarilytoachangeofproperty,eitherbyforceordereliction?Ican'tseeanywayofescapingit.

Youarealways talkingof therightsof thenegroes.Asa rhetoricalmodeofstimulatingthepeopleofEnglandhere,Idonotobject;butIutterlycondemnyourfranticpracticeofdeclaimingabouttheirrightstotheblacksthemselves.They ought to be forcibly reminded of the state in which their brethren inAfricastillare,andtaughttobethankfulfortheprovidencewhichhasplacedthemwithinreachofthemeansofgrace.Iknownorightexceptsuchasflowsfrom righteousness; and as every Christian believes his righteousness to beimputed,somusthisrightbeanimputedrighttoo.Itmustflowoutofaduty,anditisunderthatnamethattheprocessofhumanizationoughttobeginandtobeconductedthroughout.

Thirtyyearsago,andmore,Pittavailedhimself,withgreatpoliticaldexterity,of the apprehension, which Burke and the conduct of some of the clubs in

London had excited, and endeavoured to inspire into the nation a panic ofproperty. Fox, instead of exposing the absurdity of this by showing the realnumbersandcontemptibleweaknessofthedisaffected,fellintoPitt'strap,andwasmadenoughtoexaggerateevenPitt'ssurmises.Theconsequencewas,averygeneralapprehensionthroughoutthecountryofanimpendingrevolution,atatimewhen,Iwillventuretosay,thepeopleweremoreheart-wholethantheyhadbeen forahundredyearspreviously.After Ihad travelled inSicilyand Italy, countrieswhere therewere realgrounds for fear, Ibecamedeeplyimpressedwiththedifference.Now,afteralongcontinuanceofhighnationalglory and influence, when a revolution of a most searching and generalcharacter is actually at work, and the old institutions of the country are allawaitingtheircertaindestructionorviolentmodification—thepeopleatlargeareperfectlysecure,sleepingorgambollingontheverybrinkofavolcano.

June15.1833.

VIRTUEANDLIBERTY.—EPISTLETOTHEROMANS.—ERASMUS.——LUTHER.

The necessity for external government to man is in an inverse ratio to thevigour of his self-government.Where the last ismost complete, the first isleastwanted.Hence,themorevirtuethemoreliberty.

IthinkSt.Paul'sEpistletotheRomansthemostprofoundworkinexistence;andIhardlybelievethat thewritingsof theoldStoics,nowlost,couldhavebeendeeper.Undoubtedlyitis,andmustbe,veryobscuretoordinaryreaders;but some of the difficulty is accidental, arising from the form inwhich theEpistle appears. Ifwe couldnowarrange thiswork in theway inwhichwemaybesureSt.Paulwouldhimselfdo,werehenowalive,andpreparingitforthepress,hisreasoningwouldstandoutclearer.Hisaccumulatedparentheseswouldbe thrownintonotes,orextruded to themargin.Youwillsmile,afterthis,ifIsaythatIthinkIunderstandSt.Paul;andIthinkso,because,reallyand truly, I recognize a cogent consecutiveness in the argument—the onlyevidenceIknowthatyouunderstandanybook.Howdifferent is thestyleofthis intensely passionate argument from that of the catholic circular chargecalledtheEpistletotheEphesians!—andhowdifferentthatofbothfromthestyleoftheEpistlestoTimothyandTitus,whichIventuretocall

Erasmus'sparaphraseoftheNewTestamentisclearandexplanatory;butyoucannotexpectanythingverydeepfromErasmus.TheonlyfitcommentatoronPaul was Luther—not by any means such a gentleman as the Apostle, but

almostasgreatagenius.

June17.1833.

NEGROEMANCIPATION.

HaveyoubeenabletodiscoveranyprincipleinthisEmancipationBillfortheSlaves,exceptaprincipleoffearoftheabolitionpartystrugglingwithadreadofcausingsomemonstrouscalamity to theempireat large?Well! Iwillnotprophesy; and God grant that this tremendous and unprecedented act ofpositiveenactmentmaynotdotheharmtothecauseofhumanityandfreedomwhichIcannotbutfear!Butyet,whatcanbehoped,whenallhumanwisdomandcounselaresetatnought,andreligiousfaith—theonlymiraculousagentamongstmen—isnotinvokedorregarded!andthatmostunblestphrase—theDissentinginterest—entersintothequestion!

June22.1833.

HACKET'SLIFEOFARCHBISHOPWILLIAMS.—CHARLESI.—MANNERSUNDEREDWARDIII.,RICHARDII.,ANDHENRYVIII.

What a delightful and instructive hookBishopHacket's Life ofArchbishopWilliams is! You learn more from it of that which is valuable towards aninsight into the times preceding the CivilWar than from all the ponderoushistoriesandmemoirsnowcomposedaboutthatperiod.

CharlesseemstohavebeenaverydisagreeablepersonageduringJames'slife.Thereisnothingdutifulinhisdemeanour.

IthinkthespiritofthecourtandnobilityofEdwardIII.andRichardII.wasless gross than that in the time of Henry VIII.; for in this latter period thechivalryhadevaporated,andthewholecoarsenesswasleftbyitself.Chaucerrepresentsaveryhighandromanticstyleofsocietyamongstthegentry.

June29.1833.

HYPOTHESIS.—SUFFICTION.—THEORY.—LYELL'SGEOLOGY.—

GOTHICARCHITECTURE.—GERARDDOUW's"SCHOOLMASTER"ANDTITIAN'S"VENUS."—SIRJ.SCARLETT.

Itseemstomeagreatdelusiontocallorsupposetheimaginationofasubtlefluid,ormoleculespenetrablewith the same, a legitimatehypothesis. It is ameresuffiction.Newtontookthefactofbodiesfallingtothecentre,anduponthatbuiltupalegitimatehypothesis.Itwasasubpositionofsomethingcertain.ButDescartes'vorticeswerenotanhypothesis; they restedonno factatall;andyettheydid,inaclumsyway,explainthemotionsoftheheavenlybodies.But your subtle fluid is pure gratuitous assumption; and for what use? Itexplainsnothing.

Besides, you are endeavouring to deduce power from mass, in which youexpressly say there is no power but the vis inertiae: whereas, the wholeanalogyofchemistryprovesthatpowerproducesmass.

Theuseofatheoryintherealsciencesistohelptheinvestigatortoacompleteviewofallthehithertodiscoveredfactsrelatingtothescienceinquestion;itisacollectedview,,ofallheyetknowsinone.Ofcourse,whilstanypertinentfactsremainunknown,notheorycanbeexactlytrue,becauseeverynewfactmust necessarily, to a greater or less degree, displace the relation of all theothers. A theory, therefore, only helps investigation; it cannot invent ordiscover.Theonlytruetheoriesarethoseofgeometry,becauseingeometryallthe premisses are true and unalterable. But, to suppose that, in our presentexceedinglyimperfectacquaintancewiththefacts,anytheoryinchemistryorgeologyisaltogetheraccurate,isabsurd:—itcannotbetrue.

Mr.Lyell'ssystemofgeologyisjusthalfthetruth,andnomore.Heaffirmsagreatdealthatistrue,andhedeniesagreatdealwhichisequallytrue;whichisthegeneralcharacteristicofallsystemsnotembracingthewholetruth.Soitiswiththerectilinearityorundulatorymotionoflight;—Ibelieveboth;thoughphilosophy has as yet but imperfectly ascertained the conditions of theiralternateexistence,orthelawsbywhichtheyareregulated.

Thosewhodenylighttobematterdonot,therefore,denyitscorporeity.

Theprincipleof theGothicarchitecture is infinitymade imaginable. It isnodoubt a sublimer effort of genius than the Greek style; but then it dependsmuchmoreonexecution for itseffect. Iwasmore thanever impressedwiththemarvelloussublimityandtranscendantbeautyofKing'sCollegeChapel.Itisquiteunparalleled.

IthinkGerardDouw's"Schoolmaster,"intheFitzwilliamMuseum,thefinestthingofthesortIeversaw;—whetheryoulookatitatthecommondistance,orexamine itwithaglass, thewonder isequal.And thatgloriouspictureof

the Venus—so perfectly beautiful and perfectly innocent—as if beauty andinnocence could not be dissociated! The French thing below is a curiousinstanceoftheinherentgrossnessoftheFrenchtaste.Titian'spictureismadequitebestial.

I think Sir James Scarlett's speech for the defendant, in the late action ofCobbettv.TheTimes,foralibel,worthyofthebestagesofGreeceorRome;though,tobesure,someofhisremarkscouldnothavebeenverypalatabletohisclients.

Iamgladyoucameintopunctuatemydiscourse,whichIfearhasgoneonforanhourwithoutanystopatall.

July1.1833.

MANDEVILLE'SFABLEOFTHEBEES.—BESTIALTHEORY.—CHARACTEROFBERTRAM.—BEAUMONTANDFLETCHER'SDRAMAS.—ÆSCHYLUS,SOPHOCLES,EURIPIDES,—MILTON.

If I could ever believe thatMandeville reallymeant any thingmore by hisFableoftheBeesthanabonneboucheofsolemnraillery,Ishouldliketoaskthose man-shaped apes who have taken up his suggestions in earnest, andseriously maintained them as bases for a rational account of man and theworld—howtheyexplain theveryexistenceof thosedexterouscheats, thosesuperiorcharlatans,thelegislatorsandphilosophers,whohaveknownhowtoplaysowelluponthepeacock-likevanityandfolliesoftheirfellowmortals.

Bytheby,Iwondersomeofyoulawyers(subrosa,ofcourse)havenotquotedthepithylinesinMandevilleuponthisregistrationquestion:—

"Thelawyers,ofwhoseartthebasisWasraisingfeudsandsplittingcases,Oppos'dallRegisters,thatcheatsMightmakemoreworkwithdiptestates;As'twereunlawfulthatone'sownWithoutalawsuitshouldbeknown!Theyputoffhearingswilfully,Tofingertherefreshingfee;AndtodefendawickedcauseExaminedandsurvey'dthelaws,Asburglarsshopsandhousesdo,Toseewherebesttheymaybreakthrough."

ThereisgreatHudibrasticvigourintheselines;andthoseonthedoctorsarealsoveryterse.

Look at that head of Cline, by Chantrey! Is that forehead, that nose, thosetemples and that chin, akin to the monkey tribe? No, no. To a man ofsensibilitynoargumentcoulddisprovethebestialtheorysoconvincinglyasaquietcontemplationofthatfinebust.

IcannotagreewiththesolemnabusewhichthecriticshavepouredoutuponBertram in"All'sWell thatendsWell."Hewasayoungnobleman in feudaltimes, justbursting intomanhood,withall the feelingsofprideofbirthandappetiteforpleasureandlibertynaturaltosuchacharactersocircumstanced.OfcoursehehadneverregardedHelenaotherwisethanasadependantinthefamily; and of all that which she possessed of goodness and fidelity andcourage,whichmightatoneforherinferiorityinotherrespects,Bertramwasnecessarily in a greatmeasure ignorant.And after all, herprima faciemeritwas the having inherited a prescription from her old father the doctor, bywhich she cures the king,—a merit, which supposes an extravagance ofpersonalloyaltyinBertramtomakeconclusivetohiminsuchamatterasthatof taking a wife. Bertram had surely good reason to look upon the king'sforcing him to marry Helena as a very tyrannical act. Indeed, it must beconfessed that her character is not very delicate, and it required allShakspeare'sconsummateskilltointerestusforher;andhedoesthischieflybytheoperationoftheothercharacters,—theCountess,Lafeu,&c.WegettolikeHelenafromtheirpraisingandcommendinghersomuch.

InBeaumontandFletcher'stragediesthecomicscenesarerarelysointerfusedamidst the tragic as to produce a unity of the tragic on the whole, withoutwhichtheintermixtureisafault.InShakspeare,thisisalwaysmanagedwithtranscendantskill.TheFool inLearcontributes inaverysensiblemanner tothetragicwildnessofthewholedrama.BeaumontandFletcher'sseriousplaysor tragedies are complete hybrids,—neither fish nor flesh,—upon any rules,Greek,Roman,orGothic:andyettheyareverydelightfulnotwithstanding.Nodoubt, they imitate the ease of gentlemanly conversation better thanShakspeare, who was unable not to be too much associated to succeedperfectlyinthis.

When I was a boy, I was fondest ofÆschylus; in youth and middle age IpreferredEuripides;nowinmydecliningyearsIadmireSophocles.Icannowat length see that Sophocles is the most perfect. Yet he never rises to thesublime simplicity ofÆschylus—simplicity of design, Imean—nor diffuseshimself in the passionate outpourings of Euripides. I understand why theancients called Euripides the most tragic of their dramatists: he evidentlyembraceswithinthescopeofthetragicpoetmanypassions,—love,conjugal

affection, jealousy,andsoon,whichSophoclesseems tohaveconsideredasincongruous with the ideal statuesqueness of the tragic drama. CertainlyEuripideswasagreaterpoetintheabstractthanSophocles.Hischorusesmaybe faulty as choruses, but how beautiful and affecting they are as odes andsongs! I think the famous , in Oedipus Coloneus cold in comparison withmanyoftheodesofEuripides,asthatsongofthechorusintheHippolytus—]andsoon;andIrememberachoricodein theHecuba,whichalwaysstruckmeasexquisitelyrichandfinished;Imean,wherethechorusspeaksofTroyandthenightofthecapture.

ThereisnothingverysurprisinginMilton'spreferenceofEuripides,thoughsounlike himself. It is very common—very natural—formen to like and evenadmireanexhibitionofpowerverydifferent inkind fromany thingof theirown.Nojealousyarises.MiltonpreferredOvidtoo,andIdaresayheadmiredbothasamanofsensibilityadmiresalovelywoman,withafeelingintowhichjealousy or envy cannot enter. With Aeschylus or Sophocles he mightperchancehavematchedhimself.

InEuripidesyouhaveoftentimesaverynearapproachtocomedy,andIhardlyknow any writer in whom you can find such fine models of serious anddignifiedconversation.

v.899.

Thou,then,oh,natalTroy!nomoreThecityoftheunsack'dshaltbe,SothickfromdarkAchaia'sshoreThecloudofwarhathcoveredthee.Ah!notagainItreadthyplain—Thespear—thespearhathrentthypride;Theflamehathscarr'dtheedeepandwide;Thycoronaloftowersisshorn,Andthoumostpiteousart—mostnakedandforlorn!

Iperish'datthenoonofnight!Whensleephadseal'deachwearyeye;Whenthedancewaso'er,AndharpsnomoreRangoutinchoralminstrelsy.InthedearbowerofdelightMyhusbandsleptinjoy;HisshieldandspearSuspendednear,Secureheslept:thatsailorband

Fullsurehedeem'dnomoreshouldstandBeneaththewallsofTroy.AndItoo,bythetaper'slight,Whichinthegoldenmirror'shazeFlash'ditsinterminablerays,Boundupthetressesofmyhair,ThatILove'speacefulsleepmightshare.

Islept;but,hark!thatwar-shoutdread,Whichrollingthroughthecityspread;Andthisthecry,—"When,SonsofGreece,Whenshallthelingeringleaguercease;WhenwillyespoilTroy'swatch-towerhigh,Andhomereturn?"—Iheardthecry,And,startingfromthegenialbed,Veiled,asaDoricmaid,Ifled,Andknelt,Diana,atthyholyfane,Atremblingsuppliant—allinvain.]

JULY3.1833.

STYLE.—CAVALIERSLANG.—JUNTOS.—PROSEANDVERSE.—IMITATIONANDCOPY.

The collocation ofwords is so artificial in Shakspeare andMilton, that youmay aswell think of pushing a brick out of awallwith your forefinger, asattempttoremoveawordoutofanyoftheirfinishedpassages.

Agoodlectureuponstylemighthecomposed,bytakingontheonehandtheslang of L'Estrange, and perhaps, even of Roger North, which became sofashionable after theRestoration as amark of loyalty; and on the other, theJohnsonianmagniloquenceorthebalancedmetreofJunius;andthenshowinghoweachextremeisfaulty,upondifferentgrounds.

It isquitecurioustoremarktheprevalenceof theCavalierslangstyleinthedivinesofCharlestheSecond'stime.Barrowcouldnotofcourseadoptsuchamodeofwritingthroughout,becausehecouldnotinithavecommunicatedhiselaborate thinkingsand lofty rhetoric;butevenBarrownotunfrequently letsslip a phrase here and there in the regular Roger North way—much to thedelight,nodoubt,ofthelargestpartofhisaudienceandcontemporaryreaders.Seeparticularly,forinstancesofthis,hisworkonthePope'ssupremacy.Southisfullofit.

ThestyleofJuniusisasortofmetre,thelawofwhichisabalanceofthesisandantithesis.Whenhegetsoutof thisaphorismicmetre intoasentenceoffive or six lines long, nothing can exceed the slovenliness of the English.HorneTookeandalongsentenceseemtheonlytwoantagoniststhatweretoomuch for him. Still the antithesis of Junius is a real antithesis of images orthought;buttheantithesisofJohnsonisrarelymorethanverbal.

The definition of good prose is—proper words in their proper places;—ofgoodverse—themostproperwordsintheirproperplaces.Theproprietyisineithercaserelative.Thewordsinproseoughttoexpresstheintendedmeaning,andnomore;iftheyattractattentiontothemselves,itis,ingeneral,afault.Intheverybeststyles,asSouthey's,youreadpageafterpage,understandingtheauthorperfectly,withoutoncetakingnoticeofthemediumofcommunication;—itisasifhehadbeenspeakingtoyouallthewhile.Butinverseyoumustdomore;—therethewords,themedia,mustbebeautiful,andoughttoattractyournotice—yetnotsomuchandsoperpetuallyastodestroytheunitywhichoughttoresultfromthewholepoem.Thisisthegeneralrule,but,ofcourse,subject to some modifications, according to the different kinds of prose orverse. Some prosemay approach towards verse, as oratory, and therefore amore studied exhibition of themedia may be proper; and some verse maybordermoreonmerenarrative,andtherethestyleshouldbesimpler.Butthegreatthinginpoetryis,quocunquemodo,toeffectaunityofimpressionuponthe whole; and a too great fulness and profusion of point in the parts willprevent this.WhocanreadwithpleasuremorethanahundredlinesorsoofHudibrasatonetime?Eachcoupletorquatrainissowholeinitself,thatyoucan'tconnectthem.Thereisnofusion,—justasitisinSeneca.

Imitation is the mesothesis of likeness and difference. The difference is asessential toitas thelikeness;forwithout thedifference, itwouldbecopyorfacsimile.But toborrowa termfromastronomy, it isa libratingmesothesis:for itmayvergemore to likenessas inpainting,ormore todifference,as insculpture.

JULY4.1833.

DR.JOHNSON.—BOSWELL.—BURKE.—NEWTON.—MILTON.

Dr.Johnson'sfamenowrestsprincipallyuponBoswell.Itisimpossiblenottobeamusedwithsuchabook.Buthisbow-wowmannermusthavehadagooddealtodowiththeeffectproduced;—fornoone,Isuppose,willsetJohnsonbeforeBurke,—andBurkewasagreatanduniversaltalker;—yetnowwehear

nothingofthisexceptbysomechanceremarksinBoswell.Thefactis,Burke,like all men of genius who love to talk at all, was very discursive andcontinuous;henceheisnotreported;heseldomsaidthesharpshortthingsthatJohnson almost always did, which produce a more decided effect at themoment,andwhicharesomuchmoreeasytocarryoff.Besides,astoBurke'stestimony to Johnson's powers, youmust remember that Burkewas a greatcourtier; andafter all,Burke saidandwrotemore thanonce thathe thoughtJohnsongreaterintalkingthanwriting,andgreaterinBoswellthaninreallife.

Newtonwasagreatman,butyoumustexcusemeifIthinkthatitwouldtakemanyNewtonstomakeoneMilton.

July6.1833.

PAINTING.——MUSIC.——POETRY.

Itisapoorcomplimenttopaytoapaintertotellhimthathisfigurestandsoutofthecanvass,orthatyoustartatthelikenessoftheportrait.Takealmostanydaub,cut itoutof thecanvass,andplace the figure looking intooroutofawindow,andanyonemaytakeitforlife.OrtakeoneofMrs.Salmon'swaxqueensorgenerals,andyouwillverysensibly feel thedifferencebetweenacopy, as they are, and an imitation, of the human form, as a good portraitought to be. Look at that flower vase ofVanHuysum, and at thesewax orstone peaches and apricots! The last are likest to their original, but whatpleasuredotheygive?None,excepttochildren.

Somemusic is aboveme;mostmusic is beneathme. I like Beethoven andMozart—or else some of the aërial compositions of the elder Italians, asPalestrinaandCarissimi.—AndIlovePurcell.

Thebestsortofmusiciswhatitshouldbe—sacred;thenextbest,themilitary,hasfallentothelotoftheDevil.

Goodmusicnevertiresme,norsendsmetosleep.Ifeelphysicallyrefreshedandstrengthenedbyit,asMiltonsayshedid.

IcouldwriteasgoodversesnowaseverIdid, if Iwereperfectlyfreefromvexations, and were in the ad libitum hearing of fine music, which has asensibleeffectinharmonizingmythoughts,andinanimatingand,asitwere,lubricatingmyinventivefaculty.ThereasonofmynotfinishingChristabelisnot,thatIdon'tknowhowtodoit—forIhave,asIalwayshad,thewholeplanentirefrombeginningtoendinmymind;butIfearIcouldnotcarryonwithequalsuccesstheexecutionoftheidea,anextremelysubtleanddifficultone.

Besides,afterthiscontinuationofFaust,whichtheytellmeisverypoor,whocanhavecouragetoattemptareversalofthejudgmentofallcriticismagainstcontinuations?LetusexceptDonQuixote,however,althoughthesecondpartofthattranscendantworkisnotexactlyunoflatuwiththeoriginalconception.

July8.1833.

PUBLICSCHOOLS.

I am clear for public schools as the general rule; but for particular childrenprivateeducationmaybeproper.ForthepurposeofmovingateaseinthebestEnglish society,—mind, I don't call the London exclusive clique the bestEnglishsociety,—thedefectofapubliceducationupontheplanofourgreatschoolsandOxfordandCambridgeishardlytobesupplied.Butthedefectisvisible positively in some men, and only negatively in others. Thefirst offend you by habits and modes of thinking and acting directlyattributable to their private education; in the others you only regret that thefreedom and facility of the established and nationalmode of bringing up isnotaddedtotheirgoodqualities.

Imorethandoubt theexpediencyofmakingevenelementarymathematicsapartoftheroutineinthesystemofthegreatschools.Itisenough,Ithink,thatencouragement and facilities shouldbegiven; and I thinkmorewill be thuseffectedthanbycompellingall.MuchlesswouldIincorporatetheGermanorFrench,oranymodernlanguage, into theschool labours.I thinkthatagreatmistake.

August4,1833.

SCOTTANDCOLERIDGE.

Dear SirWalter Scott andmyself were exact, but harmonious, opposites inthis;—that everyold ruin, hill, river, or tree called up in hismind a host ofhistorical or biographical associations,—just as a bright pan of brass, whenbeaten, is said to attract the swarming bees;—whereas, for myself,notwithstanding Dr. Johnson, I believe I should walk over the plain ofMarathonwithouttakingmoreinterestinitthaninanyotherplainofsimilarfeatures.YetIreceiveasmuchpleasureinreadingtheaccountofthebattle,in

Herodotus,asanyonecan.CharlesLambwroteanessayonamanwholivedinpasttime:—Ithoughtofaddinganothertoitononewholivednotintimeatall,past,present,orfuture,—butbesideorcollaterally.

August10.1833.

NERVOUSWEAKNESS.——HOOKERANDBULL.——FAITH.——APOET'SNEEDOFPRAISE.

APERSON,nervouslyweak,hasasensationofweaknesswhichisasbadtohim asmuscularweakness. The only difference lies in the better chance ofremoval.

The fact, thatHookerandBull, in their twopalmaryworks respectively,arereadintheJesuitColleges,isacuriousinstanceofthepowerofmindoverthemostprofoundofallprejudices.

There are permittedmoments of exultation through faith,whenwe cease tofeelourownemptinesssaveasacapacityforourRedeemer'sfulness.

There isa speciesofapplause scarcely lessgenial toapoet, than thevernalwarmthto thefeatheredsongstersduringtheirnest-breedingor incubation;asympathy,anexpressedhope,thatistheopenairinwhichthepoetbreathes,andwithoutwhichthesenseofpowersinksbackonitself,likeasighheavedupfromthetightenedchestofasickman.

August14.1833.

QUAKERS.—PHILANTHROPISTS.—JEWS.

A quaker is made up of ice and flame. He has no composition, no meantemperature. Hence he is rarely interested about any publicmeasure but hebecomesafanatic,andoversteps, inhis irrespectivezeal,everydecencyandeveryrightopposedtohiscourse.

I have never known a trader in philanthropy who was not wrong in heartsomewhereorother.Individualssodistinguishedareusuallyunhappyintheirfamilyrelations,—mennotbenevolentorbeneficenttoindividuals,butalmosthostile to them, yet lavishing money and labour and time on the race, theabstractnotion.Thecosmopolitismwhichdoesnotspringoutof,andblossom

upon, the deep-rooted stem of nationality or patriotism, is a spurious androttengrowth.

When I read the ninth, tenth, and eleventh chapters of the Epistle to theRomanstothatfineoldmanMr.——,atRamsgate,heshedtears.AnyJewofsensibilitymustbedeeplyimpressedbythem.

The two images farthest removed from each other which can becomprehended under one term, are, I think, Isaiah—"Hear,O heavens, andgive ear, O earth!"—and Levi of Holywell Street—"Old clothes!"—both ofthemJews,you'llobserve.Immanequantumdiscrepant!

August15.1833.

SALLUST.—THUCYDIDES.—HERODOTUS.—GIBBON.—KEYTOTHEDECLINEOFTHEROMANEMPIRE.

I consider the twoworks of Sallustwhich have come down to us entire, asromancesfoundedonfacts;noadequatecausesarestated,andthereisnorealcontinuityofaction.InThucydides,youareawarefromthebeginningthatyouarereading thereflectionsofamanofgreatgeniusandexperienceuponthecharacterandoperationof thetwogreatpoliticalprinciples inconflict in thecivilizedworldinhistime;hisnarrativeofeventsisofminorimportance,andit is evident that he selects for the purpose of illustration. It is Thucydideshimselfwhomyouread throughoutunder thenamesofPericles,Nicias,&c.ButinHerodotusitisjustthereverse.HehasaslittlesubjectivityasHomer,and,delighting in thegreat fancied epicof events, henarrates themwithoutimpressinganythingasofhisownminduponthenarrative.ItisthecharmofHerodotusthathegivesyouthespiritofhisage—thatofThucydides,thatherevealstoyouhisown,whichwasabovethespiritofhisage.

The difference between the composition of a history inmodern and ancienttimesisverygreat;stilltherearecertainprinciplesuponwhichthehistoryofamodern period may be written, neither sacrificing all truth and reality, likeGibbon,nordescendingintomerebiographyandanecdote.

Gibbon'sstyleisdetestable,buthisstyleisnottheworstthingabouthim.HishistoryhasprovedaneffectualbartoallrealfamiliaritywiththetemperandhabitsofimperialRome.Fewpersonsreadtheoriginalauthorities,eventhosewhichareclassical;andcertainlynodistinctknowledgeoftheactualstateoftheempirecanbeobtainedfromGibbon'srhetoricalsketches.Hetakesnoticeof nothing but what may produce an effect; he skips on from eminence to

eminence,without ever taking you through the valleys between: in fact, hiswork is little else but a disguised collection of all the splendid anecdoteswhichhecouldfindinanybookconcerninganypersonsornationsfromtheAntoninestothecaptureofConstantinople.WhenIreadachapterinGibbon,Iseemtobelookingthroughaluminoushazeorfog:—figurescomeandgo,Iknownothoworwhy,alllargerthanlife,ordistortedordiscoloured;nothingisreal,vivid,true;allisscenical,and,asitwere,exhibitedbycandlelight.AndthentocallitaHistoryoftheDeclineandFalloftheRomanEmpire!

Was there ever a greater misnomer? I protest I do not remember a singlephilosophicalattemptmadethroughouttheworktofathomtheultimatecausesofthedeclineorfallofthatempire.Howmiserablydeficientisthenarrativeof the important reignofJustinian!And thatpoorscepticism,whichGibbonmistook for Socratic philosophy, has led him to misstate and mistake thecharacterandinfluenceofChristianityinawaywhichevenanavowedinfideloratheistwouldnotandcouldnothavedone.Gibbonwasamanofimmensereading;buthehadnophilosophy;andheneverfullyunderstoodtheprincipleuponwhichthebestoftheoldhistorianswrote.Heattemptedtoimitatetheirartificial construction of thewholework—their dramatic ordonnance of theparts—without seeing that their histories were intendedmore as documentsillustrative of the truths of political philosophy than as mere chronicles ofevents.

ThetruekeytothedeclensionoftheRomanempire—whichisnottobefoundin all Gibbon's immense work—may be stated in two words:—the imperial character overlaying, and finally destroying,thenationalcharacter.RomeunderTrajanwasanempirewithoutanation.

August16.1833.

DR.JOHNSON'SPOLITICALPAMPHLETS.—TAXATION.-DIRECTREPRESENTATION.—-UNIVERSALSUFFRAGE.—-RIGHTOF

WOMENTOVOTE——HORNETOOKE.——ETYMOLOGYOFTHEFINALIVE.

I like Dr. Johnson's political pamphlets better than any other parts of hisworks:-particularly his "Taxation no Tyranny" is very clever and spirited,thoughheonly seeshalfofhis subject, and thatnot in averyphilosophicalmanner. Plunder—Tribute—Taxation—are the three gradations of action bythe sovereign on the property of the subject. The first is mere violence,boundedbynolaworcustom,andisproperlyanactonlybetweenconqueror

andconquered,andthat,too,inthemomentofvictory.Thesecondsupposeslaw;butlawproceedingonlyfrom,anddictatedby,oneparty,theconqueror;law,bywhichheconsentstoforegohisrightofplunderuponconditionoftheconqueredgivingup tohim,of theirownaccord, a fixedcommutation.Thethird implies compact, and negatives any right to plunder,—taxation beingprofessedlyforthedirectbenefitofthepartytaxed,that,bypayingapart,hemaythroughthelaboursandsuperintendenceofthesovereignbeabletoenjoytherest inpeace.Astotheright totaxbeingonlycommensuratewithdirectrepresentation,itisafable,falselyandtreacherouslybroughtforwardbythosewho know its hollowness well enough. You may show its weakness in amoment,byobservingthatnoteventheuniversalsuffrageoftheBenthamitesavoids the difficulty;—for although it may be allowed to be contrary todecorumthatwomenshouldlegislate;yettherecanbenoreasonwhywomenshouldnotchoosetheirrepresentativestolegislate;—andifitbesaidthattheyaremergedintheirhusbands,letitbeallowedwherethewifehasnoseparateproperty;butwhereshehasadistincttaxableestate,inwhichherhusbandhasno interest, what right can her husband have to choose for her the personwhose vote may affect her separate interest?—Besides, at all events, anunmarriedwomanofage,possessingonethousandpoundsayear,hassurelyasgoodamoralrighttovote,iftaxationwithoutrepresentationistyranny,asany ten-pounder in the kingdom. The truth, of course, is, that directrepresentation is a chimera, impracticable in fact, and useless or noxious ifpracticable.

Johnsonhadneithereyenorear; fornature, therefore,hecared,asheknew,nothing.Hisknowledgeoftownlifewasminute;buteventhatwasimperfect,asnotbeingcontrastedwiththebetterlifeofthecountry.

Horne Tookewas once holding forth on language,when, turning tome, heaskedmeifIknewwhatthemeaningofthefinalivewasinEnglishwords.Isaid I thought I could tell what he, Horne Tooke himself, thought. "Why,what?" saidhe. "Vis," I replied; andheacknowledged Ihadguessed right. Itold him, however, that I could not agree with him; but believed that thefinal ive came from ick—vicus, a'txaq; the root denoting collectivity andcommunity, and that it was opposed to the final ing, which signifiesseparation,particularity,andindividualproperty,from ingle,ahearth,oroneman's place or seat: oi'xo?, vicus, denoted an aggregation of ingles. Thealterationof thecandkof theroot into thevwasevidently theworkof thedigammatepower,andhencewefindtheicusandivusindifferentlyasfinalsinLatin.Theprecisedifferenceoftheetymologiesisapparentinthesephrases:—-Thelambisspor_tive;_thatis,hasanatureorhabitofsporting:thelambissport_ing;_thatis,theanimalisnowperformingasport.HorneTookeuponthis saidnothing tomyetymology;but Ibelievehe found thathe couldnot

makeafoolofme,ashedidofGodwinandsomeotherofhisbutts.

August17.1833.

"THELORD"INTHEENGLISHVERSIONOFTHEPSALMS,ETC.——SCOTCHKIRKANDIRVING.

Itisveryextraordinarythat,inourtranslationofthePsalms,whichprofessestobefromtheHebrew,thenameJehovah—'O—TheBeing,orGod—shouldbe omitted, and, instead of it, the Ktlpio?, or Lord, of the Septuagint beadopted.TheAlexandrianJewshadasuperstitiousdreadofwritingthenameofGod,andputnotasa translation,butasameremarkorsign—everyonereadily understanding for what it really stood. We, who have no suchsuperstition,oughtsurelytorestoretheJehovah,andtherebybringoutinthetrueforcetheoverwhelmingtestimonyofthePsalmstothedivinityofChrist,theJehovahormanifestedGod.

idemsignificatquodapudHebraeos.HebraeienimnominesanctissimonempeDei nomine, nunquam in colloquio utebantur, sed vice ejus pronuntiabant,quodLXXperexprimebant."—RemainsofBishopSandford,vol.i.p.207.

Mr.Coleridgesawthisworkforthefirsttimemanymonthsaftermakingtheobservationinthetext.Indeeditwastheverylastbookheeverread.HewasdeeplyinterestedinthepicturedrawnoftheBishop,andsaidthatthementalstruggles and bodily sufferings indicated in theDiary had been his own foryears past. He conjuredme to peruse theMemoir and theDiarywith greatcare:—"Ihavereceived,"saidhe,"muchspiritualcomfortandstrengthfromthe latter. O! weremy faith and devotion, likemy sufferings, equal to thatgoodman's!Hefelt,asIdo,howdeepadepthisprayerinfaith."

Inconnectionwiththetext,Imayaddhere,thatMr.C.said,thatlongbeforehe knew that the late Bishop Middleton was of the same opinion, he haddeplored the misleading inadequacy of our authorized version of theexpression, in theEpistle to theColossians, i. 15.:He rendered theverse inthesewords:—"Who is themanifestation ofGod the invisible, the begottenantecedentlytoallcreation;"observing,thatintherewasadoublesuperlativeofpriority,andthatthenaturalmeaningof"first-bornofeverycreature,"—thelanguageofourversion,—affordednopremissforthecausalinthenextverse.ThesamecriticismmaybefoundintheStateman'sManual,p.56.n.;andseeBishopSandford'sjudgmenttothesameeffect,vol.i.p.165.—

IcannotunderstandtheconductoftheScotchKirkwithregardtopoorIrving.

Theymightwithamplereasonhavevisitedhimforthemonstrousindecenciesof those exhibitions of the spirit;—perhaps the Kirk would not have beenjustified in overlooking such disgraceful breaches of decorum; but toexcommunicatehimonaccountofhislanguageaboutChrist'sbodywasveryfoolish.Irving'sexpressionsuponthissubjectareill judged, inconvenient, inhadtaste,andintermsfalse:neverthelesshisapparentmeaning,suchasitis,is orthodox. Christ's body—asmere body, or rather carcass (for body is anassociatedword),wasnomorecapableof sinor righteousness thanmineoryours;—thathishumanityhadacapacityofsin,followsfromitsownessence.Hewasoflikepassionsaswe,andwastempted.Howcouldhebetempted,ifhehadnoformalcapacityofbeingseduced?

It is Irving's error to use declamation, high and passionate rhetoric, notintroduced and pioneered by calm and clear logic, which is—to borrow asimile, thoughwithachange in theapplication, fromthewitty-wise,butnotalways wisely-witty, Fuller—like knocking a nail into a board, withoutwimblingaholeforit,andwhichtheneitherdoesnotenter,orturnscrooked,orsplitsthewooditpierces.

August18.1833.

MILTON'SEGOTISM.—CLAUDIAN.—STERNE.

IntheParadiseLost—indeedineveryoneofhispoems—itisMiltonhimselfwhomyousee;hisSatan,hisAdam,hisRaphael,almosthisEve—areallJohnMilton; and it is a sense of this intense egotism that gives me the greatestpleasureinreadingMilton'sworks.Theegotismofsuchamanisarevelationofspirit.

Claudiandeservesmoreattentionthanisgenerallypaidtohim.Heisthelinkbetween the old classic and themodernway of thinking in verse.Youwillobserveinhimanoscillationbetweentheobjectivepoetryoftheancientsandthesubjectivemoodofthemoderns.Hispowerofpleasinglyreproducingthesame thought in different language is remarkable, as it is in Pope. ReadparticularlythePhoenix,andseehowthesingleimageofrenascenceisvaried.

IthinkhighlyofSterne—thatis,ofthefirstpartofTristramShandy:forastothe latterpartabout thewidowWadman, it is stupidanddisgusting;and theSentimentalJourneyispoorsicklystuff.ThereisagreatdealofaffectationinSterne, to be sure; but still the characters ofTrimand the twoShandies aremostindividualanddelightful.Sterne'smoralsarebad,butIdon'tthinktheycandomuchharmtoanyonewhomtheywouldnotfindbadenoughbefore.

Besides, the oddity and erudite grimaces under which much of his dirt ishiddentakeawaytheeffectforthemostpart;although,tobesure,thebookisscarcelyreadablebywomen.

August20.1833.

HUMOURANDGENIUS.—GREATPOETSGOODMEN.—DICTIONOFTHEOLDANDNEWTESTAMENTVERSION.—HEBREW.—

VOWELSANDCONSONANTS.

Menofhumourarealwaysinsomedegreemenofgenius;witsarerarelyso,althoughamanofgeniusmayamongstothergiftspossesswit,asShakspeare.

Genius must have talent as its complement and implement, just as in likemannerimaginationmusthavefancy.Inshort, thehigher intellectualpowerscanonlyactthroughacorrespondingenergyofthelower.

Men of genius are rarelymuch annoyed by the company of vulgar people,becausetheyhaveapoweroflookingatsuchpersonsasobjectsofamusementofanotherracealtogether.

I quite agree with Strabo, as translated by Ben Jonson in his splendiddedicationoftheFox—thattherecanbenogreatpoetwhoisnotagoodman,though not, perhaps, a goody man. His heart must be pure; he must havelearnedtolookintohisownheart,andsometimestolookatit;forhowcanhewhoisignorantofhisownheartknowanythingof,orbeabletomove, theheartofanyoneelse?

—Lib.I.p.33.folio.

"For, if men will impartially, and not asquint, look toward the offices andfunctionofapoet,theywilleasilyconcludetothemselvestheimpossibilityofanyman'sbeingthegoodpoetwithoutfirstbeingagoodman."

IthinkthereisaperceptibledifferenceintheeleganceandcorrectnessoftheEnglish inourversionsof theOldandNewTestament. Icannotyield to theauthority ofmany examples of usageswhichmay be alleged from theNewTestament version. St. Paul is very often most inadequately rendered, andthereareslovenlyphraseswhichwouldneverhavecomefromBenJonsonoranyothergoodprosewriterofthatday.

Hebrew is so simple, and itswords are so few and near the roots, that it isimpossible to keep up any adequate knowledge of it without constantapplication. The meanings of the words are chiefly traditional. The loss of

Origen'sHeptaglottBible, inwhichhehadwrittenout theHebrewwords inGreekcharacters,istheheaviestwhichbiblicalliteraturehaseverexperienced.Itwouldhavefixedthesoundsasknownatthattime.

Brute animals have the vowel sounds; man only can utter consonants. It isnatural, therefore, that the consonants should be marked first, as being theframeworkoftheword;andnodoubtaverysimplelivinglanguagemightbewrittenquite intelligibly to thenativeswithout anyvowel soundsmarked atall. The words would be traditionally and conventionally recognized as inshorthand—thus—GdcrtdthHvnndthRth.IwishIunderstoodArabic;andyetIdoubtwhethertotheEuropeanphilosopherorscholaritisworthwhiletoundergo the immense labour of acquiring that or any otherOriental tongue,exceptHebrew.

August23.1833.

GREEKACCENTANDQUANTITY.

The distinction between accent and quantity is clear, and was, no doubt,observedbytheancientsintherecitationofverse.ButIbelievesuchrecitationtohavebeenalwaysanartificialthing,andthatthecommonconversationwasentirely regulated by accent. I do not think it possible to talk any languagewithout confounding the quantity of syllables with their high or low tones;although youmay singorrecitative the differencewell enough.Why shouldthemarksofaccenthavebeenconsideredexclusivelynecessaryfor teachingthepronunciationtotheAsiaticorAfricanHellenist,iftheknowledgeoftheacuted syllable did not also carry the stress of time with it? If was to bepronounced in common conversation with a perceptible distinction of thelengthofthepenultimaaswellasoftheelevationoftheantepenultima,whywas not that long quantity also marked? It was surely as important aningredient in thepronunciationas theaccent.Andalthough the letteromegamightinsuchawordshowthequantity,yetwhatdoyousaytosuchwordsas,andthelike—thequantityofthepenultimaofwhichisnotmarkedtotheeyeatall?Besides,canwealtogetherdisregardthepracticeofthemodernGreeks?Their confusion of accent and quantity in verse is of course a barbarism,though a very old one, as the versus politici of John Tzetzes in the twelfthcentury and theAnacreontics prefixed to Proclus will show; but these veryexamplesproveafortioriwhatthecommonpronunciationinprosethenwas.

and,andthisexpressly,orplainprose,aswellasinverse;andontheotherhanddeclares,accordingtotheevidentlycorrectinterpretationofthepassage,

thatthedifferencebetweenmusicandordinaryspeechconsistsinthenumberonly, and not in the quality, of tones:—) The extreme sensibility of theAthenianeartotheaccentinproseis,indeed,provedbynumerousanecdotes,oneofthemostamusingofwhich,though,perhaps,notthebestauthenticatedas a fact, is that of Demosthenes in the Speech for the Crown, asking,"Whether,OAthenians,doesAeschinesappeartoyoutobethemercenary(}ofAlexander, orhisguestor friend?" It is said thathepronounced with afalseaccentontheantepenultima,as,andthatupontheaudienceimmediatelycrying out, by way of correction, , with an emphasis, the orator continuedcoolly,——"You yourself hear what they say!" Demosthenes is also said,whether affectedly, or in ignorance, to have sworn in some speech by ,throwing the accent falsely on the antepenultima, and that, upon beinginterruptedfor it,hedeclared, inhis justification, that thepronunciationwasproper, for that thedivinitywas ,mild.Theexpressions inPlutarchareverystriking:—"

Chil.I.

I 'llclimbthefrost |ymountainshigh|,andthereI 'llcoin |theweather;I'llteartherain|bowfromthesky|,andtiebothends|together.

Some critics, however,maintain these verses to be trochaics, although veryloose and faulty. A curious instance of the early confusion of accent andquantity may be seen in Prudentius, who shortens the penultimaineremusandidola,fromand.

CuijejunaeremisaxaloquacibusExundantscatebris,&c.Cathemer.V.89.

—cognatumque malum, pigmenta, Camoenas, Idola, conflavit fallendi trinapotestas.Cont.Symm.47.—

August24.1833.

CONSOLATIONINDISTRESS.—-MOCKEVANGELICALS.—AUTUMNDAY.

Iamneververyforwardinofferingspiritualconsolationtoanyoneindistressor disease. I believe that such resources, to be of any service,must be self-evolvedinthefirstinstance.IamsomethingoftheQuaker'smindinthis,andaminclinedtowaitforthespirit.

The most common effect of this mock evangelical spirit, especially withyoungwomen,isself-inflationandbusy-bodyism.

Howstrangeandawful is the synthesisof life anddeath in thegustywindsandfallingleavesofanautumnalday!

August25.1833.

ROSETTIONDANTE.—LAUGHTER:FARCEANDTRAGEDY.

Rosetti's viewofDante'smeaning is in great part just, but he has pushed itbeyondallboundsofcommonsense.Howcouldapoet—andsuchapoetasDante—havewrittenthedetailsoftheallegoryasconjecturedbyRosetti?Theboundariesbetweenhisallegoryandhispurepicturesqueareplainenough,Ithink,atfirstreading.

To resolve laughter into an expression of contempt is contrary to fact, andlaughableenough.Laughter isaconvulsionof thenerves;and it seemsas ifnature cut short the rapid thrill of pleasure on the nerves by a suddenconvulsion of them, to prevent the sensation becoming painful. Aristotle'sdefinition is as good as can be:—surprise at perceiving any thing out of itsusualplace,when theunusualness isnot accompaniedbya senseof seriousdanger.Suchsurpriseisalwayspleasurable;anditisobservablethatsurpriseaccompaniedwithcircumstancesofdangerbecomestragic.Hencefarcemayoften border on tragedy; indeed, farce is nearer tragedy in its essence thancomedyis.

August28.1833.

BARONVONHUMBOLDT.—MODERNDIPLOMATISTS.

Baron von Humboldt, brother of the great traveller, paid me the followingcompliment at Rome:—"I confess,Mr. Coleridge, I hadmy suspicions thatyouwerehereinapoliticalcapacityofsomesortorother;butuponreflectionIacquityou.ForinGermanyand,Ibelieve,elsewhereontheContinent,itisgenerallyunderstoodthattheEnglishgovernment,inordertodiverttheenvyandjealousyoftheworldatthepower,wealth,andingenuityofyournation,makes a point, as a ruse de guerre, of sending out none but fools ofgentlemanly birth and connections as diplomatists to the courts abroad. Anexception is, perhaps, sometimes made for a clever fellow, if sufficientlylibertineandunprincipled."Isthecasemuchalterednow,doyouknow?

What dull coxcombs your diplomatists at home generally are. I rememberdining at Mr. Frere's once in company with Canning and a few otherinteresting men. Just before dinner Lord —— called on Frere, and askedhimselftodinner.Fromthemomentofhisentryhebegantotalktothewholeparty, and in French—all of us being genuine English—and I was told hisFrench was execrable. He had followed the Russian army into France, andseen a good deal of the great men concerned in the war: of none of thosethingsdidhesayaword,butwenton,sometimesinEnglishandsometimesinFrench,gabblingaboutcookeryanddressandthelike.Atlasthepausedforalittle—andIsaidafewwordsremarkinghowagreatimagemaybereducedtothe ridiculous and contemptible by bringing the constituent parts intoprominent detail, and mentioned the grandeur of the deluge and thepreservationoflifeinGenesisandtheParadiseLost,andtheludicrouseffectproducedbyDrayton'sdescriptioninhisNoah'sFlood:—

"Andnowthebeastsarewalkingfromthewood,Aswellofravine,asthatchewthecud.Thekingofbeastshisfurydothsuppress,AndtotheArkleadsdownthelioness;Thebullforhisbelovedmatedothlow,AndtotheArkbringsonthefair-eyedcow,"&c.

HereuponLord——resumed,andspokeinrapturesofapicturewhichhehadlately seen ofNoah'sArk, and said the animalswere allmarching two andtwo,thelittleonesfirst,andthattheelephantscamelastingreatmajestyandfilled up the fore-ground. "Ah! no doubt, my Lord," said Canning; "yourelephants,wisefellows!staidbehindtopackuptheirtrunks!"Thisflooredtheambassadorforhalfanhour.

In the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries almost all our ambassadors weredistinguishedmen.ReadLloyd'sStateWorthies.The third-ratemenof thosedayspossessedaninfinityofknowledge,andwereintimatelyversednotonlyin the history, but even in the heraldry, of the countries inwhich theywereresident.Menwerealmostalways,except formerecompliments,chosen fortheirdexterityandexperience—not,asnow,byparliamentaryinterest.

Thesurewaytomakeafoolishambassadoristobringhimuptoit.WhatcananEnglishministerabroadreallywantbutanhonestandboldheart,aloveforhiscountryandthetencommandments?Yourartdiplomaticisstuff:—notrulygreatlymannowwouldnegotiateuponanysuchshallowprinciples.

August30.1833.

MANCANNOTBESTATIONARY.—FATALISMANDPROVIDENCE.—SYMPATHYINJOY.

If aman isnot risingupwards tobeanangel,dependupon it,he is sinkingdownwardstobeadevil.Hecannotstopatthebeast.Themostsavageofmenarenotbeasts;theyareworse,agreatdealworse.

The conduct of the Mohammedan and Western nations on the subject ofcontagiousplagueillustratesthetwoextremesoferroronthenatureofGod'smoralgovernmentof theworld.TheTurkchangesProvidence into fatalism;theChristianreliesuponit—whenhehasnothingelsetorelyon.Hedoesnotpracticallyrelyuponitatall.

For compassion a humanheart suffices; but for full and adequate sympathywith joy an angel's only. And ever remember, that the more exquisite anddelicateaflowerofjoy,thetenderermustbethehandthatplucksit.

September2.1833.

CHARACTERISTICTEMPERAMENTOFNATIONS.—GREEKPARTICLES.—LATINCOMPOUNDS.--PROPERTIUS.—TIBULLUS.—LUCAN.—STATIUS.—VALERIUSFLACCUS.—CLAUDIAN.—

PERSIUS.———PRUDENTIUS.—HERMESIANAX.

The English affect stimulant nourishment—beef and beer. The French,excitants, irritants—nitrous oxide, alcohol, champagne. The Austrians,sedatives—hyoscyamus.TheRussians,narcotics—opium,tobacco,andbeng.

ItisworthparticularnoticehowthestyleofGreekoratory,sofull,inthetimesof political independence, of connective particles, someof passion, someofsensation only, and escaping the classification of mere grammatical logic,became, in thehandsof thedeclaimersandphilosophersof theAlexandrianera,andstilllater,entirelydeprivedofthispeculiarity.SoitwaswithHomerascomparedwithNonnus,Tryphiodorus,andthelike.Inthelatterthereareinthe samenumberof lines fewerwordsbyonehalf than in the Iliad.All theappoggiaturasoftimearelost.

AlltheGreekwritersafterDemosthenesandhiscontemporaries,whataretheybuttheleavingsoftyranny,inwhichafewpreciousthingsseemshelteredbythemass of rubbish! Yet, whenever liberty began but to hope and strive, aPolybiusappeared.TheocritusisalmosttheonlyinstanceIknowofamanof

truepoeticgeniusnourishingunderatyranny.

TheoldLatinpoetsattemptedtocompoundaslargelyastheGreek;henceinEnnius such words as belligerentes, &c. In nothing did Virgil show hisjudgmentmorethaninrejectingthese,except justwherecommonusagehadsanctionedthem,asomnipotensandafewmore.HesawthattheLatinwastoofar advanced in its formation, and of too rigid a character, to admit suchcomposition or agglutination. In this particular respectVirgil's Latin is veryadmirableanddeservingpreference.CompareitwiththelanguageofLucanorStatius,andcountthenumberofwordsusedinanequalnumberoflines,andobservehowmanymoreshortwordsVirgilhas.

I cannot quite understand the grounds of the high admiration which theancientsexpressedforPropertius,andIownthatTibullusisratherinsipidtome.Lucanwas aman of great powers; butwhatwas to bemade of such ashapeless fragmentofpartywarfare, and so recent too!Hehad fancy ratherthanimagination,andpassionratherthanfancy.Histastewaswretched,tobesure;still thePharsalia is inmy judgmentaverywonderfulworkforsuchayouthasLucanwas.

I think Statius a truer poet than Lucan, though he is very extravagantsometimes. Valerius Flaccus is very pretty in particular passages. I amashamed to say, I have never read Silius Italicus.Claudian I recommend toyourcarefulperusal,inrespectofhisbeingproperlythefirstofthemoderns,or at least the transitional link between theClassic and theGothicmode ofthought.

IcallPersiushard—notobscure.Hehadabadstyle;butIdaresay,ifhehadlived,hewouldhavelearnedtoexpresshimselfineasierlanguage.Therearemanypassages inhimofexquisite felicity, andhisveinof thought ismanlyandpathetic.

Prudentiusiscuriousforthis,—thatyouseehowChristianityforcedallegoryintotheplaceofmythology.Mr.FrereusedtoesteemtheLatinChristianpoetsofItalyveryhighly,andnomaninourtimeswasamorecompetentjudgethanhe.

HowveryprettyarethoselinesofHermesianaxinAthenaeusaboutthepoetsandpoetessesofGreece!

Athen.xiii.s.71—

September4.1833.

DESTRUCTIONOFJERUSALEM.—EPICPOEM.—GERMANANDENGLISH.—MODERNTRAVELS.—PARADISELOST.

IhavealreadytoldyouthatinmyopinionthedestructionofJerusalemistheonly subject now left for an epic poemof the highest kind.Yet,with all itsgreat capabilities, it has this one grand defect—that,whereas a poem, to beepic,musthaveapersonalinterest,—inthedestructionofJerusalemnogeniusorskillcouldpossiblypreservetheinterestfortheherofrombeingmergedinthe interest for the event. The fact is, the event itself is too sublime andoverwhelming.

In my judgment, an epic poem must either be national or mundane. As toArthur, you could not by any means make a poem on him national toEnglishmen. What have we to do with him? Milton saw this, and with ajudgmentatleastequaltohisgenius,tookamundanetheme—onecommontoall mankind. His Adam and Eve are all men and women inclusively. PopesatirizesMiltonformakingGodtheFathertalklikeaschooldivine.PopewashardlythemantocriticizeMilton.Thetruthis,thejudgmentofMiltonintheconduct of the celestial part of his story is very exquisite.WhereverGod isrepresented as directly acting asCreator,without any exhibition of his ownessence,MiltonadoptsthesimplestandsternestlanguageoftheScriptures.Heventuresuponnopoeticdiction,noamplification,nopathos,noaffection.ItistrulytheVoiceortheWordoftheLordcomingto,andactingon,thesubjectChaos. But, as some personal interest was demanded for the purposes ofpoetry,MiltontakesadvantageofthedramaticrepresentationofGod'saddressto theSon, theFilialAlterity, and in thoseaddresses slips in, as itwere bystealth, language of affection, or thought, or sentiment. Indeed, althoughMilton was undoubtedly a high Arian in his mature life, he does in thenecessityofpoetrygiveagreaterobjectivitytotheFatherandtheSon,thanhewould have justified in argument.Hewas verywise in adopting the stronganthropomorphism of theHebrewScriptures at once.Compare the ParadiseLost with Klopstock's Messiah, and you will learn to appreciate Milton'sjudgmentandskillquiteasmuchashisgenius.

TheconquestofIndiabyBacchusmightaffordscopeforaverybrilliantpoemofthefancyandtheunderstanding.

ItisnotthattheGermancanexpressexternalimagerymorefullythanEnglish;butthatitcanflashmoreimagesatonceonthemindthantheEnglishcan.Astomere power of expression, I doubtwhether even theGreek surpasses theEnglish. Pray, read a very pleasant and acute dialogue in Schlegel'sAthenaeumbetweenaGerman,aGreek,aRoman,Italian,andaFrenchman,onthemeritsoftheirrespectivelanguages.

Iwishthenavalandmilitaryofficerswhowriteaccountsoftheirtravelswouldjust spare us their sentiment. TheMagazines introduced this cant. Let thesegentlemenreadandimitatetheoldcaptainsandadmirals,asDampier,&c.

October15.1833.

THETRINITY.—INCARNATION.—REDEMPTION.—EDUCATION.

TheTrinityistheidea:theIncarnation,whichimpliestheFall,isthefact:theRedemptionisthemesothesisofthetwo—thatis—thereligion.

Ifyoubringupyourchildreninawaywhichputsthemoutofsympathywiththe religious feelings of the nation inwhich they live, the chances are, thatthey will ultimately turn out ruffians or fanatics—and one as likely as theother.

October23.1833.

ELEGY.—LAVACRUMPALLADOS.—GREEKANDLATINPENTAMETER.—MILTON'SLATINPOEMS.—POETICALFILTER.

—GRAYANDCOTTON.

Elegyistheformofpoetrynaturaltothereflectivemind.Itmay treatofanysubject, but itmust treatofno subject for itself; but always and exclusivelywithreferencetothepoethimself.Ashewillfeelregretforthepastordesireforthefuture,sosorrowandlovebecometheprincipalthemesofelegy.Elegypresentsevery thingas lost andgone,orabsentand future.Theelegy is theexact opposite of the Homeric epic, in which all is purely external andobjective,andthepoetisamerevoice.

The true lyric ode is subjective too; but then it delights to present things asactually existing and visible, although associatedwith the past, or colouredhighlybythesubjectoftheodeitself.

I think the Lavacrum Pallados of Callimachus very beautiful indeed,especiallythatpartaboutthemotherofTiresiasandMinerva.Ihaveamindtotryhowitwouldbeartranslation;butwhatmetrehavewetoanswerinfeelingtotheelegiaccoupletoftheGreeks?

IgreatlyprefertheGreekrhythmoftheshortversetoOvid's,though,observe,

I don't dispute his taste with reference to the genius of his own language.AugustusSchlegelgavemeacopyofLatinelegiacsontheKingofPrussia'sgoingdowntheRhine,inwhichhehadalmostexclusivelyadoptedthemannerofPropertius.Ithoughtthemveryelegant.

Youmay finda fewminute faults inMilton'sLatinverses;butyouwillnotpersuademethat,ifthesepoemshadcomedowntousaswrittenintheageofTiberius,weshouldnothaveconsideredthemtobeverybeautiful.

Ioncethoughtofmakingacollection,—tobecalled"ThePoeticalFilter,"—upon the principle of simply omitting from the old pieces of lyrical poetrywhichwehave,thosepartsinwhichthewhimorthebadtasteoftheauthororthefashionofhisageprevailedoverhisgenius.Youwouldbesurprisedatthenumber of exquisitewholeswhichmight bemade by this simple operation,and, perhaps, by the insertion of a single line or half a line, out of poemswhich are now utterly disregarded on account of some odd or incongruouspassages in them;—just as whole volumes of Wordsworth's poems wereformerlyneglectedorlaughedat,solelybecauseofsomefewwilfulnesses,ifImaysocallthem,ofthatgreatman—whilstatthesametimefivesixthsofhispoemswould have been admired, and indeed popular, if they had appearedwithoutthosedrawbacks,underthenameofByronorMooreorCampbell,oranyotherof thefashionablefavouritesof theday.Buthehaswonthebattlenow,ay!andwillwearthecrown,whilstEnglishisEnglish.

I think there is somethingverymajestic inGray's InstallationOde;butas totheBardandtherestofhislyrics,ImustsayIthinkthemfrigidandartificial.ThereismorereallyricfeelinginCotton'sOdeonWinter.

November1.1833.

HOMERICHEROESINSHAKSPEARE.—DRYDEN.—DR.JOHNSON.—SCOTT'SNOVELS.—SCOPEOFCHRISTIANITY.

Compare Nestor, Ajax, Achilles, &c. in the Troilus and Cressida ofShakspearewiththeirnamesakesintheIliad.Theoldheroesseemalltohavebeen at school ever since. I scarcely know a more striking instance of thestrengthandpregnancyoftheGothicmind.

Dryden's geniuswas of that sort which catches fire by its ownmotion; hischariotwheelsgethotbydrivingfast.

Dr. Johnson seems to have been really more powerful in discoursing vivâvoceinconversationthanwithhispeninhand.Itseemsasiftheexcitementof

company called something like reality and consecutiveness into hisreasonings, which in his writings I cannot see. His antitheses are almostalwaysverbalonly;andsentenceaftersentenceintheRamblermaybepointedouttowhichyoucannotattachanydefinitemeaningwhatever.Inhispoliticalpamphlets there ismore truth of expression than in his otherworks, for thesamereasonthathisconversationisbetterthanhiswritingsingeneral.Hewasmoreexcitedandinearnest.

WhenIamveryillindeed,IcanreadScott'snovels,andtheyarealmosttheonlybooks Ican thenread. I cannot at such times read theBible;mymindreflectsonit,butIcan'tbeartheopenpage.

UnlessChristianitybeviewedandfeltinahighandcomprehensiveway,howlargeaportionofourintellectualandmoralnaturedoesitleavewithoutobjectandaction!

LetayoungmanseparateIfromMeasfarashepossiblycan,andremoveMetill it is almost lost in the remote distance. "I amme," is as bad a fault inintellectualsandmoralsasitisingrammar,whilstnonebutone—God—cansay,"IamI,"or"ThatIam."

November9.1833.

TIMESOFCHARLESI.

Howmanybooksare stillwrittenandpublishedaboutCharles theFirst andhistimes!Suchisthefreshandenduringinterestofthatgrandcrisisofmorals,religion, and government! But these books are none of themworks of anygenius or imagination; not one of these authors seems to be able to throwhimself back into that age; if they did, there would be less praise and lessblamebestowedonbothsides.

December21.1833.

MESSENGEROFTHECOVENANT—PROPHECY.—LOGICOFIDEASANDOFSYLLOGISMS.

WhenIreflectuponthesubjectofthemessengerofthecovenant,andobservethedistinctiontakenintheprophetsbetweentheteachingandsufferingChrist,

—thePriest,whowastoprecede,andthetriumphantMessiah,theJudge,whowastofollow,—andhowJesusalwaysseemstospeakoftheSonofManinafuture sense, and yet always at the same time as identical with himself; Isometimes think that our Lord himself in his earthly career was theMessenger; and that theway isnow still preparing for thegreat andvisibleadventoftheMessiahofGlory.Imentionthisdoubtingly.

Whatabeautifulsermonoressaymightbewrittenonthegrowthofprophecy!—fromthegerm,nobiggerthanaman'shand,inGenesis,tillthecolumnofcloud gathers size and height and substance, and assumes the shape of aperfectman;justlikethesmokeintheArabianNights'tale,whichcomesupandatlasttakesagenie'sshape.

The logic of ideas is to that of syllogisms as the infinitesimal calculus tocommonarithmetic;itproves,butatthesametimesupersedes.

January1.1834.

LANDOR'SPOETRY.—BEAUTY.—CHRONOLOGICALARRANGEMENTOFWORKS.

What is it that Mr. Landor wants, to make him a poet? His powers arecertainly very considerable, but he seems to be totally deficient in thatmodifyingfaculty,whichcompressesseveralunits intoonewhole.The truthis, he doesnot possess imagination in its highest form,—that of stamping ilpiùnell'uno.Hencehispoems,takenaswholes,areunintelligible;youhaveeminencesexcessivelybright,andallthegroundaroundandbetweenthemindarkness. Besides which, he has never learned, with all his energy, how towritesimpleandlucidEnglish.

Theuseful,theagreeable,thebeautiful,andthegood,aredistinguishable.Youarewrong in resolvingbeauty intoexpressionor interest; it isquitedistinct;indeeditisopposite,althoughnotcontrary.Beautyisanimmediatepresence,between(inter)whichandthebeholdernihilest.Itisalwaysoneandtranquil;whereastheinterestingalwaysdisturbsandisdisturbed.Iexceedinglyregretthe loss of those essays on beauty, which I wrote in a Bristol newspaper. Iwouldgivemuchtorecoverthem.

Afterallyoucansay,Istillthinkthechronologicalorderthebestforarrangingapoet'sworks.Allyourdivisionsare inparticular instances inadequate,andthey destroy the interestwhich arises fromwatching the progress,maturity,andeventhedecayofgenius.

January3.1834.

TOLERATION.—NORWEGIANS.

IhaveknownbookswrittenonTolerance,thepropertitleofwhichwouldbe—intolerantorintolerablebooksontolerance.Shouldnotamanwhowritesabook expressly to inculcate tolerance learn to treat with respect, or at leastwithindulgence,articlesoffaithwhichtensofthousandstentimestoldofhisfellow-subjects or his fellow-creatures believewith all their souls, anduponthetruthofwhichtheyresttheirtranquillityinthisworld,andtheirhopesofsalvation in the next,—those articles being at leastmaintainable against hisarguments, and most certainly innocent in themselves?—Is it fitting to runJesus Christ in a silly parallel with Socrates—the Being whom thousandmillionsofintellectualcreatures,ofwhomIamahumbleunit,taketobetheirRedeemer,withanAthenianphilosopher,ofwhomweshouldknownothingexcept throughhisglorification inPlatoandXenophon?—And then tohitchLatimerandServetustogether!Tobesuretherewasastakeandafireineachcase, butwhere the rest of the resemblance is I cannot see.What ground isthere for throwing theodiumofServetus'sdeathuponCalvinalone?—Why,themildMelancthonwrote toCalvin,expressly to testifyhisconcurrence intheact,andnodoubthespokethesenseoftheGermanreformers;theSwisschurchesadvisedthepunishmentinformalletters,andIratherthinktherearelettersfromtheEnglishdivines,approvingCalvin'sconduct!—Beforeamandealsout theslangof thedayabout thegreat leadersof theReformation,heshould learn to throwhimselfback to the ageof theReformation,when thetwogreatpartiesinthechurchwereeagerlyonthewatchtofastenachargeofheresyontheother.Besides,ifeverapoorfanaticthrust,himselfintothefire,itwasMichael Servetus.Hewas a rabid enthusiast, and did every thing hecouldinthewayofinsultandribaldrytoprovokethefeelingoftheChristianchurch. He called the Trinity triceps monstrum et Cerberum quendamtripartitum,andsoon.

Indeed, how should the principle of religious toleration have beenacknowledgedatfirst?—ItwouldrequirestrongerargumentsthananywhichIhaveheardasyet,toprovethatmeninauthorityhavenotaright,involvedinan imperative duty, to deter those under their control from teaching orcountenancing doctrines which they believe to be damnable, and even topunish with death those who violate such prohibition. I am sure thatBellarminewouldhavehadsmalldifficultyinturningLockeroundhisfingers'endsupon thisground.Aright toprotectionIcanunderstand;butaright to

toleration seems tome a contradiction in terms.Somecriterionmust in anycase be adopted by the state; otherwise it might be compelled to admitwhateverhideousdoctrineandpracticeanymanornumberofmenmayasserttobehisortheirreligion,andanarticleofhisortheirfaith.ItwasthesamePopewhocommandedtheRomanistsofEnglandtoseparatefromthenationalchurch, which previously their own consciences had not dictated, nor thedecision of any council,—and who also commanded them to rebel againstQueenElizabeth,whomtheywereboundtoobeybythelawsoftheland;andifthePopehadauthorityforone,hemusthavehaditfortheother.Theonlytrueargument,asitseemstome,apartfromChristianity,foradiscriminatingtoleration is, that it is of no use to attempt to stop heresy or schism bypersecution,unless,perhaps, itbeconductedupon theplanofdirectwarfareandmassacre.Youcannot preservemen in the faith by suchmeans, thoughyoumaystifleforawhileanyopenappearanceofdissent.Theexperimenthasnowbeentried,andithasfailed;andthatisbyagreatdealthebestargumentforthemagistrateagainstarepetitionofit.

I know this,—that if a parcel of fanaticmissionarieswere to go toNorway,andweretoattempttodisturbtheferventandundoubtingLutheranismofthefine independent inhabitantsof the interiorof that country, I shouldbe rightglad to hear that the busy fools hadbeenquietly shippedoff—anywhere. Idon't include thepeople of the seaports inmypraise of theNorwegians;—Ispeak of the agricultural population. If that country could be brought tomaintainamillionmoreofinhabitants,Norwaymightdefytheworld;itwouldbeandimpregnable;butitismuchunder-handednow.

January12.1834.

ARTICLESOFFAITH.—MODERNQUAKERISM.—DEVOTIONALSPIRIT.—SECTARIANISM.—ORIGEN.

Ihavedrawnupfourorperhapsfivearticlesoffaith,bysubscription,orratherby assent, to which I think a large comprehension might take place. Myarticles would exclude Unitarians, and I am sorry to say, members of thechurch of Rome, but with this difference—that the exclusion of Unitarianswouldbenecessaryandperpetual;thatofthemembersofthechurchofRomedependingoneachindividual'sownconscienceandintellectual light.WhatImeanisthis:—thattheRomanistsholdthefaithinChrist,—butunhappilytheyalso hold certain opinions, partly ceremonial, partly devotional, partlyspeculative, which have so fatal a facility of being degraded into base,corrupting, and even idolatrous practices, that if the Romanist will

makethemoftheessenceofhisreligion,hemustofcoursebeexcluded.AstotheQuakers, Ihardlyknowwhat tosay.Anarticleon thesacramentswouldexclude them.Mydoubt is,whetherBaptismand theEucharist areproperlyanypartsofChristianity,ornotratherChristianityitself;—theone,theinitialconversion or light,—the other, the sustaining and invigorating life;—bothtogetherthe,whichareChristianity.Alinecanonlybeginonce;hence,therecan be no repetition of baptism; but a line may be endlessly prolonged bycontinuedproduction;hencethesacramentofloveandlifelastsforever.

But really there is no knowing what the modern Quakers are, or believe,excepting this—that they are altogether degenerated from their ancestors oftheseventeenthcentury.IshouldcallmodernQuakerism,sofarasIknowitasa schemeof faith, aSocinianCalvinism.Pennhimselfwas aSabellian, andseems to have disbelieved even the historical fact of the life and death ofJesus;—mostcertainlyJesusofNazarethwasnotPenn'sChrist,ifhehadany.It is amusing to see the modern Quakers appealing now to history for aconfirmation of their tenets and discipline—and by so doing, in effectabandoning the strong hold of their founders.As an imperium in imperio, Ithink the original Quakerism a conception worthy of Lycurgus. ModernQuakerismislikeoneofthosegigantictreeswhichareseenintheforestsofNorthAmerica,—apparentlyflourishing,andpreservingallitsgreateststretchand spreadof branches; butwhenyou cut through an enormously thick andgnarledbark,youfindthewholeinsidehollowandrotten.ModernQuakerism,like such a tree, stands upright by help of its inveterate bark alone.Bark aQuaker,andheisapoorcreature.

Howmuchthedevotionalspiritof thechurchhassufferedby thatnecessaryevil,theReformation,andthesectswhichhavesprungupsubsequentlytoit!Allourmodernprayersseemtongue-tied.Weappear tobe thinkingmoreofavoidinganhereticalexpressionorthoughtthanofopeningourselvestoGod.Wedonotpraywith thatentire,unsuspecting,unfearing,childlikeprofusionof feeling,whichsobeautifullyshines forth inJeremyTaylorandAndrewesandthewritingsofsomeoftheolderandbettersaintsoftheRomishchurch,particularlyofthatremarkablewoman,St.Theresa.AndcertainlyProtestants,in their anxiety to have the historical argument on their side, have broughtdowntheoriginoftheRomisherrorstoolate.Manyofthembegan,nodoubt,intheApostolicageitself;—Isayerrors—notheresies,asthatdullestofthefathers,Epiphanius, calls them.Epiphanius is very long and fierceupon theEbionites.Theremayhavebeen realhereticsunder thatname;but Ibelievethat,inthebeginning,thenamewas,onaccountofitsHebrewmeaning,givento,oradoptedby,somepoormistakenmen—perhapsoftheNazareneway—whosoldalltheirgoodsandlands,andwerethenobligedtobeg.Ithinkitnotimprobable that Barnabas was one of these chief mendicants; and that the

collectionmadebySt.Paulwasforthem.YoushouldreadRhenferd'saccountof the early heresies. I think he demonstrates about eight of Epiphanius'sheretics to be mere nicknames given by the Jews to the Christians. Read"Hermas,ortheShepherd,"ofthegenuinenessofwhichandoftheepistleofBarnabas I have no doubt. It is perfectly orthodox, but full of the mostludicroustricksofgnosticfancy—thewishtofindtheNewTestamentintheOld. This gnosis is perceptible in the Epistle to the Hebrews, but keptexquisitelywithinthelimitofpropriety.Intheothersitisrampant,andmosttruly"puffethup,"asSt.Paulsaidofit.

What between the sectarians and the political economists, the English aredenationalized. England I see as a country, but the English nation seemsobliterated.What could redintegrate us again?Must it be another threat offoreigninvasion?

InevercandigestthelossofmostofOrigen'sworks:heseemstohavebeenalmost the only very great scholar and genius combined amongst the earlyFathers.Jeromewasveryinferiortohim.

January20.1834.

SOMEMENLIKEMUSICALGLASSES.—SUBLIMEANDNONSENSE.—ATHEIST.

Somemenare likemusicalglasses;—toproduce their finest tones,youmustkeepthemwet.

Well! thatpassage iswhat Icall thesublimedashed topiecesbycutting tooclosewiththefieryfour-in-handroundthecornerofnonsense.

HowdidtheAtheistgethisideaofthatGodwhomhedenies?

February22.1834.

PROOFOFEXISTENCEOFGOD.—KANT'SATTEMPT.—PLURALITYOFWORLDS.

Assume the existence of God,—and then the harmony and fitness of thephysical creation may be shown to correspond with and support such anassumption;—buttosetaboutprovingtheexistenceofaGodbysuchmeansis

amere circle, a delusion. It can be no proof to a good reasoner, unless heviolatesallsyllogisticlogic,andpresumeshisconclusion.

Kant once set about proving the existence of God, and a masterly effort itwas.*Butinhislatergreatwork,the"CritiqueofthePureReason,"hesawitsfallacy,andsaidofit—thatiftheexistencecouldheprovedatall,itmustbeonthegroundsindicatedbyhim.

Inevercouldfeelanyforceintheargumentsforapluralityofworlds,inthecommonacceptationof that term.A ladyonceaskedme—"What thencouldbetheintentionincreatingsomanygreatbodies,soapparentlyuselesstous?"I said—I did not know, except perhaps to make dirt cheap. The vulgarinferenceisinaliogenere.WhatintheeyeofanintellectualandomnipotentBeing is thewhole sidereal system to the soulof oneman forwhomChristdied?

March1.1834.

AREASONER.

Iambythelawofmynatureareasoner.ApersonwhoshouldsupposeImeantbythatword,anarguer,wouldnotonlynotunderstandme,butwouldunderstandthecontraryofmymeaning.Icantakenointerestwhateverinhearingorsayinganythingmerelyasafact—merelyashavinghappened.ItmustrefertosomethingwithinmebeforeIcanregarditwithanycuriosityorcare.Mymind isalwaysenergic—Idon'tmeanenergetic; I require ineverythingwhat, for lackofanotherword, Imaycallpropriety,—thatis,areasonwhythethingisatall,andwhyitisthereorthenratherthanelsewhereoratanothertime.

March5.1834.

SHAKSPEARE'SINTELLECTUALACTION.—CRABBEANDSOUTHEY.—PETERSIMPLEANDTOMCRINGLE'SLOG.

Shakspeare's intellectual action is wholly unlike that of Ben Jonson orBeaumontandFletcher.Thelatterseethetotalityofasentenceorpassage,andthenprojectitentire.Shakspearegoesoncreating,andevolvingB.outofA.,andC.outofB.,andsoon,justasaserpentmoves,whichmakesafulcrumof

itsownbody,andseemsforevertwistinganduntwistingitsownstrength.

I think Crabbe and Southey are something alike; but Crabbe's poems arefounded on observation and real life—Southey's on fancy and books. Infacilitytheyareequal, thoughCrabbe'sEnglishisofcoursenotuponalevelwith Southey's, which is next door to faultless. But in Crabbe there is anabsolutedefectofthehighimagination;hegivesmelittleornopleasure:yet,nodoubt,hehasmuchpowerofacertainkind,anditisgoodtocultivate,evenatsomepains,acatholictasteinliterature.Ireadallsortsofbookswithsomepleasureexceptmodernsermonsandtreatisesonpoliticaleconomy.

I have received a great deal of pleasure from some of the modern novels,especiallyCaptainMarryat's"PeterSimple."ThatbookisnearerSmollettthanany I remember. And "Tom Cringle's Log" in Blackwood is also mostexcellent.

March15.1834.

CHAUCER.—SHAKSPEARE.—BENJONSON.—BEAUMONTANDFLETCHER.—DANIEL.—MASSINGER.

I take unceasing delight in Chaucer. His manly cheerfulness is especiallydelicious to me in my old age. How exquisitely tender he is, and yet howperfectlyfreefromtheleast touchofsicklymelancholyormorbiddrooping!The sympathy of the poet with the subjects of his poetry is particularlyremarkableinShakspeareandChaucer;butwhatthefirsteffectsbyastrongactofimaginationandmentalmetamorphosis,thelastdoeswithoutanyeffort,merelyby the inbornkindly joyousnessofhisnature.HowwellweseemtoknowChaucer!HowabsolutelynothingdoweknowofShakspeare!

I cannot in the least allowanynecessity forChaucer'spoetry, especially theCanterburyTales,beingconsideredobsolete.Letafewplainrulesbegivenforsounding the finalè of syllables, and for expressing the terminationof suchwords asocëan, andnatiön,&c. as dissyllables,—or let the syllables to besounded in such cases be marked by a competent metrist. This simpleexpedient would, with a very few trifling exceptions, where the errors areinveterate, enable any reader to feel theperfect smoothness andharmonyofChaucer'sverse.

As to understanding his language, if you read twenty pages with a goodglossary,yousurelycan findno furtherdifficulty,evenas it is;but I shouldhave no objection to see this done:—Strike out thosewordswhich are now

obsolete, and Iwill venture to say that Iwill replace every one of thembywordsstillinuseoutofChaucerhimself,orGowerhisdisciple.Idon'twantthis myself: I rather like to see the significant terms which Chaucerunsuccessfully offered as candidates for admission into our language; butsurelysoveryslightachangeofthetextmaywellbepardoned,evenbyblack—letterati,forthepurposeofrestoringsogreatapoettohisancientandmostdeservedpopularity.

Shakspeare is of no age. It is idle to endeavour to support his phrases byquotations from Ben Jonson, Beaumont and Fletcher, &c. His language isentirelyhisown,andtheyoungerdramatistsimitatedhim.TheconstructionofShakspeare's sentences, whether in verse or prose, is the necessary andhomogeneousvehicleofhispeculiarmannerofthinking.Hisisnotthestyleofthe age. More particularly, Shakspeare's blank verse is an absolutely newcreation. Read Daniel—the admirable Daniel—in his "Civil Wars," and"TriumphsofHymen."

Thestyleandlanguagearejustsuchasanyverypureandmanlywriterofthepresentday—Wordsworth,forexample—woulduse;itseemsquitemodernincomparison with the style of Shakspeare. Ben Jonson's blank verse is verymasterly and individual, and perhaps Massinger's is even still nobler. InBeaumontandFletcheritisconstantlyslippingintolyricisms.

IbelieveShakspearewasnotawhitmoreintelligibleinhisowndaythanheisnowtoaneducatedman,exceptforafewlocalallusionsofnoconsequence.As I said, he is of no age—nor, I may add, of any religion, or party, orprofession. The body and substance of his works came out of theunfathomable depths of his own oceanicmind: his observation and reading,whichwasconsiderable,suppliedhimwiththedraperyofhisfigures.

—" a phrase," said he, "which I have borrowed from a Greek monk, whoapplies it to a patriarch of Constantinople. I might have said, that Ihavereclaimed,ratherthanborrowed,it,foritseemstobelongtoShakspeare_dejuresingulari,etexprivilegionaturae."SeeBiog.Lit.,vol.ii.p.13.—

AsforeditingBeaumontandFletcher,thetaskwouldbeoneimmensilaboris.Theconfusionisnowsogreat,theerrorssoenormous,thattheeditormustuseaboldnessquiteunallowableinanyothercase.AllIcansayastoBeaumontandFletcher is, that I canpoint outwell enoughwhere somethinghas beenlost,andthatsomethingsoandsowasprobablyintheoriginal;butthelawofShakspeare's thought and verse is such, that I feel convinced that not onlycouldIdetectthespurious,butsupplythegenuine,word.

March20.1834.

LORDBYRONANDH.WALPOLE'S"MYSTERIOUSMOTHER."—LEWIS'S"JAMAICAJOURNAL."

Lord Byron, as quoted by Lord Dover, says, that the "MysteriousMother"raisesHoraceWalpole above every author living in his,LordByron's, time.Uponwhich Iventure to remark, first, that Idonotbelieve thatLordByronspoke sincerely; for I suspect that he made a tacit exception in favour ofhimselfat least;—secondly, that it isamiserablemodeofcomparisonwhichdoes not rest on difference of kind. It proceeds of envy and malice anddetraction to say thatA. ishigher thanB., unlessyou show that they are inparimateria;—thirdly, that the "MysteriousMother" is themost disgusting,vile, detestable composition that ever came from the hand of man. No onewithasparkoftruemanliness,ofwhichHoraceWalpolehadnone,couldhavewritten it. As to the blank verse, it is indeed better than Rowe's andThomson's, which was execrably bad:—any approach, therefore, to themannerof theolddramatistswasofcoursean improvement;but the loosestlinesinShirleyaresuperiortoWalpole'sbest.

Lewis's"JamaicaJournal"isdelightful;it isalmosttheonlyunaffectedbookoftravelsortouringIhavereadoflateyears.Youhavethemanhimself,andnot an inconsiderable man,—certainly a much finer mind than I supposedbefore from theperusalofhis romances,&c. It isby farhisbestwork, andwillliveandbepopular.ThoseversesontheHoursareverypretty;buttheIsleofDevils is, likehis romances,—a feverdream—horrible,without point orterror.

April16.1834.

SICILY.—MALTA—SIRALEXANDERBALL.

IfoundthateverythinginandaboutSicilyhadbeenexaggeratedbytravellers,except two things—the follyof thegovernmentand thewretchednessof thepeople.Theydidnotadmitofexaggeration.

Really youmay learn the fundamental principles of political economy in avery compendious way, by taking a short tour through Sicily, and simplyreversinginyourownmindeverylaw,custom,andordinanceyoumeetwith.Inever was in a country in which every thing proceeding fromman was soexactlywrong.Youhaveperemptoryordinancesagainstmakingroads, taxes

onthepassageofcommonvegetablesfromonemiserablevillagetoanother,andsoon.

Bytheby,doyouknowanyparallelinmodernhistorytotheabsurdityofourgiving a legislative assembly to the Sicilians? It exceeds any thing I know.Thispreciouslegislaturepassedtwobillsbeforeitwasknockedonthehead:the firstwas, to render lands inalienable; and the second, tocancelalldebtsduebeforethedateofthebill.

AndthenconsiderthegrossignoranceandfollyofourlayingataxupontheSicilians! Taxation in its proper sense can only exist where there is a freecirculationofcapital,labour,andcommoditiesthroughoutthecommunity.ButtotaxthepeopleincountrieslikeSicilyandCorsica,wherethereisnointernalcommunication, is mere robbery and confiscation. A crown taken from aCorsicanlivinginthesierraswouldnotgetbacktohimagainintenyears.

ItisinterestingtopassfromMaltatoSicily—fromthehighestspecimenofaninferiorrace,theSaracenic,tothemostdegradedclassofasuperiorrace,theEuropean.

No tonguecandescribe themoralcorruptionof theMaltesewhen the islandwas surrendered to us. There was not a family in it in which a wife or adaughterwasnotakeptmistress.AmarquisofancientfamilyappliedtoSirAlexanderBalltobeappointedhisvalet."Myvalet!"saidBall,"whatcanyoumean,Sir?"Themarquissaid,hehopedheshouldthenhavehadthehonourofpresentingpetitionstohisExcellency."Oh,thatisit,isit!"saidSirAlexander:"my valet, Sir, brushes my clothes, and brings them to me. If he dared tomeddlewithmattersofpublicbusiness,Ishouldkickhimdownstairs."

Inshort,MaltawasanAugeanstable,andBallhadalltheinclinationtobeaHercules.His taskwasmost difficult, although his qualificationsweremostremarkable.IrememberanEnglishofficerofveryhighranksolicitinghimfortherenewalofapension toanabandonedwomanwhohadbeennotoriouslytreacheroustous.Thatofficerhadpromisedthewomanasamatterofcourse—shehavingsacrificedherdaughtertohim.Ballwasdetermined,asfarashecould, to prevent Malta from being made a nest of home patronage. Heconsidered,aswasthefact,thattherewasacontractbetweenEnglandandtheMaltese.Hencethegovernmentathome,especiallyDundas,dislikedhim,andneverallowedhimanyothertitlethanthatofCivilCommissioner.Wehave,Ibelieve,nearly succeeded inalienating theheartsof the inhabitants fromus.EveryofficerintheislandoughttobeaMaltese,exceptthosebelongingtotheimmediateexecutive:100_l_.perannumtoaMaltese,toenablehimtokeepagiltcarriage,willsatisfyhimwhereanEnglishmanmusthave2000_l_.

May1.1834.

CAMBRIDGEPETITIONTOADMITDISSENTERS.

Thereare,tomygrief,thenamesofsomementotheCambridgepetitionforadmissionoftheDissenterstotheUniversity,whosecheeksIthinkmusthaveburnedwith shameat thedegradingpatronageandbefoulingeulogiesof thedemocraticpress,andatseeingthemselvesusedasthetoolsof theopenandrancorousenemiesofthechurch.Howmiserabletobeheldupforthepurposeofinflictinginsultuponmen,whoseworthandabilityandsincerityyouwellknow,—andthisbyafactionbandedtogetherlikeobscenedogsandcatsandserpents,againstachurchwhichyouprofoundlyrevere!Thetime—thetime—theoccasionandthemotiveoughttohavebeenargumentenough,thatevenifthemeasurewererightorharmlessinitself,notnow,norwithsuchasthese,wasittobeeffected!

May3.1834.

CORNLAWS.

Thosewho argue thatEnglandmay safely dependupon a supply of foreigncorn,ifitgrownoneoraninsufficientquantityofitsown,forgetthattheyaresubjugating the necessaries of life itself to themere luxuries or comforts ofsociety.Isitnotcertainthatthepriceofcornabroadwillberaiseduponusassoonasitisonceknownthatwemustbuy?—andwhenthatfactisknown,inwhatsortofasituationshallwebe?Besidesthis,theargumentsupposesthatagriculture is not a positive good to the nation, taken in and by itself, as amodeofexistence for thepeople,which supposition is falseandpernicious;and ifwe are to becomea great hordeofmanufacturers, shallwenot, evenmore than at present, excite the ill will of all the manufacturers of othernations?Ithasbeenalreadyshown,inevidencewhichisbeforealltheworld,that some of our manufacturers have acted upon the accursed principle ofdeliberately injuring foreignmanufactures, if they can, even to the ultimatedisgraceofthecountryandlosstothemselves.

May19.1834.

CHRISTIANSABBATH.

HowgrosslymisunderstoodthegenuinecharacteroftheChristiansabbath,orLord'sday, seems tobeevenby thechurch!Toconfound itwith theJewishsabbath, or to rest its observance upon the fourth commandment, is, inmyjudgment, heretical, and would so have been considered in the primitivechurch. That cessation from labour on the Lord's day could not have beenabsolutelyincumbentonChristiansfortwocenturiesafterChrist,isapparent;becauseduringthatperiodthegreaterpartoftheChristianswereeitherslavesor in official situations under Paganmasters or superiors, and had duties toperformforthosewhodidnotrecognizetheday.AndweknowthatSt.PaulsentbackOnesimustohismaster,andtoldeveryChristianslave,that,beingaChristian, he was free in his mind indeed, but still must serve his earthlymaster,althoughhemightlaudablyseekforhispersonalfreedomalso.IftheearlyChristianshadrefusedtoworkontheLord'sday,rebellionandcivilwarmust have been the immediate consequences. But there is no notice of anysuchcessation.

TheJewishsabbathwascommemorativeoftheterminationofthegreatactofcreation; itwas to record that theworldhadnotbeen frometernity,norhadarisen as a dream by itself, but that God had created it by distinct acts ofpower, and that he had hallowed the day or season in which he rested ordesistedfromhiswork.WhenourLordarosefromthedead,theoldcreationwas,asitwere,superseded,andthenewcreationthenbegan;andthereforethefirstdayandnotthelastday,thecommencementandnottheend,oftheworkofGodwassolemnized.

Luther,inspeakingofthegoodbyitself,andthegoodforitsexpediencyalone,instancestheobservanceoftheChristiandayofrest,—adayofreposefrommanual labour, and of activity in spiritual labour,—a day of joy and co-operation in theworkofChrist's creation. "Keep itholy"—sayshe—"for itsuse'sake,—bothtobodyandsoul!Butifanywherethedayismadeholyforthe mere day's sake,—if any where any one sets up its observance upon aJewishfoundation,thenIorderyoutoworkonit,torideonit,todanceonit,to feast on it—to do any thing that shall reprove this encroachment on theChristianspiritandliberty."

The early church distinguished the day of Christian rest so strongly from afast,thatitwasunlawfulforamantobewailevenhisownsins,assuchonly,onthatday.Hewastobewailthesinsofall,andtoprayasoneofthewholeofChrist'sbody.

AndtheEnglishReformersevidentlytookthesameviewofthedayasLutherand theearlychurch.But,unhappily,ourchurch, in the reignsofJamesand

Charles theFirst,wassoidentifiedwiththeundueadvancementof theroyalprerogative, that the puritanical Judaizing of the Presbyterians was but toowellsecondedbythepatriotsofthenation,inresistingthewiseeffortsofthechurch to prevent the incipient alteration in the character of the dayof rest.AftertheRestoration,thebishopsandclergyingeneraladoptedtheviewtakenandenforcedbytheirenemies.

By the by, it is curious to observe, in this semi-infidel and MalthusianParliament,howtheSabbatarianspiritunites itselfwitharancoroushostilityto thatone institution,whichalone,according to reasonandexperience,caninsure the continuance of any general religion at all in the nation at large.Someofthesegentlemen,whoarefornotlettingapoorlabouringmanhaveadish of baked potatoes on a Sunday,religionis gratia—(God forgive thataudacious blasphemy!)—are foremost among thosewho seem to live but invilifying, weakening, and impoverishing the national church. I own myindignationboilsoveragainstsuchcontemptiblefellows.

I sincerely wish to preserve a decent quiet on Sunday. I would prohibitcompulsorylabour,andputdownoperas,theatres,&c.,forthisplainreason—thatiftherichbeallowedtoplay,thepoorwillbeforced,or,whatcomestothesamething,willbeinduced,towork.IamnotforaParisSunday.Buttostopcoaches,andletthegentleman'scarriagerun,ismonstrous.

May25.1834.

HIGHPRIZESANDREVENUESOFTHECHURCH.

Your argument against the high prizes in the church might be put stronglythus:—Admit that in thebeginning itmighthavebeen fairly said, that someeminent rewards ought to be set apart for the purpose of stimulating andrewarding transcendantmerit; what have you to say now, after centuries ofexperience to thecontrary?—Have thehighprizesbeengiven to thehighestgenius,virtue,orlearning?Isitnotratherthetruth,asJortinsaid,thattwelvevotes in a contested electionwill domore tomake aman a bishop than anadmired commentary on the twelveminor prophets?—To allwhich and thelikeIsayagain, thatyououghtnot to reasonfromtheabuse,whichmayberectified,againsttheinherentusesofthething.Appointthemostdeserving—andtheprizewillansweritspurpose.Astothebishops'incomes,—inthefirstplace, the net receipts—that which the bishops may spend—have beenconfessedlyexaggeratedbeyondmeasure;but,waivingthat,andallowingthehighest estimate to be correct, I should like to have the disposition of the

episcopal revenue in any one year by the late or the present Bishop ofDurham,orthepresentBishopsofLondonorWinchester,comparedwiththatofthemostbenevolentnoblemaninEnglandofanypartyinpolitics.Ifirmlybelieve that the former give away in charity of one kind or another, public,official,orprivate, three timesasmuch inproportionas the latter.Youmayhaveahunksortwonowandthen;butsoyouwouldmuchmorecertainly,ifyou were to reduce the incomes to 2000_l_. per annum. As a body, inmyopinion the clergy of England do in truth act as if their property wereimpressedwithatrusttotheutmostextentthatcanbedemandedbythosewhoaffect to believe, ignorantly or not, that lying legend of a tripartite orquadripartitedivisionofthetithebylaw.

May31.1834.

SIRC.WETHERELL'SSPEECH.—NATIONALCHURCH.—DISSENTERS.—PAPACY.——UNIVERSITIES.

IthinkSirCharlesWetherell'sspeechbeforethePrivyCouncilveryeffective.IdoubtifanyotherlawyerinWestminsterHallcouldhavedonethethingsowell.

TheNationalChurchrequires,andisrequiredby,theChristianChurch,fortheperfection of each. For if therewere no nationalChurch, themere spiritualChurchwouldeitherbecome, like thePapacy, adreadful tyrannyovermindandbody;—orelsewouldfallabroadintoamultitudeofenthusiasticsects,asin England in the seventeenth century. It is my deep conviction that, in acountryofanyreligionatall, libertyofconsciencecanonlybepermanentlypreserved bymeans and under the shadowof a national church—apoliticalestablishmentconnectedwith,butdistinctfrom,thespiritualChurch.

IsometimeshopethattheundisguiseddespotismoftemperoftheDissentersmayatlastawakenajealousyinthelaityoftheChurchofEngland.Buttheapathyandinertnessare,Ifear,tooprofound—tooprovidential.

Whatever the Papacy may have been on the Continent, it was always anunqualified evil to this country. It destroyed what was rising of good, andintroducedathousandevilsofitsown.ThePapacywasandstillisessentiallyextra-national;—itaffects,temporally,todothatwhichthespiritualChurchofChristcanalonedo—tobreakdownthenaturaldistinctionsofnations.Now,as theRomanPapacy is in itself localandpeculiar,ofcourse thisattempt isnothingbutadirectattackonthepoliticalindependenceofothernations.

TheinstitutionofUniversitieswasthesinglecheckonthePapacy.ThePopealwayshatedandmalignedtheUniversities.Theoldcoenobiticestablishmentsof England were converted—perverted, rather—into monasteries and othermonking receptacles. You see it was at Oxford that Wicliffe alone foundprotectionandencouragement.

June2.1834.

SCHILLER'SVERSIFICATION.—GERMANBLANKVERSE.

Schiller's blank verse is bad. He moves in it as a fly in a glue bottle. Histhoughts have their connection and variety, it is true, but there is nosufficiently corresponding movement in the verse. How different fromShakspeare'sendlessrhythms!

Thereisanimiety—atoo-muchness—inallGermans.Itisthenationalfault.Leasing had the best notion of blank verse. The trochaic termination ofGermanwordsrendersblankverseinthatlanguagealmostimpracticable.Wehave it in our dramatic hendecasyllable; but then we have a power ofinterweavingtheiambiccloseadlibitum.

June14.1834.

ROMANCATHOLICEMANCIPATION.—DUKEOFWELLINGTON.—CORONATIONOATH.

TheRomanCatholicEmancipationAct—carried in theviolent, and, in fact,unprincipledmanneritwas—wasineffectaSurinamtoad;—andtheReformBill, the Dissenters' admission to the Universities, and the attack on theChurch, are somany toadlets, one after another detaching themselves fromtheirparentbrute.

IfyousaythereisnothingintheRomishreligion,sincerelyfelt,inconsistentwith the duties of citizenship and allegiance to a territorial Protestantsovereign,caditquæstio.Forifthatisonceadmitted,therecanbenoanswerto the argument from numbers. Certainly, if the religion of the majority ofthepeople be innocuous to the interests of the nation, the majority have anaturalrighttobetrusteesofthenationalty—thatpropertywhichissetapartforthenation'suse,andrescuedfromthegripeofprivatehands.ButwhenI

say—for the nation's use.—I mean the very reverse of what the Radicalsmean. They would convert it to relieve taxation, which I call a private,personal,andperishableuse.Anation'susesareimmortal.

How lamentable it is to hear the Duke of Wellington expressing himselfdoubtingly on the abominable sophism that theCoronationOath only bindstheKingastheexecutivepower—therebymakingaHighgateoathofit.ButtheDukeisconsciousofthereadyretortwhichhislanguageandconductontheEmancipationBillaffordtohisopponents.Heishamperedbythataffair.

June20.1834.

CORNLAWS.—MODERNPOLITICALECONOMY.

IntheargumentontheCornLawsthereisa.Itmaybeadmittedthatthegreatprinciplesofcommercerequiretheinterchangeofcommoditiestobefree;butcommerce, which is barter, has no proper range beyond luxuries orconveniences;—it is properly the complement to the full existence anddevelopmentofastate.Buthowcanitbeshownthattheprinciplesapplicabletoaninterchangeofconveniencesorluxuriesapplyalsotoaninterchangeofnecessaries? No state can be such properly, which is not self-subsistent atleast; for no state that is not so, is essentially independent. The nation thatcannot even existwithout the commodity of another nation, is in effect theslave of that other nation. In common times, indeed, pecuniary interestwillprevail, and prevent a ruinous exercise of the power which the nationsupplying the necessary must have over the nation which has only theconvenience or luxury to return; but such interest, both in individuals andnations,willyieldtomanystrongerpassions.IsHollandanyauthoritytothecontrary?Ifso,TyreandSidonandCarthagewereso!WouldyouputEnglandonafootingwithacountry,whichcanbeoverruninacampaign,andstarvedinayear?

The entire tendency of the modern or Malthusian political economy is todenationalize. It would dig up the charcoal foundations of the temple ofEphesustoburnasfuelforasteam-engine!

June21.1834.

Mr.——,inhispoem,makestreescoevalwithChaos;—whichisnextdoortoHansSachsewho, indescribingChaos,said itwassopitchydark, thateventheverycatsranagainsteachother!

June23.1834.

SOCINIANISM.—UNITARIANISM.—FANCYANDIMAGINATION.

FaustusSocinusworshippedJesusChrist,andsaidthatGodhadgivenhimthepowerofbeingomnipresent.Davidi,witha littlemoreacuteness,urged thatmereauditionorcreaturelypresencecouldnotpossibly justifyworshipfrommen;—thataman,howglorified soever,wasnonearerGod inessence thanthevulgarestoftherace.Prayer, therefore,wasinapplicable.Andhowcouldaman be a mediator between God and man? How could aman with sinshimself offer any compensation for, or expiation of, sin, unless the mostarbitrary capricewere admitted into the counsels ofGod?—And so, at last,yousee,itwasdiscoveredbythebetterlogiciansamongsttheSocinians,thattherewasnosuchthingassinatall.

ItiswonderfulhowanySociniancanreadtheworksofPhiloJudæuswithoutsome pause of doubt in the truth of his views as to the person of Christ.Whether Philo wrote on his own ground as a Jew, or borrowed from theChristians, the testimony as to the then Jewish expectation and belief, isequallystrong.YouknowPhilocallstheLogos,theSonofGod,and,belovedSon.Hecallshim,highpriest,,seconddivinity,,imageofGod,anddescribeshimas,thenearestpossibletoGodwithoutanyinterveningseparation.Andtherearenumerousotherremarkableexpressionsofthesamesort.

Myfaithisthis:—GodistheAbsoluteWill:itishisNameandthemeaningofit. It is the Hypostasis. As begetting his own Alterity, the Jehovah, theManifested—He is the Father; but the Love and the Life—the Spirit—proceedsfromboth.

IthinkPriestleymustbeconsideredtheauthorofthemodernUnitarianism.Iowe,underGod,myreturntothefaith,tomyhavinggonemuchfurtherthantheUnitarians,andsohavingcomeroundtotheotherside.Icantrulysay,IneverfalsifiedtheScripture.IalwaystoldthemthattheirinterpretationsoftheScripturewereintolerableuponanyprinciplesofsoundcriticism;andthat,iftheyweretooffertoconstruethewillofaneighbourastheydidthatoftheirMaker, theywouldbescoutedoutofsociety. I said thenplainlyandopenly,that itwas clear enough that John andPaulwerenotUnitarians.But at thattime I had a strong sense of the repugnancy of the doctrine of vicariousatonement to the moral being, and I thought nothing could counterbalancethat."WhatcareI,"Isaid,"forthePlatonismsofJohn,ortheRabbinismsofPaul?—Myconsciencerevolts!"ThatwasthegroundofmyUnitarianism.

AlwaysbelievinginthegovernmentofGod,IwasaferventOptimist.ButasI

could not but see that the present state of things was not the best, I wasnecessarilyledtolookforwardtosomefuturestate.

You may conceive the difference in kind between the Fancy and theImaginationinthisway,—thatifthecheckofthesensesandthereasonwerewithdrawn,thefirstwouldbecomedelirium,andthelastmania.The

Fancybringstogetherimageswhichhavenoconnectionnaturalormoral,butareyokedtogetherbythepoetbymeansofsomeaccidentalcoincidence;asinthewell-knownpassageinHudibras:

"ThesunhadlongsinceinthelapOfThetistakenouthisnap,Andlikealobsterboyl'd,themornFromblacktoredbegantoturn."

TheImaginationmodifiesimages,andgivesunitytovariety;itseesallthingsinone,ilpiùnell'uno.Thereistheepicimagination,theperfectionofwhichisinMilton;andthedramatic,ofwhichShakspeareistheabsolutemaster.Thefirstgivesunityby throwingback into thedistance;asafter themagnificentapproachoftheMessiahtobattle,thepoet,byonetouchfromhimself—

—"farofftheircomingshone!"—

makesthewholeoneimage.

Andsoattheconclusionofthedescriptionoftheappearanceoftheentrancedangels, inwhichevery sortof image fromall the regionsofearthandair isintroducedtodiversifyandillustrate,—thereaderisbroughtbacktothesingleimageby—

"Hecall'dsoloud,thatallthehollowdeepOfHellresounded."

Thedramaticimaginationdoesnotthrowback,butbringsclose;itstampsallnaturewithone,andthatitsown,meaning,asinLearthroughout.

At the very outset, what are we to think of the soundness of this modernsystemofpoliticaleconomy,thedirect tendencyofeveryruleofwhichis todenationalize,andtomaketheloveofourcountryafoolishsuperstition?

June28.1834.

MR.COLERIDGE'SSYSTEM.—BIOGRAPHIALITERAHIA.—DISSENTERS.

You may not understand my system, or any given part of it,—or by adeterminedactofwilfulness,youmay,eventhoughperceivingarayoflight,rejectitinangeranddisgust:—butthisIwillsay,—thatifyouoncemasterit,oranypartofit,youcannothesitatetoacknowledgeitasthetruth.Youcannotbescepticalaboutit.

Themetaphysicaldisquisitionattheendofthefirstvolumeofthe"BiographiaLiteraria"isunformedandimmature;—itcontainsthefragmentsofthetruth,butitisnotfullythoughtout.Itiswonderfultomyselftothinkhowinfinitelymoreprofoundmyviewsnoware,andyethowmuchclearertheyarewithal.Thecircleiscompleting;theideaiscomingroundto,andtobe,thecommonsense.

ThegenerationofthemodernworldlyDissenterwasthus:Presbyterian,Arian,Socinian,andlast,Unitarian.

Is it not most extraordinary to see the Dissenters calling themselves thedescendantsof theoldNonconformists, andyet clamouring for adivorceofChurch and State? Why—Baxter, and the other great leaders, would havethoughtamananatheistwhohadproposedsuchathing.Theywereratherformerging theState in theChurch.But these ourmodern gentlemen,who areblindedbypoliticalpassion,give thekissof alliance to theharlot ofRome,andwalkarminarmwiththosewhodenytheGodthatredeemedthem,ifsotheymaybutwreak their insaneantipathieson theNationalChurch!Well! Isupposetheyhavecountedthecost,andknowwhatitistheywouldhave,andcankeep.

July5.1834.

LORDBROOKE.—BARROWANDDRYDEN.—PETERWILKINSANDSTOTHARD.—FIELDINGANDRICHARDSON.—BISHOP

SANDFORD.—ROMANCATHOLICRELIGION.

I do not remember a more beautiful piece of prose in English than theconsolationaddressedbyLordBrooke(FulkeGreville)toaladyofqualityoncertainconjugalinfelicities.Thedictionissuchthatitmighthavebeenwrittennow,ifwecouldfindanyonecombiningsothoughtfulaheadwithsotenderaheartandsoexquisiteataste.

Barrow often debased his language merely to evidence his loyalty. It was,indeed, no easy task for a man of so much genius, and such a precisemathematical mode of thinking, to adopt even for a moment the slang of

L'EstrangeandTomBrown;buthesucceededindoingsosometimes.Withtheexceptionofsuchparts,BarrowmustbeconsideredasclosingthefirstgreatperiodoftheEnglishlanguage.Drydenbeganthesecond.Ofcoursetherearenumeroussubdivisions.

PeterWilkinsistomymindaworkofuncommonbeauty;andyetStothard'sillustrationshaveaddedbeautiestoit.Ifitwerenotforacertaintendencytoaffectation,scarcelyanypraisecouldbetoohighforStothard'sdesigns.Theygive me great pleasure. I believe that Robinson Crusoe and Peter Wilkinscould only have been written by islanders. No continentalist could haveconceivedeithertale.Davis'sstoryisanimitationofPeterWilkins;buttherearemanybeautifulthingsinit;especiallyhisfindinghiswifecrouchingbythefireside—shehaving, inhisabsence,pluckedoutallherfeathers—tobe likehim!

Itwouldrequireaverypeculiargeniustoaddanothertale,ejusdemgeneris,toRobinson Crusoe and PeterWilkins. I once projected such a thing; but thedifficulty of a pre-occupied ground stopped me. Perhaps LaMotte Fouquémight effect something; but I should fear that neither he, nor any otherGerman, could entirely understand what may be called the "desert island"feeling. I would try the marvellous line of PeterWilkins, if I attempted it,ratherthantherealfictionofRobinsonCrusoe.

What a master of composition Fielding was! Upon my word, I think theOedipusTyrannus,theAlchemist,andTomJonesthethreemostperfectplotsever planned. And how charming, how wholesome, Fielding always is! Totake him up afterRichardson, is like emerging from a sick room heated bystoves,intoanopenlawn,onabreezydayinMay.

I have been very deeply interested in the account ofBishopSandford's life,publishedbyhisson.HeseemstohavebeenathoroughgentlemanuponthemodelofSt.Paul,whosemannerswerethefinestofanyman'suponrecord.

I think I could have conformed to the then dominant Church before theReformation.Theerrorsexisted,buttheyhadnotbeenrivetedintoperemptoryarticlesoffaithbeforetheCouncilofTrent.IfaRomanistweretoaskmethequestionputtoSirHenryWotton,Ishouldcontentmyselfbyanswering,thatIcouldnotexactlysaywhenmyreligion,ashewaspleasedtocallit,began—butthatitwascertainlysomesixtyorseventyyearsbeforehis,atallevents—whichbeganattheCouncilofTrent.

July10.1834.

EUTHANASIA.

Iam,dying,butwithoutexpectationofaspeedyrelease.Isitnotstrangethatvery recently by-gone images, and scenes of early life, have stolen intomymind, likebreezesblown from the spice-islandsofYouthandHope—thosetwinrealitiesofthisphantomworld!IdonotaddLove,—forwhatisLovebutYouthandHopeembracing,andsoseenasone?Isayrealities;forrealityisathingofdegrees,fromtheIliadtoadream;.Yet,inastrictsense,realityisnotpredicableatallofaughtbelowHeaven."Esenimincoelis,Paternoster,quitu vere es!"Hookerwished to live to finish his Ecclesiastical Polity;—so Iown I wish life and strength had been spared to me to complete myPhilosophy.For,asGodhearsme,theoriginating,continuing,andsustainingwishanddesigninmyheartweretoexaltthegloryofhisname;and,whichisthe same thing in other words, to promote the improvement of mankind.ButvisumaliterDeo,andhiswillbedone.

**Thisnotemaywell finish thepresent specimens.What followedwas forthememoryofprivatefriendsonly.Mr.Coleridgewasthenextremelyill;butcertainlydidnotbelievehisendtobequitesonearathandasitwas.—

The following Recollections of Mr. Coleridge, written in May, 1811, havebeenalsocommunicatedtomebymybrother,Mr.JusticeColeridge:—

"20_thApril_,1811,atRichmond.

"We got on politics, and he related some curious facts of the Prince andPerceval.Then,advertingtothepresentstateofaffairsinPortugal,hesaidthatherejoicednotsomuchin themerefavourable turn,as in theend thatmustnow be put to the base reign of opinion respecting the superiority andinvincible skill of the French generals. Brave as Sir John Moore was, hethought him deficient in that greater and more essential manliness of soulwhichshouldhavemadehimnotholdhisenemyinsuchfearfulrespect,andwhich should have taught him to care less for the opinion of the world athome.

"Wethengot,Iknownothow,toGermantopics.Hesaidthatthelanguageoftheirliteraturewasentirelyfactitious,andhadbeenformedbyLutherfromthetwodialects,HighandLowGerman;thathehadmadeit,grammatically,mostcorrect,moreso,perhaps,thananyotherlanguage;itwasequaltotheGreek,exceptinharmonyandsweetness.AndyettheGermansthemselvesthoughtitsweet;—Klopstock had repeated to him an ode of his own to prove it, andreallyhaddeceivedhimself,bytheforceofassociation,intoabeliefthattheharsh sounds, conveying, indeed, or being significant of, sweet images orthoughts, were themselves sweet. Mr. C. was asked what he thought of

Klopstock.Heanswered,thathisfamewasrapidlydeclininginGermany;thatan Englishman might form a correct notion of him by uniting the moralepigram of Young, the bombast of Hervey, and the minute description ofRichardson.Astosublimity,hehad,withallGermans,oneruleforproducingit;—it was, to take something very great, and make it very small incomparisonwiththatwhichyouwishtoelevate.Thus,forexample,Klopstocksays,—'Asthegardenergoesforth,andscattersfromhisbasketseedintothegarden;sodoestheCreatorscatterworldswithhisrighthand.'Hereworlds,alarge object, are made small in the hands of the Creator; consequently, theCreatorisverygreat.Inshort,theGermanswerenotapoeticalnationintheveryhighestsense.Wielandwastheirbestpoet:hissubjectwasbad,andhisthoughts often impure; but his language was rich and harmonious, and hisfancyluxuriant.Sotheby's translationhadnotatallcaughtthemanneroftheoriginal. But the Germans were good metaphysicians and critics: theycriticised on principles previously laid down; thus, though they might bewrong, they were in no danger of being self-contradictory, which was toooftenthecasewithEnglishcritics.

"Young,hesaid,wasnotapoettobereadthroughatonce.Hisloveofpointandwithadoftenputanendtohispathosandsublimity;buttherewerepartsinhimwhichmustbeimmortal.He(Mr.C.) lovedtoreadapageofYoung,andwalkouttothinkofhim.

"ReturningtotheGermans,hesaidthatthestateoftheirreligion,whenhewasin Germany, was really shocking. He had never met one clergyman aChristian; and he found professors in the universities lecturing against themost material points in the Gospel. He instanced, I think, Paulus, whoselectureshehadattended.Theobjectwas to resolve themiracles intonaturaloperations;andsuchadispositionevincedwasthebestroadtopreferment.Heseverely censuredMr.Taylor'sbook, inwhich theprinciplesofPauluswereexplained and insisted onwithmuch gratuitous indelicacy. He then enteredintothequestionofSocinianism,andnoticed,asIrecollect,thepassageintheOldTestament; 'Thepeoplebowed their faces, andworshippedGodand theking.'Hesaid,thatallworshipimpliedthepresenceoftheobjectworshipped:thepeopleworshipped,bowing to thesensuouspresenceof theone,and theconceived omnipresence of the other. He talked of his having constantly todefend the Church against the Socinian Bishop of Llandaff, Watson. Thesubject then varied to RomanCatholicism, and he gave us an account of acontroversyhehadhadwithaverysensiblepriestinSicilyontheworshipofsaints.Hehaddriventhepriestfromoneposttoanother,tillthelattertookuptheground,thatthoughthesaintswerenotomnipresent,yetGod,whowasso,impartedtothemtheprayersofferedup,andthentheyusedtheirinterferencewith Him to grant them. 'That is, father, (said C. in reply)—excuse my

seeminglevity,forImeannoimpiety—thatis;Ihaveadeafanddumbwife,whoyetunderstandsme,andIher,bysigns.Youhaveafavourtoaskofme,andwantmywife'sinterference;soyoucommunicateyourrequesttome,whoimpartit toher,andshe,bysignsbackagain,begsmetograntit.'Thegoodpriestlaughed,andsaid,'Populusmiltdecipi,etdecipiatur!'

"WethengotupontheOxfordcontroversy,andhewasdecidedlyofopinionthat therecouldbenodoubtofCopleston'scompletevictory.HethoughttheReviewhadchosenitspointsofattackill,astheremustdoubtlessbeineveryinstitutionsooldmuchtoreprehendandcarpat.Ontheotherhand,hethoughtthatCopleston had not been so severe or hard upon them as hemight havebeen; but he admired the critical part of his work, which he thought veryhighlyvaluable,independentlyofthecontroversy.Hewishedsomeportionofmathematics was more essential to a degree at Oxford, as he thought agentleman's education incomplete without it, and had himself found thenecessityofgettingupalittle,whenhecouldillsparethetime.HeeverydaymoreandmorelamentedhisneglectofthemwhenatCambridge,

"ThenglancingofftoAristotle,hegaveaveryhighcharacterofhim.HesaidthatBaconobjectedtoAristotlethegrossnessofhisexamples,andDavynowdid precisely the same to Bacon: both were wrong; for each of thosephilosophers wished to confine the attention of the mind in their works tothe form of reasoning only, by which other truths might be established orelicited,andthereforethemosttriteandcommon-placeexampleswereinfactthebest.Hesaidthatduringalongconfinementtohisroom,hehadtakenupthe Schoolmen, and was astonished at the immense learning and acuteknowledgedisplayedbythem;thattherewasscarcelyanythingwhichmodernphilosophershadproudlybrought forwardas theirown,whichmightnotbefoundclearlyandsystematicallylaiddownbytheminsomeorotheroftheirwritings. Locke had sneered at the Schoolmen unfairly, and had raised afoolishlaughagainstthembycitationsfromtheirQuidlibetquestions,whichwerediscussedontheeyesofholydays,andinwhichthegreatestlatitudewasallowed, being considered mere exercises of ingenuity. We had ridiculedtheir quiddities, and why? Had we not borrowed their quantity andtheirquality,andwhythenrejecttheirquiddity,wheneveryschoolboyinlogicmust know, that of every thing may be asked, Quantum est? Qualeest?andQuidest?thelastbringingyoutothemostmaterialofallpoints,itsindividual being. He afterwards stated, that in a History of SpeculativePhilosophy which he was endeavouring to prepare for publication, he hadproved,andtothesatisfactionofSirJamesMackintosh,thattherewasnothinginLockewhichhisbestadmirersmostadmired,thatmightnotbefoundmoreclearly and better laid down inDescartes or the oldSchoolmen; not that hewashimselfanimplicitdiscipleofDescartes,thoughhethoughtthatDescartes

hadbeenmuchmisinterpreted.

"WhenwegotonthesubjectofpoetryandSouthey,hegaveusacritiqueofthe Curse of Kehama, the fault of which he thought consisted in theassociationofaplotandamachinerysoverywildwithfeelingssosoberandtender:buthegavethepoemhighcommendation,admiredtheartdisplayedinthe employment of the Hindu monstrosities, and begged us to observe thenoblefeelingexcitedofthesuperiorityofvirtueovervice;thatKehamawenton, from the beginning to the end of the poem, increasing in power,whilstKailyalgraduallylostherhopesandherprotectors;andyetbythetimewegotto theend,wehadarrivedatanuttercontemptandevencarelessnessof thepower of evil, as exemplified in the almighty Rajah, and felt a completeconfidence in the safety of the unprotected virtue of the maiden. This hethoughttheverygreatmeritofthepoem.

"When we walked home with him to the inn, he got on the subject of theEnglishEssayfor theyearatOxford,and thoughtsomeconsiderationof thecorruptionoflanguageshouldheintroducedintoit.

Itoriginated,he thought, inadesire toabbreviateall expressionasmuchaspossible;andnodoubt,ifinoneword,withoutviolatingidiom,Icanexpresswhatothershavedone inmore, andyetbe as fully andeasilyunderstood, Ihavemanifestlymadeanimprovement;but if,ontheotherhand, itbecomesharder, and takes more time to comprehend a thought or image put in oneword byApuleius thanwhen expressed in awhole sentence by Cicero, thesavingismerelyofpenandink,andthealterationisevidentlyacorruption."

"April21.—Richmond._

"BeforebreakfastwewentintoMr.May'sdelightfulbook-room,wherehewasagain silent in admiration of the prospect. After breakfast, we walked tochurch. He seemed full of calm piety, and said he always felt the mostdelightful sensations in aSundaychurch-yard,—that it struckhimas ifGodhad given toman fifty-two springs in every year.After the service, hewasvehement against the sermon, as common-place, and invidious in its tonetowardsthepoor.Thenhegavemanytextsfromthelessonsandgospeloftheday, as affording fit subjects for discourses. He ridiculed the absurdity ofrefusingtobelieveeverythingthatyoucouldnotunderstand;andmentionedarebuke of Dr. Parr's to a man of the name of Frith, and that of anotherclergymantoayoungman,whosaidhewouldbelievenothingwhichhecouldnot understand:—'Then, youngman, your creed will be the shortest of anyman'sIknow.'

"As we walked up Mr. Cambridge's meadows towards Twickenham, hecriticised Johnson andGray as poets, and did not seem to allow them high

merit.Theexcellenceofverse,hesaid,wastobeuntranslatableintoanyotherwordswithoutdetrimenttothebeautyofthepassage;—thepositionofasinglewordcouldnotbealteredinMiltonwithoutinjury.Gray'spersonifications,hesaid, were mere printer's devils' personifications— persons with a capitalletter,abstractqualitieswithasmallone.HethoughtCollinshadmoregeniusthanGray,whowasasingularinstanceofamanoftaste,poeticfeeling,andfancy,withoutimagination.HecontrastedDryden'sopeningofthe10thsatireofJuvenalwithJohnson's:—

"'Letobservation,withextensiveview,SurveymankindfromGangestoPeru.'

whichwasasmuchastosay,—

"'Letobservationwithextensiveobservationobservemankind.'

"After dinner he told us a humorous story of his enthusiastic fondness forQuakerism, when he was at Cambridge, and his attending one of theirmeetings,whichhadentirelycuredhim.Whenthelittlechildrencamein,hewasinraptureswiththem,anddescanteduponthedelightfulmodeoftreatingthem now, in comparison with what he had experienced in childhood. HelamentedthehaughtinesswithwhichEnglishmentreatedallforeignersabroad,and thefacilitywithwhichourgovernmenthadalwaysgivenupanypeoplewhichhadallieditselftous,attheendofawar;andheparticularlyremarkedupon our abandonment of Minorca. These two things, he said, made usuniversally disliked on the Continent; though, as a people, most highlyrespected. He thought a war with America inevitable; and expressed hisopinion,thattheUnitedStateswereunfortunateintheprematurenessoftheirseparation from this country, before they had in themselves thematerials ofmoral society—before they had a gentry and a learned class,—the formerlooking backwards, and giving the sense of stability—the latter lookingforwards,andregulatingthefeelingsofthepeople.

"Afterwards, in the drawing-room, he sat down by Professor Rigaud, withwhomheenteredintoadiscussionofKant'sSystemofMetaphysics.Thelittleknots of the companywere speedily silent:Mr.C.'s voice grew louder; andabstruseasthesubjectwas,yethislanguagewassoready,soenergetic,andsoeloquent,andhis illustrationssoveryneatandapposite, that the ladiesevenpaid him the most solicitous and respectful attention. They were reallyentertainedwithKant'sMetaphysics!AtlastItookoneofthem,averysweetsinger, to thepiano-forte;and,when therewasapause, shebeganan Italianair.Shewasanxioustopleasehim,andhewasenraptured.Hisframequiveredwithemotion,andtherewasatitterofuncommondelightonhiscountenance.Whenitwasover,hepraisedthesingerwarmly,andprayedshemightfinishthosestrainsinheaven!

"This is nearly all, except someanecdotes,which I recollect of ourmeetingwith this most interesting, most wonderful man. Some of his topics andargumentsIhaveenumerated;buttheconnectionandthewordsarelost.AndnothingthatIcansaycangiveanynotionofhiseloquenceandmanner,—ofthe holdwhichhe soongot on his audience—of the variety of his stores ofinformation—or, finally, of the artlessness of his habits, or themodesty andtemperwithwhich he listened to, and answered arguments, contradictory tohisown."—J.T.C.

The following address has been printed before; but it cannot be toowidelycirculated,anditwillformanappropriateconclusiontothisvolume.

ToAdamSteinmetzK——.

MYDEARGODCHILD,

Iofferup the same ferventprayer foryounow,as Ididkneelingbefore thealtar,whenyouwerebaptized intoChrist,andsolemnly receivedasa livingmemberofhisspiritualbody,theChurch.

Yearsmustpassbeforeyouwillbeabletoread,withanunderstandingheart,whatInowwrite.ButItrustthattheall-graciousGod,theFatherofourLordJesus Christ, the Father of Mercies, who, by his only-begotten Son, (allmerciesinonesovereignmercy!)hasredeemedyoufromtheevilground,andwilledyoutobebornoutofdarkness,butintolight—outofdeath,butintolife—outofsin,but intorighteousness,even into theLordourRighteousness; ItrustthatHewillgraciouslyheartheprayersofyourdearparents,andbewithyouasthespiritofhealthandgrowthinbodyandmind!

MydearGodchild!—YoureceivedfromChrist'sministeratthebaptismalfont,asyourChristianname, thenameofamostdearfriendofyourfather's,andwho was to me even as a son, the late Adam Steinmetz, whose ferventaspiration, and ever-paramount aim, even from early youth, was to be aChristianinthought,word,anddeed—inwill,mind,andaffections.

Itoo,yourGodfather,haveknownwhattheenjoymentsandadvantagesofthislifeare,andwhat themore refinedpleasureswhich learningand intellectualpowercanbestow;andwithalltheexperiencethatmorethanthreescoreyearscan give, I now, on the eve ofmy departure, declare to you, (and earnestlypray that youmay hereafter live and act on the conviction,) that health is agreatblessing,—competenceobtainedbyhonourableindustryagreatblessing,—and a great blessing it is to have kind, faithful, and loving friends and

relatives;butthatthegreatestofallblessings,asitisthemostennoblingofallprivileges, is to be indeed a Christian. But I have been likewise, through alarge portion of my later life, a sufferer, sorely afflicted with bodily pains,languors,andmanifoldinfirmities;and,forthelastthreeorfouryears,have,with few and brief intervals, been confined to a sick-room, and, at thismoment,ingreatweaknessandheaviness,writefromasick-bed,hopelessofarecovery, yetwithout prospect of a speedy removal; and I, thus on the verybrinkofthegrave,solemnlybearwitnesstoyou,thattheAlmightyRedeemer,most gracious in his promises to them that truly seek him, is faithful toperformwhat he hath promised, and has preserved, under allmy pains andinfirmities, the inward peace that passeth all understanding, with thesupporting assurance of a reconciledGod,whowill not withdraw his spiritfromme in the conflict, and in his own timewill deliverme from theEvilOne!

O,mydearGodchild! eminently blessed are thosewhobegin early to seek,fear,andlovetheirGod,trustingwhollyintherighteousnessandmediationoftheirLord,Redeemer,Saviour,andeverlastingHighPriest,JesusChrist!

O preserve this as a legacy and bequest from your unseen Godfather andfriend,

S.T.COLERIDGE.

Grove,Highgate,July13.1834.

Hediedonthe25thdayofthesamemonth.

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