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MEMOI R OF DANI EL MACMI LLAN

BY

THOMAS^ HUGHES, Q. C.

ACTHOR or " TOM BROWN' S SOHOOLD. VYS, " ETC.

POPULAR EDI TI ON

LONDON :

R CLAT, SONS, AND TAYLOR,

BREAD STREET HI LL, B. C.

PREFACE

THE f ol l owi ng memoi r t el l s t he st or y of a young

Scot chman bor n i n a peasant home, who, wi t h

no school i ng but what he coul d get i n a smal l

pr ovi nci al t own, bef or e he was t wel ve, and i n

spi t e of want of means and wr et ched heal t h, won

hi s way t o t he f r ont r ank i n a di f f i cul t busi ness,

and di ed at f or t y- f our , t he f ounder and head of

a wel l - known f i r m of publ i sher s. Such a car eer

i s r ar e, but not so r ar e as t o cal l f or any speci al

commemor at i on. Many young Scot chmen have

come sout h, and made f or t unes, and f ounded gr eat

houses of busi ness, i n t he book t r ade and i n

ot her t r ades, t o whom no speci al i nt er est at t aches

out si de t hei r f ami l y ci r cl e and per sonal f r i ends.

Besi des, i n our day, t he sel f - made man has been

somewhat t oo much gl or i f i ed, and we ar e t i r ed of

wor shi ppi ng t he mer e power of get t i ng on. I t

vi PREFACE.

needs some qual i t y of a f i ner and hi gher ki nd

t han usual i n t he man hi msel f , or somet hi ng

pecul i ar i n hi s sur r oundi ngs, or dr amat i c i n hi s

Page 2 of 178

l i f e, t o make t he wor l d he has l ef t desi r ous of

hear i ng mor e of hi m t han t hat he l i es saf el y i n

such a cemet er y or chur chyar d, and has l ef t so

many t housand pounds behi nd hi m.

I n t he pr esent i nst ance, however , t he f act st ands,

t hat af t er a quar t er of a cent ur y, t hose who knew

Dani el Macmi l l an best ar e not cont ent ed wi t h

what t hey know, and do desi r e somet hi ng mor e.

Now t hi s desi r e cannot be account ed f or by hi s

sur r oundi ngs, whi ch wer e j ust l i ke t hose of t hou-

sands of ot her Scot chmen of t he same cl ass ; nor

by anyt hi ng dr amat i c i n hi s l i f e, whi ch was

si ngul ar l y f r ee f r om i nci dent . So we must f al l

back on t he qual i t i es of t he man hi msel f t o

account f or i t . And her e we shal l not have f ar

t o seek. Whoever gl ances at t hese pages cannot

f ai l , I t hi nk, t o admi t t hat t her e was somet hi ng i n

t hi s man' s per sonal qual i t i es and char act er , apar t

f r om hi s gr eat busi ness abi l i t y, whi ch t akes hi m

out of t he or di nar y cat egor y a t ouch, i n f act , of

t he r ar e qual i t y whi ch we cal l her oi sm.

No man who ever sol d books f or a l i vel i hood

was mor e consci ous of a vocat i on ; mor e i mpr essed

PREFACE. vi i

wi t h t he di gni t y of hi s cr af t , and of i t s val ue

t o humani t y ; mor e anxi ous t hat i t shoul d suf f er

no shame or di mi nut i on t hr ough hi m. And hi s

i deal di d not abi de i n t al k, a f ai r i mage t o be

br ought out and wor shi pped when t he shop was

not f ul l of cust omer s. He st r ove f ai t hf ul l y t o

r eal i se i t ami d di f f i cul t i es whi ch woul d have

daunt ed any but a st r ong and br ave man. The

chi ef of t hese was l i f e- l ong i l l ness of t he most

t r yi ng ki nd. The di sease of whi ch he di ed a

quar t er of a cent ur y l at er st r uck hi m bef or e he

was t went y, and he was never a r eal l y sound

man f r om t hat day. Of al l men I have known

per sonal l y he was t he one who l i ved most con-

st ant l y and consci ousl y eye t o eye wi t h deat h.

He became awar e when a young man t hat , at

any t i me, i n a f ew hour s, some car el essness a

chi l l , wet f eet , an i ncaut i ous meal mi ght pr ove

f at al t o hi m ; and yet t hr ough i t al l , wi t h bl i st er s,

set ons, caust i c al ways goi ng, he was as f ul l of

i nt er est up t o t he l ast i n t he books be was pub-

l i shi ng and deal i ng i n as t he aut hor s and buyer s

t hemsel ves, and r et ai ned t o t he l ast a j oyousness

and pl ayf ul ness i n hi s i nt er cour se wi t h hi s f ami l y

and f r i ends, whi ch made i t al most i mpossi bl e t o

r eal i se upon how f r ai l a t hr ead hi s l i f e hung.

vi i i PREFACE.

That hi s char act er made a st r ong i mpr essi on on

t hose who came acr oss hi m, t he l ar ge col l ect i ons

of hi s l et t er s whi ch ar e st i l l i n exi st ence pr ove.

Page 3 of 178

Even i n t hese al l - pr eser vi ng days, cl er gymen,

l awyer s, aut hor s, and men of sci ence, ar e not

or di nar i l y i n t he habi t of keepi ng anyt hi ng but

t he r ecei pt s and busi ness communi cat i ons of t hei r

booksel l er or publ i sher . I n t he case of Dani el

Macmi l l an t he pr act i ce has been al l t he ot her way.

The di f f i cul t y has been, out of super abundant

mat er i al , t o make a sel ect i on whi ch woul d l et

t he wr i t er t el l hi s own st or y and pai nt hi s own

por t r ai t . I f i t does not pr ove one of st er l i ng

i nt er est t o r eader s t he f aul t must l i e wi t h t he

edi t i ng.

One ot her r eason has wei ghed much wi t h me

i n under t aki ng t hi s t ask. Dani el Macmi l l an was

bef or e al l t hi ngs a devout Chr i st i an, one whose

f ai t h THf or med and col our ed hi s whol e l i f e, and

who was not ashamed of l et t i ng t hi s be pl ai nl y

known. Thi s of i t sel f i s per haps not yet so r ar e

even i n t hese days as t o exci t e any speci al i nt er est ,

but i t does, I t hi nk, become so when we compar e

t he nar r ow r el i gi ous at mospher e i n whi ch he was

r ear ed wi t h t he Cat hol i c f r eedom and br eadt h of

t hat i nt o whi ch he r ose. Exampl es ar e common

PREFACE. i x

enough of t hose who, br ed l i ke hi m i n t he st r ai t

Cal vi ni sm of t he Scot ch Chur ch, have shaken of f

t he whol e syst em of t heol ogy gr af t ed on t he cen-

t r al t r ut h whi ch gi ves al l i t s st r engt h and vi t al i t y

t o t hat syst em t he const ant f ai t h i n a l i vi ng

God, t o whom man may t ur n at any moment ,

and f r om whose pr esence and gover nment he can

never escape. But , i n shaki ng of f t he syst em,

t hey have f or t he most par t t hr own away t he

cent r al t r ut h, and i n r ej ect i ng t he i dea of a

despot i c and sel f - wi l l ed r ul er , pr edest i nat i ng t he

maj or i t y of manki nd t o endl ess mi ser y, have

never r i sen t o t hat of a r i ght eous and l ovi ng

Fat her , educat i ng Hi s chi l dr en f or per f ect com-

muni on wi t h Hi m and wi t h each ot her . Of t hat

cent r al t r ut h Dani el Macmi l l an never l ost hi s hol d,

and upon i t hi s whol e l i f e was gr ounded. As

he was al so a man of wi de r eadi ng and mar ked

i nt el l ect ual power deepl y ver sed and i nt er est ed

i n t he r evol ut i on whi ch was t hen al r eady begun,

and whi ch i s t est i ng t o t hei r f oundat i ons al l cr eeds

and eccl esi ast i cal syst ems t he wi t ness he bear s

t o a f ai t h i n whi ch hi s own i nt el l ect and hear t

coul d r est and r ej oi ce, and t hat t he ol d f ai t h

of Chr i st endom, t aken i n i t s pl ai nest and most

obvi ous sense, may wel l br i ng some st r engt h and

PREFACE.

comf or t t o t hose who ar e st i l l engaged i n t he

conf l i ct i n whi ch he pr oved hi msel f a conquer or ,

Page 4 of 178

and bendi ng under some of t he bur t hens he had t o

car r y. At al l event s i t i s one mor e i nst ance, i n a

t i me whi ch has sor e need of such i f ever t i me

had, of how a bel i ef of t he ol d Paul i ne ki nd may

st i l l l ay hol d of a man of st r ong char act er , and

of nat ur al l y quest i oni ng i nt el l ect , and, when i t

has l ai d hol d, can bear hi m up t r i umphant l y

t hr ough a l i f e of pover t y and t r oubl e, of const ant

bodi l y pai n and ment al anxi et y.

T. H,

June 27, 1882.

CONTENTS.

PAGE

PREFACE . . . vi i

CHAPTER I .

ARRAN THE TACKSMAN' S HOME APPRENTI CESHI P I N

I RVI NE. 1813- 1831 . 1

CHAPTER I I .

GLASGOW ATKI NSON' S SHOP OVER- EXERTI ON AND

BREAK- DOWN. 1831- 1833 . 10

CHAPTER I I I .

SEARCH FOR EMPLOYMENT LONDON CAMBRI DGE.

1833- 1837 . 28

CHAPTER I V.

FLEET STREET. 1837- 1843 6. 1

CHAPTER V.

THE HARE CORRESPONDENCE. 1843- 1855 . . 116

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER VI .

Page 5 of 178

PACK

MARRI AGE AND HOME LI FE. 1850- 1856 178

CHAPTER VI I .

CAMBRI DGE. 1843- 1857 206

CHAPTER VI I I .

LAST DAYS. 1857 289

I NDEX . . . 303

The, Por t r ai t whi ch f or ms t he Fr ont i spi ece was Engr aved on

St eel by C. H. JEENS, af t er a Pai nt i ng by LOWES DI CKI NSON.

MEMOI R

OF

DANI EL MACMI LLAN

CHAPTER I .

ARRAN THE TACKSMAN' S HOME APPRENTI CESHI P

I N I RVI NE. 1813- 31.

DANI EL MACMI LLAN was bor n at Upper Cor r i e,

i n t he i sl and of Ar r an, on t he 13t h of Sept ember ,

1813. Some t wo or t hr ee gener at i ons ear l i er t he

Macmi l l an f ami l y had mi gr at ed f r om t he opposi t e

coast of Ar gyl l shi r e, wher e a pi ct ur esque t ongue

of l and, known as Nor t h Knapdal e, seems f or mer l y

t o have bel onged t o t he cl an of t hat name. A

not abl e cr oss, and a t ower i n t he cast l e of Sweyne,

st i l l bear t hei r name and suppor t t he t r adi t i on.

At t he t i me of t he mi gr at i on, t he peopl e of Ar r an,

as of t he West Hi ghl ands gener al l y, wer e i n a l ow

spi r i t ual and mor al condi t i on, mai nt ai ni ng t he be-

l i ef i n wi t chcr af t and ki ndr ed super st i t i ons. But

ELDER MALCOLM. [ CH. i .

househol ds wer e occasi onal l y f ound, such as t hat

pai nt ed i n Bur ns' s " Cot t er ' s Sat ur day Ni ght , " i n

whi ch r egul ar f ami l y wor shi p pr evai l ed, and t he

ol d covenant er ' s spi . i t was st i l l st r ong. Such was

t hat of Mal col m Macmi l l an, gr andf at her of Dani el ,

who was t acksman of a f ar m, cal l ed " t he Cock, "

Page 6 of 178

t owar ds t he end of l ast cent ur y. He was an El der

of t he Est abl i shed Chur ch, and a man of st er n

char act er , t hough wi t h a sof t er si de t o hi m t o

whi ch i l l ness or mi sf or t une r ar el y appeal ed i n

vai n. He was t ender t o al l i n i l l ness, and gener ons

i n hi s deal i ngs wi t h poor er nei ghbour s. The t acks-

ni an of " t he Cock " was i n f act a sor t of " chi ef

peasant / ' t he pur veyor of cor n- f ood and peat f uel

t o t he smal l er cot t er s i n t he nei ghbour hood

of Loch Eanza. " When t he peasant s came t o buy

t hei r meal , Mal col m Macmi l l an woul d of t en, i n

cases of need, i ncr ease t he measur e, but any not i ce

t hat he had done so was di st ast ef ul t o hi m.

I n Chur ch mat t er s of doct r i ne and di sci pl i ne al l

hi s t endenci es wer e conser vat i ve. The ol d ways

wer e t hose i n whi ch he desi r ed t o wal k wi t h hi s

whol e househol d. So, when t he Hal danes, t he

r evi val i st s of t hat day, sent mi ssi ons t o Ar r an, t hey

met wi t h no encour agement f r om El der Mal col m.

He, i ndeed, l ooked on t hem wi t h col dness and

di st r ust , not wi t hst andi ng t he obvi ous good ef f ect s

whi ch t hei r wor k was pr oduci ng amongst hi s nei gh-

bour s. The bel i ef i n wi t chcr af t was di sappear i ng

bef or e t he new pr eacher s, and t he mor al t one of

1813- 31. ] ELDER WI LLI AM. 8

t he peopl e i mpr ovi ng under t hei r t eachi ng and

cont r ol . I t was, however , wi t h r el uct ance and

mi sgi vi ng t hat he al l owed, wi t hout expr essl y

sanct i oni ng, t he at t endance of hi s chi l dr en at t he

r evi val meet i ngs and pr eachi ngs of t he Hal dane

mi ssi onar i es.

Not so hi s f r i end and f el l ow El der , Wi l l i am

Cr awf or d, a l owl ander by descent , whose f or ef at her s

had came f r om Renf r ewshi r e, and who occupi ed a

smal l peasant f ar m not f ar f r om " t he Cock. "

He t oo was a devout man, st r i ct l y at t ent i ve t o

r el i gi ous dut i es i n hi s f ami l y, but of a t emper a-

ment mor e open and f avour abl e t o new i mpr es-

si ons. He became a st r ong suppor t er of t he

r evi val i st s, and as Chur ch El der seems t o have

somewhat scandal i sed hi s mor e or t hodox br et hr en,

and not abl y Mal col m Macmi l l an, by hi s r egul ar

at t endance at t hei r meet i ngs.

I f t he new movement , however , somewhat

est r anged t he El der s, i t dr ew t oget her t he younger

member s of t he househol ds ; one of t he r esul t s

bei ng, t hat Duncan Macmi l l an, son of El der

Mal col m, mar r i ed ELat her i ne Cr awf or d, El der

" Wi l l i am' s daught er , t owar ds t he end of t he

cent ur y, and succeeded hi m i n t he occupat i on

of t he l i t t l e peasant f ar m at Upper Cor r i e.

A f ami l y of f our sons and ei ght daught er s wer e

bor n t o t hem i n qui ck successi on, of whom Dani el

was t he t ent h chi l d and t hi r d son. . Fr om hi s

ear l i est year s he seems t o have combi ned i n a

Page 7 of 178

B 2

4 MI GRATI ON TO I RVI NE. [ CH. I .

st r i ki ng manner t he char act er i st i cs of hi s t wo

gr andf at her s ; of El der Mal col m, t he man of or der

and dut y, of El der Wi l l i am, t he man of pr ogr ess.

But i t was hi s mot her whose i nf l uence was

st r ongest on hi m, and whose char act er f ul l y

j ust i f i ed t he r ever ent af f ect i on wi t h whi ch he

r egar ded her . The pecul i ar dept h of t ender ness i n

t he r el at i ons bet ween t hem was enhanced by a

gr eat sor r ow t he deat h wi t hi n a year of hi s bi r t h

by some epi demi c of t he f our si st er s who came

bet ween hi m and hi s el der br ot her Wi l l i am.

The sur r oundi ngs of hi s ear l y year s wer e of

t he humbl est ; i ndeed f r om passages i n hi s

j our nal s and l et t er s i t woul d seem t hat at t i mes

good and suf f i ci ent f ood was scar cel y abundant

enough i n t he househol d. The l i t t l e f ar m was

st r enuousl y and i nt el l i gent l y cul t i vat ed by Duncan,

but , poor i n soi l , and smal l i n ext ent , coul d wi t h

di f f i cul t y be made t o yi el d anyt hi ng beyond t he

necessar i es of l i f e f or hi s f ami l y.

Dani el was i n hi s t hi r d year when Duncan, hi s

f at her , mi gr at ed f r om Ar r an t o t he l i t t l e t own of

I r vi ne on t he opposi t e coast , wher e he car r i ed on

a smal l busi ness i n f ar mi ng t i l l hi s deat h i n 1823,

when Dani el was t en year s ol d. The el der br ot her s,

Mal col m and Wi l l i am, had gone bef or e t o seek

t hei r f or t unes as car pent er s i n . I r vi ne. Dur i ng

t he bui l di ng of t he Academy a beam f el l and

br oke Mal col m' s ar m. Thi s acci dent l ed t o t he

devel opment of a pr evi ousl y cher i shed t ast e f or

1813- 31. ] APPRENTI CESHI P I N I RVI NE. . 5

i nt el l ect ual pur sui t s, and bot h he and Wi l l i am

t ook up t he pr of essi on of school mast er s.

Mal col m, now mast er of a school i n I r vi ne,

and a young man of hi gh char act er and abi l i t y,

became t he head of t he f ami l y, and a wor t hy

suppor t t o hi s mot her i n her har d l i f e- bat t l e. He

devot ed hi s ear ni ngs t owar ds t he househol d ex-

penses and t he educat i on of hi s younger br ot her s

and si st er s. But wi t h t he ut most economy i t

was har d t o f i nd a mar gi n f or anyt hi ng beyond

necessar i es out of t he f ami l y ear ni ngs, so t hat

Dani el , t hough a boy of r ar e abi l i t y and a vor a-

ci ous r eader f r om hi s chi l dhood, had t o cont ent

hi msel f wi t h such l ear ni ng as he coul d pi ck up

i n t he common school , and f r om hi s el der br ot her

at odds and ends of t i me.

The mar vel l ousl y f ew pounds whi ch seem t o be

suf f i ci ent t o mai nt ai n a Scot ch l ad at a Scot ch

Page 8 of 178

Uni ver si t y wer e not f or t hcomi ng i n hi s case ; and

at t he age when he shoul d have been t r ampi ng t o

Gl asgow t o ent er hi msel f as a st udent , Dani el had

al r eady ser ved hi s appr ent i ceshi p and was i n f ul l

wor k at hi s t r ade.

On Januar y 1, 1824, wi t h t he ai d of hi s br ot her

Mal col m as caut i oner f or hi m, he bound hi msel f

t o Maxwel l Di ck, booksel l er and bookbi nder of

I r vi ne, t o ser ve hi m f ai t hf ul l y f or seven year s, f or

t he wage of I s. Gd. a week f or t he f i r st year , wi t h

a r i se of I s. a week f or each of t he r emai ni ng

si x year s.

6 THE APPRENTI CE ASSERTS HI MSELF. [ CH. I .

The ar r angement answer ed t hor oughl y on bot h

si des. The young appr ent i ce soon won t he est eem

and f r i endshi p of hi s mast er , and of many peopl e

i n t he t own- . About t he year 1829, hi s mast er ,

Maxwel l Di ck, i nvent ed a suspensi on br i dge, and

went t o London t o t ake out a pat ent f or i t ,

l eavi ng t he car e and management of t he busi ness

al most ent i r el y i n t he hands of hi s yout hf ul

appr ent i ce, who r ose t o t he si t uat i on, and showed

a capaci t y f or busi ness, ver y r ar e i n a boy of

hi s age.

Hi s nat ur al vehemence and f i er y t emper how-

ever , wer e not al ways under cont r ol at t hi s t i me, as

may be gat her ed f r om one char act er i st i c epi sode.

One eveni ng t he young appr ent i ce di d not

r et ur n home af t er hi s day' s wor k. Ni ght came

on, and he was st i l l absent . Hi s mot her was

i n gr eat al ar m at so unusual an i nci dent , when

hi s mast er appear ed and added t o t he f ami l y

di st r ess by hi s expl anat i on. He had i n t he cour se

of t he day di scover ed some smal l mi sf easance i n

t he shop, and had accused hi s appr ent i ce of i t

per haps wi t hout suf f i ci ent i nqui r y, or evi dence ;

t hi s he was bound t o admi t . But t he boy had

r esent ed t he accusat i on wi t h a vehemence amount -

i ng, i n hi s j udgment , t o i nsubor di nat i on, whi ch He

had puni shed by a bl ow. Wher eupon hi s hi t her t o

obedi ent and r espect f ul appr ent i ce, bl azi ng i nt o

open r evol t , had sei zed hi s cap f r om t he peg on

whi ch i t hung, and hur r yi ng f r om behi nd t he

1813- 31. 1 RECONCI LI ATI ON.

count er , had caught up t he day- book and hur l ed

i t at t he head of hi s ast oni shed mast er , as he

shook t he dust f r om hi s depar t i ng f eet at t he

shop door . What had become of hi m Mr . Di ck

coul d not say. On i nqui r y, i t appear ed t hat t he

boy had st ar t ed at once f or Sal t coat s, a di st ance

of si x mi l es, whence he had managed t o obt ai n a

gr at ui t ous passage i n a f i shi ng- smack t o Ar r an.

Page 9 of 178

Af t er due expl anat i on and apol ogy on bot h si des,

t he ol d r el at i ons of l oyal t y and est eem wer e

r e- est abl i shed, and cont i nued unbr oken f or t he

r est of t he speci f i ed t er m.

Dani el at t he end of t he seven year s had l ear nt

al l hi s mast er or hi s mast er ' s shop coul d t each,

and on t he ot her hand Maxwel l Di ck t est i f i es, by

an i ndor sement on t he i ndent ur e of appr ent i ce-

shi p, dat ed Febr uar y 14, 1831, t hat " t he sai d

Dani el has ser ved me wi t h di l i gence, honest y, and

sobr i et y, and i t i s wi t h t he ut most conf i dence I

can r ecommend hi m as possessi ng t hese qual i t i es

i n a ver y hi gh degr ee. "

" Wi t h hi s appr ent i ceshi p ended al so hi s home

l i f e. I n a f ew weeks he l ef t I r vi ne, and hi s

mot her ' s r oof , t o r et ur n onl y f or shor t vi si t s, and

at r ar e i nt er val s. But her t eachi ng and exampl e,

whi ch had been t he most power f ul of al l i n-

f l uences on hi s boyhood and yout h, r et ai ned t hei r

hol d on hi m t hr oughout l i f e. I n a l et t er gi ven i n

t he next chapt er he dr aws her por t r ai t wi t h t he

ent husi asm of a boy l over , and on hi s deat h- bed

8 HI S MOTHER. [ CH. i .

her i mage was st i l l upper most i n hi s t hought s.

And she had wel l ear ned t he devot i on whi ch he,

and her ot her sons, pai d her . The wi f e and

wi dow of a poor peasant , doi ng al l househol d

wor k wi t h her own hand, and wi t h onl y t he

most scant y l ei sur e f or r eadi ng or soci et y, she

yet managed t o hol d her own wi t h her r i cher

nei ghbour s, wi t h whose chi l dr en her s wer e on

t er ms of i nt i macy. She had a f i ne voi ce and

ear , and sang bal l ads and hymns wi t h a pat hos,

whi ch made t he pr omi se of a song f r om her

t he r ewar d whi ch had most wei ght wi t h her

sons. To her Dani el owed i n gr eat measur e

bot h t he ear nest ness of hi s ear l y f ai t h, and t he

br eadt h of t hat of hi s mat ur e year s. Wi t hout

any specul at i ve l i ber al i t y she had a r emar kabl e

openness of mi nd whi ch expr essed i t sel f i n such

phr ases as " pui r body, he has nae r oom i n hi m, "

when she hear d over zeal ous per sons speaki ng

bi t t er l y of opponent s ; or when, t o t he scandal of

many i n I r vi ne, she st at ed t hat t o her t hi nki ng

such of t hem as had t he good f or t une t o r each

heaven woul d have t o put up wi t h t he company

of many Romani st s.

Thi s i nher i t ance f r om hi s mot her , was speci al l y

val uabl e as moder at i ng t he i mpat i ence and vehem-

ence whi ch came f r om hi s Cel t i c f at her s. Such

a change as t hat f r om t he r et i r ement of a count r y

home t o t he cr owded l i f e of a gr eat commer ci al

ci t y, i n whi ch he f i nds hi msel f al one f or t he f i r st

1813- 31. ] HI S MOTHER.

Page 10 of 178

t i me, wi t h no moni t or but hi s own consci ence, and

t he pat hs of pl easur e and dut y open t o hi s choi ce,

i s a cr i si s i n t he l i ves of most yout hs i n our

t i me and one t hr ough whi ch f ew pass unscat hed.

That Dani el Macmi l l an di d so was owi ng mai nl y

t o hi s mot her . How deepl y t he danger of t he

cr i si s i mpr essed i t sel f on hi s mi nd we shal l see

l at er on.

CHAPTER I T.

GLASGOW ATKI NSON' S SHOP OVER- EXEKTI ON AND

BREAK- DOWN. 1831- 33.

I N 1831, when hi s appr ent i ceshi p ended and he

had t he wor l d bef or e hi m, and was l ooki ng out on

i t wi t h t he conf i dent eyes of st r ong yout h, hi s

br ot her Mal col m had become t he mi ni st er of a

Bapt i st congr egat i on at St i r l i ng, one ef f ect of t he

Hal dane mi ssi ons havi ng been t o car r y t he f ami l y

out of t he Est abl i shed Chur ch. Mal col m had

al r eady f ound an openi ng f or hi s young br ot her

i n t hat t own. But t he pl ace was t oo smal l and

t he boy t oo bi g. The out l i ne of t hi s st age of hi s

l i f e, cover i ng t he year s compr i sed i n t hi s chapt er ,

may be her e best gi ven i n hi s own wor ds, wr i t t en

t went y year s l at er t o hi s bet r ot hed.

" When I had f i ni shed my appr ent i ceshi p I set of f

f or St i r l i ng, wher e Mal col m had f ound a si t ua-

t i on f or me. I had not enough t o do and f el t

t he pl ace dul l . I wi shed t o go t o Gl asgow or

Edi nbur gh, or some l ar ge t own, wher e t her e woul d

1831- 33. ] FI RST ABSENCE FROM HOME. 11

be mor e r oom and bet t er chances of r i si ng. My

br ot her was anxi ous t hat I shoul d r emai n wi t h

hi m. I di d not wi sh t o oppose hi m, but yet t he

t hi ng wor r i ed me. I f el t ' cr i bbed, cabi ned, and

conf i ned. ' The r esul t was a most vi ol ent br ai n

f ever . The most sci ent i f i c of t he St i r l i ng doct or s

was cal l ed i n, and by l anci ng and l eechi ng t he

f ever was cut down and I soon r ecover ed. Soon

af t er war ds I went t o Gl asgow, wher e I had qui t e

enough t o occupy my mi nd. I hoped f or a par t ner -

shi p i n t he busi ness. I wor ked har d and cl osel y

f r om ear l y t i l l l at e. I was al ways at wor k at

seven, and never or har dl y ever away bef or e ni ne.

I t was of t en t en, el even, and t wel ve bef or e I got

away. Mr . At ki nson, my mast er , had ver y bad

heal t h, and was anxi ous t hat I shoul d be abl e t o

manage t he whol e concer n ; and he pr omi sed t hat

i f he f ound t hat he coul d l eave t he busi ness i n my

hands whi l e he went t o t he West I ndi es f or t he

r ecover y of hi s heal t h I shoul d have a shar e i n

t he busi ness ; and i t was a f i r st - r at e one. I n my

Page 11 of 178

eager ness t o make mysel f f i t f or t hi s I used t o

r ead al l t he weekl y, mont hl y, and quar t er l y per i od-

i cal s of any mar k- a queer mass of r ubbi sh t o

l i e l umber i ng i n any one' s br ai n, but , as i t seemed

t o me val uabl e f or t he pur poses of busi ness, ver y

of t en i t was t hr ee and f our o' cl ock of a mor ni ng

bef or e I got t o bed. The upshot , as was nat ur al ,

was t he most wr et ched heal t h. I t appear ed

t o ever y one t hat I was dyi ng. I woul d not

12 WORK I N GLASGOW. [ en. n.

al l ow mysel f t o t hi nk so. My mot her hear d

how i l l I l ooked, and wr ot e t o me, i nsi st i ng t hat

I shoul d t hr ow up my si t uat i on and go home.

Just at t hi s t i me Mr . At ki nson went t o London

t o consul t Dr . El l i ot son and ot her s, l eavi ng t he

whol e busi ness i n my hands f or a mont h. I

st r ove wi t h al l my mi ght agai nst t he weakness

of my body. When At ki nson r et ur ned, he ex-

pr essed hi msel f \ \ r el l pl eased ; and he gave me a

handsome pr esent . A f or t une seemed gl i t t er i ng

bef or e me. I was f ul l of hope. I st r ove wi t h al l

my mi ght agai nst t he weakness of my body. I t

was no use. I coul d bear up no l onger . My

mot her came t o Gl asgow and det er mi ned not t o go

home wi t hout me. I consul t ed a physi ci an, and

he di d hi s best t o f r i ght en me. I went home and

was bl i st er ed, and al l t he r est . I soon got st r onger .

My si st er Kat e of t en l ent me her husband' s hor se.

I t hen went t o Ar r an f or a mont h. That qui t e

r est or ed me. I used t o cl i mb t he hi ghest hi l l s.

My body and mi nd had a compl et e r est , and I

had t i me t o medi t at e on many t hi ngs. Af t er t hat

my br ot her Wi l l i am and I went t o St i r l i ng and

Loch Kat r i ne t oget her . That I gr eat l y enj oyed.

He was i n t he f i nest heal t h and spi r i t s, and I wel l

r emember hi s ki nd anxi et y about me. Af t er t hat

t our I came t o Engl and. You know al l t he r est . "

Mr . At ki nson, hi s Gl asgow empl oyer , was a

man of consi der abl e mar k, who t ook a war m

1831- 33. ] ATKI NSON. 13

i nt er est and act i ve par t i n t he pol i t i cal and soci al

l i f e of t he ci t y and nei ghbour hood. Hi s shop was

t he cent r e of t he l i t er ar y soci et y of Gl asgow,

compr i si ng, amongst ot her s, Mot henvel l t he bal l ad

col l ect or , and hi msel f a wr i t er of songs of some

mer i t , Macni sh, one of t he ear l y cont r i but or s t o

l acki vood' s Magazi ne, and ot her s. At ki nson hi m-

sel f was edi t or of , and a const ant cont r i but or of

some mar k, t o a l ocal per i odi cal , t he Chamel eon,

f r om, whi ch a sel ect i on of hi s essays and ver ses

was publ i shed by Longman i n t hr ee vol umes. A

Page 12 of 178

pr ess copy of t hese was pr esent ed by t he aut hor

t o Dani el Macmi l l an, wi t h an i nscr i pt i on mar ki ng

t he aut hor ' s est eem. The cont ent s r ange f r om

ser i ous subj ect s, such as t he l aw of copyr i ght

and t he i nf l uence of commer ce on ci vi l i zat i on,

t o comi c di al ogues and r hapsodi es i n pr ai se of

t obacco. One of t hese, i i i ver se, commenci ng

" The sky was dar k and t he way was l ong

As I mount ed Hi s Maj est y' s mai l ,

And I t r i ed t o chi r r up a cheer f ul song

I n t he t eet h of wi nd and hai l .

But i t woul dn' t do ; so ou ni ght ' s dar k f ace

I sai d t her e shoul d t wi nkl e one st ar ,

So I t ook f r om snug sl eep i n i t s cozy case,

And l i t i nt o l i f e a ci gar "

gai ned some t empor ar y popul ar i t y, and may have

i nduced Dani el Macmi l l an t o make hi s one exper i -

ment i n smoki ng. I n any case, t he exper i ment

and i t s endi ng wer e t hor oughl y char act er i st i c of

14 OVERWORK. [ CH. n.

t he man. One eveni ng on l eavi ng t he shop he

bought and l i t a ci gar and f ound t he exper i ence a

pl easant one. But on hi s r oad home t he quest i on

of t he 2d. he had expended began t o t r oubl e hi m,

and f i nal l y he t hr ew away t he end r esol vi ng never

t o smoke agai n, a r esol ut i on t o whi ch he adher ed

wi t h hi s usual st eadf ast ness.

I n addi t i on t o hi s l i t er ar y wor k, At ki nson was '

al so a l eader i n t he Ref or m agi t at i on, whi ch was at

i t s hei ght i n t hose year s. These pur sui t s occupi ed

much of hi s t i me, and made at t ent i on t o t he

r out i ne and det ai l s of hi s l ar ge and f l our i shi ng

busi ness somewhat oner ous. He was gl ad, t her e-

f or e, t o l eave t hem t o ot her s, and soon f ound t hat

hi s new assi st ant , t hough but a boy i n year s, was

one t o whom t hey coul d be saf el y ent r ust ed. The

young assi st ant met hi s empl oyer ' s vi ews mor e

t han hal f way, wi t h char act er i st i c eager ness. Fr om

t he f i r st he st r ai ned hi s power s t o t he ut t er most ,

and t he st r ai n began t o f i nd out hi s weak pl aces

by t he end of t he f i r st year . Hi s spi r i t was wi l l -

i ng, but t he r esponsi bi l i t y was t oo gr eat f or a yout h

under t went y, al r eady much exer ci sed by t he

ment al conf l i ct s i nci dent t o hi s t i me of l i f e and

t emper ament . A sense of l onel i ness and want

of appr eci at i on, and a cr avi ng f or sympat hy, i n

t hi s hi s f i r st absence f r om home, added gr eat l y

t o hi s t r oubl es. Al t oget her t he st r uggl e was t oo

sever e, and t he vehement and sensi t i ve nat ur e

br oke out agai n and agai n i n t he mi dst of t he

Page 13 of 178

1831- 33. ] THREATENI NG SYMPTOMS. 15

day' s wor k, car r i ed out al l t he t i me wi t h r i gor ous

f ai t hf ul ness and punct ual i t y.

" December 2, 1832. How i l l I am. I f eel as i f

I wer e dyi ng. I have no one t o sympat hi se wi t h

me ; no one t o mi t i gat e my suf f er i ng ; no comf or t

but what my pal t r y sal ar y can pr ocur e. I f I wer e

r i ch, how many woul d be ki nd t o me, ask what I

needed, and ant i ci pat e my want s. But why do I

shed t ear s ? I cannot hel p t hem. They ar e not

i n vai n. They do good t o mysel f . They r el i eve

my f eel i ngs. They sof t en my hear t . "

He becomes much i nt er est ed i n Mi l l enar i an

vi ews. " Per sonal r ei gn, or anyt hi ng t hat - woul d

put an end t o t he r ei gn of humbug, i s most cheer -

i ng t o me, " and f i nds r el i ef i n such out - pour i ngs

as t he f ol l owi ng :

" Apr i l 18, 1833. pr ocr ast i nat i on ! Thou ar t

t he ver y deuce t o ever y one except t he l awyer s.

They ar e t he onl y peopl e i n t he wor l d t hat gai n

by t hee. Thou t akest mul t i t udes t o t he devi l .

The Bi bl e and al l t he mor al i st s ar e agai nst t hee ;

st i l l t hou ar t as power f ul as ever . I t seems

i mpossi bl e t o er adi cat e t hee ; so deepl y ar t t hou

r oot ed i n our nat ur e. "

Hi s f ami l y get anxi ous, vi si t hi m, and t r y t o

get hi m t o r el ax a l i t t l e, but wi t hout success.

As hi s heal t h get s wor se t he pr ospect s br i ght en

16 FAMI LY REMONSTRANCES. [ t - n. i t .

bef or e hi m. i f he coul d onl y gr asp t hem as he

l ongs t o do, but t hey evade hi m l i ke wi l l - o' - t he-

wi sps.

Thus he wr i t es t o hi s br ot her Mal col m

" June 1, 1833.

" The doct or advi ses At ki nson t o go t o t he

West I ndi es. Now i f I wer e wel l t her e woul d be

an excel l ent chance f or me. At ki nson pr omi ses

me a t hi r d shar e i f I woul d st ay and manage

t he busi ness f or hi m. He seems t o be gi vi ng

me pr act i ce, f or now, af t er a mont h' s vi si t t o

London, he l eaves t he whol e car e of t hi ngs on

my shoul der s, he never l ooks i n above an hour

a day. He has gone t o Edi nbur gh now. I don' t

know what t o make of hi m. Keep mot her t i l l

t he end of next week. I am a gr eat deal bet t er

t han when she was her e. I l ook bet t er . I f eel

bet t er . Mot her wi l l not bel i eve t hi s. I know

she wi l l not , never t hel ess i t i s qui t e t r ue. I don' t

know but i t woul d be r i ght f or me t o st ay her e

al t oget her . I shoul d l i ke t o st ay. "

Mal col m, wat chi ng anxi ousl y f r om St i r l i ng, has

Page 14 of 178

been wr i t i ng wi t h some pl ai nness on hi s over - hast e

i n hi s car eer . To whi ch he at l ast r epl i es

" June 15, 1833.

" You seem r at her t o l i ke t wi t t i ng me about

bei ng ambi t i ous, and t hi s i s t he t hi r d or f our t h

1831- 33. ] DANI EL' S PROTEST AND VI NDI CATI ON. 17 "

t i me you have sai d, ' What ar e you, or your

f at her ' s house, t hat you shoul d be ambi t i ous ? '

I have once or t wi ce t hought of gi vi ng you

an answer . I shal l do so now. You must

not t hi nk me angr y t hough I shoul d speak

war ml y. I have t oo much r espect f or you

t o speak di sr espect f ul l y. So you must not

mi st ake me.

" What am I ? A ver y humbl e per son who has

no obj ect i on t o r ai se hi msel f i f he coul d do i t

honour abl y. I f al l my r el at i ons wer e sl aves, I

shoul d not f eel t hat I was bound t her ef or e, t o be

a sl ave, t hat i s, i f I coul d pur chase my f r eedom.

I do not f eel bound t o f ol l ow i n t he f oot st eps of

any of my r el at i ons. I am her e t o act f or mysel f .

None of t hem can st and i n my st ead i n any ver y

i mpor t ant mat t er . The - most i mpor t ant t hi ngs

must be done by mysel f al one. I ndeed, I don' t

f eel at al l bound t o make my r el at i ons my f r i ends,

or even my acquai nt ances, unl ess I choose, unl ess

t her e shoul d be some r eal sympat hy bet ween us.

I have a whol e swar m of uncl es, aunt s, cousi ns,

and hal f - cousi ns ; among t hem I have f ew acquai nt -

ances and st i l l f ewer f r i ends, and i f I shoul d

l eave t hi s count r y I shal l shake t hem al l of f ,

except Uncl e and Aunt McKay. Ver y l i kel y t he

whol e of my r el at i ons f eel i n t he same way t o-

war ds me, i f t hey ever even t hi nk about me. I

hope so. I shoul d be sor r y i f i t wer e ot her wi se.

These ar e my f eel i ngs, my ways of l ooki ng at such

c

18 DANI EL' S PROTEST AND VI NDI CATI ON. [ OH. n.

mat t er s. I don' t know t hat you wi l l appr ove of

t hem, but t hey ar e not adopt ed wi t hout t hought .

Your f r equent l y- r epeat ed quest i on has obl i ged

me t o t hi nk about t hi s mat t er mor e t han I wi shed,

mor e t han i s good f or me. I shal l now t el l you

what I t hi nk of t he second par t of t he quest i on,

' What i s my f at her ' s house ? '

" I shal l not begi n i mpr udent l y. I shal l not

begi n by sayi ng i t i s pr eci sel y t he same as your s.

I shal l not say anyt hi ng of t hat ki nd. I shal l

not say, ' What do you mean by my f at her ' s

house?' I suppose i n aski ng t hat quest i on you

don' t mean t o go f ur t her back t han f at her and

Page 15 of 178

mot her .

" Wel l , t o begi n wi t h f at her ; t hough I was ver y

young, onl y t en, when he di ed, I have t he

deepest r ever ence f or hi m. He was a har d- wor ki ng

man, a most devout man, and as I have hear d

mot her say, car ed f or not hi ng but hi s f ami l y, t hat

i s, di d not car e what t oi l he endur ed f or t hei r

sakes. You knew hi m bet t er t han I di d, you can

val ue hi m mor e hi ghl y. I now r emember wi t h

pl easur e, and wi t h somet hi ng bet t er t han . pl easur e,

t he manner i n whi ch he conduct ed f ami l y wor shi p.

Though I di d not under st and a wor d of hi s pr ayer ,

t he ver y act of bowi ng down on my knees di d me

good, at l east I t hi nk so. 1

1 Duncan Macmi l l an used t o conduct f ami l y wor shi p i n

Gael i c, r eadi ng t he Gael i c Bi bl e and pr ayi ng ext empor e i n t hat

l anguage, whi ch was st i l l t he f ami l i ar t ongue of Ar r au.

1831- 33. ] PORTRAI T OF HI S MOTHER. 19

" Of my mot her I can speak what I do know.

I know her as wel l as ever a son knew a par ent ,

and my per suasi on i s t hat she i s t he most per f ect

l ady i n al l Scot l and. Wi t h so l i t t l e knowl edge

der i ved f r om books, wi t h so ver y l i t t l e i nt er cour se

wi t h t he hi gher r anks of soci et y, wi t h so l i t t l e

car e or t hought on what i s most pl easi ng i n ext er -

nal conduct , was t her e ever a l ady who, so i nst i nc -

t i vel y, so nat ur al l y, di d what was r i ght , act ed wi t h

so much pr opr i et y i n al l cases ? She has such

hi gh and nobl e not i ons t hat no one ever hear d

her say, or knew her do, a mean t hi ng, no one

coul d ever vent ur e t o say an i mpudent t hi ng

t o her , or t al k scandal i n her pr esence. I f any

one di d so once, i t never was r epeat ed; some

qui et l y spoken but most bi t t er and bi t i ng sayi ng

put an end t o such gar bage. Few appr eci at ed

her , but no one coul d despi se her . You wi l l say

t hat I am wr i t i ng ' an doge' You wi l l cal l me

t he ' pet son. ' No, you cannot do t hi s. You

have mot her wi t h you now. You wi l l have seen

her i n compar i son wi t h t he best of your f r i ends,

and you- wi l l see, i f you open your eyes, t hat she

i s mor e of a l ady t han any of t hem. I t hi nk she

has one of t he f i nest , I mean t he most r ef i ned,

mi nds I ever came i nt o cont act wi t h, and yet she

i s f ar f r om bei ng def i ci ent i n st r engt h a most

st r ong and deep nat ur e, yet a woman' s nat ur e.

No one coul d be mor e deepl y r el i gi ous t han she i s,

and yet how l i t t l e she t al ks about i t ! I know no

c 2

20 PORTRAI T OF HI S MOTHER. [ CH. n.

one t o compar e wi t h her i n t hi s. Mr s. Wi l son of

Edi nbur gh comes t he near est . I l ove and r espect

her so much t hat I cannot say anyt hi ng i nvi di ous

Page 16 of 178

about her . Mot her and she have many t hi ngs

al i ke, i n many t hey di f f er ver y much. Mr s.

" Wi l son has many advant ages. Her f at her was

r i ch, and t hough she was somewhat negl ect ed

i n her yout h, yet f or many many year s she has

had books, and t i me, and company whi ch mot her

never had. They have had, bot h of t hem,

ser i ous heavy t r i al s. Bot h of t hem have bor ne

t hem nobl y.

" The end of t he whol e mat t er i s, t hat I t hi nk

t her e i s nobody l i ke mot her i n t he whol e wor l d.

I f ever I saw any one wi t h t he same t ender ness,

st r engt h, and cal mness, t he same j oyousness of

hear t , wi t h t he same dept h, I shoul d i nst ant l y f al l

i n l ove wi t h her , t hat i s i f t her e was any chance of

i t s ever comi ng t o anyt hi ng! But at pr esent a

gr ave seems t he most l i kel y pl ace f or me. Pr ay

send mot her t o Gl asgow. I want her t o cheer me.

No, I can cheer mysel f . But t o go back t o t he ol d

subj ect . I t el l you t hat I am pr oud of my par ent age.

I had a per f ect l ady f or my mot her . Besi des, I

am ver y gl ad t hat my mot her i s a Teut on. Fr om

her we t ake any ment al super i or i t y we may have.

What a most beaut i f ul f or ehead she has ! What

an eye ! What a f ace, t ake i t al l i n al l ! A nobl e

t empl e f or her nobl e soul ! I am r at her gl ad t o

have some of t he Cel t i n my nat ur e, but gl ad t hat

1831 33. ] A BREAK- DOWN I MMI NENT. 21

t he Teut on st ands upper most as I t hi nk i t does.

I desi r e t o keep t he Fi f t h Commandment . "

The enemy i s now pr essi ng on hi m mor e and

mor e r el ent l essl y, but he st i l l keeps a br ave f r ont .

The bat t l e i s r ecor ded i n hi s j our nal , i n whi ch

not es on t he books he i s r eadi ng ar e i nt er -

sper sed day by day wi t h t he chr oni cl e of f ai l i ng

heal t h.

" June, 17, 1833. The doct or l ooked ver y gr ave

t o- day. What does he mean ? Thi s i s a bad cough.

I don' t l i ke t hi s bl ood- spi t t i ng. I don' t l i ke t hi s

weakness i n my l i mbs.

" Byr on sai d, ' Deat h l aughs. ' But I dar esay

he f ound i t ho j oke t o f al l i nt o hi s hands ; t hat

he l aughs at ot her peopl e' s expense i f he does

augh.

" Of cour se I must di e ; and i f I di e wi t h my

si ns unpar doned, I shal l si nk l ower t han t he

gr ave. At l east , t he Bi bl e says so ; Bunyan and

ot her t heol ogi cal wr i t er s say so ; and I hear i t

f r om Sabbat h t o Sabbat h. I f I am not mi st aken,

my consci ence f or I t hi nk t hat I have got a

consci ence says so t oo. Si nce t hi s i s t r ue, and

acknowl edged by sai nt and sage, by pr eacher and

by poet , i t woul d be as wel l t o be pr epar ed f or

Deat h who, comi ng i n t he r ear of al l our pl easur e,

and weal t h, and f ame, bef ool s t hem exceedi ngl y.

Page 17 of 178

But deat h i s not al l , af t er deat h t he j udgment .

A ser i ous mat t er t hat . "

22 THE BREAK- DOWN. [ CH. : r .

" June 26, 1833. l am exceedi ngl y pl eased wi t h

Scot t ' s t al es. They ar e ver y f asci nat i ng. Ever y

chi l d must be del i ght ed wi t h, t hem. I don' t l i ke

hi s at t empt s t o pal l i at e t he conduct of such men

as Gr aham of Cl aver house. He was cer t ai nl y a

man of t al ent , but t hat i s no apol ogy f or hi s

cr uel t i es.

" Cr omwel l exhi bi t s i n hi s gover nment a

f i r mness, ener gy, and wi sdom f ar beyond any

ot her st at esman of . whom I have r ead i n t hese

vol umes. "

" June 29, 1833. I have a bad habi t of ar gui ng

wi t l i peopl e on di f f i cul t poi nt s, j ust f or my

amusement ; t o see how t hey l i ke dust i n

t hei r eyes. I must gi ve t hat up. I t does no

possi bl e good; and i t gai ns me not hi ng but

mar ked hat r ed. "

The next day br i ngs t he st r uggl e t o i t s cl ose.

Hi s mot her car r i es hi m home, and nat i ve ai r

wor ks wonder s, as he hast ens t o i nf or m Mal col m

a week l at er .

" I can now wr i t e. The bl i st er i ng wor k i s al l

over . You know I have been obl i ged t o l i e i n bed

f or t he l ast week. I am up now. The doct or

woul d not al l ow me t o wr i t e. Of cour se I don' t

t el l hi m al l I do. I am, however , ver y obedi ent ;

I do what ever t he doct or or mot her bi ds me, except

1831- 33. ] ARRAN REVI SI TED. 23

i n such a case as t hi s. I do not hi ng but r ead

novel s. I begi n t o get t i r ed of Byr on. Scot t

pl eases me much bet t er . Cowper bet t er t han

ci t her . You know I have not a Wor dswor t h, or

even sel ect i ons f r om hi m. These out l andi sh f ol ks

don' t know hi m. I have onl y about hal f - a- dozen

Shakespear e' s pl ays. I hi de t hem when t he

or t he cal l . How t hey woul d st ar e i f

t hey saw a pl ay i n my hand ! My hand get s

t i r ed. I wi l l wr i t e by and by. Kat e pr omi ses

me a r i de on t hei r pony ever y day when I get

bet t er .

Agai n t o hi s br ot her Mal col m some days

l at er :

" Kat e keeps her pr omi se. I r i de dai l y. I t i s

most beaut i f ul weat her . I wal k ver y l i t t l e. I f i nd

Page 18 of 178

r eadi ng does not sui t me, even of t he l i ght er sor t .

I of t en r un up t o t he Bar cl ays' , j ust t o have a

l augh. I say al l manner of out - of - t he- way t hi ngs

j ust t o pest er t hem. I s t hat not ami abl e ? I t i s

such f un t o see t hem open t hei r eyes. Mi ss

of t en pl ays t o me, whi l e I l i e on t hei r sof a. Thi s

does me mor e good t han al l t he doct or s. I am

hal f i n l ove wi t h her . You wi l l l augh 1 know,

but I r eal l y mean i t .

" I wi sh I coul d wal k. Lang i s i n I r vi ne, and

I shoul d enj oy wal ks wi t h hi m. I have cal l ed on

hi m once ; he has cal l ed sever al t i mes. I t hi nk

ver y hi ghl y of hi m as you know. I never met

24 ARRANT REVI SI TED. [ CH. i r .

hi s equal . I t i s onl y a pi t y t hat he i s so odd i n

hi s ways. I cal l ed once about t wo o' cl ock. He

had not got up. I saw hi s t wo aunt s and hi s

gr andmot her . We. had a l ong gossi p. "

The f r i end her e r ef er r ed t o was a young medi cal

st udent of hi gh pr omi se whi ch r emai ned un-

f ul f i l l ed, as he di ed ear l y.

To THE SAME.

" Jul yS, 1833.

" I go out wi t h Lang near l y ever y day. He

want s me t o become a bot ani st . He says t hat I

shoul d soon be a f i r st - r at e one. I f eel no i ncl i na-

t i on at pr esent . My head get s conf used wi t h

st udy of any ki nd. I once t hought ser i ousl y

of commenci ng, but t he t er mi nol ogy f r i ght ened

me. Why di d you not t each me Lat i n and

Gr eek when I was young ? I f you had I

mi ght have l ear nt bot any now. Never mi nd, I

enj oy mysel f qui t e as much among t he f l ower s

as i f I knew al l t hei r names. Lang f i nds

me ver y usef ul . He i s so shor t - si ght ed t hat

he can see not hi ng unl ess i t i s qui t e cl ose

t o hi s nose. I can see t he mi nut est f l ower s

wi t hout st oopi ng. Thi s saves hi m a wor l d of

t r oubl e. "

To compl et e hi s cur e he cr osses t o Ar r an on a

vi si t t o hi s uncl e McKay, I ndependent mi ni st er

at Sannox.

1831- 33. ] ARRAN REVI SI TED. 25

" Jul y 22, 1833.

" I have been i n Ar r an a week. The voyage

qui t e upset me. I was ver y f eebl e when I r eached

Gl en Sannox. My aunt t ol d me t o- day t hat she

Page 19 of 178

r eal l y t hought I was comi ng t o her house t o di e

when she saw me f i r st . She has l ocked up my

qui ni ne and al l ot her medi ci nes. I dr i nk mi l k

ever y mor ni ng j ust as I di d at home. Aunt

mi l ks i t wi t h her own hand, and br i ngs i t f oam-

i ng t o my bedsi de. I began t o bat he yest er day.

I di d not f eel at al l wel l af t er war ds. Aunt says

i t i s al ways so f or t he f i r st f ew days. I f el t

bet t er t o- day. I can wal k a mi l e or t wo wi t hout

f eel i ng at al l t i r ed.

" Aunt and I have l ong conver sat i ons. I

am ver y f ond of her . I wi sh her sons wer e

wi ser . I wi sh her daught er s had mor e st uf f i n

t hem, ki nd- hear t ed t hough t hey be. I enj oyed

my mot her ' s soci et y mor e t han ever . I saw

mor e of her t han ever . I t hi nk mor e hi ghl y

of her t han ever . Wi l l i am and I got on bet t er

t han ever . We had sever al l ong, l ong conver -

sat i ons. I wi sh he coul d get away f r om I r vi ne.

He has a nobl e and most beaut i f ul mi nd. I

wi sh he had t he chance of br i ngi ng i t out ,

Her e, you see, I have l ef t Ar r an, and aunt , and

ni eces, and nephews, and gone back t o I r vi ne.

I of t en t hi nk of t hem and of you. "

Hi s vi si t t o Ar r an had done much t o r est or e

26 RECOVERY. [ CH. n.

a mor e heal t hy t one t o hi s mi nd as wel l as t o hi s

body. " I know al l t he peopl e, " he wr i t es, " f or

mi l es r ound t hi s nei ghbour hood. Ther e i s no

vi l l age, onl y houses her e and t her e. The peopl e

ar e most si mpl e. I t i s ver y pl easant t o cal l on

t hem and l i st en t o t hei r st or i es. They al ways

seem gl ad t o see me. They t hi nk I am dyi ng, and

do al l t hey can t o cheer me. They ar e most

t hought f ul and ki nd and t ender - hear t ed, and al l

wi t hout pr et ence. What a most gl or i ous t hi ng

t he human hear t i s, ' t he human hear t by whi ch

we l i ve. ' I wi sh- Wor dswor t h wer e her e. I

shoul d l i ke t o see hi m and hear hi m speak. 1 I

t hi nk I coul d say a gr eat many t hi ngs t o hi m ;

and yet i f I wer e t o meet hi m I har dl y t hi nk I

shoul d open my mout h. . . G- od onl y knows how

t hankf ul , how deepl y gr at ef ul I shoul d be t o meet

wi t h any one who woul d be t o me what Paul

was t o t he j ai l er . . . I t i s our sad l ot t o have no

spi r i t ual gui des but books. I see books adver t i sed

' Ever y Man hi s own Doct or / ' Ever y Man hi s own

1 Thi s wi sh was gr at i f i ed l at er . I n November , 1844, " Wor ds -

wor t h came up t o Cambr i dge and st ayed some days wi t h

Dr . " WTi ewel l , t hen Mast er of Tr i ni t y. Ar chdeacon Har e

asked hi m t o cal l on Dani el and he pai d sever al vi si t s t o t he

shop, especi al l y one l ong one i n whi ch he dwel t on t he i n-

f l uence Scot l and had on hi m i n ear l y l i f e and how he had

sought i n t he Excur si on t o br i ng out t he spi r i t ual l i f e of

Scot l and whi ch he t hought had never been adequat el y sung

Page 20 of 178

by any of her poet s, who had mai nl y conf i ned t hemsel ves t o

t he humani t i es.

1831- 33. ] RECOVERY. 27

Lawyer . ' We shal l soon have ' Ever y Man hi s

own Pr i est . ' "

The f i r st \ vr est l e wi t h hi s l i f e- l ong enemy was

now over . He was wel l agai n, and anxi ous t o be

back at wor k. Even dur i ng hi s i l l ness he had

been pr epar i ng t he way f or a new depar t ur e,

and t hi s t i me he wi l l i f possi bl e set hi s f ace

sout hwar d.

CHAPTEE I I I .

SEAKCH FOE EMPLOYMENT LONDON CAMBKI DGE.

1833- 37.

DANI EL MACMI LLAN was f or t unat e i n hi s f r i ends

and most f ai t hf ul i n keepi ng up cor r espondence

wi t h t hem. As f r ee use must be made of hi s

l et t er s, sever al of t hose t o whom t hey wer e wr i t t en

may now be conveni ent l y i nt r oduced t o t he r eader .

Dr . Geor ge Wi l son, t he aut hor of t he Fi ve Gat e-

ways of Knowl edge, was, as t hat book shows, a

man of r ar e mor al qual i t i es, as wel l as of r ecog-

ni sed sci ent i f i c emi nence and consi der abl e poet i cal

geni us. Thei r f r i endshi p, whi ch began when t hey

wer e al most boys, was st r engt hened by a pat het i c

si mi l ar i t y i n t hei r car eer s i n each case a nobl e

l i f e- l ong st r uggl e f or t he f ul f i l ment of l i f e- wor k

agai nst f at al di sease. 1

Mr . Davi d G. Wat t was t he son of a cl ot h

mer chant , bor ough magi st r at e of I r vi ne, and a

1 A memoi r of Geor ge Wi l son, by hi s si st er , was publ i shed

i n 1860.

1833- 37. ] EARLY FRI ENDS. 29

member of t he I ndependent connect i on. He was

some year s younger t han Dani el Macmi l l an, but

had been i nt i mat e wi t h hi m f r om chi l dhood ; and

on becomi ng a st udent of t he London Mi ssi onar y

Soci et y i n 1840 ( wher e Davi d Li vi ngst one was a

f el l ow st udent ) r enewed t hei r ol d f r i endshi p. He

went as a mi ssi onar y t o I ndi a, wher e hi s ol d

school - f el l ow suppl i ed hi m wi t h news of ol d

f r i ends, and of cur r ent l i t er at ur e, f or many year s.

Mr . James MacLehose, was a Gl asgow f r i end of

1832- 33 ; a young shopman l i ke Dani el Macmi l l an,

i n t hose year s i n whi ch t hei r f r i endshi p began, i n

t he ci t y i n whi ch he now hol ds a f or emost pl ace

as booksel l er and publ i sher . He had mi gr at ed

Page 21 of 178

t o London a shor t t i me bef or e hi s f r i end' s i l l ness,

and i n June 1833 was i n t he empl oyment of

Messr s. Seel ey of Fl eet St r eet .

To hi m Dani el Macmi l l an t ur ns i n t he f i r st

hour s of conval escence. Gl asgow has l ost i t s

char m f or hi m, and he i s al r eady t hi nki ng of

t ur ni ng hi s f ace sout hwar d, t o t he gr eat nat i onal

cent r e of i nt el l ect ual and l i t er ar y act i vi t y. I n

t hi s mood he wr i t es t o hi s f r i end MacLehose,

al most f r om hi s si ck- bed.

" I RVI NE, June 24, 1833.

" I had t he pl easur e of r ecei vi ng your apol ogy

f or a l et t er on t he 20t h, f r om whi ch I see t hat

you have not f or got t en me, t hough you ar e i n t he

mi dst of

30 I NQUI RI ES FOR EMPLOYMENT. [ CH. HI .

" The mi ght y mass of br i ck, and smoke, and shi ppi ng,

Di r t y and dusky, but as wi de as eye

Coul d r each, wi t h her e and t her e a sai l j ust ski ppi ng

I n si ght , t hen l ost ami dst t he f or est r y

Of mast s ; a wi l der ness of st eepl es peepi ng

On t i pt oe t hr ough t hei r sea- coal canopy ;

A huge, di m cupol a, l i ke a f ool scap cr own

On a f ool ' s head and t hat i s London t own. "

* * * * *

" Per haps you l i ke not t hi s i t s f i r st appear ance ;

I ' l l ask you what you t hi nk of i t a year hence. "

" I ' 11 ask you what you t hi nk of a f ew t hi ngs now:

How many men have you i n your house ? What

ki nd of l ads ar e t hey ? What ki nd of gent s ar e'

S. and Son t hemsel ves ? Ar e t hey ver y di st ant , or

ar e t hey f r ee and easy ? Ar e you har d wr ought ?

I s your war ehouse l ar ge ? What ar e your hour s ?

Ar e good l odgi ngs easi l y had ? Ar e t hey expen-

si ve ? Ar e you wel l si t uat ed ? ' Hal o ! st op, st op !

I can' t answer al l t hese quest i ons, ' you wi l l be

cr yi ng er e t hi s. But I ' m i n no hur r y; you can

answer t hem at your l ei sur e. You know t hat

I have not qui t e gi ven up t hought s of vi si t i ng t he

' mi ght y Babyl on ' i n sear ch of a si t uat i on when

my heal t h r ecover s. " . . . .

" ' Ti s mor e t han a f or t ni ght si nce I l ef t At ki nson,

and am at home t o r ecover my heal t h. I was

bl i st er ed, whi ch conf i ned me t o t he house f or

about a week, but am t he bet t er f or i t , and am

now r ecover i ng r api dl y, i n a shor t t i me I expect t o

be st out er t han ever . I am at pr esent enj oyi ng

mysel f exceedi ngl y, wal ki ng by t he sea- shor e one

1833- 37. ] J. MACLEHOSE. 31

day, i nt o t he count r y and t hr ough t he woods

Page 22 of 178

anot her , r i di ng t he next , and so f or t h. I nei t her

r ead nor wr i t e, and t hi nk as l i t t l e as possi bl e, but

r un about i n sear ch of heal t h, and by t he bl essi ng

of God I am dai l y acqui r i ng i t . So you wi l l see

t hat your advi ce about st oppi ng wi t h A. was

t oo l at e. I woul d not have st opped at any r at e

on any condi t i ons. I was dai l y spi t t i ng bl ood,

dai l y f al l i ng of f . I was advi sed by Dr . James

Wat son t hat i t woul d be madness i n me t o st op

any l onger . Si nce I have r ecover ed so much I

am wel l pl eased t hat I have t aken advi ce. "

And agai n f r om nat i ve Ar r ai i :

" I am pr et t y wel l al r eady, and I hope t he pur e

ai r of t hi s beaut i f ul pl ace wi l l , wi t h t he bl essi ng of

God, do t he r est . I even t hi nk t hat I f eel mysel f

i mpr ovi ng whi l e I wr i t e t hi s. I am l yi ng on a

bank, beaut i f ul l y cover ed wi t h heat h, t hyme, and

ot her beaut i f ul f l ower s. About t hi r t y yar ds above

me st and a r ange of r ocks about t hi r t y f eet i n

hei ght , out of t he cr evi ces of whi ch spr i ng t r ees,

i vy, and honeysuckl e, besi des many ot her pr et t y

pl ant s. These t r ees, i vy, &c. , appear f r om t he

pl ace wher e I l i e t o gr ow out of t he r ock, or

r at her , l ook as i f t hey st uck l i ke l i mpet s. Above

t hat , agai n, r i se ot her huge hi l l s, t i l l you l ose t hem

i n t he cl ouds. Tur ni ng r ound agai n, I see as f ar

as eye can r each a gr eat expanse of wat er , wi t h

her e and t her e a shi p, ei t her about t o under t ake an

32 A FRI END I N NEED. [ CH. i n.

ar duous voyage, or comi ng i n wi t h t he weal t h

and l uxur y of ot her cl i mes t o our t hr i ce happy

shor es. "

And a l i t t l e l at er

" I am ever y day get t i ng bet t er , and hope soon

t o be abl e t o manage t he gi gant i c wor k of a

London booksel l er ' s l i f e i n wi nt er , wi t h ease

and pl easur e. "

A si x- sheet answer comes back gi vi ng al l det ai l s

and pr ospect s. Lodgi ngs cheaper t han Gl asgow,

wher e Dani el has l at el y pai d 6s. a week f or hi s

smal l r oom ; and ot her poi nt s hi ghl y sat i sf act or y.

But i t appear s t hat hi s f r i end has sat up t i l l t wo

t o wr i t e al l t hi s. " Don' t cut i nt o your ni ght s, "

Dani el ur ges, " even t o wr i t e t o me. I know t he

bad ef f ect s of t hat t oo wel l . " MacLehose has

of f er ed hi m hal f hi s bed whi l e he i s l ooki ng r ound.

On r eadi ng t hese l et t er s one ceases t o wonder

why young Scot chmen get on so wel l i n London

and el sewher e out of t hei r own l and.

Hi s depar t ur e i s, however , del ayed t i l l Sept ember ,

as he r et ur ns f or a f ew weeks t o hel p At ki nson

i n t aki ng st ock pr epar at or y t o sel l i ng hi s busi ness.

Hi s l at e mast er i s l ooki ng so i l l he wonder s he i s

al i ve, but wi l l gi ve hi m l et t er s t o t he Messr s.

Page 23 of 178

Longman, and he has al r eady sever al f or ot her f i r ms.

On t he whol e he i s hopef ul of f i ndi ng empl oyment

i n t he Eow, t he summi t of hi s ambi t i on f or t he

1833- 37. ] SEARCH FOR EMPLOYMENT. 33

moment . The gl i mpse he has had of publ i shi ng

at At ki nson' s has made hi m anxi ous t o keep i n

t ouch, i f possi bl e, wi t h t hi s t he hi ghest br anch of

hi s pr of essi on.

Ear l y i n Sept ember he st ar t s wi t h l i t t l e i n hi s

pocket but t hese l et t er s of i nt r oduct i on, goi ng by

Edi nbur gh t o spend a f ew days wi t h t he Wi l sons,

hi s ever ki nd f r i ends. Hi s j our ney, and t he

i nci dent s of hi s f r ui t l ess sear ch f or empl oyment

amongst t he magnat es of t he Eow, ar e descr i bed i n

t he f ol l owi ng l et t er t o hi s br ot her Wi l l i am ;

" LONDON, Monday, Sept ember 13, 1833.

" I have never f el t t he i mpor t of t he wor ds "

( home and f ami l y) " so deepl y as I now do. Ver y

of t en i t has been a mer e f or m. I t i s not so now.

My hear t war ms and t hr obs agai n and agai n

whi l e I wr i t e t hem. They mean somet hi ng now.

The di st ance bet ween us seems i mmeasur abl e.

I have been j ust sayi ng t o mysel f , ' What a

pi t y i t i s t hat we must separ at e t hus ; t hat I am

t o have so f ew of t he pl easur es of home. I

am not t went y yet ( yes, j ust t went y I shal l be

t went y by t he t i me I have f i ni shed t hi s l et t er ) ,

and now I have been sent adr i f t agai n. I have

bi d home f ar ewel l . We have but a shor t pi l gr i m-

age her e; we ought t o keep t oget her and cheer

each ot her on t he r oad. But per haps i t i s al l

f or our r eal good, t hese separ at i ons. I t i s needl ess

t o say t hat t he Wi l sons wer e ki nd, and t hat I

D

34 AKRI VAL I N LONDON. [ CH. m.

enj oyed mysel f ver y much. I l i ke t hem bet t er

t han ever . They wer e al l aski ng ver y ki ndl y f or

you. They seemed ver y much pl eased wi t h our

l ast vi si t .

" John Russel l and Geor ge Wi l son went t o t he

st eamer whi ch sai l ed f r om Lei t h wi t h me. I

don' t i nt end t r oubl i ng you wi t h a l ong account

of t he voyage wi t h not es on t he subl i mi t y of

t he sea and al l t he r est . We wer e on t he wat ei

si xt y- t hr ee hour s, not f or t y- ei ght as t hey adver t i se.

I was i l l one day near l y t he whol e day. When

we r eached St . Kat har i ne' s Docks, I hi r ed a

hackney coach and dr ove t o MacLehose' s l odgi ngs.

When I ar r i ved I was shown i nt o MacLehose' s

si t t i ng- r oom by a coupl e of l i t t l e Engl i sh l adi es

who l ooked at me ver y suspi ci ousl y. I was ver y

' f r ank wi t h t hem, and t al ked as i f I had known

Page 24 of 178

t hem al l my l i f e, but t hey st i l l l ooked as i f al l

was not r i ght . MacLehose had not t ol d t hem

t hat I was comi ng, and t hey seemed t o t hi nk I was

some shar per . I saw what t hey t hought or f el t

qui t e cl ear l y wr i t t en i n t hei r f aces, and coul d

har dl y keep f r om l aughi ng. They sent f or a

young gent l eman who i s a f r i end and f el l ow- l odger

of Mac' s. He put t hem qui t e at ease. That young

gent l eman t ook me up st ai r s t o Mac' s bedr oom,

wher e I shaved and washed, and af t er f i ni shi ng

t hese i mpor t ant pr ocesses I came down st ai r s and

f ound t ea r eady a gr eat consol at i on af t er t he

f at i gues of a j our ney, t hat i s, i f i t r eal l y be

1833- 37. ] LONDON PATERNOSTER ROW. 85

t ea; your sl ops I cannot dr i nk. Mac' s young

f r i end seems t o have r i ght not i ons on t hese

mat t er s. Af t er t ea we wal ked t o Fl eet St r eet ,

wher e I f ound Mr . MacLehose i n a book- shop whi ch

I dar esay you know by name Seel ey' s. They

publ i sh Ceci l ' s Remai ns- a. book you ar e ver y

f ond of but whi ch, as you know, I cannot bear .

I don' t l i ke any man who speaks st upi dl y of

Shakespear e, especi al l y when he has pr et ensi ons

t o cul t ur e. I t was by t hi s t i me about seven o' cl ock.

MacLehose, who i s one of t he ki ndest - hear t ed

young men, l ef t busi ness and came out wi t h me.

He t ook me t o t he How. I was anxi ous t o see al l

t he Houses. The names wer e qui t e f ami l i ar t o

me. I cal l ed at Longmans' t o see a young Gl asgow

man, named Mur r ay, br ot her t o Mur r ay of Gl asgow.

He was not i n. He had gone home. We al so

went home f or MacLehose' s l odgi ngs wer e a home

t o me st ood i n t he pl ace of a home. He i s ver y

ki nd. I spent a ver y pl easant ni ght wi t h hi m.

You know t hat I am a most anxi ous- mi nded

cr eat ur e. I had scar cel y ar r i ved when I began t o

be af r ai d t hat I shoul d never get a si t uat i on. Mr .

Mac. t ol d me t o keep my mi nd qui t e easy f or at

l east a f or t ni ght . Then I mi ght begi n t o f eel

anxi ous not bef or e. Thi s onl y i ncr eased my

mi sgi vi ngs. But t o pr oceed.

" Next mor ni ng, about ni ne o' cl ock, I put my

l et t er s of i nt r oduct i on i n or der and commenced

my campai gn. I det er mi ned i n t he f i r st pl ace t o

D 2

36 PATERNOSTER ROW. [ CH. i n.

cal l on Mr . Dyer . I di d so. He r ead Mr . Bar cl ay' s

l et t er , sai d a wor d or t wo t o me i n a r at her col d

f or mal way at l east I t hought so. He gave me

a l i t t l e r el i gi ous advi ce. I had been t hi nki ng

ver y ser i ousl y. Thi s advi ce di sgust ed me not

what he sai d, but t he way he sai d i t . Ther e i s a

gr eat deal of humbug about r el i gi ous peopl e. I

wi sh t hey woul d al l be manl y and f r ank and open

Page 25 of 178

and gi ve up usi ng sl ang phr ases. These di sgust

me. I dar esay Mr . Dyer i s a A' er y ni ce man. I

dar esay he i s a cl ever man. You gave me

such a ver y f i ne account of hi m ' t he pr i nce of

t he Bapt i st s. ' Ver y l i kel y he i s al l t hi s, but I

don' t l i ke hi m. He t r eat ed me as i f he r eal l y

wer e ' t he pr i nce of Bapt i st s, ' t he Ki ng of t he

Canni bal I sl ands, or somet hi ng equal l y gr and. But

t o r et ur n. When t hi s ' pr i nce of Bapt i st s ' had

r ead t he l et t er and gi ven hi s advi ce, he t or e of f a

par t of Mr . Bar cl ay' s l et t er and wr ot e a not e t o

Mr . Wi ght man, i ncl osi ng t hi s par t of Mr . Bar cl ay' s

l et t er . I cal l ed on Mr . Wi ght man wi t h t hi s docu-

ment . He sai d t hat he knew of no si t uat i on i n

t own, but he knew of one i n Cambr i dge, and t hat

t he Cambr i dge gent l eman, who was a f r i end of hi s,

woul d be i n t own next day. He desi r ed me t o

cal l t hen. I pr omi sed t o do so. I cal l ed on Mr .

Mur r ay at Longmans' , and del i ver ed hi s br ot her ' s

not e. Thi s Mr . Mur r ay i s a good- nat ur ed, r uddy-

f aced yout h, and seems t o enj oy most excel l ent

heal t h. I t was r eal l y pl easant t o l ook on hi m,

1833- 37. ] PATERNOSTER ROW. 37

whi ch I di d most at t ent i vel y whi l e he r ead hi s

br ot her ' s not e. He sai d t hat he was sur e t hey

had no vacanci es at pr esent i n Longmans' . I t ol d

hi m t hat I had sever al l et t er s t o t he house, and

one most f l at t er i ng one t o young Mr . Longman.

He sai d t hat I mi ght del i ver t hem, " but he was

qui t e sur e t hat t her e wer e no vacanci es at pr esent .

He wi shed me t o wai t f or hi m and he woul d t ake

me r ound t he t r ade. He was col l ect i ng. I f I went

out wi t h hi m he woul d t al k over mat t er s wi t h me.

I di d not expect much l i ght on any subj ect f r om

t hi s good- nat ur ed wor t hy, but st i l l I accept ed hi s

of f er . I knew he coul d t el l me t he best t i me t o

f i nd Mr . Gr een di sengaged, and at t endi ng t o hi s

advi ce on t hi s poi nt , I cal l ed on Mr . Gr een about

one o' cl ock. Mr . Gr een i s a most act i ve, bust l i ng,

busi ness man, ver y l aconi c, ver y bl unt . I was

r at her pl eased wi t h hi m. He l ost no t i me i n open-

i ng and gl anci ng at my l et t er s and i n sayi ng i n a

ver y qui ck, r api d way, but not al t oget her unpl easant

manner , ' Al l t hat I can say t o you, Mr . M. , i s t hat

you may l eave me your addr ess and a speci men

of your penmanshi p, and i f we shoul d r equi r e any

one I wi l l send f or you, but at pr esent I see smal l

chance. '

" Young Mr . Longman was not at home. He

was not expect ed t i l l Fr i day. What was I t o do

i n t he meant i me ? Shoul d I cal l on any one el se,

or wai t hi s r et ur n ? I t i s an easy t hi ng t o depr ess

me. I f el t dr eadf ul l y depr essed. Tear s r el i eved

38 PATERNOSTER ROW. [ CH. i n.

me. Pr ayer r el i eved me. Pr ayer seemed t o me

Page 26 of 178

a mor e r eal t hi ng t han ever . I hope t hat some

per manent i mpr essi on may be l ef t on my hear t . I

hope t hat al l t hese t hought s and f eel i ngs wi l l not

pass away when I get i nt o t he bust l e of busi ness.

" I t hen cal l ed on Or r and Smi t h, but di d not

f i nd t hem i n. I spent t he r est of t he af t er noon i n

goi ng r ound west wi t h Mr . Mur r ay. I cal l ed on

Cochr ane and Macr one i n " Wat er l oo Pl ace. Mr .

Macr one was not i n. Her e agai n I was di sap-

poi nt ed. When I got back t o t he Eow I cal l ed at

Si mpki n and Mar shal l ' s. . . . I was t hr owi ng out

f eel er s, i nt endi ng t o l ay hol d of what yi el ded most

pr omi se. Nei t her of t he managi ng men i n t hi s

har d- wor ki ng house coul d be seen. I cal l ed

back i n hal f - an- hour and saw Mr . Mar shal l , who

t ol d me t o cal l agai n i n t he mor ni ng. I t hen cal l ed

on Tegg. He was not at home. I t hen set of f t o

Wat er l oo Pl ace, Pal l Mal l , t o see Mr . Macr one,

and, as l uck woul d have i t , I f ound hi m at home.

He was most pl easant . I had a l ong chat wi t h

hi m. He encour aged me sai d I was sur e t o get

on. He knew me i n Gl asgow when he was down

t her e i n spr i ng, and At ki nson' s l et t er t o hi m was

ver y nat t er i ng. He sai d t hat i f I di d not succeed

wi t h Longman or Si mpki n he woul d wr i t e t o al l

hi s f r i ends i n t he book t r ade. I t was now about

seven o' cl ock. I wal ked t o t he Eow agai n t o see

Mr . Mur r ay. He i nsi st ed on my goi ng wi t h hi m

t o hi s l odgi ngs, wher e we had t ea. I t hen made t he

1833- 37. ] PATERNOSTER ROW. 39

best of my way t o MacLehose' s l odgi ngs. Thus

began, and t hus ended, my f i r st day' s l abour s i n

London.

" Next mor ni ng ( Thur sday) I cal l ed on Messr s.

Si r npki n and Mar shal l . I di d not f i nd Mr .

Mar shal l at home. 1 cal l ed agai n i n about hal f -

an- hour , f ound Mr . Mar shal l , t al ked wi t h hi m

f or f i ve mi nut es ; he of f er ed me a pl ace i n t hei r

house, sal ar y 60 a year . He was anxi ous t hat I

shoul d engage f or a year , sai d t hey wer e ver y much

t r oubl ed wi t h young men comi ng f or a mont h or

t wo and t hen l eavi ng. I sai d t hat i f he coul d

gi ve me anyt l i i ng t o do I woul d begi n at once,

but woul d not deci de unt i l I had seen what I had

t o do, whet her I was f i t f or i t , how t hey wer e

pl eased wi t h me. Thi s was about hal f - past el even.

I began at once, made out i nvoi ces and t he

l i ke, wi t h t he sl i ght i nt er r upt i on of di nner and

t ea; cont i nued t i l l t en at ni ght . They wer e

ver y busy, and t he young men wer e a r ough

set of f el l ows. I was t ol d t hat t hey woul d

be t her e on Fr i day ni ght ver y l at e t hat i t

woul d most l i kel y be t wo or t hr ee on Sat ur day

mor ni ng bef or e t hey l ef t , and t hat t hey woul d be

t her e t i l l f i ve or si x on Sunday mor ni ng, t hat i t

al ways i s so about ' Magazi ne t i me. ' Thi s woul d

not do f or me at al l . I shoul d not l i ke i t . I coul d

not st and i t . I mi ght l ear n a gr eat deal about

busi ness, but my heal t h, mor al and physi cal , must

Page 27 of 178

suf f er , must gi ve way.

40 A CAMBRI DGE OPENI NG. I CH. i n.

" At t ea- t i me I cal l ed on Mr . Wi ght man. He

sai d, ' I wi sh you had cal l ed a f ew mi nut es sooner ;

Mr . Johnson f r om Cambr i dge has j ust gone out ;

I have spoken t o hi m about you. He want s t o

see you. Cal l t o- mor r ow mor ni ng at ni ne o' cl ock. '

Thi s was a sor t of di m hope t o cheer me. The

i dea of l i vi ng i n Si mpki n' s was i nt ol er abl e. I t

al most cr ushed me t hr ough t he ear t h. Al l t he way

f r om St at i oner s' Cour t t o Goswel l Road was

spr i nkl ed wi t h t ear s. These wer e a r el i ef t o me

t hese and pr ayer s such hal f - ar t i cul at e pr ayer s

as I coul d gi ve ut t er ance t o. At t hat hour t he

passer s- by coul d not not i ce me. I cer t ai nl y di d

not not i ce t hem r except when I was st opped and

spoken t o by t he poor and unf or t unat e. These

I coul d have t aken and pr essed t o my hear t . Ah

me ! what a wor l d we l i ve i n ! Thus ended my

second day' s wor k i n London.

" Next mor ni ng, at ni ne o' cl ock, I cal l ed at

Wi ght man' s. Mr . J. had not come. They ex-

pect ed hi m ever y mi nut e. I kept hangi ng on i n

t he most f i dget y st at e t i l l an hour el apsed. Just

as St . Paul ' s st r uck t en i n came Mr . Johnson. Mr .

Wi ght man t hi nks hi ghl y of hi m. He i s a member

of a Bapt i st Chur ch at Cambr i dge. We t al ked

f or some t i me. He l ooked up i n my f ace as i f he

wer e f r i ght ened. I don' t know how I l ooked, but

I di d not f eel t he l east f ear . He sai d he woul d

gi ve me 30 a year , and I was t o boar d wi t h t he

f ami l y. We wer e bot h t o t hi nk of i t . ' We par t ed

1833- 37. ] BALANCI NG CHANCES. 41

undeci ded. He wi shed me t o cal l back on hi m

t hat eveni ng. I t was now el even o' cl ock. I

di d not l i ke t o go back t o Si mpki n' s at t hat

hour . I di d not l i ke t o l eave wi t hout sayi ng

anyt hi ng. I kept hesi t at i ng; at l ast I made up

my mi nd.

" I t seemed t o me bet t er t o accept t he Cambr i dge

si t uat i on t han t o st ay wi t h Si mpki n ; ( 1) because

t he sal ar y was bet t er , and ( 2) , because t he wor k was

easi er ; ( 3) I di d not l i ke t he l odgi ng syst em of

London as f ar as I coul d see of i t . I di d not l i ke

di ni ng at chop- houses and t aver ns t he whol e

syst em t akes away even t he appear ance of ' a

home. ' As f ar as acqui r i ng knowl edge of busi -

ness i s concer ned, I f anci ed one mi ght l ear n

somet hi ng i n Cambr i dge i f one t r i ed

" Af t er t hi s I cal l ed on MacLehose. Tol d

hi m how t hi ngs st ood. He t hought I ought

not t o go t o Si mpki n' s ; t hat I ought t o t ake

t he Cambr i dge si t uat i on ; i t woul d be much mor e

Page 28 of 178

sui t abl e t han t he Row.

" But I st i l l had a hanker i ng f or London. I

t hought I shoul d l i ke Longmans' house. I t her e-

f or e cal l ed at Longmans' , and f ound t hat young

Mr . L. had r et ur ned. I del i ver ed Mr . At ki nson' s

l et t er of i nt r oduct i on. He r ead i t , and sai d t hat he

was so much pushed wi t h one t hi ng and anot her ,

t hi s bei ng Magazi ne t i me, t hat he coul d say no-

t hi ng t i l l Monday. He bel i eved, however , t hat

t hey had no openi ngs, no vacanci es at pr esent .

42 ATTRACTI ON OF LONDON. [ CH. i n.

He woul d be gl ad t o see me on Monday, i f I di d

not hear of somet hi ng bef or e t hat t i me.

" Her e I was oddl y si t uat ed. I shoul d l i ke t o

st ay i n London. I shoul d above al l t hi ngs l i ke

Longmans' , but st i l l , t hi s i s onl y an uncer t ai nt y.

I mi ght mi ss Longmans' . Young Mr . L. mi ght

not be abl e t o do anyt hi ng f or me. I f I coul d get

Johnson t o wai t t i l l Monday, t hought I . But he

mi ght wi sh me t o deci de at once. And t hen, of

cour se, what coul d one do ? ' A bi r d i n t he hand

i s wor t h t wo i n t he bush. '

" I now had not hi ng t o do - but wai t . My mi nd

was i n t he most r est l ess st at e. I coul d not t el l

what made i t so. Ol d si ns kept st al ki ng bef or e

me. I was mi ser abl e. I wal ked about t he st r eet s,

but saw not hi ng. I was j ost l ed on t he st r eet s, yet

I saw no f ace t hat I car ed about , scar cel y not i ced

t hose who pr essed on me. The st r angeness of

ever yt hi ng i ncr eased my mi ser y. I pr ayed. I

t r i ed t o pr ay. I t hought . I t r i ed t o t hi nk, my

mi nd was a st r ange whi r l pool . I coul d l ook at

not hi ng. I coul d onl y weep, and t r y t o pr ay. I

do hope t hat t hese t hi ngs wi l l l eave some power -

f ul and per manent i mpr essi on on my mi nd and

hear t . What a wonder t he wor l d i s, what a

myst er y man i s! But t o l eave al l t hi s and t o

pr oceed wi t h my st or y.

" I t hen went t o my, or r at her , t o MacLehose' s

l odgi ngs, and wr ot e al l t hat pr ecedes t hi s a good

af t er noon' s wor k. Thi s br ought many t hi ngs t o

1833- 37. ] DUBI TATI ONS. 43

my r ecol l ect i on. I spent t he r est of t he t i me i n

l ooki ng backwar d and f or war d. A ser i ous ni ght .

Thus ended my t hi r d day' s wor k i n London.

" I went t o bed bef or e MacLehose came home.

I had scar cel y f al l en asl eep when he came t o my

bedr oom wi t h a l et t er f r om Johnson sayi ng t hat he

had deci ded on gi vi ng me t he si t uat i on ; and t hat

I was t o cal l on Mr . Wi ght man i n t he mor ni ng

and he woul d t el l me anyt hi ng f ur t her I mi ght

Page 29 of 178

wi sh t o know.

" I di d cal l i n t he mor ni ng ( Sat ur day) . He sai d

t hat I was t o wr i t e t o Johnson on Monday t o say

when I shoul d be wi t h hi m. I di d not f eel mysel f

at al l bound t o go t o Cambr i dge, i f I saw anyt hi ng

bet t er i f I coul d get i nt o Longmans' . I now had

an oppor t uni t y of bei ng abl e t o see young Long-

man bef or e I wr ot e t o Johnson.

" I n al l t hi ngs, now and hi t her t o, I f eel t hat God

has been i nf i ni t el y ki nd t o me. The ver y opposi t e

of what I deser ved. I wi sh ever t o f eel t hi s.

" I was ver y much sur pr i sed t o see t hat al l

I had r ead about a London Sunday i s qui t e t r ue.

The gi n- pal aces ar e most wonder f ul . I t l ooks

si ngul ar t o us t o see peopl e wal ki ng about wi t h

f r ui t - basket s, cal l i ng out what t hey had t o sel l ,

j ust as t hey do i n I r vi ne on a f ai r - day.

" Thi s i s Monday mor ni ng. I am now goi ng t o

cal l on young Longman. I f t hey have no pl ace

f or me, t hen I shal l wr i t e t o Johnson at once.

Per haps Cambr i dge wi l l be best f or me. I f so al l

44 CAMBRI DGE ACCEPTED. [ CH. HI .

ot her pl aces wi l l be cl osed agai nst me. Wi ght i nan

speaks hi ghl y of Johnson. He i s a member of a

Bapt i st Chur ch. I am t o l i ve i n t he house. I am

t o go wi t h hi s f ami l y t o t hi s Bapt i st Chur ch. You

wi l l be pl eased t o hear t hi s. The sal ar y i s not

l ar ge, but I am ver y young. I shal l be abl e t o

save at any r at e t en or t wel ve pounds a year .

I f eel i n a ver y savi ng humour at pr esent . But ,

never t hel ess, i f you shoul d ever want anyt hi ng

whi ch I have, i t wi l l be at your ser vi ce i mmedi -

at el y. You know t hi s. However , I must not t al k

about t hese t hi ngs now. I must go t o Longmans' .

I hope God wi l l l ead me i n t he way t hat i s r i ght .

Lead me t o seek t he ki ngdom of Heaven ; what -

ever be my t r oubl es, what ever pai nf ul t hi ngs I may

have t o endur e. I must j ust put down my pen and

t hi nk of t hi s f or a f ew mi nut es bef or e I go out .

" I have j ust r et ur ned f r om Longmans' . Young L.

was ver y ci vi l , but t hey had no openi ng ; he pr o-

mi sed t o do what he coul d f or me, t o r ecommend

me, and so f or t h. Ther ef or e, you see, I must go

t o Cambr i dge. I shal l now wr i t e t o Johnson. On

t he whol e, I r eal l y do t hi nk Cambr i dge i s best f or

me wi l l be best f or me ul t i mat el y. I di d not

wi sh t o go t her e. God knows best . I ought

t o f eel qui t e submi ssi ve, qui t e pl eased, deepl y

gr at ef ul f or al l t hat He hat h done f or me, and

cheer f ul l y go wher e He l eadet h me. I t i s st r ange

t o see how f ew t hi ngs t ur n out as we desi gn t hem,

but doubt l ess t hey ar e al l desi gned and pr oj ect ed

Page 30 of 178

1833- 37. ] SI GHT- SEEI NG I N LONDON. 45

by One i nf i ni t el y wi ser t han we . ar e. I ought t o

r ej oi ce t hat i t i s so.

" Wel l , t hen, you now see t hat I go t o Cambr i dge.

I n t he meant i me, as I f eel mysel f qui t e set t l ed,

I f eel qui t e at l i ber t y t o see al l t he l i ons of London.

I t i s now hal f - past el even. I am j ust goi ng t o

see what can be seen, f or t hough I have passed

al ong London st r eet s, f r om east t o west , I have

been qui t e bl i nd t o anyt hi ng but t he wor k bef or e

me. The wor k now. bef or e me i s si ght - seei ng. I

wi l l do my best t o see ever yt hi ng. My eyes wi l l

be t he cl ear er because t hey have been r est i ng. I

must st op. A young f r i end of MacLehose' s, who

comes f r om Gl asgow, i s t o go wi t h me. He al so

want s t o see al l t he si ght s. He i s now wai t i ng

f or me. Good- bye f or t he pr esent . I wi l l t el l

you what I have seen when I get back t o- ni ght .

Good- bye.

" I have j ust r et ur ned. I wi sh t o get t hi s

i ncl osed i n t he magazi ne par cel t o- ni ght , and must

t her ef or e l ose no t i me. I have seen St . Paul ' s ;

been i n t he dome of t hat ' gr eat bui l di ng/ I

have been at t he Col i seum and at t he Zool ogi cal

Gar dens. Thi s was my day' s wor k. . . .

" My heal t h i s bet t er t han when I l ef t . ; i t coul d

not be bet t er . I l i ke t hi s London. When you

have r ead t hi s pl ease t o send i t t o Mal col m. I shal l

send hi m a shor t not e by post when I r each Cam-

br i dge, or a f ew days af t er . I shoul d l i ke t hi s t o

be i n hi s hands by t hat t i me. "

46 A VI EW OF LONDON. [ CH. i n.

' Sept ember 30, 1833.

" The t op of St . Paul ' s. What a si ght ! To

see al l London, even i t s hi ghest spi r es, under

one' s f eet , t o t hi nk of t he many t housand soul s

t hat ar e busy i n t hat mi ght y mass of br i ck ;

t he number of sai l or s who ar e now busy among

yon f or est r y of mast s ; t he number s who ar e

dyi ng: t he number s who ar e j ust ent er i ng upon

l i f e. To t hi nk of t hose who ar e endur i ng pai n,

and t hose who ar e enj oyi ng pl easur e : of t he

vi l l ai ns, and t he sai nt s : t he act i ve and t he

i ndol ent : t he vi r t uous and t he vi ci ous : t he

pi ous and t he pr of ane : t he pr odi gi ousl y r i ch and

t he - mi ser abl y poor : t he nobl e and t he mean, who

i nhabi t or i nf est t hat mar vel l ous and mi ght y pl ace,

i mpr ovi ng or i nj ur i ng i t s mor al s, savi ng or de-

st r oyi ng i t s soul s. I t i s awf ul beyond descr i pt i on.

I can har dl y bear i t . "

Two days af t er t he di spat ch of t hi s l et t er he

st ar t ed f or Cambr i dge t o t ake up hi s post of shop-

man t o Mr . Johnson at 30 a year , t r avel l i ng

down t o t hat t own by coach, gr eat l y del i ght ed

Page 31 of 178

wi t h " t he cl ean neat Engl i sh vi l l ages and vi l l ager s,

t he beaut i f ul l awns and t r ees and ol d mansi on-

houses. " The onl y dr awback, i ndeed, was a char ge

of 6s. f or hi s t r unk bef or e he can get i t t o

Mr . Johnson' s r esi dence i n Tr i ni t y St r eet .

Her e he f al l s t o wor k wi t h a wi l l , hi s hour s

1833- 37. ] CAMBRI DGE FI RST I MPRESSI ONS. 47

bei ng f r om 7. 30 A. M. t o 7 P. M. , of t en l onger , i n

t he shop. The st ock i s l ar ge and most l y cl assi cal ,

t o whi ch he has not been used, but he has no

doubt of mast er i ng i t , and knowi ng al l about

each book bef or e l ong. Meant i me he del i ght s

i n hi s mast er and mi st r ess, of whom he wr i t es

t o hi s br ot her s :

" They ar e ni ce f ol ks, so pl easant , so ki nd, so

pi ous, so ever yt hi ng t hat I coul d wi sh. I can

scar cel y t hi nk my pr esent st at e r eal , i t i s so

st r angel y sweet I say st r angel y sweet , because

i t i s a st r ange t hi ng f or me t o be wi t h a mast er

who t el l s me ever yt hi ng t hat can ai d me i n get t i ng

a knowl edge of my busi ness, and who does al l he

can t o make me happy. Al l t hat I now want

i s a par t i ci pat i on of what makes hi m ( i . e. Mr . J. )

so happy, vi z. , r el i gi on.

" The pl an of st oppi ng wi t h your empl oyer ,

i f he i s a good one, i s by f ar t he best at l east I

t hi nk so.

" I br eakf ast wi t h hi m at ei ght o' cl ock ; di ne

( and f i ne di nner s we have) at one P. M. ; t ake t ea at

f i ve P. M. ; sup at ni ne ; and t hen we have t he

pl easur e of conver sat i on at di nner and ot her

meal s, and of f ami l y wor shi p. These ar e no smal l

pl easur es, I can assur e you. "

These pl easant r el at i ons wi t h hi s empl oyer

l ast ed t hr ough t he whol e t hr ee year s of hi s f i r st

48 THE TROUBLES OF YOUTH. [ CH. i n.

soj our n at Cambr i dge. At t he st ock- t aki ng of

Oct ober , 1834, at t he end of hi s f i r st year , he was

pr oud t o wr i t e t hat he knows about ever y book

i n t he shop, and i s mast er of t he t r ade. I n t he

i nt er val he has exper i enced " t hat change whi ch

i s t er med emphat i cal l y t he new bi r t h, " and has

j oi ned t he Bapt i st communi t y, of whi ch Mr . and

Mr s. Johnson ar e member s, not , however , wi t hout

si del ong gl ances at t he " spl endi d chapel s " of t he

col l eges, i n whi ch he occasi onal l y at t ends " t he

most i mposi ng wor shi p you can concei ve. "

But t he " new bi r t h " had not come wi t hout sor e

t r avai l ; never , I pr esume, does come ot her wi se.

Dur i ng t hese mont hs t hough ext er nal l y comf or t abl e

Page 32 of 178

and happy, wor ki ng wi t h pl easur e at t he r out i ne of

t he busi ness, he was sor el y t r i ed and " st r uggl i ng

har d wi t h al l sor t s of doubt s and f ear s: above al l , "

as he hi msel f says, i n r ecal l i ng t hi s t i me i n af t er

year s, " wi t h Cal vi ni st i c cobwebs. " He pour s out

hi s t r oubl e t o hi s br ot her s Mal col m and Wi l l i am

i n l ong l et t er s, a mi xt ur e of pai nf ul sel f - ques-

t i oni ng and l ongi ng f or home sympat hy. Such

st r uggl es honest l y t ol d ar e al ways f ul l of deep

human i nt er est .

" I t i s l i t t l e mor e t han t en year s si nce my f at her

di ed. I am now t went y. I t appear s t o me a pr o-

di gi ous t i me si nce hi s deat h. My t hought s, my

f eel i ngs, my mode of l ooki ng at t he wor l d ever y-

t hi ng i s now so ver y di f f er ent ; and yet I r emember

1833- 37. ] THE TROUBLES OF YOUTH. 49

what al l t hese wer e as di st i nct l y as i f i t had been

yest er day. Many t hi ngs, most t hi ngs, whi ch have

happened i n t he i nt er val ar e al l qui t e f or got t en,

but t hat one st ands out most di st i nct l y. I t was a

most beaut i f ul Sunday af t er noon, I wel l r emember ;

mot her and al l t he f ami l y st andi ng r ound hi s bed.

I r emember how he l ooked on us al l . He seemed

t o have no f ear f or hi msel f , or f or us, t hough our

out l ook was f ar f r om bei ng br i ght . We al l f el t

qui t e sur e t hat our f at her was goi ng t o Heaven ;

t hat God was wi t h us t hen ; t hat God woul d

al ways be wi t h us. I f el t qui t e sur e of i t , f el t as

i f God wer e hol di ng me up and cheer i ng my

hear t . We al l f el t so. We r eal l y di d f eel st r ong

i n t he, Lor d.

" Now, when al l t hi ngs ar e uncer t ai n and con-

f used, when I can nei t her l ook st eadi l y at mysel f

nor at soci et y wi t hout agony, i t does cheer me t o

l ook back t o my f at her ' s deat h- bed. Then my

hear t had no f ear , my mi nd no doubt , no scep-

t i cal conf usi ons; t hen t hi s l i f e di d appear a

God- appoi nt ed pi l gr i mage, t hr ough whi ch God

was l eadi ng us f or our own good and Hi s gl or y.

The onl y poet r y I knew was t he poet r y of t he

Bi bl e and a f ew ol d bal l ads. I r emember how

t hat beaut i f ul par aphr ase used t o hum i t sel f

t hr ough my mi nd, God of Bet hel , by whose hand

Thy peopl e st i l l ar e f ed. I t seemed t o me as i f

some unseen spi r i t wer e cheer i ng me. A mi r acl e

was nowi se a sur pr i si ng t hi ng t o me. I f el t t hat

E

50 MI SCELLANEOUS READI NG. [ en. i n.

God was now most wonder f ul l y uphol di ng our

own f ami l y, and al l f ami l i es, al l beast s and bi r ds,

al l t r ees and her bs of t he f i el d.

" What a di f f er ence t en year s have made ! Byr on,

Page 33 of 178

Davi d Hume, Gi bbon, Pal ey, St er ne, Fi el di ng,

Swi f t , and i nnumer abl e novel s, pl ays, and t heo-

l ogi cal pr oduct i ons, have unhi nged my mi nd.

My r eadi ng has been al t oget her wi t hout or der .

What ever came f i r st t o hand was gr eedi l y de-

vour ed. The r esul t i s a hor r i d chaos of t he most

undi gest ed and cont r adi ct or y not i ons.

" I have cast Byr on away wi t h i ndi gnant con-

t empt . The Li f e by Moor e f i l l ed me wi t h much

deeper di sgust t han Hunt ' s book. Poor Byr on !

He never seems t o have l oved any one. No one

seems ever t o have l oved hi m hear t i l y. Ther e

i s a most hat ef ul sense of hol l owness r unni ng

t hr ough t hese l et t er s. To me t he never - ceasi ng

wi t t i ci sms, t he ever l ast i ng t i t t er i ng and smi r ki ng,

i s most l oat hsome. He was not even a hear t y

sensual i st !

" What sympat hy coul d Shel l ey' s si ncer e and

hol y nat ur e have wi t h Byr on ? I st i l l hol d out

f or Shel l ey. The Pr omet heus Unbound i s a nobl e

ut t er ance of hi s most nobl e nat ur e. I am f ar

f r om i magi ni ng t hat he has sol ved t he dr eadf ul

eni gmas of l i f e. I f he had ! I cannot but admi r e

hi m hear t i l y f or t he f i r m f ai t h he has t hat Ri ght

wi l l at l ast pr evai l , t hat wr ong wi l l not be

ever l ast i ng. "

1833- 37. J HELP FROM T. ERSKI NE' S WORKS. 51

Hi s br ot her s hel p hi m as t hey can, wi t h advi ce

as t o books t o r ead, and ot her r ecommendat i ons.

He i s al ways gr at ef ul f or t hei r l et t er s.

" Oct ober , 1833.

" . . . . Wor ds cannot descr i be my gl adness

when I r ecei ved your l et t er . No one can con-

cei ve t he pl easur e whi ch a l et t er f r om a br ot her

gi ves t o one who f eel s hi msel f ' a st r anger i n a

st r ange l and. ' You may be i ncl i ned t o l augh at

me f or count i ng t he mi l es bet ween us, but I

cannot hel p i t .

" I r eal l y must conf ess t hat I don' t l i ke ei t her

Newt on or Doddr i dge. They make me gl oomy.

I t i s pai nf ul t o r ead t hem. I f eel i t so. I don' t

bl ame t hem. I onl y st at e t he f act . Er ski ne "

( Thomas Er ski ne of Li nl at hen) " and t he aut hor

of t he Nat ur al Hi st or y of Ent husi asm and a book

cal l ed Sat ur day Eveni ng assi st me gr eat l y ; and

t r ul y I need assi st ance. What a st r ange conf used

t hi ng t heol ogy seems t o me. "

" November , 1833.

" I am not sur e about what you sai d of my

j oi ni ng a chur ch. I wi l l t hi nk of i t . I must say

t hat at pr esent I have no par t i al i t y f or any sect of

Chr i st i ans. The ver y f act of t her e bei ng sect s

conf uses me. I hope God wi l l di r ect me i n t he

Page 34 of 178

r i ght way. "

E 2

52 A CHURCH MEMBER. [ en. i n.

" December , 1833.

" Wi t h r egar d t o Scot t and Newt on, whose

wr i t i ngs you r ecommend, i f I have sai d anyt hi ng

agai nst t hem I am si ncer el y sor r y. I shoul d

t hi nk i t ver y wr ong t o do so. They have done

much good. I dar e not say anyt hi ng agoAnst

t hem. That woul d be ver y f ool i sh ; i t woul d be

ver y i r r ever ent . Yet I r eal l y do f eel t hat t hei r

t heol ogy, t hough ' not a f al se t hank God i s but

a t heol ogy t hat i s conf used, ent angl ed, i mper f ect ,

gl oomy. ' At any r at e i t ent angl es me, i t conf uses

me, i t makes me gl oomy. "

A l i t t l e l at er , t he exact dat e not gi ven, t he

f ol l owi ng shor t ent r y occur s i n hi s j our nal :

" Thi s day I was bapt i sed. I pr of essed t o di e

unt o si n and r i se agai n unt o r i ght eousness. May

t hi s be a t r ue pr of essi on. "

Fr om t hi s December , 1833, t hi ngs spi r i t ual t ook

a mor e cheer f ul t ur n, and " Cal vi ni st i c cobwebs "

ceased t o t r oubl e hi m ser i ousl y.

Meant i me exper i ence i n busi ness gr ows, and

wi t h i t hi s est i mat e of t he meani ng and di gni t y

of a booksel l er ' s busi ness r i ses st eadi l y. He

pour s out hi s scor n t o MacLehose ( on hear i ng of

t he def ect i on of a young Scot chman) , upon " t hose

of our pr of essi on who degr ade t hemsel ves by

becomi ng wai t er s, cl er ks, pol i cemen, and t he l i ke. "

1833- 37. ] HANKERI NGS FOR " THE ROW. " 53

He has f r equent vi si t s t o Ar r an, i n hi s dr eams,

but whet her t hese dr eams of home br i ng mor e

pl easur e or pai n, can scar cel y deci de. They at

al l event s l ead hi m t o val ue Campbel l ' s " Sol di er ' s

Dr eam " as of i ncompar abl e beaut y.

He i s f ai t hf ul i n ur gi ng hi s f r i end MacLehose

t o j oi n a Chur ch : i ndeed, f r om t hi s t i me a deep

r el i gi ous t one under l i es al l hi s j our nal s and cor r e-

spondence, but f r ee f r om t he st er eot yped phr ases

and sent i ment s whi ch gi ve an unr eal i t y t o most

evangel i cal conf essi ons. He i s eager and gr at ef ul

f or news of t he young Scot chmen i n t he Row and

el sewher e i n London, i n al l of whom he t akes t he

war mest i nt er est ; and f or t he Scot ch newspaper s

whi ch hi s f r i end f or war ds, and whi ch he car es

much mor e f or t han he di d at home.

Cambr i dge i s a pl easant t own, and he i s maki ng

Page 35 of 178

many f r i ends; but st i l l at t he end of t he f i r st

year hi s hear t i s st i l l i n London, and he f i nds t hat

her e t her e i s no act i ve bust l e, so " t hat one cannot

acqui r e t hose habi t s of act i vi t y so usef ul t o young

men. "

No openi ng, however , occur s, and he spends a

second year at Cambr i dge, st i l l on t he ol d sal ar y

of 30. I t pr oves a sad one t o hi m, f or i n May

he hear s of hi s mot her ' s i l l ness and i n August of

her deat h. He has been unabl e t o get t o her

deat h- bed, and t he t hought t r oubl es hi m sor el y,

and t r i es hi s f ai t h sever el y f or t he t i me. He does

not , however , r egr et t hat he cannot now go " home.

54 FAVOUKI TE AUTHORS. [ OH. m.

Home ( i f one who has nei t her f at her nor mot her

may t al k of home) has f ew at t r act i ons f or me now. "

Hi s eager ness t o know ever yt hi ng about books

new and ol d i ncr eases, and t he r esul t s of hi s vor a-

ci ous r eadi ng become mor e appar ent . Hi s l et t er s

t o MacLehose ar e f ul l of cr i t i ci sm and comment ,

and he i s never t i r ed of r ecommendi ng hi s f avour i t e

aut hor s Jer emy Tayl or , Landor , Car l yl e, and

above al l , Lei ght on ( " I wi sh you woul d r ead hi m ;

I don' t know any wr i t er equal t o hi m. What ar e

your Bi cker st et hs, and Br i dges, and Jowet t s ? " ) .

But he can scar cel y be r oused t o any i nt er est i n

par t y pol i t i cs, t hough j ust now t he ki ngdom i s

st i l l i n t he t hr oes of t he Ref or m cr i si s. He

hi msel f i s a Conser vat i ve, " Conser vat i sm and

Tor yi sm bei ng ent i r el y di st i nct , and Tor i es t he

t r ue dest r uct i ves. " He does not t hi nk t he

Gover nment wi l l be t ur ned out , t hough Aber -

cr omby, t he candi dat e of t he Opposi t i on, has been

chosen Speaker , whi ch he i s gl ad of as a Scot ch-

man. A mont h l at er , t o f al si f y hi s f or ecast ,

t he change has come : However , I am no pol i -

t i ci an, and scar cel y ever r ead a newspaper , but

don' t see why you need boast " ( hi s f r i end bei ng

an exul t i ng Li ber al ) , " f or t he Whi gs t hr ew out Si r

R. Peel by vot es, not by ar gument . You may as

wel l avoi d pol i t i cs, as I can' t compr ehend t hem. "

At t he end of hi s second year he i s st i l l unabl e

t o move, and agr ees wi t h Mr . Johnson t o ser ve

hi m f or yet anot her at an i ncr ease of 5 on hi s

1833- 37. ] THI RD YEAR I N CAMBRI DGE. 55

sal ar y. " I coul d not bear t he i dea, " he wr i t es

t o MacLehose, Oct ober 8, 1835, " of beat i ng up

f or a hi gher sal ar y, because I t hought he ought t o

be t he best j udge of my wor t h. 35 i s cer t ai nl y

l ess t han I expect ed, and, I t hi nk, l ess t han I

ought t o have ; but never t hel ess I don' t see t he

good of annoyi ng mysel f f or t he sake of a l i t t l e

pel f . Besi des I am at pr esent qui t e poor , i n f act

Page 36 of 178

I am a l i t t l e i n debt , but I hope t hat by next year

I shal l have as many sover ei gns as wi l l enabl e me

t o vent ur e t o London wi t hout hesi t at i on. You

ar e t he onl y per son t o whom I have r el at ed t hi s

l ast ci r cumst ance, and I have done so i n conf i -

dence. " . . . " I am r eal l y obl i ged t o you f or t el l i ng

me how t o spel l par cel . I i ndeed t hought t hat

' ci l ' was t he r i ght met hod, j ust because t he ' eel '

i s pr onounced as ' ci l ' i s i n counci l and many

ot her i nst ances. I shal l est eem i t a f avour i f you

ment i on any si mi l ar er r or s when you not i ce t hem

i n any of my f ut ur e l et t er s. I hope i t wi l l be

but sel dom. "

Much as i t went agai nst t he gr ai n t o r emai n

at Cambr i dge, t he compar at i ve l ei sur e whi ch hi s

wor k t her e al l owed, gave hi m oppor t uni t i es whi ch

he coul d scar cel y have got el sewher e. Hi s j our nal

and not e- books ar e now f ul l of t hought s and r ul es

" on st udy and r eadi ng, " on " medi t at i on and r e-

f l ect i on, " " f i xi ng t he at t ent i on, " " enl ar gi ng t he

capaci t y of t he mi nd, " " i mpr ovi ng t he memor y, "

" det er mi ni ng a quest i on, " &c. I nt er sper sed wi t h

56 CAMBRI DGE QUI TTED. [ ci r . i n.

t hese ar e ext r act s f r om aut hor s he i s r eadi ng, f r om

Mi l t on, Andr ew Mar vel , Vol t ai r e, Gi bbon, Boi l eau,

Tasso, Vi r gi l , Landor . Hi s r ange wi dens con-

st ant l y, and he not onl y r eads and ext r act s, but

cr i t i ci ses, somet i mes i n hi s own wor ds, somet i mes

condensi ng f r om ot her s.

He i s par t i cul ar l y f ond of shor t aphor i sms,

such as t hat whi ch Landor put s i nt o Lor d Br ooke' s

mout h, " ambi t i on i s but avar i ce on st i l t s and

masked, " and on t he whol e i s r eachi ng out

on al l si des mor e and mor e met hodi cal l y f or

cul t ur e and knowl edge, wi t h t he const ant ai m

of qual i f yi ng hi msel f mor e t hor oughl y f or t he

hi ghest wal ks i n hi s busi ness of booksel l er , as

wel l as educat i ng hi msel f as a man.

At t he end of hi s t hi r d year he f eel s t hat t he

t i me has come f or l eavi ng Cambr i dge. He qui t s i t

wi t h r egr et , havi ng had much t o encour age hi m

and much t o be t hankf ul f or . He had made many

f r i ends amongst t he r eadi ng men who f r equent ed

t he shop; i ndeed t her e ar e sl i ght i ndi cat i ons of

j eal ousy on t he par t of hi s empl oyer on t hi s

account . The r i si ng men i n t he uni ver si t y of t en

passed Mr . Johnson' s desk t o consul t t he Scot ch

shopman as t o t hei r pur chases, or t o t al k over

books wi t h hi m. I am al l owed t o ci t e one of

t he most di st i ngui shed of t hese, t he Dean of

Chest er , who says, " I used const ant l y t o go af t er

Hal l t o t al k t o hi m about books, and what I owe

t o hi m i n t hi s way i s associ at ed wi t h a ver y

1833- 37. ] SCOTLAND REVI SI TED. 57

Page 37 of 178

def i ni t e i mpr essi on of hi s ki ndl i ness, abi l i t y, and

knowl edge. Whenever I went t o Cambr i dge

af t er war ds, I was al ways gl ad of t he oppor t uni t y

of keepi ng up t he f r i endshi p. " Not t he sl i ght est

cl oud, however , over shadowed hi s par t i ng wi t h

Mr . Johnson.

I n Januar y, 1837, af t er l eavi ng Cambr i dge, he

st ar t ed f or a shor t vi si t t o Scot l and, pr ol onged t o

t hr ee mont hs by an at t ack of i l l ness br ought

on by exposur e on t he voyage f r om London t o

Lei t h i n a smal l coast er . He was accompani ed

on boar d by MacLehose, t o whom t he f ol l owi ng

l et t er descr i bi ng hi s voyage i s addr essed :

" STEWARTON, Januar y 12, 1837.

" . . . . When you l ef t me I began t o r ead,

and 1 cont i nued t o r ead t i l l we di ned. The

t abl e cl ot h was l ai d by t he cabi n- boy, who i s

a si ngul ar ani mal , wi t h a di r t y shi r t and a di ngy

pai r of t r ouser s he has a sover ei gn cont empt

f or al l t he ot her par t s of t he Br i t i sh cost ume.

The pl at es whi ch he l ai d down wer e cl ean; t he

f or ks wer e pr i est - gr ey ; t he spoons wer e some-

t hi ng l i ke t he kni ves. The boy, ki nd cr eat ur e, cut

t he br ead i nt o sl i ces; and, by way of omi mcnt ,

l ef t t he mar ks of hi s t humbs on t hem. The

capt ai n had a ver y del i cat e st omach. He t ol d me

t hat he had been af f ect ed wi t h i t f or a l ong t i me.

Poor f el l ow, I f el t f or hi m. Hi s r egi men was j ust

sui t ed t o hi s st omach. He t ook hi s meal s j ust as

58 THE VOYAGE NORTH. [ CH. m.

ot her peopl e do, and i n addi t i on t o t hi s he t ook

si x bot t l es of por t er per day, f or hi s st omach' s

sake. The f i r st t hr ee days of our voyage wer e

ver y agr eeabl e, t hough we di d not make much pr o-

gr ess. On Wednesday af t er noon a vi ol ent con-

t r ar y wi nd r ose, whi ch caused t he vessel t o r ock

t r emendousl y. The waves swept t he decks. The

sai l or s wer e f r i ght ened, I was si ck. Thi ngs con-

t i nued i n t hi s st at e f or t hr ee days. On Sat ur day

ni ght t he wi nd changed; we t hen made gr eat

pr ogr ess, and on Sunday mor ni ng about t wo o' cl ock

we ar r i ved i n Lei t h. I had been i n' bed si nce

Wednesday af t er noon, and dur i ng al l t hat t i me I

had nei t her br oken my f ast nor sl ept , so I was

ver y gl ad when we ar r i ved. I coul d not go t o

Edi nbur gh t i l l i t was l i ght . When I got out of my

bed I was so weak t hat I coul d not st and. When

i t was l i ght I hi r ed a hackney coach and dr ove

t o St . James' s Squar e. The Wi l sons wer e ver y

ki nd t o me. Af t er I had t aken some t ea and a

gl ass of br andy I went t o bed, and l ay t i l l t hey

came back f r om t he f or enoon' s ser vi ces. ' Ti s need-

l ess t o be t oo mi nut e. Mr s. Wi l son nur sed me

f or a f or t ni ght as i f I had been her own and onl y

son "

Page 38 of 178

Hi s r ecover y was sl ow, and he had t o spend t he

next t wo mont hs i n Scot l and, t hi s t i me f or t he

most par t i n t owns wher e he came acr oss number s

of mechani cs and weaver s, a sad cont r ast t o t he

1833- 37. ] THE COVENANTERS. 59

poor peasant s of Ar r an, i nt er cour se wi t h whom

had so cheer ed hi m t hr ee year s bef or e. " The

di scont ent of t he l ower cl asses i s most pai nf ul i n

i t sel f , " he wr i t es, " i n t he f or m i t t akes, and t he

spi r i t i t spr i ngs f r om. How di f f er ent f r om t he ol d

Covenant er spi r i t . These Covenant er s wer e most

nobl e. They f ought f or God' s t r ut h, and wi shed

t o r i d t he ear t h of what ever was an abomi nat i on

t o t he Lor d. Dut y was t he hi ghest t hi ng t o t hem,

and t hey st r uggl ed har d t o obey i t s behest . Thei r

bol dness was not a br ut al , vul gar , i gnor ant t emer i t y,

wi t hout r ever ence, wi t hout f ai t h, but sol emn and

nobl e. I f eel sur e of t hi s, not wi t hst andi ng Si r

Wal t er ' s gr aphi c mi sr epr esent at i ons. I have of t en

t al ked wi t h some of t he r emnant of t hat ol d st ock,

a f ew who st i l l keep al i ve t he hol y f l ame, and

know what t r ue r ef i nement l i es at t he bot t om of

t hei r nobl e nat ur es. But , al as, t hat r ace i s becom-

i ng qui t e ext i nct . The poor men, t he mechani cs,

weaver s, and t he l i ke i n our t owns, car e not one

f ar t hi ng f or t he Covenant , or f or t hose deeper

mat t er s of whi ch t he Covenant was a symbol .

They know not hi ng about dut y, or f ai t h, or God ;

t hey car e onl y about t hei r r i ght s ; t hey t al k onl y

about r ef or m, uni ver sal suf f r age, f r om whi ch t hey

l ook f or j ust i ce and del i ver ance f r om oppr essi on.

They do not l ook up t o God f or hel p i n t he ol d-

f ashi oned way. Thi s may be a ' pr ogr ess of

humani t y, ' and al l t he r est of t hat j ar gon, but I ,

f or one, cannot admi r e i t . "

60 NEW ENGAGEMENT. [ 1833- 37.

I t was not unt i l t he end of Mar ch t hat he was

abl e t o l ook out f or wor k agai n. The f i r st he

hear d of was t he pl ace of shopman t o a st at i oner

at Lei t h at 50 a year , of whi ch he wr i t es t o hi s

f r i end MacLehose :

" 26, ST. JAMES' S SQUARE, EDI NBURGH,

" Mar ch 24, 1837.

" I dar e say you pi t y me. You have gr eat

compassi on when you t hi nk of me bewai l i ng wi t h

a despai r i ng l ament at i on t he pr ospect of bei ng

obl i ged t o sel l paper at Lei t h, when you t hi nk of

me r ecei vi ng a sal ar y of f i f t y pounds a year whi l e

you have mor e t han t he doubl e. Wel l , I must

conf ess t hat i t i s a depl or abl e t hi ng ; but yet , i t i s

connect ed wi t h sever al ci r cumst ances whi ch gr eat l y

mi t i gat e t he evi l . Ther e i s t he advant age of bei ng

near t he Wi l sons, and t hi s I count a ver y power f ul

Page 39 of 178

at t r act i on. By Mr . and Mr s: Wi l son I have been

t r eat ed as a son. By t he f ami l y I have been

t r eat ed as a br ot her . They ar e peopl e of gr eat

i nt el l i gence and good sense. Now i nt er cour se wi t h

such peopl e i mpr oves one ver y much, and I know

f ew who r equi r e t he i mpr ovement mor e t han

I do. . . . "

To whi ch a r epl y comes of f er i ng a si t uat i on i n

Messr s. Seel ey' s shop. Hi s Lei t h empl oyer good-

nat ur edl y r el eased hi m f r om hi s agr eement , and

he hast ened t o London, and was at once i nst al l ed

i n Fl eet St r eet .

CHAPTER I V.

FLEET STREET. 1837- 43.

THE next si x year s wer e spent by Dani el Mac-

mi l l an i n t he ser vi ce of Messr s. Seel ey of Fl eet

St r eet , at a sal ar y r i si ng f r om 60 t o 130. Twi ce

dur i ng t hese year s, i n 1839 and 1841, he was

obl i ged t o gi ve up al l wor k, and t o t ake some

r est i n Scot l and, chi ef l y at Edi nbur gh wi t h hi s

f r i ends t he Wi l sons. That hi s empl oyer s soon

l ear nt t o appr eci at e hi m may be i nf er r ed f r om

t he f act t hat hi s pl ace was never f i l l ed up dur i ng

t hese absences. But excel l ent as wer e hi s r el a-

t i ons wi t h t he Messr s. Seel ey, as t hey had been

wi t h al l pr evi ous empl oyer s, t hi s per i od was one

of much t r i al and suf f er i ng, f r om weak heal t h,

st r ai t ened means, and a possi bl y exagger at ed f eel -

i ng of r esponsi bi l i t y f or t hose of hi s r el at i ves who

needed sor el y even such hel p as he was abl e t o

gi ve t hem.

Ther e ar e si gns t oo i n hi s j our nal and l et t er s

t hat t he posi t i on of dependence was becomi ng

ver y . i r ksome t o hi m, as i t must sooner or l at er

62 MESSRS. SEELEY' S, FLEET STREET. [ CH. i v,

become t o ever y pr oud and ambi t i ous man, con-

sci ous of power and knowl edge, but wi t hout t he

means of usi ng t hem on hi s own account . He

sees how t hi ngs mi ght be bet t er managed, how

openi ngs ar e mi ssed and f al se st eps made, and

f r et s under t hat sor est t r i al of t he capabl e spi r i t ,

7r o\ \ a ( f r povet ov / / . ^ Sei / o? f cpar eei v.

As hi s j our nal wi l l be dr awn upon l ar gel y i n

t he f ol l owi ng pages i t may be wel l t o gi ve at once

hi s own vi ew on t he much debat ed quest i on,

whet her such a document can be a t r ust wor t hy

chr oni cl e of a man' s own l i f e. The best known

aut obi ogr aphi cal wr i t i ngs, such as Fr ankl i n' s

Aut obi ogr aphy, Rousseau' s Conf essi ons, Goet he' s

Di cht ung und Wahr hei t , and ot her such wor ks

whi ch coul d i l l be spar ed f r om l i t er at ur e, cer t ai nl y

l eave t hat quest i on i n much doubt . Pr obabl y t he

Page 40 of 178

t r ue answer i s t hat i t depends mai nl y on t he

nat ur e of t he man, and par t l y on t he obj ect he

set s bef or e hi msel f , whet her he can gi ve a t r ue

r ecor d of hi s own t hought s, mot i ves, act i ons.

Reader s wi l l j udge, each f or hi msel f , how f ar

t hi s j our nal has a t r ue r i ng about i t .

" I kept a j our nal f r om t he 26t h of November ,

1832, t o t he 13t h of August , 1834; but f ear i ng

t hat t hi s wr i t i ng about mysel f mi ght i ncr ease

pr i de and gi ve bi r t h t o i nsi ncer i t y, I r esol ved t o

gi ve i t up and dest r oy al l t hat I had wr i t t en.

" Si nce t he 13t h of August , 1834, 1 have t hought

1837- 43. ] JOURNAL WRI TI NG. 63

sever al t i mes on t he mat t er . I have t hought

agai nst j our nal s and di ar i es; and I have t al ked

agai nst t hem. But I t hi nk di f f er ent l y now. I

t hi nk t hey may be abused, and t hat t hey ar e

abused ; t hat men and women have f i l l ed j our nal s

and di ar i es wi t h nonsense and cant . But yet I

t hi nk t hat no ar gument agai nst t he t hi ng. Pul pi t s

and pl at f or ms ar e l i abl e t o t he same abuse. Yet

no r at i onal man t hi nks of over t ur ni ng or suppr ess-

i ng t hese modes of pr opagat i ng r el i gi ous and

mor al doct r i nes and opi ni ons.

" I now bel i eve t hat keepi ng a j our nal does, or

may, i mpr ove t he mi nd and hear t .

" Of cour se, ever y one bel i eves t hat a man ought

t o ask hi msel f at t he end of t he day, ' What have

I done ? ' Now, keepi ng a j our nal j ust enabl es a

man t o answer t hat quest i on. I n f act , a j our nal

i s, or ought t o be, t he answer .

" I bel i eve t hat I shal l have t o gi ve an account

of what I have sai d, or done, or t hought . Ay,

and of what I have negl ect ed t o do. I i nt end t o

wr i t e t hi s j our nal as i n t he pr esence of HI M who

shal l be my j udge. I hope t hat He wi l l make me

si ncer e and honest , and t hat under Hi s bl essi ng

t hi s may pr ove a power f ul i nst r ument of sel f -

i mpr ovement .

" Ther e ar e t i mes when my mi nd becomes ver y

ear t hl y and Sadducean : when many t hi ngs appear

mor e at t r act i ve t han vi r t ue, and mor e abomi nabl e

t han vi ce. Wel l , i t does one good, at such t i mes,

64 MANUSCRI PT PRAYERS. [ en. i v.

t o r ead t he not es whi ch wer e wr i t t en when t he

mi nd was i n a heal t hi er st at e. They br i ng t o

one' s r ecol l ect i on t r ai ns of t hought , and gust s of

f eel i no" , whi ch t end t o ext i ngui sh and ext er mi nat e

O 7 O

Page 41 of 178

what ever i s i mpi ous and i mpur e : and t o exci t e,

ani mat e, and st r engt hen hol y medi t at i on and

devout emot i on. And, I t hi nk, t hat t hey l ead me,

no l ess, t o seek mor e f r equent l y and mor e ear nest l y

f or t hat ar mour whi ch wi l l enabl e me t o r epel t he

spi r i t ual f oes whi ch at t ack me, and r epr ess t he

t r eason of my own hear t .

" For t hese pur poses I now begi n my j our nal

af r esh. "

Fr om t hi s openi ng i t woul d seem nat ur al l y

t o f ol l ow, as i ndeed i s t he f act , t hat one of t he

char act er i st i cs of t hi s j our nal shoul d be t he f r e-

quent occur r ence of pr ayer s amongst t he r ecor d

of dai l y event s, quot at i ons f r om books he i s

r eadi ng, r ul es f or i mpr ovi ng t he memor y and

t r ai ni ng t he i nt el l ect , whi ch f or m i t s st apl e. How

compl et el y he has del i ver ed hi msel f f r om t he

Cal vi ni sm and scept i ci sm of ear l i er days may be

gat her ed f r om any of t hese out pour i ngs of a much

t r i ed spi r i t , of whi ch t he f ol l owi ng may ser ve as

speci mens :

" . . . . O Lor d, gi ve me a st r onger and f i r mer

f ai t h i n Thy pr ovi dence, now t hat I have t o

st r uggl e wi t h pover t y. O God, do Thou st r engt hen

1837- 43. ] MANUSCRI PT PRAYERS. 65

and sust ai n me. May I cheer f ul l y acqui esce i n Thy

wi l l . May I l ook on t hese pai nf ul t r i al s as t he

di sci pl i ne of a ki nd and t ender Fat her . May t hey

have t hei r pr oper ef f ect . Keep me f r om f r et t i ng

f r om bei ng t ossed and di st ur bed by pr oud and

wi cked t hought s. May t her e ever be a qui et and

heavenl y cal m i n my soul . Gi ve me conf i dence

i n Thee. O Lor d, i f i t be possi bl e, i f i t be Thy

wi l l , gr ant t hat , by some means or ot her , I may be

del i ver ed f r om t hi s l oad. I f t hat i s not Thy wi l l ,

enabl e me t o endur e. I t i s easi er t o t al k of pa-

t i ence t han t o be pat i ent . May I r eal l y be pat i ent .

May I r eal l y r est on Thi ne ar m, l ook up t o Thee

f or suppor t , and enj oy Thy smi l e ; even now, when

I am t ossed on t r oubl ed wat er s. O Lor d, hear me,

I beseech Thee, f or Jesus Chr i st ' s sake. Amen.

" . . . . Most mer ci f ul God, I i mpl or e Thee

t o keep me f r om t he pr essur e of wer l dl y car e,

whi ch di st ur bs t he peace and happi ness of man,

and of t en l eads t o vi ol at i ons of Thy wi l l . O

Lor d, keep me f r om t hi s. Though I am pr essed

under a l oad of debt , and have somet i mes t o

st r uggl e wi t h hunger , O Lor d, pr eser ve me i n

my i nt egr i t y. May I never st oop t o anyt hi ng

mean. May my mor al i t y be st er n, di gni f i ed, and

upr i ght . O Lor d God, i f i t pl ease Thee, r el ease

me f r om my pr esent di f f i cul t i es. Whi l e t hey l ast

may t hey gi ve st r engt h and st eadf ast ness t o my

pr i nci pl es. Keep me f r om cant and car el essness,

haught i ness and sycophancy. . . . "

Page 42 of 178

F

6C NEW RESPONSI BI LI TI ES. [ en. i v.

Looki ng back on t hi s t i me he wr i t es :

" My l i f e has never been an easy- goi ng l i f e.

One t hi ng af t er anot her has occur r ed t o pr event

my enj oyi ng ease and qui et ness. Some of my

f r i ends say t hat I am t oo r eady t o t ake car es

and t r oubl es upon me. Be t hat as i t may, I

am al ways over head and ear s wi t h one t r oubl e

or anot her . I am al ways i n debt , t hough I have

no ext r avagant habi t s. . . "

St i l l he f eel s t hat he i s i n hi s r i ght pl ace. Af t er

hi s absence i n Scot l and i n 1839, wher e he was

t empt ed t o r emai n by sever al of f er s, he wr i t es :

" I was gl ad t o get back t o London agai n.

London seems mor e of a home t o me t han any

ot her pl ace. I r vi ne seemed t o me t he most

desol at e of al l pl aces. I have no home t her e

now ; no mot her ' s f i r esi de. Ah me ! . . . . And

t hen, besi des t hat , t he condi t i on of my ni eces and

nephews ; and t he knowl edge of my i nabi l i t y

t o assi st t hem. Al l t hi s i s ver y pai nf ul t o me.

I don' t t hi nk t hat I shal l ever vi si t I r vi ne

agai n. "

Thi s r eadi ness t o t ake car es and t r oubl e on hi m-

sel f , and hi s desi r e t o l end a hel pi ng hand t o hi s

r el at i ves, r esul t ed i n much anxi et y of mi nd, and

aggr avat i on of hi s bodi l y ai l ment s ; and at l ast , i n

1840, i n a sacr i f i ce whi ch cost hi m mor e t han al l

1837- 43. ] Xl ' . W I JKSl ' OXSI TJI LI TI ES. n7

ot her s. To cl ear hi msel f of debt and pay doct or s'

bi l l s, and t he expenses i ncur r ed i n br i ngi ng hi s

si st er and ni ece t o London, he sol d t he l i br ar y of

f avour i t e books whi ch he had been col l ect i ng al l

hi s l i f e, except some f ew whi ch he coul d not bear

t o par t wi t h. How t he necessi t y came upon hi m

t he f ol l owi ng ext r act s wi l l show. The Mi sses

Nut t er r ef er r ed t o kept t he boar di ng house i n

Hoxt on at whi ch he and hi s br ot her l odged.

" My br ot her Al exander was keepi ng a vi l l age

school i n a pl ace cal l ed Ni t shi l l about t wo mi l es

f r om Pai sl ey. Si st er Janet was keepi ng house f or

hi m, and a smal l sewi ng- school by way of i n-

cr easi ng t hei r i ncome. Fr om al l I coul d l ear n

t hey wer e not maki ng t he t wo ends meet . I t

seemed t o me t hat i f I coul d f i nd a pl ace f or

Al exander i n London i t woul d be a good t hi ng.

I had scar cel y r et ur ned when I l ear ned t hat L.

and G. Seel ey want ed a young man. I spoke t o

G. Seel ey about my br ot her j he agr eed t o t ake

Page 43 of 178

hi m, hi s sal ar y t o commence wi t h 60. I wr ot e

f or hi m ; and he came up, and has been her e ever

si nce doi ng ver y wel l . I t i s near l y t hr ee year s

now si nce he ar r i ved her e on t he 3r d of Oct ober ,

1830. I t hi nk hi s comi ng her e has been a gr eat

bl essi ng t o hi m.

" Af t er I had wr i t t en f or Al exander , i t st r uck me

t hat i t woul d be a j pi t y t o l eave Janet al one i n

Gl asgow. I knew t hat her educat i on was ver y

F 2

68 RES ANGUSTA DOMI . [ CH. i v.

def i ci ent ; and f anci ed t hat she mi ght i mpr ove i t

i f she came her e, and put her sel f under t he car e

of t he Mi sses Nut t er ; and t hat , af t er bei ng her e

f or hal f a year or so, she mi ght t ake a pl ace of

some ki nd wher e she woul d be abl e t o suppor t

her sel f . I wr ot e f or her , and she got her sel f

r eady as soon as she coul d, and r eached London

on t he 2nd of November , 1839.

" She had not been her e l ong, when I saw cl ear l y

t hat t her e was ver y l i t t l e chance of her l ear ni ng

much f r om t he Nut t er s. They di d not sui t each

ot her at al l . I di d not know ver y wel l how t o get

r i d of t hese evi l s. At l ast I t hought of f ur ni shed

l odgi ngs, and get t i ng my si st er t o manage f or us.

We f ound t hat f ur ni shed apar t ment s near t he

ci t y, and at al l r espect abl e, wer e ver y expensi ve,

t hat t he cheapest , easi est , pl easant est , and al t o-

get her t he best way, was t o get unf ur ni shed apar t -

ment s, and f ur ni sh t hem our sel ves. But how t o get

t hem f ur ni shed ? That was t he di f f i cul t y. I t r i ed

sever al of my f r i ends t o see i f I coul d get t he l oan

of 60. I had about t en of my own. At l ast I

appl i ed t o Mr . Bur nsi de " ( one of t he par t ner s i n

Messr s. Seel ey' s house) , " and he l ent me t hat sum

at once.

" Mr . Edwar ds, a gent l eman t o whom we wer e

i nt r oduced by Mr . Chapman, di d al l i n hi s power

t o hel p us t o buy t hi ngs wi sel y. He i s a ver y

ki nd, wor t hy man, an ear nest soci al i st , a most

di si nt er est ed man. I am gl ad t hat I was i nt r oduced

1837- 43. ] KES ANGUSTA DOMI . 69

t o hi m. I t gave me an oppor t uni t y of seei ng

Soci al i sm on i t s f ai r est si de, so t hat I mi ght j udge

f ai r l y of i t s oper at i on, i t s meani ng, i t s t endenci es,

and, above al l , t o see t he r easons why such men as

Mr . Edwar ds embr aced i t . Thi s gent l eman and

hi s wi f e wer e ver y ki nd t o us; t hey spar ed no

pai ns t o f or war d us, and enabl e us t o get good

t hi ngs cheap. I n a shor t t i me, wi t h t he hel p of

t hese ki nd peopl e, we got al l t hi ngs t oget her ; and

on t he 9t h of Mar ch, 1840, we got i nt o r ooms at

Page 44 of 178

26, Bar t l et t ' s Bui l di ngs, f or whi ch we wer e t o pay

30 a year . When we got al l set t l ed, t hi ngs

l ooked ver y pl easant ; onl y Janet seemed r at her

awkwar d i n her management , at l east I t hought so.

I hoped she woul d soon get over t hat . I f anci ed

she was not st r ong enough f or t he wor k. But on

t he whol e, t hi ngs went on, f or a t i me, ver y wel l .

I f ound, however , t hat our expenses wer e gr eat er

t han I expect ed. I saw pl ai nl y t hat we shoul d

never get our debt cl ear ed of f unl ess my sal ar y

i ncr eased, or Janet f ound out some mor e economi cal

mode of managi ng. "

The debt s wer e pai d by t he sal e of hi s l i br ar y,

and Janet sent back t o Scot l and. Then t he t wo

br ot her s mi gr at ed t o a boar di ng- house i n Char t er -

house Squar e. But t he consequences of t hese ef f or t s

i nvol ved such st r ai t ened means t hat he not es, i n

t he t one of pl easant bant er whi ch r uns t hr ough

hi s j our nal when deal i ng wi t h hi s own t r oubl es,

70 " SARTOR RESAi r r US. " [ en. i v.

Mr . Wi l l i am Bur nsi de' s habi t of aski ng t hem t o t ea

wi t h hi m, " a savi ng t o us whi ch i s of consequence

t o such poor chaps. " Fr om t he t i me of hi s younger

br ot her ' s ar r i val i n London t hey wer e never

separ at ed, and t he t wo shar ed al l bur t hens and

al l successes as br ot her s shoul d do. Al exander ,

he t el l s hi s f r i end G. Wi l son ( November , 1839) ,

" has t o get up at si x t o bo i n Fl eet St r eet at

ei ght . Whi l e he i s dr essi ng and br eakf ast i ng, I

r ead some book t o hi m j ust now i t i s Sar t or

Resar t us" when f i ni shed he wi l l send t hi s book

t o hi s f r i end, who must , however r emember t hat

i t i s not a common book t o be r ead i n a common

way, and he must r et ur n i t when r ead. What

wi t h br ot her , si st er , ni ece, wi t h hi m, and a nephew

comi ng, one can under st and t he f eel i ng of age

whi ch he f eel s comi ng on hi m ( Oct ober , 1839) .

" I t i s scar cel y t i me f or me t o be an ol d man

yet , but f ew f at her s f eel so ser i ous. Wer e I t o

di e or l ose my heal t h, or be t hr own out of my

si t uat i on, why we shoul d al l be r educed t o beggar y

i n a ver y shor t t i me. "

But hi s many car es do not make hi m f or get f ul

of hi s books, and, af t er r epeat ed appl i cat i ons f or

a year , he even get s back Sar t or Resar t us f r om

G. Wi l son, by t he appeal , " I f you haven' t made i t

i nt o pi pe l i ght s, send i t me back, i t has become

a necessi t y of l i f e t o me. "

Somet i mes dur i ng t hese year s he has t hought s

1837- 43. ] DU. BI NNEY' S CHURCH. 71

of l eavi ng London. Hi s f r i end MacLehose, f or

i nst ance, now est abl i shed i n Gl asgow, wr i t es i n

1839 of a pl ace ho can have t her e wi t h a sal ar y

Page 45 of 178

of 80.

" Thi s, " he comment s, " i s j ust what I have :

but i n Gl asgow ei ght y pounds wi l l go as f ar as a

hundr ed pounds i n London. So i n r eal i t y, t he

sal ar y i s t went y pounds bet t er . Now, as I am i n

debt about t went y pounds, t hi s i s of consequence

t o me. But st i l l I don' t know how t o deci de. I

am so ver y comf or t abl e. Mr . Bur nsi de, and hi s

t wo sons, Wi l l i am and Jacob, ar e so ver y ki nd t o

me, I shoul d not l i ke t o l eave t hem f or a t r i f l e.

Besi des, t he Mi ss Nut t er s ar e so ver y ki nd t o

me. I am i n al l t hi ngs t r eat ed as a br ot her .

I can scar cel y expect t o be so comf or t abl e i f I

wer e t o go t o Gl asgow.

" Then agai n, I l i ke Mr . Bi nney' s pr eachi ng so

much. I shoul d be ver y sor r y i ndeed t o l eave

hi m. I never met any one whose ser mons f ur -

ni sh so many mat er i al s f or r ef l ect i on. He has a

nobl e mi nd : he i s so ver y ener get i c and ear nest :

yet hi s manner i s so si mpl e and chast e ; so f r ee

f r om al l f al se gl i t t er and show. I never hope t o

meet wi t h hi s equal . Yet I shoul d have t o gi ve

up al l t hi s i f I l ef t London. "

He had j oi ned Mr . Bi nney' s congr egat i on at t he

Wei gh House Chapel soon af t er comi ng t o t own,

72 REASONS FOR SECESSI ON. [ ci r . i v.

and cont i nued t o bel ong t o i t unt i l 1842. The

r easons f or hi s l eavi ng i t ar e gi ven i n t he f ol l ow-

i ng l et t er t o Mr . Bi nney, whi ch i ndi cat es t he

di r ect i on hi s mi nd was t aki ng i n r el i gi ous and

eccl esi ast i cal mat t er s dur i ng t hese year s.

To THE REV. DR. BI NNEY.

" Sept ember 7, 1842.

" I am ver y sor r y t hat my not e shoul d have

gi ven you t he l east t hought . My af f ect i on,

my r espect , and r ever ence, and gr at i t ude, woul d

pr event me f r om sayi ng anyt hi ng or doi ng any-

t hi ng t hat I f anci ed woul d at al l di st ur b your

mi nd. I di d compose a l onger l et t er , expl ai ni ng

i n as cl ear and si mpl e a manner as I coul d t he

r easons whi ch have made me det er mi ne never t o

go t o t he Wei gh House agai n : but af t er l ooki ng

over i t , I sent i t t o t he wi nds, i magi ni ng t hat i t

woul d be wr ong and f ool i sh t o t ake up your t i me

wi t h t he di f f i cul t i es of so uni mpor t ant a per son.

I f anci ed t hat such a l et t er woul d appear l augh-

abl e, i f not t o you, at any r at e t o t hose who mi ght

see i t ; f or I supposed t hat ' t he deacons ' woul d

see such t hi ngs as a mat t er of cour se, i n vi r t ue of

t hei r f unct i ons. But her e I maybe mi st aken,

because I have onl y ver y hazy not i ons on t hese

mat t er s. Thi s i s t he t r ue r eason of my wr i t i ng

so ver y shor t , and, as i t appear s, so ver y unsat i s -

f act or y a not e.

Page 46 of 178

1837- 43. ] KEASONS FOR SECESSI ON. 73

" I wr ot e t hat not e about f our weeks ago. I

wr ot e i t wi t h t r embl i ng ; and when I had wr i t t en

i t I coul d not t hi nk of sendi ng i t ; i t was so pai nf ul

f or me t o wi t hdr aw f r om al l cont act ( not wi t h t he

Wei gh House, f or as no one t her e ever spoke t o me,

as I know no one t her e, and can have no r espect

or af f ect i on f or t he Chur ch, i t cost s me no pai n

t o l eave i t ) wi t h t he mi ni st er of t he Wei gh House.

But I sha' n' t dwel l on t hi s, l est I shoul d get sent i -

ment al . However , on Sunday, August 7t h, I f or got

t o t ake my t i cket t o t he communi on ser vi ce, and

on Thur sday l ast I had t o l eave t own t o keep

an engagement wi t h a gent l eman i n Sussex ; and

as I knew I shoul d not be abl e t o r et ur n t i l l af t er

Sunday, Sept ember ot h, I f el t i t necessar y t o send

t he not e bef or e I l ef t t own ; because I di d not wi sh

t o see any of ' t he deacons, ' especi al l y at a t i me

when I had made up my mi nd t o l eave t he Wei gh

House al t oget her .

" I am af r ai d t hat i f I pr oceed t o t el l you t he

r easons you wi l l t hi nk i t a ver y l ong and ver y

t i r esome st or y. I wi l l be as shor t as I can.

" You may r emember t hat i n May, 1841, I was

ver y i l l . For Some t i me my r ecover y seemed a

ver y doubt f ul mat t er . I t hi nk I t ol d you t hi s

bef or e. At any r at e i t was so. I was away f r om

busi ness f or si x weeks. My doct or was ver y par -

t i cul ar i n aski ng al l my habi t s ; how I f el t t hi s

day and t hat day. I ment i oned t hat I was al ways

poor l y on Mondays. He asked me wher e I went ,

74 REASONS FOR SECESSI ON. [ CH. i v.

and wher e I sat . He or der ed me not t o si t i n t he

gal l er y, and never t o go out t o t he eveni ng ser vi ce.

I f el t sor r y t o l eave a seat whi ch had become

f ami l i ar t o me ; besi des I di d not wi sh t o si t i n a

di f f er ent pl ace f r om my si st er and my br ot her . I

t ook car e not t o go t o t he eveni ng ser vi ce, and

of t en went out of t own t o spend t he Sunday

wi t h a f r i end i n t he nei ghbour hood. I f ound gr eat

benef i t i n t hi s.

" When my si st er ' s ser i ous i l l ness made i t

necessar y t hat we shoul d gi ve up housekeepi ng

and boar d somewher e or ot her , I sol d of f most of

our t hi ngs, and most of my books, so t hat I mi ght

be abl e t o pay ol d debt s and meet new expenses.

Thi s new ar r angement pl aced me i n a mor e comf or t -

abl e posi t i on, but my si st er ' s heal t h bei ng so bad,

and she, whi l e i n such heal t h, bei ng al t oget her

dependent on me, i t became st i l l mor e my dut y t o

t ake t he gr eat est car e of my heal t h, accor di ng

t o my doct or ' s r ecommendat i on.

Page 47 of 178

" I t her ef or e appl i ed f or a seat i n t he cent r e of

t he chapel , but coul d not get one. I gave up my

seat i n t he gal l er y, not wi t hout pai n. As I have

not much pat i ence I never coul d wai t f or a seat .

I coul d not st and i n t he ai sl e t i l l al l t he r egul ar

seat hol der s had f ound t hei r pl aces : t her ef or e,

t hough I wal ked t o t he door of t he chapel wi t h my

br ot her , I gener al l y went t o some nei ghbour i ng

chur ch. I di d t hi s even on Communi on Sundays.

I al ways f ound a seat ver y r eadi l y i n t hese ci t y

1837- 43. ] REASONS FOR SECESSI ON. 75

chur ches ; and ver y soon t he ser vi ce of t he Chur ch

became ver y at t r act i ve t o me. I t s ext r eme beaut y

mor e and mor e unf ol ded i t sel f t o me. I t seemed

so t r ue t o my nat ur e t hat my whol e hear t coul d

f i nd ut t er ance t her e. Thi s sor t of f eel i ng cont i nued

f or a l ong t i me wi t hout goi ng f ur t her .

" Di ssent and Di ssent i ng syst ems have been f or

a l ong t i me ver y hat ef ul t o me, so ext r emel y

r epul si ve t hat I kept t hem out of my mi nd as

much as possi bl e. Even at your communi on ser vi ce

t hi s came over my mi nd so pai nf ul l y t hat I coul d

scar cel y bear i t . I t was onl y my gr eat admi r a-

t i on and l ove f or you t hat kept me so l ong:

but as I f el t t hat my whol e nat ur e r evol t ed

f r om t he t hi ng, t hat i t r eal l y i nj ur ed my heal t h,

physi cal and spi r i t ual , I r esol ved t o l eave. I have

qui t e made up my mi nd t hus f ar ; what t he next

st ep wi l l be i s not so cl ear t o me; i t i s dai l y

becomi ng cl ear er . At pr esent I al ways go t o some

chur ch on Sunday mor ni ng. Last Sunday, I was

st ayi ng wi t h a gent l eman who i s a Chur chman ;

and went wi t h hi s f ami l y t o t he communi on ser vi ce.

I t hought i t most sui t abl e ; i t i s so ver y ser i ous

and sol emn.

" By t he by, have you ever r ead Mr . Maur i ce' s

book cal l ed The Ki ngdom of Chr i st ? I t hi nk i t

a most nobl e wor k. I t i s t he second edi t i on whi ch

I have r ead. Some par t s ar e per haps r at her hast i l y

wr i t t en, but , t ake i t as a whol e, i t i s t he f ai r est

and most candi d \ vor k I ever r ead on t he subj ect .

76 REASONS FOR SECESSI ON. [ CH. i v.

" Wi t h t he war mest gr at i t ude f or your ki ndness,

and wi t h ever y ki nd wi sh t owar ds Mr s. Bi nney and

your f ami l y,

" I r emai n,

" Your s af f ect i onat el y and r espect f ul l y,

" D. M. "

I t i s i mpossi bl e t o r ead t hi s l et t er wi t hout bei ng

consci ous of t he embar r assment of t he wr i t er , and

a f eel i ng t hat i t i s t hr oughout an ef f or t t o f i nd

Page 48 of 178

some r eason f or l eavi ng hi s chur ch whi ch shoul d

gi ve as l i t t l e pai n as possi bl e t o t he mi ni st er t o

whom he conf essed such a deep obl i gat i on, and

f or whom he ent er t ai ned so si ncer e an af f ect i on.

No one can doubt t hat had he t ol d hi s st or y t o

Dr . Bi nney a seat woul d have been f ound f or hi m

even i n t he mi ni st er ' s own pew. And t her e i s an

i ndi cat i on of a mor bi d f eel i ng, whi ch was assur edl y

no par t of t he man, i n hi s r ef er ences t o t he al l eged

excl usi veness of t he r i cher par t of t he congr ega-

t i on. Such excl usi veness i s at l east as common

i n chur ches as i n chapel s. I t woul d have been

mor e i n keepi ng wi t h t he cour age and t r ut hf ul -

ness of hi s char act er had he f r ankl y al l eged as

t he cause of hi s secessi on t he r eal r eason whi ch i s

br ought i n apr opos of not hi ng i n t he concl udi ng

sent ences. The gent l eman wi t h whom he had been

st ayi ng, and wi t h whose f ami l y he had at t ended

t he Communi on Ser vi ce of t he Chur ch, was Ar ch-

deacon Har e, and hi s di ssat i sf act i on wi t h Di ssent ,

1837- 43. ] CHARTERHOUSE SQUARE. 77

whi ch had been gr owi ng on hi m f or some year s,

had been br ought t o a head by Mr . Maur i ce' s

Ki ngdom of Chr i st . The i nf l uence of t hese r e-

mar kabl e br ot her s- i n- l aw on D. Macmi l l an was

al r eady st r ong, and gr ew st r onger year by year ,

but he never f or got t he debt he owed t o Dr .

Bi nney, or ceased t o speak of hi m wi t h r ever ence

and af f ect i on.

I n 1840 hi s sal ar y had been r ai sed t o 130 a

year and hi s br ot her ' s t o 80, and t hey wer e now

l i vi ng wel l wi t hi n t hei r means i n t he l odgi ngs i n

Char t er house Squar e. The t i me had come i n hi s

j udgment f or an ef f or t at i ndependence, but t he

di f f i cul t i es of maki ng i t wi t h pr udence and any

chance of success wer e gr eat , and i t was st i l l t wo

year s bef or e t he oppor t uni t y occur r ed. Hi s account

of i t when i t di d occur , i n Febr uar y, 1843, i s as

f ol l ows :

" I t hought i t woul d be wor t h whi l e t o pl ant

a seed whi ch mi ght gr ow t o somet hi ng, at any

r at e by t he t i me Mr . Bur nsi de l ef t t he busi ness,

and as my br ot her ' s sal ar y was 50 l ess t han mi ne

I t hought i t woul d be saf er f or hi m t o manage t he

concer n. I t r i ed t o f i nd a shop at t he West End,

but coul d hear of not hi ng under 150, or 200 a

year , besi des 200 or 300 f or what t hey cal l t he

' comi ng- i n. ' And as we had no capi t al we coul d

not vent ur e on a t hi ng of t hat sor t . About t hi s

t i me, I hear d of t he shop i n Al der sgat e St r eet .

78 ALDERSGATE STREET. [ on. i v.

The r ent was 45, t he f i xt ur es 100. I spoke

t o Mr . Bur nsi de about i t . He pr omi sed t o l end

me 100 any t i me I shoul d want i t . I t ook t he

Page 49 of 178

pl ace, and as t he l andl or d knew me, he accept ed

t wo bi l l s of 50 at t hr ee mont hs and f our mont hs

f or t he f i xt ur es, i nst ead of i nsi st i ng t hat i t shoul d

be pai d down at once, as i s usual . We t hus

commenced wi t hout capi t al . We wer e abl e wi t h

ease t o pay t hi s 100 as i t became due. "

The seed was al r eady gr owi ng t o somet hi ng by

t he t i me t he second bi l l f el l due and was pai d, i n

June, 1843, t hough as yet t he pr of i t s of t he shop

wer e onl y suf f i ci ent t o meet necessar y expenses.

To J. MACLEHOSE

" 57, ALDERSGATE STREET, May, 1843.

" . . . . We ar e pushi ng har d t o make a

busi ness, and f i nd i t ver y uphi l l wor k. I f t he

peopl e had sense t hey woul d come t o us f or books !

We coul d sel l t hem as cheap as any one and we

coul d gi ve good i nf or mat i on on al l poi nt s connect ed

wi t h books ! Peopl e woul d be gl ad i f t hey onl y

knew. But , al as f or t hei r i gnor ance ! . . . . "

But bet t er pr ospect s wer e now at hand, and a

new f i el d was openi ng whi ch wi l l cl ai m separ at e

ment i on i n t he next chapt er .

I t i s mai nl y f r om hi s l et t er s t o hi s f r i ends t hat

1887- 43. ] BETTER PHOSPEGTS. 79

t he cour se of hi s l i f e must be t r aced i n t hi s as i n

al l ot her st ages, but bef or e t ur ni ng t o t hem, t he

t est i mony may be ci t ed of one who knew hi m wel l

at t hi s t i me, as t o what manner of man he was

i n t hese year s of hi s ear l y r esi dence i n London.

" He was one of a gr oup of young men of much

pr omi se and i nt el l i gence, " wr i t es Dr . Br odi e Sewel l ,

" who r esi ded wi t h us or wer e f r equent vi si t or s at

our house. But undoubt edl y t he men of most

mar k whom I t hen knew wer e Davi d Li vi ngst one

and Dani el Macmi l l an, and al t hough t he f or mer

has si nce obt ai ned t he gr eat est cel ebr i t y, and even

t hen l i ved i n i magi nat i on amongst t he Bechuanas,

t her e was a qui et st eady r eser ved t hought f ul ness

about Macmi l l an whi ch made al l t hat he sai d

wor t h hear i ng, and a gener al ami abi l i t y of char act er

whi ch was ver y wi nni ng. "

Dani el Macmi l l an was, as we. have seen, f r om

hi s ear l i est year s i nt ent on sel f - di sci pl i ne, and

above al l on subdui ng a cer t ai n vehemence and

i mpet uosi t y of char act er , whi ch he f el t t o be hi s

beset t i ng weakness. He was st i l l consci ous of i t

on hi s deat h- bed, and r ef er s t o i t i n hi s l ast

pat het i c wor ds t o hi s wi f e. The est i mat e of so

abl e and shr ewd an obser ver as Dr . Sewel l shows,

however , t hat even i n t hese ear l y year s t hi s

vehemence was wel l under cont r ol .

Page 50 of 178

Ot her member s of t he gr oup of young men

r ef er r ed t o bear t est i mony t o hi s uni f or m cheer -

f ul ness, and t o t he r aci ness and humour whi ch

80 LONDON HABI TS. [ on. i v.

r an t hr ough hi s conver sat i on, and made hi m

speci al l y wel come as a compani on. Thi s si de

of hi s char act er i s di f f i cul t t o r epr oduce, but

may be i nf er r ed f r om t he buoyancy and pl ay-

f ul ness of much of hi s cor r espondence t o whi ch

we must now t ur n.

To GEO. WI LSON.

" Febr uar y 13, 1838.

" The l i st of books you have r ead si nce I l ef t

Scot l and makes me qui t e ashamed. I don' t t hi nk

I have r ead so much, t hough I get away f r om

busi ness so ear l y. ' I have t hi s excuse, t hat

t hough i t i s onl y seven when I get away i t i s

al ways ver y near l y ei ght bef or e I get home.

Then t her e i s t ea and some gossi p wi t h t he

Mi ss Nut t er s, so t hat i t i s get t i ng near t o ni ne

bef or e I can t ake up anyt hi ng l i ke a book or a

pen. Some ni ght s I am kept l at er . These, how-

ever , ar e ver y f ew. Yet t hough I make al l t hese

compl ai nt s I have r ead a good deal mor e t han I

can r ecol l ect . I coul d say wi t h Thomas Aqui nas

t hat one of t he most ambi t i ous of my wi shes i s

t hat I mi ght be abl e t o under st and al l t hat I

have r ead, and r emember t hat whi ch i s wor t h

pr eser vi ng. Ther e i s not hi ng mor e common

nowadays t han t o see r het or i ci ans sl ashi ng away

wi t hout mer cy at t he Angel i c Doct or . So common

ar e t hese nour i shes agai nst poor Thomas t hat I

1837- 43. ] THE ANGELI C DOCTOR. 81

supposed onl y hal f - wi t t ed t heol ogi ans l i ved i n

t hose awf ul t i mes cal l ed t he Dar k Ages, l ong

bef or e t he wor l d had been i l l umi nat ed by such

men as Jer emy Bent ham and Geo. Combe

I now know somet hi ng of hi m, and have no

sympat hy wi t h t hose who can sneer at a man

who, bor n of a nobl e f ami l y, and enj oyi ng t he

pl easur es of weal t h and ease, gi ves up al l and

devot es hi msel f t o t he ser vi ce of t he Chur ch:

and mor e t han t hi s, when t he f ame of hi s l ear ni ng

had gai ned f or hi m t he admi r at i on of Eur ope,

when bi shopr i cs and t he hi ghest of f i ces wer e

pr essed upon hi m, he r ef used t hem and r emai ned

t he gr eat Domi ni can schol ar . Hi s wor ks ar e i n

ei ght een f ol i o vol umes, al l of t hem di spl ayi ng

gr eat st r engt h and acut eness of mi nd. But I had

Page 51 of 178

no i dea of hi s bei ng a man of such t r emendous

power and compass of i nt el l ect as Pr of essor

Hampden r epr esent s hi m t o have been. " Then

speaki ng of a book on educat i on by I saac Tayl or ,

he says, " Ther e ar e some ver y beaut i f ul passages

i n i t . That i s a gr eat advant age i n hi s wr i t i ngs.

He i s not cont ent wi t h l eadi ng you t hr ough a r i ch

and f er t i l e count r y, he enl i vens t he scene wi t h

r ocks, cascades, and wat er - f al l s. I know f ew

wr i t er s whose el oquence and poet r y char m me

so much. " . . . " Fi ne wr i t i ng has as power f ul

an i nf l uence over me as musi c. I am as much

pl eased and exci t ed by Mi l t on' s Ar copagi t i ca,

or Macaul ay' s ar t i cl e on Bacon, as wi t h t he

82 DEATH OF W. MACMI LLAN. [ CH. i v.

or at or i o of t he Fal l of Jer usal em whi ch I hear d

at Exet er Hal l t he ot her ni ght . . . . "

I n t hi s l et t er and el sewher e t her e ar e al l usi ons

t o wr i t er s i n t he l ear ned l anguages, of whi ch he

conf essedl y had no knowl edge; but f ew schol ar s

coul d be mor e i nt i mat e wi t h t he cl assi cal wr i t er s

wi t h whom he was i n i nt el l ect ual sympat hy. He

spar ed no pai ns t o ent er i nt o t hei r t hought . Thus

i n t he cour se of syst emat i c st udy whi ch he l ai d

down f or hi msel f ear l y i n hi s car eer , he r ead

Homer i n t hr ee t r ansl at i ons, and t he Gr eek

dr amat i st s, and was as f ami l i ar wi t h Pl at o as many

per sons ent i r el y i gnor ant of Gr eek and Hebr ew

ar e wi t h t he Bi bl e.

Anot her heavy sor r ow was now upon hi m. I n

t he next mont h hi s br ot her Wi l l i am di ed sud-

denl y at t he Bapt i st Col l ege at Br adf or d, wher e

he had ent er ed as a st udent . Af t er t hei r f at her ' s

deat h, he and Mal col m had act ed nobl y t he par t

of el der br ot her s, and t hei r devot i on had been r e-

war ded by t he gr at i t ude and l ove of t he younger

chi l dr en. Dani el had been summoned t o hi s

br ot her ' s deat h- bed, but ar r i ved t oo l at e. Fr om

Br adf or d he wr i t es t o MacLehose :

" Mar ch 17, 1838.

" I don' t see how a phi l osophi c t hei st who

r ej ect s r evel at i on and t he consol at i ons of t he

Gospel can get at t he at t r i but e of hi s dei t y at

al L How i s i t t hat a young man wi t h al l t he

1837. - 43. ] DEATH OK W. MAf ' MI LLAN. 83

vi r t ues whi ch can ador n humani t y i s subj ect ed

f or year s t o si ckness and pai n, and cut of f whi l e

yet i n t he pr i me of l i f e ? I can' t see how he, on

hi s pr i nci pl es, can account f or t hat and a hundr ed

such t hi ngs. I r ej oi ce t hat my br ot her , who i s

Page 52 of 178

now i n heaven, hel d wi t h such vi gour and f i r m-

ness t he capi t al t r ut hs of Chr i st i ani t y. They

suppor t ed hi s spi r i t dur i ng t he whol e of hi s af f l i c -

t i on, and by t hem hi s spi r i t i s ar r ayed now t hat

he st ands bef or e t he t hr one of God : and, mor e t han

t hi s, he was convi nced, and I t hi nk most r at i on-

al l y, t hat t he power and vi gour of hi s vi r t ues ( hi s

hol i ness) wer e gr eat l y i ncr eased by hi s af f l i ct i on.

The Bi bl e t el l s us t hat t hi s i s t he case. My br ot her ' s

exper i ence conf i r med t he st at ement s of Scr i pt ur e.

So t hus you see we ar e convi nced t hat af f l i ct i ons

must be good i n t hei r end and ai m because we

know, a pr i or i , f r om Hi s r evel at i on, t hat God' s

char act er i s good and, of cour se, t hat al l t hat

He does, or can do, must be good and not onl y

t hat , but , a post er i or i , t hat t hey act ual l y do pr o-

duce good f r ui t i n t he char act er - of t hose ' who

ar e exer ci sed t her eby/ and I t hi nk t hat we may

ver y saf el y go st i l l f ur t her , and sur mi se t hat t hose

who suf f er so much ar e under goi ng t he di sci pl i ne

whi ch wi l l be necessar y t o f i t t hem f or t he hi ghest

f unct i ons i n t he ' Heavenl y Hi er ar chy. ' I t hi nk

t hi s exceedi ngl y pr obabl e. The t hought has i n

no sl i ght degr ee t ended t o l essen t he sever i t y of

my pr esent t r i al . As you know al r eady, when I

G 2

84 DEATH OF W. MACMI LLAN. [ CH. i v.

ar r i ved, t he f i r st t hi ng I hear d was t hat my br ot her

was dead. Thi s was ver y dr eadf ul . I t f el l upon

me l i ke a t hunder bol t . I seemed t o mysel f as i f

I shoul d soon f ol l ow hi m. I had been pl easi ng

mysel f as I came al ong by t hi nki ng of what I

shoul d say t o hi m. I t hought of t el l i ng hi m

among ot her t hi ngs of t he ki ndness of Mr . Bur n

si de, whi ch I shal l not speedi l y f or get . But al as !

my poor dear br ot her was gone. Hi s physi cal

f r ame was t her e. Hi s spi r i t was gone. The

shadow i s st i l l i n t hi s shadowy wor l d. The sub-

st ance i s gone t o t he wor l d of subst ant i al r eal i t i es.

As soon as I r ecover ed f r om t he ef f ect s of f at i gue,

I went t o Hor t on Col l ege, wher e I was most ki ndl y

r ecei ved by Mr s. Acwor t h, t he wi f e of t he pr esi -

dent , Mr . Acwor t h hi msel f bei ng f r om home.

The ver y gr eat at t ent i on whi ch has been pai d

t o my br ot her and t he deep sensat i on whi ch hi s

deat h made and makes among hi s f el l ow- st u-

dent s and t ut or s r eal l y exceed bel i ef . I t i s ver y

gr at i f yi ng t o me. I went t o see my br ot her ' s

cor pse t o- day. I r eal l y t hought I had f i r mer ner ves.

But r eal l y i t was a hear t r endi ng si ght . How t hi n

and wor n he must have been. How di f f er ent f r om

what he was f i ve year s ago when I saw hi m l ast .

Then he had a f i r m f r ame and a vi gor ous eye. I t

mi ght wi t h t r ut h be sai d ' t her e seems t o be a

gl anci ng spi r i t i n i t / Li t t l e di d I expect t o see

t hat eye so soon shut i n deat h. Hi s f or ehead

seemed a wor t hy t empl e f or such a soul ; and even

Page 53 of 178

1837- 43. ] FADER' S " JI YSTKI 1I ES OF THE CABI RI . " 85

now i t di st i nct l y t el l s t hat i t had once an i l l us -

t r i ous i nhabi t ant . He i s t o be bur i ed on Fr i day.

I expect t hat I shal l l eave t hi s on Sat ur day.

I shal l t r y f or t hat . "

To GEO. WI LSON.

" June, 1838.

" I l at el y r ead a book by Mr . Faber whi ch he

cal l s a Di sser t at i on on t he Myst er i es of t he Cabi n.

I t i s one of t he most si ngul ar books I have ever

r ead. He at t empt s t o pr ove t hat most of t he

anci ent myt hol ogi es wer e i n t hei r or i gi n com-

memor at i ve r i t es of t he Noachi an del uge. I t i s

ver y cur i ous t o see Bacchus and ot her wor t hi es of

t hat ki nd made out t o be Noah. Yet t hat i s what

he does, and I t hi nk he makes i t r at her pr obabl e.

The book i s di f f use. Ther e i s a good deal of

r epet i t i on. But t o me i t was ver y cur i ous and

ver y i nt er est i ng. I f you can meet wi t h i t you

woul d f i nd i t wor t h r eadi ng. I t i s i n t wo oct avos,

but don' t be f r i ght ened. You can r ead al l t hat i s

wor t h r eadi ng i n i t i n a ni ght or t wo. You wi l l

see t hat ' Lone I sl e of t he Sea, ' t he pl ace of my

nat i vi t y, i n a l i ght you have never seen i t i n

bef or e. What he says of t he or i gi n of t he names

of t he i sl ands of Ar r an and But e i s ver y cur i ous,

but I sha' n' t say mor e about i t . The book i s wel l

wor t h gl anci ng t hr ough when you have a l ei sur e

hour , and f eel i ncl i ned t o amuse your sel f wi t h t he

86 LI FE OF I I UTCI I I NSOK. [ on. i v.

myt hs of ant i qui t y. What woul d t he pr i est s of

Thebes say i f t hey saw me a booksel l er ' s shop-

man pr yi ng i nt o t hei r sacr ed mat t er s ? They

woul d f or gi ve you because you bel ong t o t he

l ear ned cl ass. But r eal l y, I f ear t hat I shoul d

be sacr i f i ced t o appease t he wr at h of some of

t hei r dei t i es. . . . "

To J. MACLEI I OSE.

" 172, FLEET STKEET, December 21, 1838.

" . . . . I opened your par cel , and have kept

one copy of I Tut chi nson' s l i f e t o l ook at . Mr s.

Hut chi nson i s an admi r abl e and most accom-

pl i shed woman. Godwi n, Di sr ael i , Fost er , Lucy

Ai ken, Macaul ay, and al l t he wr i t er s who have

r ecent l y sent f or t h books or r evi ews on t hat

per i od, quot e l ar gel y f r om t hi s wor k ; wi t h t hese

ext r act s I have al ways been del i ght ed. I have

of t en t r i ed, but have never been abl e t o get my

hands on i t . I was del i ght ed when I saw

t hat Smi t h had sent out t hi s edi t i on, but ver y -

much di sappoi nt ed when I opened t he book i t sel f

t o see such unr eadabl y smal l pr i nt . I f I wer e

buyi ng t he book I woul d pr ef er gi vi ng a shi l l i ng

Page 54 of 178

or t wo mor e and get t i ng l ar ger pr i nt . These

ar e much mor e di f f i cul t t o r ead t han Chi l d' s

edi t i ons of Mi l t on, Bacon, &c. However , t hi s i s

not a bad specul at i on of Smi t h' s. I t hi nk i t wi l l

pay hi m wel l . I shoul d t hi nk i t ver y l i kel y t hat

1837- 43. ] WI LLI AM HONE. 87

he wi l l r epr i nt Bai l l i e' s Let t er s. Bai l He was one of

t he Covenant i ng commi ssi oner s sent t o London t o

ar r ange af f ai r s wi t h Char l es whi l e t he Scot t i sh

ar my was l yi ng i n Newcast l e. He was al so i n

London dur i ng t he Ci vi l War . He was sent t o

t r eat wi t h Char l es at Oxf or d, &c. , &c. Al l t hese

af f ai r s, and sundr y ot her s, he descr i bes most

gr aphi cal l y. Hi s descr i pt i on of Went wor t h' s t r i al

i s a f i ne speci men of hi s power i n t hi s way. But

t hat i s not hi s onl y pr ai se. A most cl ear - headed

and f ar - seei ng man was t hi s Bai l l i e. I n 1644 hi s

cl ear - si ght edness enabl ed hi m t o descr y, f ar bef or e

most ot her men, what woul d be t he end of t he

f ai t hl ess i nt r i gues of Char l es.

" I f Smi t h publ i shed t hi s book, whi ch I shoul d

t hi nk vei y l i kel y, you ought t o sel l a gr eat many,

f or Bai l l i e was t he commi ssi oner sent by Gl asgow

Col l ege. . . . "

The Hone r ef er r ed t o i n t he next l et t er was t he

compi l er of Hone' s Ever y Day Bool e ; t he st aunch

ol d Li ber al who ear l i er i n t he cent ur y had

f ought t he bat t l e of a f r ee pr ess so gal l ant l y,

conduct i ng hi s own case bef or e Lor d El l enbor ough,

and def eat i ng t hat t r ucul ent j udge and t he l aw

of f i cer s of t he Cr own. He had gone t hr ough much

var i et y of soci al condi t i ons, and was now sub-

edi t i ng t he Pat r i ot newspaper , t hen a pr omi nent

Di ssent i ng or gan, when, i n hi s vi si t s t o Seel ey' s

shop, he met Al exander Macmi l l au, bet ween whom

83 WI LLI AM HONE. [ CH. i v.

\ ~~

and hi msel f a f r i endshi p spr ang up t hat l ed t o

Hone' s occasi onal vi si t s t o t hei r house i n Bar t l et t ' s

Bui l di ngs. Hi s st or y and char act er gr eat l y i n-

t er est ed Dani el , who had seen hi m at Bi nney' s

Chapel , and hear d of hi m f r om Dr . Bi nney.

To G. WI LSON.

" 172, FLEET STREET, November 8, 1839.

" . . . . The ot her day, whi l e gr abbi ng among

some ol d book- shops, I saw a book ent i t l ed Ger man

Romance i n f our vol s. post Svo. One of t he

vol umes cont ai ned a novel of Jean Paul Ri cht er ' s,

anot her t he Tr avel s of Wi l hel m Mei st er . On l ooki ng

i nt o t he pr ei aces, l i ves, not es, &c. , I t hought I saw

Car l yl e' s hand. The mor e I r ead t he cl ear er t hi s got .

Page 55 of 178

I asked t he pr i ce. The ol d Jew of a booksel l er

asked ei ght een shi l l i ngs. Thi s I coul d not af f or d.

Shor t l y af t er I was aski ng a gent l eman i n Whi t -

t aker ' s about t hi s. He t ol d me t hat t hey had a

copy ver y cheap. Af t er haggl i ng a l i t t l e I got i t

f or a copy of Thomson' s wor ks ( Seasons, &c. )

whi ch you saw me wi t h when I was i n Edi nbur gh.

Thi s I t hought a good exchange. I have not had

t i me t o r ead t he books yet , we have been so busy

of l at e, and I have been so much occupi ed wi t h my

f ami l y. But by and by, when my chi l dr en " ( r ef er -

r i ng t o hi s br ot her and si st er whom he had j ust

br ought up t o London) " ar e abl e t o t ake some

of my car es upon t hemsel ves, and when we ar e

1837- 43. ] WI LLI AM HONK. 89

not so busy, I expect a gr eat t r eat i n t hese f our

vol umes. They ar e cer t ai nl y wel l t r ansl at ed.

Car l yl e' s knowl edge of t he l anguage, and what

i s f ar bet t er , hi s bei ng abl e t o ent er so deepl y

i nt o t he spi r i t of t he wr i t er s, i nsur es t hat . I t you

have t i me, and can meet wi t h t he book, I have

no doubt but you woul d f i nd i t wor t h r eadi ng.

I f you wer e her e' I woul d send i t t o you. I of t en

wi sh you wer e i n London. Not hi ng pl eases i ne

mor e t han t o meet wi t h peopl e who l i ke Car l yl e,

and I am al ways ver y gl ad t o l end t hem my books.

" What do you t hi nk ? Her e' s a j oke f or you ;

nowi se t o me. Ol d Hone when r eadi ng a vol ume

of my Car l yl e' s Mi scel l ani es i n bed one eveni ng

( he i s not at al l wel l j ust now) l et t he candl e

f al l on i t ! I t i s i n t he most beaut i f ul mess !

I have had t o cut away al l t he mar gi n of some

par t s of i t . Dr eadf ul t o t hi nk of . Ol d Hone

i nsi st ed on buyi ng anot her copy. I woul d not

l i st en t o t hat . He can' t af f or d i t ver y wel l . I

don' t r eal l y car e about i t . You wi l l scar cel y

bel i eve me. I t i s t r ue, however . Thi s mar gi nl ess

vol ume of Mi scel l ani es wi l l be a ki nd of r e-

membr ance of t he good ol d man when he goes t o

t he l and wher e t her e ar e no candl es used. . . . The

f our vol ume edi t i on of Shel l ey was sol d at

Moxon' s sal e l at el y at t en shi l l i ngs and si xpence.

However , I r esi st ed t he t empt at i on, and i nt end

r esi st i ng ever y such t empt at i on f or a l ong

t i me. , , . "

90 DEATH OF MALCOLM MACMI LLAN. [ en. i v.

Wi t hi n a year Mal col m hi s el dest br ot her , on

whom he had so l ong l ooked as a second f at her ,

f ol l owed hi s br ot her Wi l l i am.

To J. MACLEHOSE.

" 54, FLEET STREET, Febr uar y 15, 1840.

Page 56 of 178

" . . , . ! don' t t hi nk I shoul d have wr i t t en

t o you at pr esent wer e i t not t hat I wi sh t o

send t hi s par cel t o my si st er Mar gar et . I t con-

t ai ns a pi ece of common bl ack st uf f f or what i s

cal l ed a mour ni ng gown. Per haps you have hear d

t hat Mal col m, my St i r l i ng br ot her , i s what i s cal l ed

dead. Hi s ear t hl y l i f e has been f or many year s a

sor t of deat h- st r uggl e whi ch he has now got r i d of

and become r eal l y al i ve. I t i s i n t hi s l i ght t hat I

now l ook at i t . I t came on me f i r st ver y suddenl y

and st ar t l ed me not a l i t t l e. About t en days ago

we had a l et t er f r om hi m. He was t hen r at her

bet t er t han usual . On Monday l ast , t he Queen' s

mar r i age day, I went up t o Fl eet St r eet t o show

my si st er our new pr emi ses and see what t he post

mi ght br i ng. The post was ver y l at e. I sent my

si st er home al ong wi t h Al exander , but wai t ed f or

t he post mysel f . When i t di d come i t br ought

me news of my br ot her ' s deat h. Though l ong

expect ed, even l onged f or , i t was at l ast ver y

sudden. The same day on whi ch he di ed he had

been out i n t he count r y a f ew mi l es. When he

1837- 43. ] CARLYLE AS A LECTURER. 01

got home he conduct ed f ami l y wor shi p j ust as

usual . I n an hour or so af t er t hat he had l ef t t he

t empor al and ent er ed on t he Et er nal .

" T have a gr eat many t hi ngs t o t el l you, but

cannot at pr esent . Obst r uct i ons pr esent t hemsel ves

on ever y si de : al l out l ooks ar e ei t her qui t e bl ocked

up or chaot i c, so t hat I cannot wr i t e cl ear l y on

my st at e and pr ospect s. To me t her e. i s no cl ear -

ness vi si bl e. Ver y shor t l y ever yt hi ng may be

di f f er ent , and t hen I shal l wr i t e you a ver y l ong

l et t er per haps even bef or e t hat , j ust t o show you

t he mount ai ns of cl oud, smoke, or adamant whi ch

hem me i n on ever y si de. . . . "

The Mr . Fr aser r ef er r ed t o i n t he next l et t er

was t he publ i sher and f ounder of t he magazi ne

whi ch bear s hi s name.

" 54, FLEET STREET, June 4, 1840.

" . . . What do you t hi nk ? I have been t o one

of Cai i yl e' s l ect ur es ; my br ot her Al exander has

been t o anot her . I hear d t he one on Dant e and

Shakspear e. Al exander hear d t he one on Rousseau,

Johnson, and Bur ns. Fr aser was i n our war e-

house one day wai t i ng f or Mr . Seel ey ; t o keep

hi msel f f r om get t i ng t i r ed he came t o my desk

t o have a gossi p. The conver sat i on t ur ned on

Car l yl e. I chanced t o say among ot her t hi ngs,

t hat I shoul d ver y much l i ke t o see hi m. He

sai d i f I chose t o come t o hi s pl ace i n Regent

92 CARLYLE AS A LECTURER. [ en. i v.

St r eet he woul d l end me hi s t i cket t o go t o t hat

Page 57 of 178

day' s l ect ur e, as he coul d not go hi msel f . Of

cour se I di d not r ef use ; but , unf or t unat el y, I had

t o hur r y back t o l et Mr . Bur nsi de go t o hi s

di nner . Thi s pr event ed me f r om hear i ng t he

whol e of t he l ect ur e. However , I was t her e l ong

enough t o see what hi s manner of l ect ur i ng i s,

what he i s l i ke, and so f or t h. Have you seen

t he por t r ai t by Count D' Or say ? That i s an ex -

cel l ent l i keness. He l ect ur es wi t hout not es of

any ki nd, havi ng t hr own asi de even t he pi ece

of paper l i ke a vi si t i ng car d, whi ch he used t o

br i ng wi t h hi m. He i s ver y f ar f r om bei ng a

f l uent speaker . Somet i mes he r i ses i nt o el oquence

and get s appl auded ; somet i mes he comes t o a dead

st and f or want of a wor d, qui et l y l ooki ng i n t he

f ace of hi s audi ence t i l l he f i nds t he wor d ; some-

t i mes he l eaves hi s sent ences i n a qui t e unf i ni shed

st at e, and passes on t o somet hi ng el se, e. g. speak -

i ng of t he di f f er ence bet ween Dant e' s t i me and

our s, he sai d, ' Our hi ghest has become unat -

t ai nabl y hi gh. The apex ' . . . her e came a dead

st op f or t hr ee or f our moment s, and at l ast , not

bei ng abl e t o compl et e hi s sent ence, he goes on t o

say, ' Our uni ver se has ever ywher e expanded i t sel f /

&c. &c. He r ar el y moves hi s hands f r om t he

si des of hi s desk. When he does i t i s t o r ub hi s

t wo f or ef i nger s al ong hi s f or ehead, j ust above hi s

eyebr ows. Thi s seems t o be of gr eat use ; enabl i ng

hi m t o get on much bet t er ; at l east I suppose so

1837- 43. ] CARLYLF/ AS A LECTURER. 93

because he al ways sai d hi s best t hi ngs af t er one or

t wo of t hese r ubs.

" Hi s whol e appear ance and manner i s ex-

ceedi ngl y si mpl e. I never saw any one so com-

pl et el y f r ee f r om anyt hi ng l i ke pr et ensi on. Hi s

accent and pr onunci at i on i s ver y br oad Scot ch,

much mor e so, I t hi nk, t han Dr . Chal mer s' s. Hi s

dr ess i s pl ai n and si mpl e enough, but no way

r emar kabl e.

" I t was a gr eat t r eat t o get a si ght of such an

audi ence. I never saw so many f i ne f aces. Tr ue

ar i st ocr at s, accor di ng t o my Eadi cal not i on of an

ar i st ocr at . Ther e must be gr eat sat i sf act i on t o a

t hi nker ut t er i ng hi s t hought s t o such l i st ener s.

The number , as near as one coul d guess, was

about t hr ee hundr ed. Fr om t he l ect ur e- r oom

door t o Por t man Squar e was qui t e l i ned wi t h

car r i ages. Thi s shows t hat ver y many of hi s

hear er s bel ong t o t he ' i nf l uent i al cl asses. '

" Fr om what I saw of hi s l ect ur i ng, I shoul d

not t hi nk t hat he i s ver y l i kel y t o r ap t he desk

wi t h hi s f i st s, or anyt hi ng of t hat sor t . However ,

one cannot j udge f r om a par t of a l ect ur e. My

br ot her says t hat he was ver y much appl auded

sever al t i mes i n t he l ect ur e he hear d. That he put

an end t o hi s l ect ur e ver y abr upt l y, aad l ef t hi s

hear er s l aughi ng at a quot at i on f r om Jean Paul .

Page 58 of 178

" Mr . Car l yl e sent a t i cket t o Hone, but he was

not wel l enough t o avai l hi msel f of t hi s ki ndness

t i l l t he l ast l ect ur e, when a f r i end t ook hi m up

94 MI LMAN' S HI STORY OF CHRI STI ANI TY. [ CH. i v.

i n a coach. Thi s f r i end of Hone' s i s acquai nt ed

wi t h Car l yl e ; and af t er t he l ect ur e he i nt r oduced

Hone. Car l yl e sai d he was ver y gl ad t o see hi m ;

t hat he used t o see Hone' s books i n hi s f at her ' s

house t went y year s ago, and so had known

hi m l ong, t hough he never had t he pl easur e of

speaki ng t o hi m bef or e and so f or t h. . . . "

To G. WI LSON

" 54, FLEET STREET, Jul y 13, 1840.

" I t i s amusi ng t o see how much Mr . Seel ey, and

ot her s of t hat cl ass, ar e hor r i f i ed wi t h a new book of

Mi l man' s cal l ed ' A Hi st or y of Chr i st i ani t y f or t he

Fi r st Thr ee Cent ur i es. ' They ar e ever ywher e di s-

cover i ng Soci ni ani sm i n i t . I got t he copy whi ch

Mr . Seel ey had r ead and mar ked, and l ooked t hr ough

i t wi t h some car e. I was especi al l y car ef ul when I

came t o t he mar ked passages, but coul d not di s-

cover any Soci ni ani sm, on t he cont r ar y, some of t he

mar ked passages, cal l ed her et i cal , cont ai ned st at e-

ment s r unni ng r i ght i n t he t eet h of t hat her esy.

Mi l man may be a Soci ni an, but hi s book does not

pr ove hi m one. Hi s book i s t he wor k of an

el oquent , cl ear - si ght ed man ; and can scar cel y f ai l t o

make way, unl ess i t get s i nj ur ed by t hi s ' no- her esy'

cl amour . I was ver y much pl eased wi t h some of

t he t hi ngs I saw i n t he gl ance whi ch I gave t he

book, and i nt end gi vi ng i t a gl ance agai n when I

can spar e t i me. . . "

1837- 43. ] SHELLEY. 95

Speaki ng t o Geo. Wi l son, hi msel f a di st i ngui shed

chemi st , of a ser i es of ar t i cl es oi l Shel l ey i n t he

New Mont hl y

" These l ast ar e excel l ent . Fr om t hem i t woul d

appear t hat Shel l ey was, among ot her t hi ngs, a most

ent husi ast i c chemi st . I r emember your not i ci ng hi s

knowl edge of chemi st r y as seen i n one of hi s

poems, An Epi st l e t o a Lady. One ent i r e ar t i cl e

i n t he New Mont hl y ( 1833) i s occupi ed wi t h an

account of hi s expul si on f r om Oxf or d ; and i f t hi s

account of a f r i end i s t o be t r ust ed, i t appear s t o

have been, on t he par t of t he mast er s and f el l ows

of hi s col l ege, a most sensel ess and br ut al af f ai r ,

i n ever y way di sgust i ng. I suspect t hat hi s f r i end

Peacock ( aut hor of Headl ong Hal l , Cr ot chet Cast l e,

&c. ) i s t he aut hor of t hese ar t i cl es ; not t hat I

Page 59 of 178

r ecogni se hi s st yl e, but I don' t know any one el se

wi t h whom he was so i nt i mat e. 1 Of t hose l et t er s

l at el y publ i shed by Mr s. Shel l ey t he best ar e t hose

wr i t t en t o Peacock.

" Di d I ever t el l you t hat ol d Hone' s onl y

means of suppor t i s doi ng dr udge- wor k ( chi ef l y

r eadi ng mor ni ng paper s, and maki ng sel ect i ons,

and cor r ect i ng t he pr ess) f or t he Pat r i ot ? He hat es

t he paper and di sl i kes t he ki nd of wor k ; but what

was t he poor man t o do ? Now, however , some

good f r i ends have r esol ved t o get hi m r i d of hi s

1 The ar t i cl e was by Thomas Jef f er son Hogg, t he f r i end and

bi ogr apher of Shel l ey, not by Peacock.

96 MATRI MONY. [ en. i v.

bur den, or , as he put s i t , ' t o send t he ol d hor se t o

gr ass. ' Bi nney, who i s a nobl e, gener ous- hear t ed

f el l ow, i s at t he bot t om of t hi s. . . . "

To J. MACLEHOSE.

" Jul y, 1840.

" Have you r ead Mr s. Hut chi nson' s Li f e of her

Husband. I f not , do r ead i t , and above al l get

your ' Lady- Love' t o r ead i t . I t i s one of t he

most char mi ng books t hat ever was wr i t t en. Ever y

l ady wi t h a hear t i n her ought t o r ead i t . . . .

" You ask what of mat r i mony ? You don' t want

me t o wr i t e an essay on i t s advant ages. Then you

don' t expect t hat I am ever t o get mar r i ed. I can

l ove onl y once ! To be gr ave, whi ch i s nat ur al t o

me, l et me t el l you, t hat i vhen I have got al l t hese

youngst er s f ai r l y on t hei r f eet , when I am cl ear of

debt , when I am r i d of al l i ncumbr ances, wJi en I

have saved some money, when I can af f or d i t , I

i nt end l ooki ng out f or a wi f e ; and when I do get

mar r j ed I shal l send al l t he youngst er s adr i f t , and

l et t hem gui de and shi f t f or t hemsel ves. You wi l l

say ' YES, WHEN ? ' Wel l , I say no mor e. "

Hi s f r i end Davi d Wat t went t o I ndi a as a mi s-

si onar y ear l y i n 1841. Dani el wr i t es, wi t h a

par t i ng gi f t of books :

" I hear t i l y wi sh you f ar ewel l . May al l your

r eadi ng and r ef l ect i on br i ng you i nt o cl oser com-

1837- 43. ] TRACTS FOR THE TI MES, NO. XC. 97

muni on wi t h God, and i nt o a near er r esembl ance

t o Hi m who i s your pat t er n, your Savi our , your

Mast er , so t hat your f ai t h, l ove, pur i t y, may be

conf i r med, st r engt hened, i ncr eased. May God be

wi t h you and bl ess you, suppor t , st r engt hen,

encour age, gui de, i nst r uct you ; i ncr ease your zeal ,

Page 60 of 178

your si mpl i ci t y, your si ngl eness of pur pose, your

wi sdom, your char i t y, as a mi ni st er of t he Gospel

of Jesus Chr i st . "

Fr om t hi s t i me he keeps hi s f r i end wel l sup-

pl i ed wi t h t heol ogi cal and l i t er ar y news.

To REV. D. WATT, BENARES.

" Apr i l 30, 1841,

" Among al l t he t hi ngs occupyi ng t he at t ent i on

of t he publ i c st ands out Tr act s f or t he Ti mes,

Number XC. Thi s t r act pr et ends t o be a def ence

of t he ' Ar t i cl es, ' but i s i n r eal i t y a ser i es of

gl osses of t he most Jesui t i cal sor t by whi ch t he

aut hor t r i es t o make out t hat a man may be t hr ee-

f our t hs a Papi st and st i l l si gn t he ' Thi r t y - ni ne

Ar t i cl es, ' and r emai n i n t he Chur ch of Engl and.

" Thi s has cal l ed f or t h r emonst r ances f r om a

number of t he ' Heads of Houses, ' &c. , i n Oxf or d,

l et t er s and pamphl et s i nnumer abl e ( mor e t han one

f r om t he aut hor , Rev. J. H. Newman) , and a

r ecommendat i on f r om t he Bi shop of Oxf or d t o

H

98 THE MEANI NG OF SUFFERI NG [ CH. i v.

di scont i nue t he t r act s ; and t he t r act s ar e di scon-

t i nued. Even t he Edi nbur gh Revi ew has a gr ave

ar t i cl e on t he subj ect , supposed t o be wr i t t en by

Dr . Hampden, who i s expect ed t o be made Bi shop

of Wor cest er i n t he r oom of Dr . Car r , who has

j ust di ed. . . '

To GEO. WI LSON.

" 54, FLEET STREET, December 15, 1841.

" . . . Bi cht er says ( I speak onl y f r om r ecol -

l ect i on of an Engl i sh t r ansl at i on of a sel ect i on

f r om hi s wor ks) t hat sor r ow dr aws t owar ds

nobl e mi nds as t hunder - st or ms dr aw t owar ds

mount ai ns ; but t he st or ms al so br eak upon t hem ' ,

and t hey become t he cl ear i ng- poi nt i n t he ski es

f or t he pl ai ns beneat h. . . . The bur t hen of suf f er -

i ng seems a t ombst one hung r ound us ; whi l e i n

r eal i t y i t i s onl y t he wei ght necessar y t o keep

down t he di ver whi l e he i s col l ect i ng pear l s.

I t i s onl y t hr ough suf f er i ng t hat we can be

made per f ect ; and i n har d st r uggl es we acqui r e

spi r i t ual st r engt h and spi r i t ual r i ches. The suf f er -

i ngs of t he beaut i f ul soul ar e May f r ost s, whi ch

pr ecede t he br i ght ness of summer , and t he r i ches

of har vest : whi l e t hose of t he cor r upt ed soul ar e

aut umnal f r ost , whi ch announce not hi ng but

Page 61 of 178

wi nt er . . . .

" I f by sendi ng Landor or any ot her book, I

t hr ow a gl eam of war m sunshi ne on your pat h I

1837- 43. ] LANDOR AND CARLYLE. PO

shal l be ver y gl ad. I onl y wi sh you woul d not

cal l i t gener osi t y, &c. I t i s no such t hi ng. I

make no sacr i f i ce. I t gr at i f i es me exceedi ngl y t o

be abl e t o show i n t hi s, or i n any ot her way, my

af f ect i on and r espect f or you, and f or al l your

f ami l y, whose ki ndness t o me when sor r ow l ay

heavy on my hear t and sof t ened i t , made an

i mpr essi on whi ch not hi ng can er adi cat e. Ah !

t hat was gener osi t y ! . . .

" Two young f r i ends of mi ne one a Scot ch-

man, and t he ot her an Engl i shman who have

gone out t o I ndi a as mi ssi onar i es, wer e per suaded

by me t o t ake al l Car l yl e' s wor ks, and Lander ' s

Conver sat i ons, and Col er i dge, and Wor dswor t h.

They wer e not at al l sur e of t he t wo f or mer : but

I ur ged t hem ; and now t hey have wr i t t en home

f or t hei r por t r ai t s, and gi ven me a st andi ng or der

f or anyt hi ng t hey may wr i t e. I am sur e t hese

t wo wor t hi es, Landor and Car l yl e, ar e gr eat l y i n-

debt ed t o me f or i ncr easi ng t hei r f ame and sel l i ng

t hei r books !

" Just t hi nk, Per i cl es and Aspasi a, sol d of f by

auct i on ! What an i ndi cat i on of t he t ast e of our

t i mes ! I bought t went y- f i ve and sol d ni net een,

whi ch l ef t me wi t h si x copi es, besi des gai ni ng a

pr of i t . . . .

" I saw, about a f or t ni ght ago, a not e f r om t he

publ i sher of t he West mi nst er Jt evi ew, i n whi ch he

sai d t hat he expect ed an ar t i cl e f r om Car l yl e i n

t he next number ' On t he Phi l osophy of Toys/

n 2

100 WANT OF TI ME. [ CH. i v.

a sor t of f ol l owi ng up, per haps, of ' The Phi l osophy

of Cl ot hes. ' We shal l see when i t comes. . . .

" For my par t I have a qui et enough l i f e of i t

her e. I mi ght gr umbl e somet i mes, but don' t see

any good i n t hat . And, on t he whol e, have l i t t l e

cause. I never want anyt hi ng t hat I r eal l y need.

As f or t he shows of r espect abi l i t y I have none of

t hem, and don' t car e f or t hem. I have mor e books

t han I have t i me t o r ead. Thi s t i me I f eel t he

sor est want . The best of my hour s ar e spent i n

t he mer est dr udgewor k ; whi ch, however , becomes

di gni f i ed when I l ook on i t as DUTY. . . . "

I n spi t e of t he t r oubl e and anxi et y of f or mer

Page 62 of 178

exper i ment s i n t hi s di r ect i on, he was now br i ngi ng

up anot her nephew t o London. Hi s f r i end Mac-

Lehose, f r om whom he had not had any answer t o

sever al l et t er s, had r ecei ved t he boy i n Gl asgow,

put hi m on boar d t he st eamer wi t h f ul l i nst r uc-

t i ons, and pai d hi s f ar e t o London.

To J. MACLEHOSE.

" 54, FLEET STREET, June 22, 1842.

" I am i n no humour f or scol di ng, bl owi ng up,

t wi t t i ng, and t hat sor t of t hi ng. I di d not i nt end

wr i t i ng t o you t i l l I shoul d be i n a bad t emper ; but

I have become so ami abl e, t her e seems no hope of

t hat . The t hunder - st or m weat her was st i r r i ng up

my bi l e, I was get t i ng qui t e cr oss, get t i ng my anger

1837- 43. ] ALEX. J. SCOTT. 101

up t o t he ' st i cki ng- poi nt . ' I was j ust r eady t o

shoot , when my nephew ar r i ved. He showed me

t he not e of di r ect i ons you gave hi m, t ol d me of al l

your ki ndness. Thi s made me ashamed of mysel f

and qui t e dest r oyed my bi l e ; br ought me back

good ol d MacLehose wi t h hi s ki ndness, hi s hear t i -

ness, di si nt er est edness, t he same good ol d r eal i t y,

who was becomi ng a ki nd of a shadow t o me, or

l i t t l e mor e. Ther e he i s agai n, not t al ki ng, but

doi ng somet hi ng f or you. What ! coul d you f i r e at

hi m as he st ands t her e i n hi s own nat i ve pr ompt

obl i gi ng way, not spar i ng hi msel f , and maki ng no

f uss about i t ? No. And yet i f he ever al l ows

hi msel f t o f al l behi nd a cl oud and become shadow-

l i ke agai n, I wi l l have a shot at hi m. "

To Rev. D. Wat t , wi t h book par cel i n whi ch

Dani el has i ncl osed pamphl et s not or der ed by hi s

f r i end, but whi ch he t hi nks of gr eat mer i t , and i s

ci r cul at i ng wher ever he can f i nd an openi ng f or

t hem

" 54, FLEET STREET, August 31, 1842.

" . . . . I need scar cel y say anyt hi ng i n way

of apol ogy f or sendi ng Mr . Scot t ' s l i t t l e t r act s. I

am sur e you wi l l f eel t hankf ul t hat I have br ought

you i nt o cont act wi t h such a mi nd. He i s a

Scot chman ; was at one t i me a cur at e, or as-

si st ant , t o Mr . Edwar d I r vi ng ; he l ef t t he Ki r k

i n consequence of some scr upl es wi t h r egar d t o

102 ALEX. SCOTT' S LECTURES. [ CH. i v.

i t s doct r i nes; di d not see cl ear l y what second

st ep t o t ake ; under went many har dshi ps, and i s

now i n Wool wi ch, wher e he pr eaches on Sunday

and l ect ur es on Wednesday eveni ng. He seems t o

occupy a si ngul ar , i nsul at ed posi t i on, and i s onl y

f eel i ng hi s way ; I shoul d l i ke t o see hi s next st ep.

Page 63 of 178

I shoul d t hi nk i t wi l l ver y l i kel y be i nt o t he

Chur ch of Engl and; I hope so. I have hear d

hi m del i ver f our l ect ur es on t he Ref or mat i on. I

never hear d or r ead anyt hi ng on t he same subj ect

at al l equal t o t hem. Hi s many- si dedness i s

r eal l y wonder f ul . But you wi l l be abl e t o f or m

some not i on of hi m f r om t hese t r act s. Be sur e

you l end t hem t o Mr . Kennedy, he wi l l be pr oud

of such a man as hi s count r yman. He i s, I t hi nk,

second t o f ew men of our t i me or any t i me. I t was

by t he mer est chance I hear d of hi m. I saw a syl l a-

bus of a cour se of l ect ur es he was t o del i ver i n t he

same pl ace wher e Car l yl e l ect ur ed. Shor t l y af t er

I saw hi s t wo l ect ur es on ' Schi sm ' announced.

My br ot her and I went . We. wer e sur pr i sed, not

onl y at hi s dept h and cl ear ness, but t hat so not e-

wor t hy a man shoul d be so l i t t l e known. I

i mmedi at el y pr ocur ed hi s l ect ur es on ' The

Soci al Syst ems of t he Pr esent Day, ' and af t er

r eadi ng t hem at t ent i vel y my r ever ence f or t he

man gr eat l y i ncr eased. Just at t hi s t i me t he

deat h of t hat nobl e- mi nded and nobl e- hear t ed

man, Dr . Ar nol d, so sudden and so unexpect ed,

f el l heavi l y on t he hear t of al l t hose who f eel an

1837- 43. ] " THE KI NGDOM OF CHRI ST. " 103

i nt er est i n t he wel f ar e of our count r y, and know

t he val ue of a t r ue pr i est . I t r eal l y was cheer i ng

t o me at such a t i me t o l ear n t hat we had anot her

nobl e- hear t ed, t r ut h- l ovi ng man as yet scar cel y

known.

" You may r emember t hat i n t he f i r st l et t er

Har e sent me ( whi ch you saw) , he ment i oned a

book by Mr . Maur i ce, on The Ki ngdom of Chr i st .

I t was t hen out of pr i nt . I coul d nowher e

meet wi t h i t . However , a new edi t i on has now

come out , ver y much al t er ed and i mpr oved. I

bor r owed i t mer el y wi t h t he i nt ent i on of l ooki ng

t hr ough i t ; i magi ni ng t hat i t was some Hi gh-

Chur ch hal f Puseyi t e book, whi ch woul d do ver y

wel l f or Chur chmen, but of no val ue t o one

who had sai d good- bye t o al l par t i es. I l ooked

i nt o t hi s par t , and t hen i nt o t hat , and i n a ver y

shor t t i me f ound t hat he was no common man,

t hat he dwel t i n a hi gher , pur er , cl ear er r egi on

t han t hat of par t y. I f ound i t t o be a book t hat

I coul d not l i ve wi t hout . I have l ear nt much f r om

i t , but don' t expect t o mast er i t f or many a day.

I t i s a most ext r aor di nar y book. For cal mness,

f or candour , f or i nsi ght , I have never seen any -

t hi ng on t he same subj ect equal t o i t . I f i t wer e

not so l ar ge and so expensi ve a book ( 2 vol s. post

8vo. , pr i ce 1 I s. ) , I woul d send you a copy. I

am not sur e t hat i t woul d qui t e pl ease you. I

wi l l t r y t o gi ve you some not i on of t he book. He

expounds t he i dea of t he Hol y Cat hol i c Chur ch ;

Page 64 of 178

104 " THE KI NGDOM OF CHRI ST. " [ ci i . i v.

and answer s al l t he obj ect i ons of t he Quaker , t he

pur e Pr ot est ant , t he Rat i onal i st , t he Phi l osopher ,

t he Romani st , sever al l y. I t i s i n t hi s par t t hat he

most conspi cuousl y shows hi s honest y and i nsi ght .

He f i r st st at es t hei r obj ect i ons, j ust as an abl e

man of ei t her of t hese par t i es woul d st at e t hem.

Her e he i s most wonder f ul l y f ai r , nowher e t hat I

coul d per cei ve, di st or t i ng, or i n any way exag-

ger at i ng t hei r vi ews, but r at her st r i vi ng t o put

t hem i n t he best l i ght . Af t er he has done so

he pr oceeds t o show t he t r ut h t hat l i es i n t hem

j udgi ng t hat when he has seen t he t r ut h and l i f e

whi ch gave bi r t h t o t he syst em, he wi l l be i n a

bet t er posi t i on f or seei ng what i s wor t hl ess i n i t ;

havi ng l ai d hol d of t he seed- cor n he bl ows away

t he chaf f . He i s no i conocl ast . For i nst ance, i n

answer i ng t he obj ect i ons of t he Uni t ar i ans, he

pr oceeds t o show what good f eel i ng i t was t hat

gave bi r t h t o t he syst em, t o show t he i nval uabl e

good whi ch l i es i n t hei r posi t i ve doct r i nes, and

t he ut t er wor t hl essness of t he mer e negat i ons of t he

syst em, and how t hese negat i ons wel l - ni gh neu-

t r al i ze t he good. But I must st op, because I f eel

I cannot do Mr . Maur i ce j ust i ce. However , i f

you see t he book l i ght l y spoken of , or spoken

agai nst , i n any r evi ew or ot her per i odi cal , pr ay

keep your j udgment i n suspense. I t hi nk i t i n

ever y way an admi r abl e book; and j ust sui t ed

t o meet t he want s of our st r ange di st r act ed

t i me.

1837- 43. ] LANDOR' S ECCENTRI CI TI ES. 101

To GEO. WI LSON.

" 54, FLEET STREET, December 10, 1842.

" . . . I hear t i l y t hank you f or t he i nt er est you

have t aken i n what I sai d of goi ng i nt o busi ness,

f or speaki ng t o Dr . Day ; and Dr . Day f or pr omi si ng

hi s suppor t . I shoul d r eal l y l i ke t o do so ; and

have no doubt of bei ng successf ul i f I coul d begi n,

but t her e seems one r at her i mpor t ant obst r uct i on

at t he out set , namel y, t he want of cash. I l i ve

i n hope t hat t he cash wi l l be f or t hcomi ng some day

or anot her , at any r at e bef or e your book i s r eady,

whi ch I sJwul d l i ke t o publ i sh. I do t hi nk about

t he t hi ng, qui t e ser i ousl y, and must soon begi n

t o t r y what can be dene. . . .

" Of cour se you have seen Lander ' s Conver -

sat i on i n Bl ackwood. What a queer f el l ow Landor

i s ! Af t er doi ng al l he coul d t o r ai se Wor dswor t h

i nt o f ame, t hen doi ng al l i n hi s power t o r un

hi m down. Di d you ever see hi s ' sat i r e, ' i n

whi ch he so f i er cel y at t acks Pr of essor Wi l son and

Mr . Wor dswor t h ? He seems t o have f or gi ven t he

Page 65 of 178

Pr of essor , but he does not seem at al l i ncl i ned t o

l et t he good ol d poet al one. He sai d i n one of hi s

not es, t o t hi s sat i r e t hat Bl ackwood ought t o be

cal l ed t he Bl ackguar d Magazi ne, t hat no gent l e-

man coul d wr i t e i n i t , and now t hi s i s hi s second

ar t i cl e i n Bl ackwood wi t hi n t he l ast si x mont hs.

He had one i n t he number f or Jul y cut t i ng up

some poor unf or t unat e John Edmund Reade. But ,

106 LANDOR' S ECCENTRI CI TI ES. [ CH. i v.

not wi t hst andi ng al l hi s per ver si t i es and oddi t i es

I do l i ke Landor ; and gl adl y r ead ever yt hi ng he

wr i t es. He had a most beaut i f ul Conver sat i on i n

t he Book of Beaut y f or t hi s year . I t hi nk i t i s t he

best I have seen f r om hi s pen. I f you coul d l ay

your hand on i t you woul d be r i chl y r epai d.

" I have been t ol d t hat t he or i gi n of hi s di sl i ke

t o Wor dswor t h i s some f ool i sh st or y of t hi s ki nd.

Some one t ol d Wor dswor t h of t he new edi t i on of

Sout hey' s wor ks edi t ed by hi msel f . Wor dswor t h

asked t he pr i ce and t he number of vol umes ; and

when t ol d sai d he t hought i t ought t o be cheaper .

Per haps he sai d i t i n such a way as t o show t hat

he di d not val ue Sout hey' s poet r y ver y hi ghl y.

Lander ' s ver si on of t he st or y i s t hat Wor dswor t h,

when t ol d t he wor ks wer e t o be f i ve shi l l i ngs a

vol ume, sai d, ' They ar e not wor t h f i ve shi l l i ngs

a r eam. ' But ever y one who knows Wor dswor t h' s

cal mness and caut i on, says t hat i t i s qui t e

i mpossi bl e he coul d have sai d such a t hi ng.

However t hat may be, i t i s cer t ai n t hat Landor

del i ght s t o pul l down Wor dswor t h ever si nce he

hear d t hi s st or y, and t he mor e so now t hat hi s ol d

f r i end i s i n so hel pl ess a st at e, and so much f or -

got t en, whi l e Wor dswor t h r et ai ns hi s vi gour , and

r i ses hi gher and hi gher i nt o f ame. So you see

t hat even t hi s per ver si t y of hi s shows t he nobl e-

ness of hi s nat ur e. He cannot st r i ke a man when

he i s down, and woul d f ai n r ai se any who ar e

si nki ng. . . . "

1837- 43. ] CHAOS OF SCOTCH THOUGHT. 107

To GEO. WI LSON.

" Mar ch, 1843.

" Ask your f r i end Cai r ns what he t hi nks of t he

Mor al Phi l osophy ( Maur i ce' s) . I shoul d l i ke hi m

t o put i t i n wr i t i ng so t hat I mi ght see i t , and i f

you gi ve me l eave, t o show i t t o t he pr of essor .

What i s Cai r ns doi ng ? What i s he goi ng t o do ?

I n t he pr esent di st r act ed st at e of Scot l and a yout h

of geni us and hi gh cul t ur e wi l l f i nd i t har d t o get

Page 66 of 178

a spi r i t ual r est i ng- pl ace i n any of t he Pr esbyt er i an

syst ems. Ther e i s somet hi ng ver y pai nf ul i n i t ,

yet on t he whol e t he t endency of al l t hese move-

ment s seems i n t he r i ght di r ect i on. A sense of

t he col d deat h- l i ke dr ear i ness of a har d dr y st at e

est abl i shment . But how nat i onal i t y, Cat hol i ci t y,

and i ndi vi dual i t y ar e t o be br ought i nt o har mony

has not been r eveal ed t o t hem yet . I t r ust i t

wi l l be r eveal ed t o us al l by- and- by, f or i t seems

t o me t hat onl y i n t he har mony of t hese can a

man, or a nat i on of men, f i nd r est and peace. . . .

" Col er i dge has wr i t t en a ver y beaut i f ul book on

Chur ch and St at e, accor di ng t o t he i dea of each.

I have onl y gl anced at i t . What I r ead pl eased

me ver y much, but di d not sat i sf y me. I t i s

needl ess t o say t hat i t has at t r act ed ver y l i t t l e

not i ce. Those i gnor ant i dl er s cal l ed pr i est s ar e

t oo bl i nd t o see i t s beaut y or t ake advant age of

i t s wi sdom. "

108 NEWMAN' S UNI VERSI TY SERMONS. [ CH. i v.

To GEO. WI LSON.

" 54, FLEET STREET, Apr i l 12, 1843.

" . . . I shoul d l i ke you t o r ead Mr . Newman' s

vol ume of uni ver si t y ser mons, i f you can l ay your

hand on t hem. You wi l l see t hat he i s no ol d

woman, and t hat hi s not i ons about God ar e as

subl i me as anyt hi ng you have ever r ead. I

don' t expect you t o have much sympat hy wi t h

t he book. I t was most pai nf ul t o me. St i l l I

coul d not hel p admi r i ng t he wonder f ul power of

t he man, and f eel i ng t hat he was advanci ng

much t hat was wel l wor t h t hi nki ng about , but

whi ch was t oo much negl ect ed. Above al l , i t

seemed most absur d t o pr et end t o despi se such men.

" I r eal l y do expect t hat when some of t he ab-

sur di t i es, t he negat i ons of Puseyi sm, pass away,

t her e i s a spi r i t i n i t t hat wi l l l i ve and do

good, i n whi ch you wi l l be t he most r eady t o

r ej oi ce. . . . "

" 54, FLEET STREET, May 29, 1843.

" . . . I have been t hi nki ng f or some t i me

past of an encycl opaedi a much mor e compl et e

t han any we yet possess yet much shor t er

whi ch woul d cont ai n a shor t and compl et e account

of anyt hi ng whi ch commonpl ace peopl e coul d

wi sh t o know, and f ur ni sh a gui de t o t hose who

wi shed t o f ol l ow out . t he sever al subj ect s. The

whol e t hi ng shoul d be done i n t hr ee or f our

i mper i al oct avo vol umes. . . . "

1837- 43. ] BI SHOP THI RLWALL. 109

Page 67 of 178

To REV. D. WATT.

" 54, FLEET STREET, Apr i l 29, 1843.

" . . . . Have you hear d of Thi r l wal l ' s l ast

char ge ? I t has t aken peopl e qui t e by sur pr i se.

Many expect ed a st r ong condemnat i on of Tr act -

ar i ani sm, but Thi r l wal l , i n hi s qui et way, spends

most of hi s t i me i n t el l i ng t he cl er gy what t hei r

dut y i s ; speaks st r ongl y agai nst t hose ar chdeacons

who l i ve out of t hei r ar chdeaconr y ; anyt hi ng he

' says about Puseyi sm i s f ar f r om bei ng agai nst i t ;

nay, he seems t o r ecogni se a good i n i t ; i n t he mean-

t i me t hi nks i t best f or t he cl er gy t o wor k zeal ousl y

i n t hei r sever al cal l i ngs. The Evangel i cal par t y

i mmedi at el y at t ack hi m as a Puseyi t e, t han whi ch

not hi ng can be mor e f al se and f ool i sh. He i s a

si ngul ar l y cal m, r eser ved man, and never l i kel y t o

j oi n any par t y.

" Newman has j ust sent out anot her vol ume of

ser mons, pr eached bef or e t he uni ver si t y. I t i s a

ver y cur i ous speci men of t he scept i cal t ur n of hi s

mi nd. He ver y much r emi nds me of our gr eat

Scot ch scept i c, Davi d Hume. The same anal yt i cal

power , t he same car el essness about consequences.

He i s qui t e a l ogi ci an, and a most power f ul one.

He hol ds f ast by Chr i st i ani t y as devel oped i n

' t he Chur ch, ' because t he bal ance of pr obabi l i t i es

seems i n i t s f avour . I f he had not been a Chr i s -

t i an and a chur chman, he woul d have been one of

110 J. H. NEWMAN. [ en. i v.

t he power f ul est scept i cal l ogi c- mi l l s we have had

set a goi ng i n t hi s count r y f or many year s. For

mer e power , our f r i end, Ar chbi shop What el y, i s

not hi ng t o hi m. Newman i s a t r ue pr oduct of

t he ni net eent h cent ur y a genui ne st eam- engi ne ;

and yet no one i s mor e consci ous of t he weak-

ness and sel f - suf f i ci ency of ' our enl i ght ened age. '

When he i ndi cat es t hi s f eel i ng some mi ght t hi nk

hi m an at hei st ; he seems t o make t he sol i d ear t h

shake beneat h you. And yet I t hi nk he i s a good

man; and he has gr eat f ai t h i n goodness. One

may l ear n many t hi ngs f r om hi m, but I shoul d be

sor r y t o make hi m, or any of t he cl ass of whi ch

he i s t he most power f ul member , my gui de i n

spi r i t ual mat t er s. Af t er l eavi ng Newman, who

somewhat bewi l der s one, i t i s such a r el i ef t o t ur n

t o Lei ght on, or Col er i dge, or Maur i ce, or Tr ench,

or Har e men who have t he most unwaver i ng

f ai t h not mer el y ' a bal ance of pr obabi l i t i es ' on

t hei r si de. . . .

l < I have j ust r ead Car l yl e' s new book, Past and

Pr esent . I t i s ver y cur i ous, f ul l of t hought , and

t he most i mpor t ant pol i t i cal t r ut hs st at ed i n hi s

own st r ange way. I t i s wel l wor t h consi der i ng.

He speaks mor e pl ai nl y t han he ever di d bef or e

Page 68 of 178

speaks mor e deci ded Tor y Radi cal i sm. Ther e ar e

some t hi ngs whi ch l ook ver y l i ke Pant hei sm.

Thi s r at her vext me. The whol e book i s wor t h

car ef ul st udy. I f el t i t do me good ; f el t ver y

st r ongl y t he t r ut h of what he says wi t h r egar d t o

1837- 43. ] " PAST AXD PRESENT. " I l l

t he Mammoni sm of our t i me. Mammon t he god ;

r i ches, or success, heaven ; pover t y, or want of

success, hel l . Thi s i s put t i ng t he whol e mat t er

i n a ver y st r i ki ng l i ght . I t i s r eal l y wor t h t aki ng

t o hear t . I of t en f eel mysel f f al l i ng i nt o t hi s

wr et ched and cur sed spi r i t of our t i me. I t r e-

qui r es t o be wat ched and kept under . Car l yl e

al ways hel ps one t o f eel t he gr eat ness of our

nat ur e, i t s super i or i t y t o ever yt hi ng ear t hl y, and

t o keep t he ear t hl y i n i t s pr oper pl ace. I n sever al

pl aces he speaks i n t he most sneer i ng way of

Puseyi sm. One woul d not car e much about t hat ,

but he seems t o car e l i t t l e about any syst em of

r eveal ed r el i gi on. And yet somet i mes he qui t e

cont r adi ct s al l t hi s. He i s cl ear l y f ul l of i ncon-

si st enci es. On t he whol e, I cannot but t hi nk hi m

one of t he most not abl e men of our t i me. I t hi nk

he wi l l do good t o our t i me. . . .

" Ther e i s a new edi t i on of t he Ai ds t o Ref l ect i on

j ust publ i shed, wi t h a l ong, and most el abor at e,

cal m, and car ef ul l y wr i t t en essay by Sar a Col er i dge,

on t he r el at i on of Col er i dge' s phi l osophy t o t he

wr i t i ngs of Gl adst one, Newman, Pusey, and ot her s.

I t i s st r ange t o see how mast er l y she appear s whi l e

she t osses t hese gent l emen f r om t hi s si de t o t hat .

" Have you seen or hear d anyt hi ng of a st r ange

man named Bor r ow, who has wr i t t en books

cal l ed t he Gypsi es i n Spai n, and t he Bi bl e i n

Spai n ? They ar e most i nt er est i ng books, and he

i s a most st r ange man. He had a wonder f ul

112 GEORGE BORROW. [ CH. i v.

f aci l i t y i n gai ni ng t he conf i dence of t he l ower

' cl asses, especi al l y t he gypsi es. He gi ves al l hi s

advent ur es wi t h wonder f ul openness, and some of

t he oddest st or i es come out . Some of hi s st at e-

ment s about t he pr i est s have gi ven gr eat of f ence

t o t he Dubl i n Revi ew peopl e, and t hey have made

a f i er ce at t ack on poor Mr . Bor r ow, but he i s a

bol d man, and can st and hi s own gr ound.

" We ar e i n a st r ange st at e her e, i n Scot l and,

Engl and, I r el and, and Wal es. The Fr ee Pr esby-

t er i an Ki r k have act ed nobl y. Shor t comi ngs and

t r ansgr essi ons t her e doubt l ess have been, but on

t he whol e, t hei r conduct i s ver y pr ai sewor t hy.

One of t he weakest t hi ngs I have hear d i s t he

Page 69 of 178

pr oposal of a new uni ver si t y f or t he ' Fr ee Chur ch, '

whi ch woul d onl y be t o l ower t he st andar d of t he

pr of essor s and make t he whol e t hi ng sect ar i an,

not nat i onal . The I r i sh ar e i n a dr eadf ul f er ment ;

many t hi nk we must have a r epeal of t he Uni on.

I n Wal es, agai n, t her e i s most dr eadf ul di scont ent

and consi der abl e di st r ess. I don' t know what

wi l l become of us. I n Engl and ever y one i s com-

pl ai ni ng of t he dul ness of t r ade, and t he poor ar e

hunger - bi t t en. Then our spi r i t ual st at e i s st i l l

mor e omi nous. Puseyi sm has r eached i t s cul mi -

nat i on, but wi l l l eave a good seed behi nd i t God

onl y knows what . We have t he st r angest hubbub.

You can har dl y meet any one who speaks cal ml y

on ei t her si de. One hear s har dl y anyt hi ng but

shr i eki ng and vi t uper at i on. Rel i gi ous or what

1837- 43. ] RELI GI OUS PAPERS. 113

ar e cal l ed r el i gi ous paper s ar e r eal l y dr eadf ul ,

and t hey get wor se. Thei r bl i nd and st upi d

i nept i t ude i s hat ef ul . They mi sst at e, and mi st ake

on ever y hand sur el y t he r esul t of f ever . When

t he f ever i s cur ed, l et us hope we shal l have

sounder heal t h t han ever . I of t en t hi nk t hat you

and Budden ar e bet t er of f among t he Hi ndoos.

But her e, as t her e, conf i dence i n God i s t he onl y

t hi ng t hat can cheer us ami dst t he chances and

changes of t hi s mor t al l i f e "

As al r eady i nt i mat ed, new and bet t er pr ospect s

wer e now openi ng t o hi m. I n t hi s summer of

1843 he became t he owner of a smal l busi ness

i n Cambr i dge on t he r et i r ement of Mr . Newby.

The t er ms of pur chase ar e st at ed i n a l et t er t o

MacLehose :

" 57, ALDERSGATE STREET, Oct ober 16, 1843.

" . . . 1. I t ake Newby' s house on a l ease of

f our t een year s at a r ent of 84/ . a year ; and pay

al l t axes, except t he Pr oper t y and I ncome Tax,

and t he i nsur ance of t he house.

" 2. I t ake hi s st ock and t he f i xt ur es at t he

val uat i on of t wo i ndi f f er ent per sons, and pay down

t he cash.

" 3. Havi ng no cash of my own, have t o bor r ow

and pay i nt er est f or what I bor r ow. Thi s, of

cour se, wi l l t ake somet hi ng f r om t he pr of i t s ; but

I

114 PURCHASE OF NEWBY' S BUSI NESS. [ CH. i v.

i f I per sever e and keep up my heal t h and keep

down my expenses, I dar e say I shal l get over

Page 70 of 178

al l t hat . "

How he was enabl ed t o accompl i sh t hi s, t he,

gr eat ai m of hi s busi ness l i f e, must be t ol d i n

anot her chapt er .

CHAPTER V.

THE HARE CORRESPONDENCE. 1843- 55.

THE t ur ni ng- poi nt i n t he car eer of t he young

booksel l er had now been r eached. He had become

n t hor ough mast er of hi s cr af t of i t s t echni cal

det ai l s and i t s hi ghest spi r i t and he knew t hat

he was i t s mast er . He had dust ed books, packed

books, bound books ; had done, i n shor t , ever y -

t hi ng wi t h t hei r bodi es t hat coul d be done wi t h

t hem, and knew t he- commer ci al condi t i ons t ho-

r oughl y. But i t was not i n hi s mast er y of t he

t echni cal but of t he spi r i t ual si de of hi s cr af t

t hat hi s r eal st r engt h l ay. He was a genui ne

l over of books, r egar di ng t hem not as mer e ar t i cl es

of t r ade, t o be bound ar t i st i cal l y, def t l y cat al ogued,

and sol d at a pr of i t , but as acquai nt ances and

f r i ends, whom i t was a j oy as wel l as a dut y t o

i nt r oduce t o as wi de a ci r cl e as possi bl e.

But he shal l speak f or hi msel f as t o hi s cal l i ng :

" Bl ess your hear t , MacLehose, " he wr i t es,

whi l e st i l l a shopman at 80 a year , t o hi s

i 2

116 THE I DEAL BOOKSELLER. [ CH. v.

ol d f r i end and f el l ow- cr af t sman, who had gone

t o Gl asgow, " you never sur el y t hought you wer e

mer el y wor ki ng f or br ead ! Don' t you know

t hat you ar e cul t i vat i ng good t ast e amongst t he

nat i ves of Gl asgow ; hel pi ng t o unf ol d a l ove of

t he beaut i f ul among t hose who ar e sl aves t o t he

usef ul , or what t hey cal l t he usef ul ? I l ook on

you as a gr eat t eacher or pr ophet , doi ng wor k

j ust of t he ki nd t hat God has appoi nt ed you t o

do. No, no, Mac ! t hat won' t do. We book -

sel l er s, i f we ar e f ai t hf ul t o our t ask, ar e t r yi ng t o

dest r oy, and ar e hel pi ng t o dest r oy, al l ki nds of

conf usi on, and ar e ai di ng our gr eat Taskmast er t o

r educe t he wor l d i nt o or der , and beaut y, and

har mony. Br ead we must have, and gai n i t by

t he sweat of our br ow, or of our br ai n, and t hat

i s nobl e, because God- appoi nt ed. Yet t hat i s not

al l . As t r ul y as God i s, we ar e Hi s mi ni st er s, and

hel p t o mi ni st er t o t he wel l bei ng of t he spi r i t s of

men. At t he same t i me i t i s our dut y t o manage

our af f ai r s wi sel y, keep our mi nds easy, and not

t r ade beyond our means. "

To a young man of t went y- ei ght wi t h t hi s

Page 71 of 178

consci ousness of mast er y, and hi gh i deal of what

hi s cal l i ng meant , t he posi t i on of a subor di nat e

was becomi ng i r ksome. He i s l ongi ng f or a

t i me when, i n hi s own wor ds " no one can l ook

over my shoul der and say, Leave t hat and t i e

up t hi s par cel " For some year s he had been

1843- 55. ] " GUESSES AT TRUTH. " 117

l ooki ng r ound f or t he oppor t uni t y of a st ar t

on hi s own account , and had made t he smal l

begi nni ng al r eady not i ced i n* Al der sgat e St r eet ,

but want of means had hi t her t o f or bi dden any

f ur t her at t empt . At l ast , and i n t he ni ck of t i me,

t he l onged- f or ai d came, f r om an unexpect ed

quar t er , and i n a f or m as gr at ef ul t o t he r eci pi ent

as i t was honour abl e t o t he gr eat man who

r ender ed i t .

I t happened on t hi s wi se : Dani el Macmi l l an

i n t he aut umn of 1840, had r ead Guesses at Tr ut h

by Two Br ot her s, and t he book had t aken a st r ong

hol d on hi m. " I shoul d l i ke t o see t hese ' t wo

br ot her s, ' " he wr i t es, " t hey ar e excel l ent guesser s.

Yet ever yt hi ng l ooks so cl ear t o t hem. They have

most heal t hy mi nds. Have t hey ever had such

dr eadf ul doubt s and f ear s as we have had and

have? Ther e i s somet hi ng beaut i f ul i n t hei r

st yl e. I suppose we Scot ch can never at t ai n such

gr ace. I have not seen i n any moder n wr i t er such

beaut y, a gr acef ul ness whi ch spr i ngs f r om t he

ver y cent r e of t hei r bei ng. Ever y sent ence has such

exqui si t e f i ni sh and cl ear ness. I wi sh you coul d

f i nd out who and what t hey ar e. I shoul d l i ke

t o know al l about t hem. Thei r beaut i f ul book

t akes me i nt o qui t e a new wor l d. " He r ecom-

mended i t t o hi s f r i ends, and r ead and t al ked i t over

wi t h hi s br ot her , i n t hei r wal ks i n London Fi el ds,

whi ch t hen st r et ched away, a l ar ge open space,

t o t he nor t h- east , beyond t hei r humbl e l odgi ngs

118 LETTER TO ARCHDEACON HARE, 1840. [ CH. v.

at Hoxt on. The mor e he st udi ed t he book, and

wat ched i t s i nf l uence on ot her s, t he mor e convi nced

he became of i t s usef ul ness t o young men of hi s

own cl ass and condi t i on i n l i f e. At l ast t hi s con-

vi ct i on l ed hi m t o wr i t e t o t he unknown aut hor s.

Thi s l et t er , t he most i mpor t ant , as i t pr oved, of

any he ever wr ot e, so f ar as hi s own pr ospect s i n

l i f e wer e concer ned, af t er t hanki ng t he Two Br ot her s

on hi s own account , goes on :

" 54, FLEET STREET, Sept ember 22, 1840.

" . . . . But t her e ar e st i l l l ar ge cl asses who have

no sound f oundat i on f or t hei r mor al i t y. I n t hi s

London, f or i nst ance, I know a good deal of one cl ass,

a cl ass ver y much over l ooked, who ver y much st and

i n need of gui de- books t o ai d t hem i n t he f or ma-

Page 72 of 178

t i on of opi ni ons on mor al i t y and r el i gi on ; namel y,

young men occupi ed i n t he di f f er ent depar t ment s

of commer ci al l i f e. Hundr eds of t hem ar e con-

t i nual l y comi ng her e, f r esh f r om t he count r y, wi t h

war m, pur e, geni al hear t s, whi ch soon become, one

can scar cel y say what , f or no expr essi on can be t oo

st r ong t o i ndi cat e t hat whi ch a f ew year s pr oduce.

Many of t hem get on i n t he wor l d, as i t i s cal l ed,

and keep cl ear of t he gr osser and mor e di sgust i ng

f or ms of vi ce; but t hei r ' enl i ght ened sel f i shness'

l eads t hem t o l ook on al l pr et ensi on t o hi gher

mot i ves as mer e hypocr i sy. The conduct of t hese

men i s much bet t er t han t hei r cr eed i ndeed, t hey

of t en act i n cont r adi ct i on t o i t but st i l l such a

1843- 55. ] ALEXANDER SCOTT. 119

bel i ef i s, and cannot but be, i nj ur i ous. The di s -

t r ust whi ch t hey have of t hose who ought t o be

t hei r spi r i t ual gui des i s st i l l mor e hur t f ul ; and

t hi s di st r ust i s gr eat l y i ncr eased by t he per pet ual

squabbl es whi ch we have about ' Oxf or d Tr act

Doct r i nes, ' ' Evi l s of Di ssent , ' and t he l i ke "

The aut hor s of Guesses at Tr ut h may, he t hi nks,

do much f or t hi s cl ass.

A ki ndl y and cour t eous r epl y came f r om Hur st -

monceaux i n due cour se, and t her e f or a t i me t he

mat t er ended.

I n June, 1842, Dani el has di scover ed a new

her o, i n t he per son of Al ex. Scot t t he f r i end and

hel per of Edwar d I r vi ng, now a t eacher unat -

t ached, l ect ur i ng at Wool wi ch and el sewher e as

occasi ons of f er ed, f or t he doubl e pur pose of sayi ng

what he has t o say and ear ni ng hi s br ead and,

havi ng pi cked up some of hi s l ect ur es i n pamphl et

f or m, i s consi der i ng on what most f r ui t f ul soi l

he can scat t er t he good seed whi ch has come

i nt o hi s possessi on. The epi sode of 1840 comes

i nt o hi s mi nd, and t he t hought , who wi l l appr eci at e

t hese bet t er t han t he gr eat schol ar and vener abl e

aut hor t o whom he al r eady owes so much, i nt el -

l ect ual l y and mor al l y ? He wi l l t ake t he oppor -

t uni t y at t he same t i me of i nf or mi ng t he Ar ch-

deacon of t he di f f i cul t y of obt ai ni ng a necessar y

por t i on of one of hi s r ecent wor ks. Accor di ngl y

he wr i t es :

12D RENEWED CORRESPONDENCE, 1842. [ on. v.

To ARCHDEACON HARE.

" 8, CHARTERHOUSE SQUARE, June 17, 1842.

" REV. AND DEAR SI R,

Page 73 of 178

" . . . . I t ake t he l i ber t y of sendi ng you

t wo pamphl et s whi ch ar e not l i kel y ot her wi se

t o f al l i n your way, and whi ch, I t hi nk, ar e

l i kel y t o i nt er est you, as t hey ar e t he pr oduc -

t i ons of a t hi nker of no common or der , but who

as yet i s ver y l i t t l e known. They ar e not , as

you wi l l see, publ i shed by t he aut hor , but ar e

mer el y r epor t s of l ect ur es whi ch he del i ver ed ;

st i l l , even wi t h t hat di sadvant age, I t hi nk t hey

wi l l pl ease you. I t was by t he mer est chance I

met wi t h t hese, and i t di d cheer me t o r ead such

t hought s, j ust at a t i me when t he l oss of so gr eat ,

so pur e, so nobl e a man as Thomas Ar nol d, l ay

heavy on my hear t .

" I t i s al most t wo year s, I t hi nk, si nce I t ook t he

l i ber t y of wr i t i ng t o you bef or e. Af t er my l et t er

was gone I f el t sor r y and ashamed t hat I had sent

i t , and was ver y gl ad i ndeed t o see by t he ki nd

answer you sent , t hat i t was not t aken ami ss.

The Vi ct or y of Fai t h was t hen publ i shed : i t has

been f ol l owed by Par i sh Ser mons and by t wo

Char ges, and I see anot her vol ume of ser mons an-

nounced, but no not i ce of t he pr omi sed Appendi x

t o t he Vi ct or y of Fai t h. I have of t en asked about

i t , but can never get a sat i sf act or y answer . Now, I

1843- 55. ] THE ARCHDEACON' S REPLY. 121

shoul d t hi nk t hat ever y one who f el t any i nt er est

i n t hese ser mons must be anxi ous t o see t he

Appendi x.

" I t r ust you wi l l excuse me f or ment i oni ng t hi s,

because I don' t speak f or mysel f al one, but f or

f r i ends i n var i ous par t s of Engl and and Scot l and,

f r i ends i n I ndi a, i n Af r i ca, i n New Sout h Wal es,

who bought t hi s book and Guesses at Tr ut h, be-

cause of my r ecommendat i on. One of t hese

di st ant f r i ends has j ust wr i t t en t o me on t hat

subj ect , and hi s l et t er i s t he chi ef r eason of my

t aki ng t hi s l i ber t y at pr esent . "

To whi ch i n due cour se ar r i ves an answer f r om

Ar chdeacon Har e :

" HURSTMOXCEATTX, Jul y 14, 1842.

" I ought t o have t hanked you l ong ago f or your

ki ndness i n sendi ng me t hose t wo most val uabl e

wor ks ; but at t he t i me when t hey r eached me I

was engaged wi t h of f i ci al busi ness, whi ch l ef t me

no l ei sur e f or r eadi ng what r equi r ed at t ent i ve

t hought , and I wi shed t o r ead t hem bef or e I sent

you my acknowl edgment s f or t hem. I can now

do so wi t h si ncer e gr at i t ude t o you f or havi ng

i nt r oduced me t o t he wr i t i ngs of so wi se and good

a man. I had hear d hi m spoken of sever al t i mes

wi t h hi gh pr ai se by hi s f r i end and mi ne, Mr .

Maur i ce ; but t hr ough some gr eat car el essness I

had never yet r ead a page of Mr , Scot t ' s. Now I

Page 74 of 178

122 DANI EL' S APOLOGY. [ CH. v.

f eel anxi ous t o r ead al l t he ut t er ances of hi s gr eat

mi nd ; and I have accor di ngl y pr ocur ed hi s l ect ur es

on t he Eomans, and hi s t hr ee t r eat i ses. I t i s,

i ndeed, a consol at i on under t he gr i ef f or t he l oss of

my nobl e- hear t ed f r i end Ar nol d, t o f i nd t hat t her e

i s anot her pur e l over of t r ut h l i ke Mr . Scot t

l i vi ng among us. Har dl y anyt hi ng I have r ead

si nce Col er i dge has t aught and st r engt hened and

del i ght ed me so much as t hese l ect ur es. . . . "

The Ar chdeacon t hen r ef er s agai n t o t he con-

di t i on of t he young men i n London, echoi ng t he

i nqui r y, How can t hey be hel ped as you woul d

wi sh? What can be done f or t hem? and ends

by i nvi t i ng hi s unknown cor r espondent t o vi si t

hi m at Hur st monceaux.

The openi ng t hus gi ven f r om such a quar t er , f or

t he pr omot i on of an obj ect he had much at hear t ,

was j oyf ul l y accept ed, and Dani el r epl i es :

" 8, CHARTERHOUSE SQUARE, Jul y 25, 1842.

" . . . . I shoul d be ver y sor r y t o dr ag you i nt o a

l ong cor r espondence, because i t woul d onl y t ake up

your val uabl e t i me wi t hout gi vi ng you an equi va-

l ent . I never wr ot e t o any one wi t h whom I was

not per sonal l y acquai nt ed except your sel f . I don' t

r eadi l y make up t o any one, bei ng nat ur al l y r e-

ser ved. I knew Guesses at Tr ut h, a si ngl e ser mon,

The Chi l dr en of t he Li ght , and t wo or t hr ee ar t i cl es

i n The Phi l ol ogi cal Museum, l ong ago ; and of t en

1843- 55. ] SPI RI TUAL CONDI TI ON OF YOUNG MEN. 123

wi shed t o see somet hi ng el se f r om t he same hand ;

and when The Vi ct or y of Fai t h appear ed I r ecei ved

i t gl adl y, and f el t t hat t he aut hor mi ght he usef ul

t o many who occupy t he same posi t i on i n l i f e as

mysel f t hat was t he r eason why I ever di d wr i t e

t o you at al l . . . .

" I t i s ver y l i kel y t hat I over - est i mat e t he val ue

of hooks, and f ancy t hei r i nf l uence gr eat er t han i t

r eal l y i s. They have done so much f or me t hat I

ver y r eadi l y embr aced Mr . Car l yl e' s not i on, t hat i n

t hem one f i nds t he onl y t r ue communi on of sai nt s.

The f i r st edi t i on of Guesses at Ti ' ut h, f or i nst ance,

i nt r oduced me t o a qui t e new r egi on ; and t he

Two Br ot her s wer e, per haps, al l t he mor e usef ul t o

me, because I knew not hi ng about t hem, t hei r

names, t hei r pr of essi ons, t hei r pecul i ar i t i es, t hei r

cr eeds. I f el t , and st i l l f eel , deepl y i ndebt ed and

t hankf ul t o t hem, not onl y f or t hei r own t hought s,

but f or t hei r gui dance i nt o r i ch and unknown

f i el ds, whi ch I shoul d per haps never have hear d of

ot her wi se. But t o r et ur n.

" The st at e of t he per sons I speak about l i es on

my hear t l i ke a bur den. I of t en t r y t o f or get t hem

Page 75 of 178

and t hei r danger s but cannot . I t woul d be much

mor e comf or t abl e f or me t o go on i n my own way,

r eadi ng what woul d be good and pl easi ng t o

mysel f , and never gi vi ng a t hought about ot her s,

but I cannot . Ever y book I r ead, whi ch shows

anyt hi ng l i ke an ear nest desi r e f or t he good of

man, makes me t hi nk of t hem. I r ej oi ce i n t he

124 THE CHURCH AND THE PRESS. [ CH. v.

appear ance of such books. Dr . Ar nol d' s CJi r i st i an

Li f e gr eat l y del i ght ed me, especi al l y t he i nt r oduc -

t i on, and not es G. and H. I sai d t o mysel f , ' Her e

i s anot her man f i t t ed t o be a gui de, what Mr .

Car l yl e cal l s a t r ue pr i est . '

" Thi s f eel i ng, and t he i mpossi bi l i t y of get t i ng

r i d of i t , i nduced me t o wr i t e t o you, whi ch r eal l y

was pai nf ul t o me, and i s so now. I shoul d not

have t hought of doi ng so agai n, onl y I hoped t hat

you woul d do somet hi ng your sel f , and use your

i nf l uence t o l ead ot her s t o wor k f or t he same

obj ect , one whi ch I f eel t o be of t he gr eat est

i mpor t ance. . . .

" One who r eal l y knows t hese t hi ngs, and does

not t r ust t o newspaper r epor t er s, or t o t he f act s and

gener al i sat i ons of Edi nbur gh and Quar t er l y Revi ew

wr i t er s, must see cl ear l y t hat t her e i s no spi r i t ual

gui dance i n exi st ence at al l equal t o t he want s of

our t i me ; and whet her i t be t r ue or no, t hat

l i t er at ur e i s t he onl y t r ue Chur ch, i t cer t ai nl y i s

t r ue t hat t he Chur ch, t he God- or dai ned t eacher of

manki nd, mi ght make a much gr eat er use of t he

Pr ess t han i t gener al l y does. Wher ever one goes

Sunday newspaper s ar e sol d. You f i nd t hem i n

t he hands of most poor men who can r ead. You

of t en see one who can r ead si t t i ng wi t h hal f - a-

dozen l i st ener s ar ound hi m, whi l e he r eads a wor d

i n season. Her e i s an i nf l uence at wor k, whi ch

our Chur ches l abour f eebl y t o count er act . Coul d

t he Chur ch not l ay hol d of t hi s i nst r ument , and

1843- 55. ] CONDI TI ON OF YOUNG MEN. 125

use i t mor e wi sel y ? . . . . The chi ef obj ect of t he

di scussi ons of t hose I am speaki ng of i s, how t o

br i ng about some st at e of soci et y wher e t her e

woul d be mor e comf or t and l ess vi ce. . . .

" The edi t or and t he chi ef wr i t er of t he Penny

Sat i r i st i s evi dent l y a man of compar at i vel y good

educat i on. He of t en says most beaut i f ul t hi ngs.

The number s I have sent ar e not t he best speci -

mens. He i s, i t must be conf essed, ver y def i ci ent

i n ear nest ness, st i l l i n t ur ni ng over hi s ar t i cl es

one cat ches a gl i mpse of t r ue l i ght . He cal l s

hi msel f t he Rev. J. E. Smi t h, and he evi dent l y has

had a r el i gi ous educat i on. . . .

Page 76 of 178

" Ther e i s somet hi ng wr ong about t hi s and i t

i s t he hope t hat you and your f r i end Mr . Maur i ce,

and ot her f r i ends, mi ght l ook at t hi s mat t er and

see what can be done t hi s, and t hi s al one i nduced

me t o t r oubl e you agai n wi t h so l ong a l et t er . . . .

" Wi t h r egar d t o your ki nd i nvi t at i on, I don' t

see any pr ospect of t hat pl easur e at pr esent . How-

ever , I di d t hi nk of r unni ng down t o Br i ght on and

f r om t hence t o Hast i ngs, and I suppose t he coach

f r om Br i ght on t o Hast i ngs woul d pass t hr ough

Hai l sham, i f not Hur st monceaux, and i f so I shoul d

have gr eat pl easur e i n avai l i ng mysel f of your

ki ndness.

" I t may be as wel l t o l et you know t hat I am

onl y one of t he cl er k speci es, whose si ngul ar and

unf or t unat e posi t i on wi t h r egar d t o spi r i t ual cul -

t ur e was t he cause of my f i r st wr i t i ng t o you.

126 WHAT CAN BE DONE ? [ OH. v.

I have no l ear ni ng, can r ead no l anguage except

Engl i sh, speak none except . a par t l y i nt el l i gi bl e

Scot ch- Engl i sh di al ect . I ment i on t hi s so t hat you

may know t hat I don' t bel ong t o any of t he l ear ned

pr of essi ons. . . . "

Fr om ARCHDEACON HARE.

" HURSTMONCEAUX, August 16, 1842.

" I t was i mpossi bl e f or me t o r ead your l ast

l et t er wi t hout ver y deep i nt er est i n i t s subj ect ,

and shame and gr i ef at t he t hought how much

t he mi ni st er s and ot her member s of Chr i st ' s

Chur ch have negl ect ed t hei r poor er and l ess

f avour ed br et hr en ; nor wi t hout an anxi ous wi sh

t hat somet hi ng at l east shoul d be at t empt ed f or

t he speci al i nst r uct i on of t he cl ass of whom

you speak wi t h such deep sympat hy. Per haps I

ought t o have answer ed you sooner ; but I was

desi r ous of hear i ng what Mr . Maur i ce, t o whom

I sent your l et t er , t hought on t he mode of car r y -

i ng your vi ews i nt o ef f ect ; and I have onl y t hi s

mor ni ng r ecei ved hi s r epl y.

" He agr ees wi t h me i n t hi nki ng t hat t her e ar e

ver y st r ong obj ect i ons t o t he pl an of maki ng use of

such paper s as t he Weekl y Di spat ch f or t he sake of

ci r cul at i ng whol esomer doct r i nes. They who di d

t hi s woul d, I t hi nk, i ncur t he censur e of t hr owi ng

pear l s bef or e swi ne ; and t he pear l s, what ever t hey

mi ght be, woul d be t r ampl ed on and def i l ed. Of

1843- 55. ] THE ARCHDEACON' S VI EWS. 127

cour se no good coul d be ef f ect ed by a f ew casual

Page 77 of 178

mi ssi l es ; i t woul d be necessar y t o car r y on t he war

agai nst er r or st eadi l y and cont i nuousl y; and I

shoul d doubt whet her t he edi t or woul d consent t o

t hi s. At al l event s, t he wr i t er s who woul d t her eby

be compel l ed t o st udy t he Weekl y Di spat ch, woul d

be exposed t o t he cont i nual act i on of t he most

di shear t eni ng and r epul si ve i mpul ses. The bet t er

ar t i cl es woul d be at t acked wi t h much bi t t er ness,

i ngenui t y, coar seness, r i bal dr y, t o whi ch i t woul d

be most pai nf ul t o r epl y, and whi ch woul d pr o-

babl y over power t he i nf l uence of t he t r ut hs mi xed

up wi t h t hem, even as t he st ench of a scavenger ' s

car t over power s al l t he r ef r eshi ng ai r of mor ni ng.

I ndeed, i n r epl yi ng t o t hi s r i bal dr y, we shoul d be

compel l ed t o expr ess i ndi gnat i on, whi ch woul d f i nd

no r esponse i n our r eader s, and shoul d be t empt ed

t o i mi t at e i t t oo near l y. Besi des, t he r esul t woul d

be cont r over sy, whi ch i nvar i abl y f ast ens upon

negat i ons, and mi nor poi nt s ; wher eas what i s

r equi si t e i s t o asser t t r ut h posi t i vel y, pl ai nl y,

st r ai ght f or war dl y.

" The f i r st pl an t hat occur r ed t o me f or doi ng

somet hi ng t o f ul f i l your i nt ent i ons, was t hat of

set t i ng up a new weekl y paper f or t he asser t i on of

such t r ut hs i n a manner t o come home t o t he

hear t s of t he oper at i ves and t hei r f el l ows. At t he

same t i me I f eel t hat t her e ar e gr eat di f f i cul t i es

at t endi ng such a scheme. I t woul d r equi r e no

i nconsi der abl e capi t al , whi ch, af t er al l , mi ght be

128 THE AECHDEACON' S VI EWS. [ en. v.

expended i nef f ect ual l y. A r i ght - mi nded edi t or

woul d be want ed, unl ess you your sel f woul d

under t ake t hat par t of t he wor k. Your i nt er est

i n i t seems t o f i t you especi al l y f or i t . You know

what i s want ed, what t he peopl e want ; and you

woul d pr obabl y be abl e t o f i nd sever al per sons of

your own cl ass t o j oi n you i n t he wor k. The best

apost l es ar e t hose who r i se out of t he cl ass t hey

ar e pr eachi ng t o, and who speak t o t he peopl e wi t h

t he hear t and mi nd of t he peopl e. I f you see any

pr act i cabi l i t y i n such a scheme, I f eel assur ed t hat

Mr . Maur i ce, Mr . Scot t , and ot her s, who ar e abl e t o

under st and t he vi ews you have concei ved, woul d

r ej oi ce i n l endi ng t hei r ai d i n t he godl y wor k.

" I f t hi s pl an cannot be adopt ed, I see no ot her

t han t hat whi ch Mr . Maur i ce hi msel f has t hought

t he most advi sabl e, a ser i es of ' Tr act s wr i t t en on

t he pr i nci pl e of acknowl edgi ng t he peopl e t o whom

t hey ar e addr essed t o be r easonabl e cr eat ur es,

r eal l y desi r ous of knowi ng what i s t r ue, and

al r eady havi ng t hought s and f eel i ngs on t he sub-

j ect s i n whi ch we ar e i nt er est ed. ' How f ar t hi s

wor k mi ght be car r i ed on, I know not . Some-

t hi ng may cer t ai nl y be done, and wi t h mor e

ease t han t he est abl i shment of a new paper .

You woul d be bet t er abl e t o j udge how f ar such

t r act s woul d be l i kel y t o f i nd r eader s among t he

cl asses f or whom t hey ar e i nt ended.

Page 78 of 178

" I know not whet her you ar e awar e t hat Dr .

Ar nol d hi msel f once set up a newspaper , t ho

1843- 55. ] THE ARCHDEACON' S VI EW. 129

Engl i shman s Jour nal , wi t h t he ver y vi ews whi ch

you have expr est . I t was about t wel ve year s ago.

But as he was l i vi ng at Eugby, engaged i n t he

car es of t he school , he coul d onl y wr i t e a f ew

ar t i cl es, and was f or ced t o ent r ust t he edi t or shi p t o

a per son who gave t he paper a r adi cal pol i t i cal

char act er . Thus moder at e men wer e of f ended, and

af t er a f ew number s t he paper was dr opped, and

Dr . Ar nol d l ost a l ar ge sum of money by i t . He

af t er war ds l ooked out f or paper s of honest pr i n-

ci pl e, t hat had some ci r cul at i on among t he l ower

cl asses, and wr ot e some admi r abl e l et t er s i n t he

Sl i ef f i el d Cour ant , whi ch wer e af t er war ds pr i nt ed

col l ect i vel y. Of l at e year s he wr ot e occasi onal l y

wi t h a l i ke vi ew i n t he Her t f or dshi r e Ref or mer , and

t hose l et t er s, I doubt not , wer e al so excel l ent . I

t r ust t hese, and hi s ot her pol i t i cal wr i t i ngs, wi l l

be pr i nt ed bef or e l ong i n a separ at e vol ume.

" One consi der at i on whi ch seems t o gi ve t he pl an

of t r act s a pr ef er ence over t hat of a newspaper , i s,

t hat t her e woul d doubt l ess be consi der abl e di f f er -

ences among t he wr i t er s we mi ght hope t o f i nd :

above al l i n eccl esi ast i cal vi ews, and t hei r r el at i ve

i mpor t ance. Thi s mi ght l ead t o a good deal of

di ssensi on i f t he publ i cat i on wer e a j oi nt one,

f or whi ch each wr i t er f el t hi msel f r esponsi bl e;

but i n a col l ect i on of t r act s publ i shed wi t h t he

name of t he wr i t er s, no such r esponsi bi l i t y woul d

exi st .

" I have wr i t t en cr udel y and hur r i edl y, t o show

K

130 A. P. STANLEY. [ CH. v.

you t hat I do t ake a l i vel y i nt er est i n t he ac -

compl i shment of your wi shes, and hope ear nest l y

t hat I may be abl e t o l end you a l i t t l e hel p i n

f i ndi ng men t o wor k wi t h you t owar ds t hat

accompl i shment . "

Amongst t hose t o whom t he Ar chdeacon was

al r eady submi t t i ng t he pr oposal s of hi s cor -

r espondent , was t he l at e Dean of West mi nst er ,

t han whom no mor e ef f i ci ent hel per coul d have

been f ound i n t he pr oposed wor k. The f ol l owi ng

char act er i st i c l et t er f r om hi m may be al l owed t o

br eak f or a f ew moment s t he cont i nui t y of t he

nar r at i ve :

Page 79 of 178

A. P. STANLEY t o D. MACMI LLAN.

" Ti i E PALACE, NORWI CH, August 30, 1842.

" DEAK SI R,

" I t r ust you wi l l excuse t he l i ber t y whi ch

I t ake i n addr essi ng you, and f or whi ch I have

no ot her excuse t han f r om t he f r equent ment i on

of your name t o me by my f r i end and r el at i ve,

Ar chdeacon Har e. He once showed me a l et t er

of your s, i n whi ch you spoke of t he l oss whi ch

you f el t i n t he deat h of so pur e and nobl e a

man as Thomas Ar nol d, and of t he good whi ch

you had hoped t hat hi s wr i t i ngs mi ght have

ef f ect ed amongst t he cl ass of men i n whom you

t ake so deep an i nt er est . I was a pupi l of

1843- 55. ] THE I NVI TATI ON TO HURSTMONCEAUX. 131

Dr . Ar nol d, and l i ke many ot her s i n t he same

ci r cumst ances l ooked up t o hi m mor e t han t o any

one whom I knew. And i t has si nce hi s deat h

f al l en t o my char ge t o col l ect and pr epar e such

mat er i al s f or hi s l i f e and cor r espondence as may

be wor t h publ i cat i on.

" Now i t has f r equent l y st r uck me t hat your

l et t er was a t est i mony t o hi s i nf l uence havi ng

penet r at ed i nt o quar t er s wher e I shoul d not have

expect ed t o f i nd i t , and you wi l l t her ef or e under -

st and how I nat ur al l y wi sh, bot h f r om my own

per sonal i nt er est i n hi m, and al so f or t he sake of

t he wor k on whi ch I am engaged, t o know t o

what ext ent t hi s may be t he case, or ( i f i t be

conf i ned t o your sel f ) t o know how you became

acquai nt ed wi t h hi s wor ks, and ( i f I mi ght f ur t her

vent ur e t o ask i t ) what i mpr essi on of hi m you

gat her ed f r om t hem.

" I f eel t hat I have no cl ai m upon you t o j ust i f y

me i n aski ng t hese quest i ons, but t he i nt er est

whi ch your l et t er expr essed i n hi m, and t he

char act er of your communi cat i ons wi t h Ar ch-

deacon Har e, encour age me t o hope t hat you wi l l

not be i ndi sposed t o gr at i f y my r equest .

" I r emai n,

" Your s f ai t hf ul l y,

" A. P. STANLEY. "

The cor di al i nvi t at i on t o Hur st monceaux, so

of t en r epeat ed, was at l ast accept ed. " I set out

K 2

132 HTJRSTMONCEAUX RECTORY. [ CH. v.

Page 80 of 178

t o- mor r ow, " he wr i t es t o Wat t . " Of cour se I

l ook f or war d wi t h pl easur e t o such a vi si t , and I

shal l wr i t e you by next over l and j ust t o gi ve you

an account of our i nt er vi ew. Ever yt hi ng I see

of Har e' s, and ever y l et t er I have f r om hi m, l eads

me t o t hi nk mor e hi ghl y of hi m. " The vi si t i s

descr i bed, i n f ul f i l ment of t hi s pr omi se, i n t he

f ol l owi ng l et t er t o t he mi ssi onar y f r i end i n di st ant

Benar es :

To EEV. D. WATT.

" 54, FLEET STREET, Sept ember 29, 1842.

" I i nt ended t o have commenced a l et t er t o

you i mmedi at el y af t er my r et ur n f r om Hur st mon-

ceaux, gi vi ng you an account of my vi si t , what I

saw and hear d. But somet hi ng or ot her came, day

by day, ever si nce t o hi nder me, and her e at l ast

I must wr i t e hur r i edl y, so t he l ess t i me I spend

i n apol ogi es t he bet t er . Hur st monceaux i s a

par i sh wi t h 1, 300 i nhabi t ant s, somewher e bet ween

Br i ght on and Hast i ngs. As t he r ai l way t akes me

t o Br i ght on i n a coupl e of hour s f or a mer e t r i f l e

I chose t hat way r at her t han by Hast i ngs. Har e' s

house l i es at about t wo mi nut es wal k f r om t he

coach r oad bet ween Br i ght on and Hast i ngs. The

coach put me down at t he Eect or y gat e. The

Eect or y i s ver y beaut i f ul l y si t uat ed on a hi l l

sur r ounded by t he most beaut i f ul gl ebe, and t he

Bee t or s seem t o have spar ed no pai ns, no expense ;

1843- 55. ] THE ARCHDEACON' S LI BRARY. 133

t hey have t aken ever y advant age of si t uat i on, and

have di spl ayed gr eat t ast e i n t he ar r angement of

t r ees, gar dens, &c. , &c. The l i vi ng i s i n t he gi f t of

t he f ami l y. Hi s gr andf at her and hi s uncl e wer e

Rect or s t her e. The house i s a l ar ge, wel l - bui l t ,

commodi ous- l ooki ng mansi on, but does not di spl ay

much ar chi t ect ur al t ast e. When one goes i nt o i t ,

i t l ooks mor e l i ke a l i br ar y t han a dwel l i ng- house.

I t i s l i t er al l y cr ammed wi t h books and such

books col l ect ed wi t h such wi sdom and car e.

Mr . Maur i ce says t hat he t hi nks i t t he best

pr i vat e l i br ar y i n Engl and ; cont ai ns t he l ar gest

number of r eal l y val uabl e books, sel ect ed wi t h

t he wi dest and most cat hol i c j udgment and t ast e.

Car l yl e says he never saw so l ar ge a col l ect i on

of r eal l y f i r st - r at e Ger man books ; and Car l yl e i s

an aut hor i t y on such mat t er s. But besi des Ger -

man he has Gr eek, Lat i n, I t al i an, Spani sh, Fr ench,

and Engl i sh of cour se. I was qui t e ast oni shed.

I saw many, ver y many books I had never hear d

of , and many I had onl y hear d of . He has not

mer el y a l ar ge l i br ar y, f or t hough t he r oom

speci al l y so- cal l ed i s a l ar ge one, and qui t e f ul l of

books, i t cont ai ns onl y a smal l par t of hi s books.

The di ni ng and dr awi ng r ooms l ook, mor e l i ke

l i br ar i es t han di ni ng and dr awi ng r ooms ; f or t he

si des t hat ar e not shel ved f r om bot t om t o t op and

f i l l ed wi t h books, ar e cover ed wi t h pi ct ur es, some

Page 81 of 178

of t he ver y nobl est pi eces of ar t . Then t he hal l

i s shel ved and f i l l ed wi t h books i n t he same way,

134 THE ARCHDEACON' S LI BRARY. [ CH. v.

and so ar e t he st ai r cases and t he l obby of t he

f i r st - f l oor , and so ar e some of t he bedr ooms. I t

i s r eal l y qui t e wonder f ul ; I was sur pr i sed. But

al l t hi s money coul d do wi t h some good advi ce i n

t he sel ect i on. However , when I began t o l ook

t hr ough t he books I saw t hat Har e was somet hi ng

ver y di f f er ent f r om a mer e book- col l ect or . Al l

t he most val uabl e books had mar gi nal not es, or

not es at t he end gener al l y poi nt i ng out wher e

was a good cr i t i ci sm on i t , or wher e t he same

subj ect was di scussed never mer e mar ks of admi -

r at i on, or any pedant r y of t hat ki nd. The var i et y,

t he ext ent , t he car ef ul ness of hi s r eadi ng wer e

beyond bel i ef . The not es whi ch I ment i on show

t hi s. Ther e i s no mi st aki ng hi s hand, ot her -

wi se one woul d scar cel y cr edi t t hat a man coul d

have r ead so much and wi t h such car e. Be-

si des t hese books and pai nt i ngs he has an i mmense

col l ect i on of engr avi ngs; al l of t hem wel l wor t h

havi ng. Thi s par t , however , woul d r equi r e a ver y

l ong t i me t o l ook t hr ough wi t h t he car e t hey

deser ve. But now t hat I have t aken so l ong t o

t el l you about t he house, I must begi n t o say

somet hi ng of i t s i nmat es.

" The f or emost f i gur e i s, of cour se, t he Ar ch-

deacon hi msel f . He i s about si x f eet , not at al l

st out , not ver y sl ender . Somet hi ng l i ke Mr .

Bi nney as t o hei ght , not at al l l i ke hi m ot her wi se.

Hi s eye i s l ar ge, sof t , swi mmi ng, not dar k- bl ue,

nor gr ay, nor hazel , but a sor t of mi xt ur e of t hese.

1843- 55. ] THE ARCHDEACON AT HOME. I DS

Hi s hai r was dar k, but i s now copi ousl y spr i nkl ed

wi t h gr ay. Hi s compl exi on i s r at her sal l ow ; hi s

f or ehead br oad and r at her , but not ver y, hi gh.

He t akes no car e t o show hi s f or ehead, as hi s

gr i zzl ed hai r l i es car el essl y about hi s t empl es.

Hi s expr essi on i s t hat of a ver y t hought f ul , ki nd-

hear t ed, si mpl e- mi nded man, qui t e f r ee f r om al l

sel f - consci ousness. I never met so humbl e- mi nded

a man. He st oops a l i t t l e, t he r esul t of t oo much

r eadi ng I shoul d t hi nk. He i s ver y f r ank, and

1 f el t qui t e at ease wi t h hi m. Hi s onl y br ot her ,

Mar cus, who was a capt ai n i n t he navy, was

t her e, wi t h hi s wi f e and t hr ee chi l dr en. The

wi dow of hi s br ot her August us was al so t her e,

wi t h her onl y chi l d, a boy about seven. They

wer e al l ver y pl easant peopl e. I f el t qui t e at

home wi t h t hem. Thei r easy good- br eedi ng made

me f eel so. They t al ked wi t h f r eedom and ease

on al l sor t s of subj ect s and yet t hey wer e f ar

f r om bei ng gr eat t al ker s, a ver y di sgust i ng ki nd

of peopl e t o me.

Page 82 of 178

" I wi sh I coul d gi ve you anyt hi ng l i ke a not i on

of t he conver sat i on but t hat i s i mpossi bl e.

" Landor had been t her e about a week bef or e

me. I f I had gone when I was f i r st asked I shoul d

have met hi m. Fr om al l t he Har es say, and t hey

know Landor wel l , and have known hi m f or many

year s, t her e i s l i t t l e chance of hi s ever pr oduci ng

t he ' Sol i d and Or der l y Wor k on Hi st or y, ' of whi ch

he speaks i n t he pr ef ace t o hi s Conver sat i ons.

136 LANDOR. [ CH. v.

He i s so f ul l of st r ange per ver si t i es and unr est .

He i s a nobl e, war m- hear t ed man ; but qui t e

devoi d of anyt hi ng l i ke phi l osophi cal or j udi ci al

cal mness, and seems t o get mor e and mor e exci t -

abl e as hi s year s i ncr ease. Not hi ng del i ght s hi m

mor e t han t o pest er hi s vi si t or s, or hi s host , or any

one he meet s i n company, wi t h al l manner of

par adoxes. The t r ul y ami abl e and l ovel y nat ur e

of Ti ber i us, or of Ner o ; or t he gr eat f ol l y and

cr uel t y of Pi t t and Fox ; or an exami nat i on of

t he quest i on whi ch of t he t wo ( Fox or Pi t t )

was t he gr eat er f ool al ways deci di ng i n f avour

of Fox f or he, accor di ng t o Landor , was t he

gr eat est f ool of hi s day. Pi t t , he says, was

f ool enough, but had a l i t t l e of t he r ogue.

Somet i mes he di scour ses on t he gr andeur and

beaut y and har mony of t he moder n Gr eek and

Lat i n pr i ze poems of Oxf or d and Cambr i dge;

showi ng t hem t o be i n ever y way super i or t o

al l t hat t he Gr eeks or t he Eomans ever wr ot e !

Or per haps he spends an hour i n pr ovi ng t hat

Monckt on Mi l nes i s t he gr eat est Engl i sh poet . I n

t hese humour s he pr ai ses what ot her s bl ame, and

abuses what ever i s wel l - spoken of . He i s ver y

f ond of t he Har es. Jul i us r evi sed hi s Conver -

sat i ons. Fr anci s Har e, t he el dest of t he f ami l y,

who i s now dead, was one of Landor ' s chi ef

f r i ends. He dedi cat es hi s vol ume of poet r y t o

Fr anci s. Jul i us t hi nks hi m t he best of Engl i sh

pr ose wr i t er s, and i s onl y sor r y t hat he gi ves way

1843- 55. J LANDOR. 137

t o such st r ange t emper s and cr ot chet s and way-

war dness. Mi ss Har e, a si st er of Jul i us, whom I

met at Maur i ce' s, t ol d me t hat her br ot her Jul i us

br ought Landor and August us Schl egel t oget her

at Bonn. Ar ndt was t her e, and sever al ot her s;

t hey wer e scar cel y i nt r oduced when Landor - com-

menced a most f ur i ous at t ack on Schl egel , abusi ng

hi m i n t he most ext r avagant way, f or havi ng

spoken f avour abl y of t he Fr ench i n hi s l ect ur es

on ' Dr amat i c Li t er at ur e. ' When di nner came on

t he t abl e, Landor woul d not si t down wi t h t he r est

of t he company, but t ook hi s di nner at some si de

t abl e. Schl egel sai d, ' Wel l , I don' t l i ke t he Fr ench,

Page 83 of 178

and have onl y sai d i n t hei r f avour what honest y

and t r ut h r equi r ed, but wi t h al l t hei r f aul t s, t hey

ar e at l east pol i t e ; t hey have some not i on of good

br eedi ng. ' Mi ss Har e was pr esent and Landor

wr ot e t o her a shor t t i me af t er f r om I t al y. He

sai d t hat t he onl y man he met at Bonn, who i n

t he l east degr ee i nt er est ed hi m, was Ar ndt ( now

Landor coul d not speak Ger man and Ar ndt coul d

nei t her speak Fr ench nor Engl i sh) ; as f or t hat

pony or donkey dr essed out wi t h r i bbons ( r ef er -

r i ng t o Schl egel ' s or der s whi ch he wor e at di nner

t he day Landor met hi m) , he woul d not gi ve a

t hal er f or a dozen such cr eat ur es. Not wi t h-

st andi ng t hese st r ange per ver si t i es, he i s, t hey

say, a most agr eeabl e man when he chooses. The

Har es enj oy hi s vi si t s ver y much.

" Ar nol d was at Hur st monceaux a shor t t i me

138 ARNOLD. [ CH. v.

bef or e hi s deat h. Har e admi r ed hi m and l oved

hi m exceedi ngl y and cer t ai nl y he was a most

upr i ght , nobl e, and si mpl e - hear t ed man. He

f el t t he deepest i nt er est i n t he poor , and di d

al l i n hi s power t o r ai se t hem. Among ot her

t hi ngs, on cer t ai n st r ong occasi ons, he wr ot e

l et t er s t o some of t he newspaper s whi ch had

t he wi dest ci r cul at i on among t hat cl ass, whi ch

l et t er s cont ai ned t he most whol esome advi ce,

t endi ng t o r est r ai n al l vi ol ence, whi l e t hey showed

t he deepest sympat hy wi t h t he r eal want s and

evi l s whi ch pr essed on t he peopl e, and an ear nest

wi sh t o get t hem r emoved i n some wi se way.

Har e has a col l ect i on of t hese l et t er s, and I r ead

t hem whi l e st ayi ng i n hi s house. I t i s l i kel y t hat

t hey, and hi s ot her pol i t i cal wr i t i ngs, wi l l be col -

l ect ed i n a l i t t l e vol ume. I hope so. They ar e

wel l wor t h pr eser vi ng. Har e i s at pr esent engaged

i n pr epar i ng a vol ume of Ar nol d' s cor r espondence,

whi ch, he says, wi l l be most val uabl e and most

i nt er est i ng. He i s al so super i nt endi ng t he t hi r d

vol ume of t he Hi st or y of Home, whi ch was j ust

compl et ed i n MS. when he di ed. Har e t el l s me

t hat Car l yl e and Ar nol d wer e ver y f ond of each

ot her . They had cor r esponded wi t h each ot her

f or some t i me, and l ast year , when Car l yl e was

comi ng back f r om Scot l and, he st ayed a f ew days

at Eugby. They vi si t ed Naseby Fi el d t oget her .

I shoul d have been del i ght ed t o have been i n t hei r

company. Car l yl e was ver y much del i ght ed wi t h

1843- 55. ] CARLYLE A. SCOTT. 139

Ar nol d. He sai d, ' Ar nol d i s a her o of a school -

mast er knows hi s wor k and does i t . ' . . .

" Har e t ol d me t hat Car l yl e i s engaged on a

Hi st or y of t he Gr eat Eebel l i on, and doubt l ess

Cr omwel l wi l l cut a bet t er f i gur e t han i n any

Page 84 of 178

hi st or y ever publ i shed. He, of cour se, wi l l be

t he most pr omi nent f i gur e i n Car l yl e' s book. Mr .

Maur i ce says t hat Car l yl e has been st udyi ng t hat

per i od ever si nce he f i ni shed hi s Fr ench Revol ut i on,

and t hat t he Pur i t ans and t he Quaker s wi l l get

j ust i ce done t hem. One of hi s chi ef f i gur es af t er

Cr omwel l wi l l be St r af f or d but we shal l see when

i t comes out . I t wi l l be wor t h r eadi ng, beyond al l

doubt . Fr om al l t hat one can hear t her e seems t o

be no doubt t hat Car l yl e has a mor e ext ensi ve

i nf l uence t han any man of our t i me. I t i s cur i ous

t o t hi nk of t hi s r ough Scot chman comi ng up t o

London, and by hi s wr i t i ng and l ect ur i ng i n-

f l uenci ng t he most r ef i ned and l ear ned i n Engl and.

Cheval i er Bunsen and Pr of essor Whewel l wer e at

Hur st monceaux about a f or t ni ght bef or e me, and

Har e t ol d me t hat Whewel l amused t hem ver y

much by r eadi ng some of t he oddest passages i n

t he Her oes, j ust i n Car l yl e' s st yl e. Whewel l hear d

Car l yl e. I saw hi m at t he onl y l ect ur e I hear d

t he one on Dant e and Shakespear e.

" The conver sat i on of t en t ur ned on Mr . Scot t of

Wool wi ch. Har e t hi nks ver y hi ghl y of hi m. I am

sur e he admi r es hi m mor e, and t hi nks hi m a gr eat er

man t han Car l yl e. He di d not say so, but I hear d

140 DE QUI NCEY WORDSWORTH. [ CH. v.

hi m speak of no one wi t h such unmi ngl ed r espect ,

al ways except i ng Col er i dge. Pr ay l et me know what

you t hi nk of Scot t when you get hi s pamphl et s.

" Har e t ol d me t hat De Qui nceyand Wor dswor t h,

bot h of t hem, di sl i ke Goet he, and t hi nk hi m l i t t l e

bet t er t han a quack. Wor dswor t h speaks of hi m

i n t he most cont empt uous manner . I t al ways was

a subj ect of war m di scussi on when t hey met , t i l l

at l ast i t got so war m t hat t hey agr eed never t o

speak t o each ot her about Goet he agai n. Har e

wr ot e a l ong def ence of Goet he, especi al l y of t he

Mei st er , f or t he London Magazi ne, i n answer t o

a f ur i ous at t ack of De Qui ncey' s, but i t was never

publ i shed. De Qui ncey i s a st r ange man and t akes

a pr i de i n r unni ng down any i dol ; but one woul d

scar cel y have expect ed so cal m a mi nd as Wor ds-

wor t h' s t o have such an aver si on t o any gr eat poet .

Har e says t hat not wi t hst andi ng hi s gr eat ness he

r eal l y and hear t i l y admi r es ver y f ew poet s. Mi l t on

and Spenser t hese he l oves and appr eci at es

scar cel y any ot her . Har e doubt s hi s hear t y admi -

r at i on of Shakespear e. Now, as Har e l oves Wor ds-

wor t h, r espect s hi m, and t hi nks we have had no

such poet f or ages, I f eel qui t e conf i dent i n what

he says about hi m, t hat he does not mi sunder st and

or mi sr epr esent hi m. I ndeed, he di d not bl ame

hi m f or hi s j udgment s, he onl y ment i oned t hese

t hi ngs as char act er i st i cs of Wor dswor t h, showi ng

t hat t hough he i s a gr eat poet , he i s not al ways

a cor r ect cr i t i c.

Page 85 of 178

1843- 55. ] COLERI DGE LAMB. 141

" Of Col er i dge he al ways spoke i n t he most

af f ect i onat e manner . He knew hi m wel l , and I

f ancy al l who knew hi m per sonal l y t hi nk f ar mor e

of hi m t han t hose who onl y know hi m t hr ough

hi s wr i t i ngs. Gr eat as hi s wr i t i ngs ar e, i t woul d

appear t hat hi s best t hi ngs wer e spoken. Ther e

seems t o have been somet hi ng i n a company of

men whi ch r ai sed hi m hi gher t han he coul d ever

r i se wi t h mer el y paper bef or e hi m. The mel ody of

hi s voi ce when del i ver i ng one of hi s l ong di scour ses

must have been enchant i ng. . . . .

" He spoke i n t he most af f ect i onat e manner of

Char l es Lamb. He di ned wi t h hi m and a l ar ge

par t y of l i t er at i once. De Qui ncey was t her e. I

dar esay you know t hat De Q. i s a ver y l i t t l e

man. Har e was si t t i ng next t o Lamb ; De Q.

was on t he opposi t e si de of t he t abl e. Lamb

t ouched Har e, and sai d, qui t e l oud, so t hat t he

whol e t abl e mi ght hear hi m, ' Do you see t hat

l i t t l e man?' ( poi nt i ng t o De Q. ) , ' Wel l , t hough

he i s so l i t t l e, he has wr i t t en a t hi ng about Macbet h

bet t er t han anyt hi ng I coul d wr i t e; no not bet t er

t han anyt hi ng I coul d wr i t e, but I coul d not wr i t e

anyt hi ng bet t er . ' I mmedi at el y af t er war ds he sai d

t o Har e, ' I am a ver y f ool i sh f el l ow. For i nst ance

I have t aken a f ancy f or you. I - wi sh you woul d

come and sup wi t h me t o- mor r ow ni ght , I wi l l gi ve

you cr ab per haps l obst er . ' Har e says t hat t wo

gl asses of wi ne made hi m qui t e l i ght not t i psy,

but el evat ed so t hat t he st or i es about hi s dr unk -

142 LAMB- J. STERLI NG. [ CH. v.

enness, and t he t hi ngs he says of hi msel f ar e not

t o be t r ust ed. Har e t ol d me t hat Lamb' s si st er , i n

one of her f i t s of der angement , ki l l ed her mot her .

She never knew i t her sel f . Lamb l i ved i n t he

per pet ual dr ead t hat i t shoul d come t o her ear s.

The whol e t hi ng was ver y shocki ng t o a man of

Lamb' s sensi bi l i t y; i t hung l i ke a cl oud on hi s

mi nd ever af t er t o t he end of hi s days. I t i s t o

t hat t hat Wor dswor t h r ef er s i n hi s beaut i f ul poem

t o Lamb ; and Har e t el l s me t hat one of Col er i dge' s

most beaut i f ul l et t er s i s one he wr ot e t o Lamb i n

r ef er ence t o t hat event . By t he by, I may j ust as

wel l t el l you t hat Lamb' s si st er i s st i l l al i ve, and

so you must t ake car e t o whom you t el l t hi s st or y.

" I dar esay you have hear d of John St er l i ng,

aut hor of t he Sext ons Daught er , and ot her Poems,

and some of t he most beaut i f ul t hi ngs i n t he London

and West mi nst er Revi ew, one on Mont ai gne, one on

Si moni des, one on Car l yl e. I am sur e you must

have hear d of hi m ; ever yt hi ng he has wr i t t en gi ves

i ndi cat i ons of gr eat geni us. Har e t el l s me t hat

he was cur at e at Hur st monceaux f or some t i me,

Page 86 of 178

but owi ng t o t endenci es t o consumpt i on he has

been obl i ged t o gi ve up al l l abour , and t o go t o

some war mer cl i mat e i n t he wi nt er . Har e t hi nks

ver y hi ghl y of hi m ; t hi nks hi m a t r ue poet . He

wr ot e a t r agedy l at el y, and t hat br ought on a f ever ,

so he must abst ai n f r om al l wor k.

" I spent t hr ee days at Hur st monceaux, and never

spent so much t i me wi t h gr eat er pl easur e and

1843- 55. ] CHURCH SERVI CES. 143

sat i sf act i on. One of t he days was a Sunday, t he

f i r st Sunday i n t he mont h. I t ol d hi m I was a

Di ssent er . He asked me i f I woul d go t o t hei r

Communi on ser vi ce. I sai d I shoul d be ver y gl ad

onl y I di d not know how t o pr oceed, as I had

never been pr esent at such a ser vi ce. Mr s.

August us expl ai ned i t t o me. I went . I t hought

i t most sol emn, most appr opr i at e. I ndeed, t he

whol e ser vi ce of t he Chur ch seems t o me much

mor e sui t abl e t han any ot her . Ther e one' s hear t

r eal l y f i nds ut t er ance. I know of not hi ng equal

t o i t .

" I t ol d Har e about you and Mr . Budden. He

f eel s a deep i nt er est i n mi ssi ons; but f eel s t hat

t hey wi l l be di st r act ed and i mper f ect i n t hei r

wor ki ng as l ong as Pr ot est ant s cont i nue i n t hei r

pr esent condi t i on. He has st r ong and r at i onal

obj ect i ons t o t he condi t i on and pr i nci pl es of

Di ssent er s wi t h whi ch I qui t e agr ee. I t woul d

t ake t oo l ong t o st at e t hem al l . I t i s needl ess t o

say t hat t hey ar e qui t e f r ee f r om al l nar r owness,

bi got r y, mal i ce, hat r ed, i gnor ance. I wi sh we had

a host of such men as Har e and Maur i ce. I t hi nk

t he cont r adi ct i ons of Pr ot est ant i sm woul d get

r econci l ed ; and i f t hat wer e t he case, per haps we

mi ght hope t o see Poper y or Eomani sm cease t o

be Papi st and Romani st and become r eal l y

Cat hol i c. Sur el y Poper y i s per mi t t ed t o exi st so

l ong and t o show so much power f or some pur pose,

t o wi t ness f or some t r ut h, . or t r ut hs, whi ch Pr ot es -

144 TRENCH TENNYSON. [ CH. v.

t ant s don' t r ecogni se. I n one of your l et t er s you

speak of t he squabbl es you have wi t h Bapt i st s,

Puseyi t es, Papi st s how t hey st ep i n wi t h t hei r

cr ude hal f - t r ut hs and di st ur b your l abour s.

Sur el y t her e i s a want of uni t y ; uni on i s t he

t hi ng you want . How you can meet t hat want

wi sel y i s a di f f i cul t quest i on, but whi ch must get

sol ved some day, i f men don' t l ose al l f ai t h i n

each ot her , and i n God. Thi i i wal l i s goi ng t o

del i ver hi s pr i mar y or di nat i on char ge i n about

a mont h. I t i s sur e t o be publ i shed. What

woul d you say t o see hi m comi ng out qui t e Hi gh

Chur ch ?

Page 87 of 178

" We have a st r ong ar r ay of young poet s. Tr ench

has br ought out t hr ee vol umes ver y super i or .

Tennyson has br ought out a new edi t i on one of

t he vol umes i s qui t e new. My br ot her t hi nks

hi m by f ar t he best of t he young poet s, and r anks

hi m next t o Col er i dge t hus : f i r st , Wor dswor t h ;

second, Col er i dge; t hi r d, Tennyson. I can say

not hi ng on t he subj ect as I have r ead onl y a f ew.

Those f ew ar e ver y beaut i f ul , and over t hese I

have not st udi ed. Al exander has r ead t hem of t en.

I am ver y f ond of Tr ench. Maur i ce t el l s me t hat

he has t r ansl at ed one of t he dr amas of Cal der on

wi t h gr eat f i del i t y and spi r i t . I ur ged Maur i ce

t o advi se hi m t o t r ansl at e as many as woul d make

a ni ce si x shi l l i ng vol ume, and publ i sh t hem. We

mer el y Engl i sh r eader s r eal l y want such a t hi ng.

We know not hi ng of Cal der on except by hear say.

1843- 55. ] F. D. MAURI CE. 145

I f he r eal l y i s equal t o Shakespear e we ought t o

know mor e of hi m.

" Maur i ce cal l ed on me t wi ce ; once I was out

t he second t i me I was at home. He st ayed wi t h

me t o supper . He i s one of t he most pl easant

men I ever met . Hi s humi l i t y i s ver y beaut i f ul .

He does not appear as Pr of essor Maur i ce and

yet t her e i s somet hi ng gr eat and beaut i f ul i n hi s

ver y si mpl i ci t y. I have been at hi s house one

ni ght , and met a si st er of Har e' s t her e. I never

enj oyed mysel f mor e. Hi s wi f e i s a most

del i ght f ul woman, and so was t hi s Mi ss Har e.

Maur i ce has wr i t t en a ' Hi st or y of Mor al and

Met aphysi cal Phi l osophy' f or t he Encyl opccdi a,

Met r opol i t ana. I have bor r owed i t f r om a f r i end.

I t i s a most nobl e wor k ; we have not hi ng l i ke i t .

He gi ves so f ai r and so candi d an account of al l

syst ems. He i s a most nobl e, honest - hear t ed man.

I do wi sh t he pr opr i et or s woul d publ i sh i t sepa-

r at el y. I cal l ed on t hem, but t hey say i t woul d

i nj ur e t he sal e of t he Cycl opaedi a. These

wr et ched men t hese publ i sher s ! What f ool s

t hey ar e. . . . "

The acquai nt ance t hus commenced soon r i pened

i nt o a f r i endshi p ; and on t he Ar chdeacon' s par t i nt o

a desi r e t o assi st hi s young coi r espondent i n est ab-

l i shi ng hi msel f i n some pl ace wher e he woul d

have scope t o car r y out hi s i deas. Havi ng become

a r egul ar cust omer of t he smal l shop i n Al der s-

L

146 ALDERSGATE STREET SHOP. [ CH. v.

gat e St r eet , he f eel s t hat t he l over s of books wi l l

be gr eat l y benef i t ed by havi ng so punct ual and

i nt el l i gent a cat er er f or t hei r needs. But Al der s -

gat e St r eet i s t oo much out of t he way. These

Page 88 of 178

vi ews he wr i t es t o Dani el , who r epl i es

" 57, ALDERSGATE STKEET, Mar ch 7, 1843.

" . . . We ar e cont ent t o make t he best of

Al der sgat e St r eet f or t he pr esent , hopi ng t o move

west by and by. We have a ver y neat shop f or

a ver y smal l r ent . I t i s wi t hi n f i ve mi nut es wal k

of t he post - of f i ce, and Pat er nost er Eow. Now-

adays, wi t h penny post s, and Par cel s Del i ver y

Compani es, i t i s an easy mat t er t o at t end t o

or der s f r om any par t of t own or count r y. We

have commenced qui t e i n a smal l way. I f a

l ar ge t r ee gr ows f r om t hi s smal l seed we shal l be

gr at ef ul . I f not , we shal l be cont ent ; we shal l

f eel t hat i t i s as i t ought t o be. We ar e det er -

mi ned t hat i t shal l not f ai l t hr ough i ndol ence or

ext r avagance. I f t he busi ness shoul d pr osper ,

we shal l , bot h of us, do our best t o r eal i se some of

our i deal s wi t h r egar d t o what shoul d be done f or

t he cr af t smen of our l and. We f eel , however ,

t hat t he wor l d can go on wi t hout us, or our

i deal s; and, i n t he meant i me, we shal l st r i ve t o

do t he wor k t hat l i es near est us i n t he best

manner we can. "

But t hough cont ent t o make t he best of Al der s -

1843- 55. ] A NEW OPENI NG. 14?

gat e St r eet , l i e i s on t he l ook- out f or a bet t er

openi ng. I n June sucl i an one of f er s, and he t el l s

t he Ar chdeacon t hat t he busi ness of Mr . Newby

at Cambr i dge, whi ch he t hi nks woul d sui t hi s

pur pose, i s i n t he mar ket . The l et t er i s not ,

however , conf i ned t o busi ness.

" 8, CnARTKnnor sE SQTTATI E, August 10, 1843.

" . . . . I have j ust r ead Mr . Maur i ce' s new

pamphl et , and ear nest l y hope he may get many

t hought f ul r eader s. I f ear we ar e i n t oo f ever i sh a

st at e at pr esent so super st i t i ousl y j eal ous of each

ot her . A gr eat many of t hose who cal l t hemsel ves

Cat hol i c ar e get t i ng i nt o t he most pi t i f ul cant ;

and we shal l soon have a Cat hol i c vocabul ar y of

sl ang phr ases mor e di sagr eeabl e t han t hat of

Evangel i cal newspaper s and magazi nes. I n t he

mi dst of al l t hi s one woul d get bewi l der ed, and

i ncl i ned t o t hr ow al l t hought of such mat t er s

asi de i n di sgust , wer e i t not f or t he manl y sense

of her e and t her e a t hi nker l i ke Mr . Maur i ce.

" I have never been abl e t o meet wi t h t he f i r st

edi t i on of The Ki ngdom of Chr i st t i l l a f ew weeks

ago. I t hi nk i t i n many r espect s bet t er t han t he

second. But i t i s qui t e anot her book. I am gl ad

t o have bot h.

" I was ver y gl ad t o see Mr . St er l i ng' s t r agedy

and was ver y much del i ght ed wi t h i t . I cannot

i magi ne why he shoul d dedi cat e i t t o Emer son.

They have so f ew t hi ngs i n common. . . . "

Page 89 of 178

L 2

148 THE ARCHDEACON' S I NQUI HY. [ en. V.

Har e r epl i es at once

" Hmi sTMONCEAux, August 22, 1843.

" . . . What sum of money woul d you want

t o enabl e you t o t ake Newby' s busi ness at Cam-

br i dge ? and what chance do you t hi nk t her e

i s of i t s pr ovi ng a pr of i t abl e one ? My br ot her ,

whom you saw her e, on hear i ng what you sai d

i n your l et t er on t he subj ect , sai d t hat , i f i t be

so, means mi ght per haps be f ound t o l et you

have a moder at e sum of money at moder at e

i nt er est wi t h a r easonabl e secur i t y. But what

ar e your pr ospect s at pr esent ? Ever y change

must be at t ended wi t h consi der abl e l oss ; and

woul d Cambr i dge be a pl ace as wel l f i t t ed as

London f or doi ng anyt hi ng wi t h r ef er ence t o

your ul t i mat e ai m ? . . . "

To AKCHDEACOX HAKE.

" 57, ALDERSGATE STREET, August 24, 1843.

" . . . As t o t he chances of success, t hey seem

ver y good. ( 1) Because t her e i s no booksel l er i n

Cambr i dge, si nce Thor pe l ef t i t , except St evenson,

who knows anyt hi ng of books. ( 2) Because t he

si t uat i on i s so good, bei ng so near t o Tr i ni t y and

St . John' s Col l eges. ( 3) Because I shoul d gi ve

car ef ul and const ant at t ent i on t o busi ness. And

( 4) because i n Cambr i dge one coul d get sooner

known t han i n London.

" I was i n Cambr i dge f r om Oct ober , 1833, t i l l

1843- 55. ] DANI EL' S REPLY. 149

Oct ober , 183G. Dur i ng t hat t i me I was i n

Johnson' s busi ness, whi ch was pr osper ous. Whi l e

I was t her e I f ound t hat a good many of hi s

best cust omer s pr ef er r ed bei ng wai t ed on by

me. I di d not l i ke t hi s, because I knew i t

must have been di sagr eeabl e t o Johnson. They

of t en passed hi m by and wal ked up t o my desk,

I knew he f el t i t , coul d not but f eel i t , so I gave

up my si t uat i on and came t o London. . . .

" My f at her di ed when I was t en, shor t l y af t er

whi ch I was appr ent i ced t o a booksel l er i n I r vi ne

( Ayr shi r e) , wher e mot her and f ami l y l i ved. When

i n 1831, at t he age of sevent een, I l ef t home, af t er

a seven year s' appr ent i ceshi p, I had ver y l i t t l e

money. When I saved a l i t t l e I gener al l y f ound

Page 90 of 178

some cl ai m on me whi ch I coul d not r esi st . Si nce

t he t i me I l ef t home I have t wi ce had a l ong and

ser i ous i l l ness my mot her , t wo si st er s, and t wo

el der br ot her s have di ed . . . ( As t o pr ospect s)

" We have pai d any hal f - year l y account s t hat ar e

due, and have not r equi r ed t o t r oubl e Mr . Bur nsi de

f or t he 100 whi ch he ki ndl y pr omi sed t o l end us

i f we r equi r ed i t . But t hough t hi s busi ness has

succeeded so f ar , i t has gi ven no pr omi se of bei ng

abl e t o suppor t us bot h. I ndeed, we have dr awn

not hi ng out of i t f or t hat pur pose. My sal ar y

ser ved t o pay f or our boar d, &c. , &c.

" These t wo f r i ends of mi ne, as I sai d, di d not

know r ny ci r cumst ances, and t hey have, at di f f er ent

t i mes si nce I t ook t he Al der sgat e St r eet shop, been

150 RETROSPECT AND FORECAST, [ CH. v.

ur gi ng me t o t ake a busi ness i n Cambr i dge, as

t her e was, t hey sai d, a capi t al openi ng. I di d not

f eel t hat I coul d j ust f or want of means but

besi des t hat , I f el t i f one opened a f r esh shop i n

Cambr i dge i t woul d gi ve one t he appear ance of an

i nt r uder , whi ch t he booksel l er s t her e mi ght f eel

t he mor e di sagr eeabl e because I am a Scot chman.

" Shor t l y af t er t hi s, about t he begi nni ng of June,

Mr . Tupl i ng wr ot e t o t el l me t hat Mr . Newby was

goi ng t o di spose of hi s busi ness. I wr ot e t o Mr .

Newby f or par t i cul ar s. A gent l eman who once

was i n t he book- t r ade, and t o whom I ment i oned

t hi s, sai d he woul d be gl ad t o advance t he capi t al

i f I woul d gi ve hi m a shar e of t he pr of i t s, and he

woul d al l ow me 150 a year f or t he management ,

besi des a shar e i n t he pr of i t s.

" My pl an was t o l et t he London busi ness st i l l

go on under my br ot her ' s management . Thi s

woul d have many advant ages. . . . But i f we

had a l ar ger and mor e gener al st ock, especi al l y

of good second- hand books, we mi ght do mor e

busi ness and get bet t er pr of i t s, e. g. 1. We sol d

books t o t he amount of about 13 t o a sea-

capt ai n who was goi ng t o Bombay. Most of

t hem wer e second- hand. We had t o pi ck t hem up

as we coul d i n London. I f t hi s gent l eman had

f ound t hem al l , or t he gr eat er number of t hem, i n

our shop i t woul d have pl eased hi m bet t er , woul d

have saved hi m . t r oubl e, and i t woul d have been

mor e pr of i t abl e t o us. 2. A gent l eman f r om

1843- 55. ] RETROSPECT AND FORECAST. 151

Leghor n has now l ai d out books whi ch wi l l come

t o upwar ds of 60. We had t o f i sh al l about

London f or t hem. He had of t en t o come t o l ook

at t hi ngs we had got on si ght f r om ot her book -

sel l er s. He was so ki nd and good- nat ur ed as not

Page 91 of 178

t o compl ai n of t hi s, per haps seei ng t hat we wer e

begi nner s and havi ng a wi sh t o hel p us. I ndeed,

he expr essed hi msel f so wel l sat i sf i ed as t o say

t hat he woul d make us book- agent s f or hi msel f ,

and ot her Engl i sh book- buyer s i n Leghor n. But

i n bot h cases we shoul d have been gl ad i f we coul d

have saved our cust omer s so much t r oubl e. . . .

" I have been t hus mi nut e, so t hat you mi ght t he

mor e cl ear l y see exact l y how I st and. The onl y

secur i t y I coul d gi ve i n t he case of f i ndi ng any

one abl e and wi l l i ng t o l end t he necessar y money,

woul d be a bond on t he st ock. Thi s ki nd of

secur i t y mi ght be unsat i sf act or y because i t mi ght

be possi bl e f or a man t o sel l of f t he st ock and r un

away. St i l l such secur i t y i s of t en t aken when t he

l ender has conf i dence i n t he char act er of t he

bor r ower . . . .

" About t he end of l ast year I was car ef ul l y

exami ned wi t h t he st et hescope, and t he doct or

assur ed me t hat I was per f ect l y sound ; t hat i f I

t ook pl ent y of ai r and exer ci se, and di d not wor r y

mysel f wi t h anxi et y, I shoul d f i nd mysel f dai l y

becomi ng mor e and mor e heal t hy ; t hat i f I l i ved

t o t ur n t hi r t y I shoul d i n al l pr obabi l i t y l i ve t o

be an ol d man. I shal l be t hi r t y on t he 13t h of

152 THE ARCHDEACON' S OFFER. [ CH. v.

Sept ember next . I f i nd t he doct or was r i ght , I

am get t i ng st r onger dai l y. But st i l l , i f I di d

ent er on a t hi ng of t hi s ki nd 1 shoul d f eel i t

i ndi spensabl e t o i nsur e my l i f e at 1000. . . . "

To t hi s Har e r epl i es

" Mondaj % August 28, 1843.

" . . . As t o t he means, i f you f eel di sposed

f or t he vent ur e and I t r ust t hat you may under -

t ake i t i n good hope and f ai t h I shoul d be

abl e, wi t h t he assi st ance of my br ot her , t o l end

you 500, f or whi ch you woul d gi ve us a bond,

and pay us f our per cent , i nt er est . And we

shoul d be ver y t hankf ul , i f , by so doi ng, we

can hel p i n pl aci ng you i n a si t uat i on, wher e

you may be bet t er abl e her eaf t er t o ef f ect some-

t hi ng f or t he gr eat obj ect of your l i f e, whi ch I

doubt not you wi l l al ways keep st eadi l y bef or e

you. Mr . Bur nsi de, and your ot her f r i ends mi ght ,

per haps, enabl e you t o make up t he sum you wi l l

st i l l want What you say about keepi ng up t he

London shop, seems j udi ci ous. I f you do not l ose

money by i t , i t wi l l be ser vi ceabl e i n many ways.

Onl y i n t hese bad t i mes f or t he book- t r ade, you

must bewar e of vent ur i ng out of your dept h. . , . "

To ARCHDEACON HARE.

" 67, ALDERSGATE STREET, August 30, 1843.

( Af t er t hanki ng f or t he pr of f er ed hel p) " . . . .

Page 92 of 178

As f or what you t er m t he gr eat obj ect of my

1843- 55. ] COMPLETI ON OF PURCHASE. 153

l i f e t her e i s no danger of my l osi ng si ght of i t .

Lat el y, about a mont h ago, I wr ot e f our i magi nar y

l et t er s bear i ng on t hat subj ect , whi ch I wi shed t o

pl ace i n Mr . Maur i ce' s hands. Though Mr .

Maur i ce has al ways been ver y l and, and l i st ened

t o me wi t h gr eat pat i ence, I coul d not vent ur e t o

put t hese l et t er s i n hi s hands even af t er I had

wr i t t en t hem, j ust f r om a f ear t hat he mi ght t hi nk

i t t r oubl esome, or at best t hat he mi ght bear wi t h

me as a wel l - i nt ent i oned per son wi t h a ' f i xed

i dea, ' but on t he whol e r at her f a bor e. ' Some-

t i mes I f anci ed t hat i t mi ght be wi ser f or me not

t o occupy mysel f wi t h such mat t er s, but t o l eave

t hem f or t hose t hat wer e wi ser . But I never coul d

get r i d of t hi s ' f i xed i dea, ' i t woul d not l eave

me. You can scar cel y i magi ne how gl ad I was

t o see you r ef er t o i t as you di d i n your l ast t wo

l et t er s. I t encour aged me t o send t he i magi nar y

l et t er s I spoke of t o Mr . Maur i ce. . . . "

" 57, ALDEUSGATE STREET, Sept ember 2, 1843.

" . . . Mr . Maur i ce has sent me a most ki nd

and beaut i f ul l et t er i n answer t o t he l et t er s I

sent hi m. I am af r ai d he f eel s al most t oo deepl y

t he di st r essi ng evi l s of our t i me. "

The pur chase was now pr ompt l y made, and t he

shop and house i n Tr i ni t y St r eet wer e t r ansf er r ed

t o t he t wo br ot her s. They det er mi ned t hat

t he Al der sgat e St r eet shop shoul d st i l l be kept ,

154 I LLNESS. [ en. v.

under t he management of t he younger br ot her ,

whi l e Dani el t ook char ge of t he new and mor e

i mpor t ant vent ur e.

Thus t he l abour of r ear r angi ng t he st ock and

or gani zi ng t he busi ness, whi ch was ver y gr eat ,

f el l ent i r el y on hi m. But t he wor k had t o be

done, and was done. The new busi ness pr os-

per ed f r om t he f i r st , hel ped much by t he open

suppor t of Har e, whose r eput at i on at Cambr i dge

was at i t s hei ght , and by t he pat r onage of hi s

r esi dent f r i ends ; but mai nl y t hr ough t he per sonal

qual i t i es and abi l i t y of t he new booksel l er .

The st r ai n however pr oved t oo sever e af t er t he

f i r st f ew mont hs. Hi t her t o t he t endency t o pul -

monar y di sease, t hough ser i ous, had not t aken t he

wor st f or m of bl eedi ng f r om t he l ungs. Now, i n

t he openi ng days of Hi l ar y t er m, 1843, vi ol ent

and danger ous haemor r hage set i n.

Hi s br ot her w r as per empt or i l y summoned f r om

Al der sgat e St r eet , and, t hough hi msel f suf f er i ng

Page 93 of 178

f r om r heumat i sm, came down out si de t he st age

coach i n a shar p f r ost , no i nsi de pl ace bei ng

pr ocur abl e. The consequence was t hat bot h

br ot her s wer e f or t he moment cr i ppl ed f or act i ve

wor k at a most cr i t i cal t i me. St i l l t he busi ness

was kept goi ng and pr osper ed, but i t was cl ear

t hat Dani el coul d no l onger under t ake t he Cam-

br i dge wor k si ngl e- handed. The quest i on of

cl osi ng t he London busi ness and concent r at i ng

at Cambr i dge was r ai sed, and t he Ar chdeacon

1343- 55. ] CONCENTRATI ON AT CAMBRI DGE. 155

consul t ed upon i t , who st r ongl y appr oved t he

pr oposed change.

I n r epl y Dani el Macmi l l an wr i t es

" 17, TKI NI TY STREET, Febr uar y 27, 1844.

" I am or der ed not t o wr i t e, but I cannot hel p

t hanki ng you f or your gr eat ki ndness i n wr i t i ng t o

my br ot her and mysel f . We have r esol ved t o f ol l ow

your ki nd suggest i on. As soon as i ny br ot her can

l eave me he wi l l go t o London t o get r i d of t he

shop. That wi l l be at East er . I cannot gi vo i t up

wi t hout r egr et , not on account of any pecuni ar y

advant ages, but because i t wi l l pr event us f r om

meet i ng wi t h, and hear i ng f r om, young men

young Scot ch mi ni st er s, young Di ssent i ng mi s-

si onar i es, and young men about t o l eave Engl and

f or our col oni es who wer e ever y now and t hen

cal l i ng on us when we wer e i n London. I have

had l et t er s f r om such men t hanki ng me most

war ml y f or havi ng r ecommended books t o t hem

whi ch t hey f ound most usef ul i n wi deni ng t hei r

mi nds wi t hout weakeni ng t hei r f ai t h or l esseni ng

t hei r act i vi t y or zeal . . . . "

One of t he heavi est par t s of hi s wor k had been

t he pr epar at i on of a cat al ogue of t hei r st ock.

I t appear ed ear l y i n 1844, a pamphl et of 120

pages, and was f or war ded t o t he Ar chdeacon. A

not i ce was pr ef i xed excusi ng t he t oo mi scel l aneous

char act er of t he books. These had t o be pur chased

156 FI RST CATALOGUE. [ en. v.

wi t h t he goodwi l l , and ar e put at ver y l ow pr i ces

t hat t hey may be cl ear ed of f qui ckl y. Next year

t he f i r m hope t o publ i sh a cat al ogue of good books

onl y, whi ch wi l l be a r eal gui de t o buyer s. Two

l i t er ar y f r i ends who have suppl i ed occasi onal

not es f or t he pr esent l i st wi l l hel p f or t hat of

1845.

On exami ni ng t he cat al ogue, t he qui ck eye of

t he Ar chdeacon det ect s t he per sonal i t y of Dani el

Macmi l l an hi msel f under t he i ni t i al s D. L. , as

one of t he l i t er ar y f r i ends. One not e he f i xes

upon as hi s t ext . I t r uns as f ol l ows :

Page 94 of 178

" No. 961. Nat ur e, an Essay ; and Or at i ons. Royal oct avo,

new. R. " VV. Emer son.

" ' Teacher of st ar r y wi sdom, hi gh ser ene. ' John St er l i ng.

Dedi cat i on t o St r af f br d, a t r agedy.

" Vauxhal l st ar s, I f ear . D. L. "

Upon t hi s not e on t he gr eat Amer i can essayi st ,

f or whom t he Ar chdeacon had a hi gh est eem, he

speaks

" HURSTMOXCEAUX, Mar ch 8, 1844.

" The new number of t he Br i t i sh Magazi ne was

br ought t o me t hi s day ; and, on openi ng i t , I

f ound your cat al ogue st i t ched up wi t h i t . I have

been l ooki ng r api dl y t hr ough i t , and have r e-

mar ked t wo or t hr ee t hi ngs whi ch i nduce me t o

wr i t e t o you.

" Fi r st , I was much gr i eved t o see t hat you had

gi ven Fai i bl as a pl ace i n your cat al ogue, A book-

1843- 55. ] THE ARCHDEACON' S CRI TI CI SMS. 157

sel l er i n a uni ver si t y, i t seems t o me, ought not t o

have such books i n hi s shop. They ar e demor a-

l i zi ng, especi al l y t o young men. I f ear , t oo, t hat

i t may exci t e a pr ej udi ce agai nst you i n many who

do not know you. I shoul d be ver y gl ad i f you

coul d cancel t hat l eaf , and t hr ow t he book i nt o t he

f i r e. I t l ooks t o me as i f you had onl y i nser t ed i t

f or t he sake of t he quot at i on f r om Car l yl e ; but

t hat ver y quot at i on, whi l e i t pr oves t hat t he book

ought not t o be t her e, wi l l dr aw at t ent i on t o i t ;

and you must know enough of men t o be awar e

t hat f i l t h and pr of l i gacy i n books i s t o many an

at t r act i on.

" I n t he next pl ace, I doubt whet her i t i s j udi -

ci ous t o i nt r oduce such st r ong expr essi ons of your

own i ndi vi dual opi ni ons. I n London t hi s mi ght

pass, f or one i s l ost i n a cr owd ; but at Cambr i dge

t hose opi ni ons, as novel t i es, wi l l exci t e gener al

obser vat i on ; and I f ear many wi l l ascr i be t hat t o

coxcombr y and pr esumpt i on, whi ch I know t o be

mer el y an expr essi on of af f ect i onat e ent husi asm.

The opi ni ons of per sons qual i f i ed t o expr ess t hem,

may, i ndeed, be of use t o r ecommend aut hor s who

have not yet gai ned a suf f i ci ent r eput at i on i n

Engl and; and t hus I wi l l not obj ect t o your havi ng

quot ed my f ew wor ds about Ni t zsch ; but I f ear

ot her s wi l l al so f i nd out t hat D. L. i s Dani el , and

A. R. Al exander ; and t he men who exer ci se aut ho-

r i t y i n t he uni ver si t y wi l l f ancy t hat t hey ar e f i t t er

t o t each you about books, t han t o l ear n f r om

Page 95 of 178

158 DANI EL' S CONFESSI ON. [ oi l . V.

you. By t he by, do t hank Al exander f or hi s ver y

pr et t y l i nes about my br ot her ; but you shoul d

har dl y have quot ed St er l i ng on Emer son t o chi de

hi m. . ,

" I am begi nni ng t o r epr i nt t he Vi ct or y of

Fai t h, and hopi ng t o br i ng out t he Mi ssi on of t he

Comf or t er i n a ver y f ew weeks. When i t i s pub-

l i shed, I wi l l beg Par ker t o add your name on t he

t i t l e- page; i t wi l l be t he onl y one except hi s.

Thi s may be of use t o you, at al l event s, by

br i ngi ng you mor e i nt o connect i on wi t h hi m.

" Fr om your l ast l et t er I was ver y gl ad t o l ear n

how pr osper ousl y you ar e get t i ng on at Cambr i dge,

and t hat you f eel a need of havi ng your br ot her

t her e wi t h you ; al t hough we shal l r egr et t he l oss

of a house i n London wher e al l our wi shes wer e

execut ed i n so pl easant a manner . The account

of your heal t h was t he onl y dr awback ; and t hat ,

I t r ust , God wi l l i ng, wi l l i mpr ove, and t hat you

wi l l not r et ar d i t by pr emat ur e exer t i on. "

DANI EL MACMI LLAN t o AKCHDEACON HAEE.

" 17, TRI NI TY STKEET, Mar ch 13, 1844.

" I am ver y sor r y t hat t her e shoul d have been

anyt hi ng i n our cat al ogue t o gr i eve you, and f eel

most t hankf ul t o you f or t aki ng t he t r oubl e t o t el l

us of i t s f aul t s. We shal l t ake mor e car e i n

f ut ur e, and avoi d anyt hi ng t hat has even t he

appear ance of ' coxcombr y and pr esumpt i on. ' I f

18- 13- 55. ] DANI EL' S CONFESSI ON. 15D

I get bet t er of t hi s i l l ness, I t r ust I shal l come

out of i t wi ser and mor e pr udent . Your l et t er

wi l l hel p me.

" When pr epar i ng t he cat al ogue I f ound Louvet ' s

book, and anot her st i l l mor e hat ef ul , Tanzal ct

Neadar nt , i n t he st ock. My f i r st i mpul se was

t o t hr ust t hem i nt o t he f i r e. I knew bot h t he

books f r om havi ng seen t hem, a l ong t i me ago,

on t he l i br ar y t abl e of a Gl asgow st udent . I

gl anced over t hem and asked hi m, ' How dar e

you r ead such books ? ' He answer ed me, ' You

ar e al ways t oo i mpat i ent , you wi l l not even r ead

" Wycher l ey and Congr eve, and yet , wi t hout r ead-

i ng such books, you can never under st and t he age

t hat pr oduced t hem. They ar e mor e val uabl e t o

me t han any hi st or y. These books wer e bought

and r ead by t he so- cal l ed nobl e, by t he f ashi onabl e

and t he weal t hy i n Fr ance; and passed t hr ough

edi t i on af t er edi t i on. Af t er r eadi ng t hem I can

t ol er at e, because I can under st and, t he t er r or s

t hat f ol l owed ; nay, mor e, I f eel most t hankf ul

f or any st or ms or r evol ut i on whi ch cl ear t he ai r ,

&c. , &c. , &c. '

Page 96 of 178

" I f el t t hat t her e was some t r ut h i n my f r i end' s

r emar ks. I know t hat he was a most honest and

pur e- mi nded man. I never had pat i ence enough

t o seek f or t r ut h i n common sewer s. Yet I saw

t hat Car l yl e had r ead t hese books, and f el t t hat

t hey mi ght have a use t o hi st or i cal i nqui r er s, and,

wi t hout t hought of t he consequences, put t hem i n

160 DANI EL' S CONFESSI ON. [ CH. V.

t he cat al ogue. I shoul d have r ef used t o show t hem

t o any young man of whom I knew not hi ng ; but

no one has asked f or t hem, and as soon as I was

abl e af t er t he r ecei pt of your l et t er , I bur nt t hem.

I wi sh now I had done so t hr ee mont hs ago. . . .

" I f eel ver y sor r y f or t he f l i ppant not e about

Emer son. I wr ot e i t j ust af t er r eadi ng Nat ur e, an

Essay, whi ch vexed me ver y much. I st i l l t hi nk

Emer son does not deser ve t he pr ai se of St er l i ng

and Car l yl e. "

I t woul d have been st r ange i f he coul d have

appr eci at ed Mr . Emer son, wi de as wer e hi s

l i t er ar y sympat hi es. " I am a Cal vi ni st , " he

wr ot e t o Pr of essor Hor t ( i n expl anat i on of what

l ooked l i ke apat hy i n negot i at i ng f or t he publ i ca-

t i on of a Eevi ew, whi ch had been suggest ed t o

hi m) ; " and i f you knew al l my hi st or y you woul d

say t hat I must be one. I shal l t her ef or e be

sur e t hat God i s l eadi ng me bef or e I move anot her

st ep i n t hi s mat t er . Though I shoul d l i ke t o

have an addi t i onal 100 a year , I am st i l l mor e

anxi ous t o be l ed wi sel y and not t o put mysel f

f or war d. " The st r engt h of t hi s f ai t h i n a l i vi ng

God, and i n Hi s di r ect gover nance and gui dance,

made hi m i mpat i ent of t he hazi ness of much of

t he popul ar r el i gi ous t hought of hi s day, and

gave a f l avour of i nt ol er ance t o hi s j udgment of

t r anscendent al i sm, and t he pant hei sm of whi ch

t he gr eat New Engl ander was t he pr ophet . They

1843- 55. ] COUNSELS OF THE ARCHDEACON. 161

r an count er t o hi s deepest convi ct i ons, and wi t h

t he conf i dence of a sel f - educat ed man, who owed

ever y st ep i n hi s i nt el l ect ual and spi r i t ual gr owt h

t o hi s own unassi st ed st udy and t hought , he was

not car ef ul i n choosi ng hi s wor ds when expr essi ng

di sagr eement . Ther e must have been somet hi ng

speci al l y exasper at i ng t o hi m i n t he vagueness

of t hi s school , as i t i s t he onl y i nst ance I have

come acr oss of anyt hi ng appr oachi ng pr ej udi ce

i n hi s est i mat e of cont empoi ar y t hi nker s. No

f ur t her al l usi on t o Mr . Emer son was made by

t he Ar chdeacon, t hough he r et ur ns t o t he subj ect

of t he cat al ogue.

Page 97 of 178

AKCHDEACON HARE t o DANI EL MACMI LLAN.

" HURSTMONCEAUX, June 1, 1844.

" I am exceedi ngl y gl ad t o hear so f avour abl e

an account of your heal t h, and am al so gl ad of

what you say about your success ; but of t hat at

Cambr i dge 1 scar cel y ent er t ai ned a doubt . Next

year i n al l pr obabi l i t y you wi l l f i nd your busi ness

much i ncr eased. I f ear , however , you may have

some di f f i cul t y i n br eaki ng t hr ough t he mi s-

chi evous pr act i ce whi ch pr evai l s so much at

Cambr i dge, of r unni ng up l ong cr edi t , and whi ch

i s st i l l mor e hur t f ul t o t he buyer t han t o t he

sel l er . You must do what you can t o est abl i sh a

pr act i ce of r egul ar payment .

M

162 COUNSELS OF THE AKCHDEACOK [ OH. v.

" I have l ong been i nt endi ng t o wr i t e t o you ;

i ndeed, I meant t o do so i mmedi at el y af t er r ecei vi ng

your l et t er , i n or der t o say how much I - was pl eased

wi t h your pr ompt compl i ance wi t h my advi ce, and

consi gnment of Faul l as t o i t s pr oper f at e. I t i s

ver y t r ue, as your f r i end sai d, t hat such books

have a cer t ai n hi st or i cal val ue ; but f ew men wi l l

r ead t hem wi t h t hi s vi ew. The gr eat maj or i t y of

t hei r r eader s have mer el y sought vi ci ous st i mu-

l ant s, and f or t hi s r eason i t i s especi al l y desi r abl e

t o keep t hem out of t he way of young men who

so r eadi l y f al l i nt o such t empt at i ons.

" Your pl an of publ i shi ng a somewhat sel ect

cat al ogue wi t h l i t t l e r emar ks t aken f r om t he

wr i t i ngs of good j udges, seems t o me excel l ent ,

and I shoul d l i ke much, i f I have t i me, t o f ur ni sh

you wi t h some cont r i but i ons f r om t he wr i t i ngs of

wi se and j udi ci ous men. Col er i dge' s wr i t i ngs

mi ght suppl y many cr i t i ci sms, especi al l y hi s

Bemai ns. For i nst ance, you shoul d quot e one of

hi s beaut i f ul sayi ngs on Lei gh t on. So you shoul d

Maur i ce' s passage about a f r i end i n a not e some-

wher e i n t he Ki ngdom of Chr i st . Such a cat a-

l ogue woul d be of r eal use t o st udent s, i f t he

sel ect i on be wel l made. I was mer el y al ar med

t o t hi nk how many peopl e woul d be of f ended

by your ext r avagant panegyr i c on t he Vi ct or y

of Fai t h, who woul d not under st and and make

al l owance f or t he per sonal f eel i ngs t hat di ct at ed

i t . .

1843- 55. ] CAMBRI DGE OPENI NGS 163

" I har dl y know t o what excesses r el i gi ous par t y

spi r i t i s car r i ed i n t hese days, and, t her ef or e, am

i l l qual i f i ed t o gi ve an opi ni on on t he expedi ency

of your t aki ng par t i n t he publ i cat i on of t he

Page 98 of 178

Br oad St one of Honour . I n a qui et er st at e of t he

Chur ch I shoul d not hesi t at e a moment . Then

t he book woul d wor k not hi ng but pur e good. At

pr esent I f ear i t may pr epar e many f or t he del u-

si ons whi ch t he wr i t er hi msel f , and so many

ot her s, ar e zeal ousl y pr opagat i ng. Hence, when I

r epr i nt t he Guesses at Tr ut h, I shal l have t o br i ng

f or war d t he negat i ve si de of t hat book mor e

st r ongl y. St i l l I shoul d be l ot h t o decl i ne t aki ng

par t i n i t ; and as you wi l l have di ver s oppor t u-

ni t i es of addi ng your name t o books f ar r emot e

f r om t he er r or s of t he Br oad St one, I shoul d t hi nk

you mi ght accept Mr . Luml ey' s of f er , t el l i ng hi m

you desi r e t o be a Cat hol i c, but a Pr ot est ant

Cat hol i c, not a Romani st . "

The book- shop was scar cel y wel l est abl i shed

bef or e Dani el i s l ooki ng r ound and wei ghi ng t he

l ar ger oppor t uni t i es whi ch ar e open i n connect i on

wi t h a gr eat uni ver si t y, and wr i t es

To ARCHDEACON HARE.

" 17, TKI NI TY STREET, June 21, 1844.

" , . I wonder t hat Cambr i dge Uni ver si t y

never sends out good edi t i ons of Engl i sh t heol o-

M 2

164 CAMBRI DGE OPENI NGS. [ OH. v.

gi ans, whi l e Oxf or d sends out so many, and such

handsome books, and so many of t hem by Cam-

br i dge men. I f Cambr i dge wer e t o r epubl i sh t he

wr i t i ngs of t he best of her sons what a nobl e ar r ay

of books we shoul d have. I t woul d be an easy mat t er

t o do i t . The t hi ng mi ght be managed as t he Par ker

Soci et y' s books ar e. Wi t h a subscr i pt i on of 2 2s.

a year , i t woul d be easy t o get near l y al l t he pr of es -

si onal men i n Engl and and Scot l and who had ever

been Cambr i dge men. Jer emy Tayl or , or Ful l er , or

Bar r ow, woul d be good books t o begi n wi t h, as t hey

ar e popul ar wr i t er s, bet t er known t han many

ot her s. Ther e ar e no good edi t i ons of t hese, wel l

edi t ed and wi t h good I ndexes. The edi t i on of

Bi shop Tayl or ' s wor ks wi t h Heber ' s Li f e has a

ver y i ncompl et e I ndex, and i s not cor r ect l y pr i nt ed.

Ther e i s no edi t i on of Ful l er even moder at el y good

i n t he mar ket . The Oxf or d edi t i on of Bar r ow i s

not ver y handsome and i s ver y expensi ve, and by

t hi s t i me i s near l y out of pr i nt . Donne, Henr y

Mor e, John Smi t h, Cudwor t h, and ot her s mi ght

f ol l ow. I don' t know whet her Mi l t on and Howe

woul d have any chance, but a good edi t i on of

Mi l t on' s compl et e wor ks i s want ed, and i t mi ght

be so edi t ed as t o be f or t he good of t he Chur ch.

I shoul d l i ke ver y much t o see Cambr i dge under -

t ake such a wor k, and empl oy t he most t hought f ul

of her sons as edi t or s. Ther e i s no need t o have

commer ci al men wor ki ng i n i t f or t he pur pose of

money- maki ng. I t wer e bet t er i f t he Uni ver si t y

Page 99 of 178

1843- 55. ] CAMBRI DGE OPENI NGS. 165

under t ook i t f or i t s own honour , and f or t he

advancement of sound l ear ni ng. I f such a t hi ng

coul d be set a- goi ng I shoul d be gl ad t o t ake

t he management of i t her e. I f ancy t hat t he

Mast er of Tr i ni t y and ot her s her e woul d be gl ad

t o do what t hey coul d t o r ai se t he name of t he

Uni ver si t y i n t hi s way. I mer el y suggest t hi s.

I s i t wor t h t hi nki ng of ? Coul d anyt hi ng be done

t o br i ng i t about ?

" I shoul d l i ke ver y much t o see some good

Cambr i dge t r act s st ar t ed. The i ncendi ar i sm i n our

nei ghbour hood, and t he di scont ent of t he poor

ever ywher e, cal l l oudl y f or some mode of l esseni ng

t he mi sunder st andi ng bet ween r i ch and poor .

Sur el y t hi s st at e of t hi ngs cannot l ast . One

cannot r ead t he paper s day af t er day wi t hout

agony of hear t . Oh t hat one coul d see anyt hi ng

at wor k t o meet our want s. I t cheer ed me mor e

t han I can t el l t o see how const ant l y Dr . Ar nol d

had t hese t hi ngs pr essi ng on hi s hear t ; because I

f el t t hat hundr eds i n our l and may be wor ki ng i n

t he same spi r i t t hough one hear s not hi ng of i t . I

hope t hat hi s l i f e may become an exampl e t o many.

I t woul d be a gr eat honour i f Cambr i dge wer e

per mi t t ed t o send out any l i ght f or t he gui dance

of men i n t hese most di st r act ed t i mes. Sur el y i t

was f or some such pur pose t hat God r ai sed up

such nobl e i nst i t ut i ons, sur el y i t was t hat t hey

mi ght gi ve l i ght , and or der , and har mony t o t he

ki ngdom. . . . "

166 DEATH OF MARCUS HARE. [ CH. v.

A f ew mor e ext r act s f r om t hi s cor r espondence

wi l l show t he r el at i ons whi ch gr ew up bet ween

t he Ar chdeacon and Dani el Macmi l l an, and wi l l

best f i nd a pl ace her e by t hemsel ves, r at her t han

i n t hei r chr onol ogi cal or der i n t he gener al nar -

r at i ve. The f r i endshi p st ands out by i t sel f , a

pl easant and honour abl e epi sode i n t he l i ves of

t wo good and abl e men.

" HI TRSTMONCEATTX, August 29, 1845.

" . . . I suppose you have not hear d f or I am

sur e i t woul d have gr i eved you t hat I have

r ecent l y l ost t he br ot her whom you met her e. A

nobl er - hear t ed, mor e l ovi ng br ot her was never

gi ven t o man as a bl essi ng t hr ough so many

year s, dur i ng whi ch t he war mt h and ent i r eness

of t he l ove of chi l dhood and boyhood have never

been i mpai r ed. I had t he bl essi ng of bei ng wi t h

hi m dur i ng hi s l ast days her e, and, t her ef or e, was

enabl ed t o gi ve t hanks f or t he peace of hi s

depar t ur e. "

I n 1846 t he Ar chdeacon i s i n cont r over sy wi t h

Page 100 of 178

Si r Wi l l i am Hami l t on, who had at t acked Lut her

i n a pamphl et on t he Schi sm i n t he Scot ch Chur ch,

and wr i t es

" HURSTMONCEATJX, Mar ch 2, 1846.

" . . . By t he by, can you l ear n f or me whet her

Si r Wi l l i am Hami l t on ever publ i shed t he pr omi sed

second par t of hi s pamphl et on t he Schi sm i n t he

1843- 55. ] SI R W. HAMI LTON. 167

Scot ch Chur ch ? i f he di d, I shoul d much l i ke t o

have i t i mmedi at el y by t he post . And do you

happen t o know anyt hi ng of hi m as a man ? Hi s

wr i t i ngs have gi ven me a ver y unf avour abl e i m-

pr essi on of hi m ; and I have t o speak of hi m wi t h

consi der abl e sever i t y, whi ch, i f he be r eal l y a good,

upr i ght man, I woul d t r y t o sof t en. "

Af t er consul t i ng Geor ge Wi l son, who vi gor ousl y

def ends hi s l ear ned count r yman as an accur at e

man, but speaks even mor e war ml y of hi s i nf l uence

on hi s pupi l s, Dani el r epl i es

" . . . Al l Si r " Wi l l i am Hami l t on' s pupi l s ar e ver y

f ond of hi m, because he i s so ki nd t o t hem most

ki nd t o t hose who need hi s ki ndness. To j udge

f r om hi s wr i t i ngs he woul d be mi st aken f or a

ver y har d man. But he i s onl y har d agai nst

what he est eems f al se and r ot t en. I f he hi t s

har d i t i s because he honest l y bel i eves he i s

st r i ki ng t he devi l . The Edi nbur gh st udent s ar e

pr oud of hi m as one of t hei r f ew ver y l ear ned

men. . . . "

ARCHDEACON HAKE t o DANI EL MACMI LLAN.

" HURSTMONCEATTX, Mar ch 5, 1846.

" . . . What you say of Si r Wi l l i am Hami l t on

wi l l l ead me t o sof t en some expr essi ons, f or hi s

wr i t i ngs have gi ven me t he not i on of unscr upul ous

f er oci t y ; and i f he i s so f i er ce because he t hi nks

168 SI R W. HAMI LTON. [ CH. v.

he i s ' st r i ki ng t he devi l , ' at al l event s, he i s so

bl i nd t hat he of t en st r i kes an angel i nst ead, and

does not l ook t wi ce bef or e he put s i n hi s bl ow. . . . "

The cor r espondence, whi ch cl osed her e, so f ar as

t he Ar chdeacon was concer ned, was mai nt ai ned at

i nt er val s bet ween Dani el Macmi l l an and Geor ge

Wi l son, each of t hem st andi ng up manf ul l y f or hi s

pr i nci pal . The f ol l owi ng l et t er whi ch ends i t ,

r ef er s t o one out of sever al i nst ances of si mi l ar

good wor k accompl i shed by t he Ar chdeacon on

Page 101 of 178

t he suggest i on of hi s new f r i end :

GEORGE WI LSON t o DANI EL MACMI LLAN.

" Sept ember 17, 1846.

" . . . Let t her e be a t r uce t hen. Accuse t he'

bar onet , i f you l i ke, of i naccur acy, onl y even t hat

wer e best t o be done war i l y, f or he i s f ul l of

what he cal l s ' addi t i onal pr oof s ' of t he j ust ness

of hi s vi ews, and has hi t her t o been count ed an

i r r epr oachabl y accur at e hi st or i an or r ecor der .

However , on t hat scor e I am not hi s champi on,

f or I know not hi ng what ever about t he Lut her

busi ness, and I woul d r at her have hi m wr ong

t han r i ght i n hi s opi ni ons on t hat mat t er . The

Ar chdeacon shal l be f r ee t o f i ght hi m on t hat

gr ound, as l ong and as st out l y as he pl eases. But

don' t speak t o me of l yi ng quot at i ons t o hi de

1843- 55. ] MECHANI CS' I NSTI TUTES. 169

scant y schol ar shi p, or I ' l l count t he di gni t ar y a

f al se accuser of hi s br et hr en, and hat e hi m as

hear t i l y as a Chr i st i an i s f r ee t o do.

" At pr esent , however , I am r unni ng over

wi t h l ove t o t he Ar chdeacon and t o you, and

wher ef or e, t hi nk you, Dani el , gr eat l y bel oved ?

You r emember t hat l et t er you i nst i gat ed me t o

wr i t e about t he School of Ar t s ? Man ! i t ' s been

l i ke t he l eaven hi d i n t hr ee measur es of meal ,

or t he must ar d seed t hat became t he cedar of

Lebanon. I t came i nt o t he hand of a gener ous

weal t hy Engl i sh l ady, who t her eupon was l ed, and

t her eby, I bel i eve, t o t hi nk of mechani cs' i nst i t ut es.

She wr ot e t o Ar chbi shop What el y t o r ecommend

books, and he, l i ke a good man, r ecommended hi s

own as he was wel l ent i t l ed t o do, but al so ot her

peopl e' s, al l f i r st r at e. Wel l , of t hese books,

t hi s most pr i ncel y l ady has sent set s t o al l t he

Engl i sh mechani cs' i nst i t ut es, and I have had

t he pl easur e of bei ng an agent i n get t i ng set s f or

Edi nbur gh ( 3) , Gl asgow ( 2) , Dundee ( 1) , Dunbar

( I ) . Hur r ah! Take your shar e of happi ness i n

t he busi ness, my good f r i end. Who knows what

ser vi ce t hey may r ender t o t he unwashed i mmor t al s.

And i t was you set t he wheel a- goi ng ; and I t hat

at your bi ddi ng t ur ned i t : and our f r i end t he

Ar chdeacon, ar e t her e no t hanks f or hi m ? No

t hanks ! I f ancy he deser ves t hem most . Fr om

an over f l owi ng hear t I at l east t hank hi m, as t he

mover of t he gener ous l ady.

170 HARE' S LI FE OF J. STERLI NG. [ CH. v.

" You see i t ' s l i ke t he house t hat Jack bui l t ;

we have each had a shar e i n i t . . . . "

Page 102 of 178

D. MACMI LLAN t o ARCHDEACON HARE.

" CAMBRI DGE, Febr uar y 2, 1847.

" . . . . Thi ngs go ver y smoot hl y and ver y

pr osper ousl y wi t h us, and my br ot her i s a ver y

gr eat comf or t and hel p t o me. " We shal l never

f or get t hat we owe our pr esent posi t i on and i t s

comf or t s t o your ki nd hel p.

" CAMBRI DGE, Febr uar y 25, 1848.

" . . . . Your l i f e of John St er l i ng has f r i ght ened

Mr . Car us" ( t hen sub- dean of Tr i ni t y) . " He

t hi nks you di d not suf f i ci ent l y guar d your r eader s

agai nst t he danger s of specul at i on. He has been

speaki ng t o ever ybody about i t , but especi al l y t o

t he young men who go t o hi s Sunday eveni ng

meet i ngs. At hi s l ast meet i ng he war ned al l

agai nst Col er i dge' s Conf essi ons of an I nqui r i ng

Spi r i t as exceedi ngl y danger ous. Mr . Car us i s

onl y a sympt om of a ver y wi del y- di f f used f eel i ng.

I f I mi ght vent ur e t o speak on such a mat t er , I

shoul d say t hat , whi l e t hi s di sease of suspi ci on

pr evai l ed, i t woul d be wi se i n al l t he mor e t hought -

f ul t heol ogi ans t o wr i t e wi t h gr eat caut i on, and on

many t hi ngs r esol ut el y t o mai nt ai n si l ence. . , "

Pr osper i t y, and t he i nsi ght whi ch t he publ i sh-

i ng busi ness was gi vi ng hi m i nt o t he i nner mi nd

1843- 55. ] " POLI TI CS FOR THE PEOPLE. " 171

and pr evai l i ng t endenci es of t he Uni ver si t y, wer e

st r engt heni ng t he nat ur al caut i on whi ch al ways,

i n hi s char act er , l ay si de by si de wi t h ent husi asm.

Thi s year of r evol ut i on wi t nessed an at t empt by

Mr . Maur i ce and hi s f r i ends t o est abl i sh a paper

addr essed t o t he wor ki ng cl asses i n whi ch t he

poi nt s of t he Char t er , and ot her exci t i ng pol i t i cal

t opi cs, shoul d he deal t wi t h f r om a Chr i st i an

st and- poi nt , by men opposed t o t he physi cal f or ce

Char t i st s, but who never t hel ess wer e i n r eal sym-

pat hy wi t h t he peopl e. Thi s paper , publ i shed by

J. W. Par ker , i s al l uded t o i n t he f ol l owi ng l et t er

of Ar chdeacon Har e :

" LONDOX, May 22, 1848.

" I shal l be ver y gl ad t o see St er l i ng' s not es on

t he Ki ngdom of Chr i st . 1 I f you can send i t ei t her

t o Bel l , or t o Par ker , i t wi l l be f or war ded t o me.

I knew you woul d t ake a most l i vel y i nt er est i n

t he Pol i t i cs f or t / i c Peopl e. I hope i t wi l l be t he

means of ver y gr eat good, and t hat i n t i me i t wi l l

have a ver y l ar ge ci r cul at i on. Onl y t her e i s need

of f ai t h and per sever ance at t he out set , i n spi t e of

di scour agement s. Al l t he encour agement you can

gi ve Par ker wi l l be of use, t hat he may not be l ed

t o abandon i t , as Kni ght has hi s excel l ent Voi ce

of t he Peopl e, on f i ndi ng t hat t he f i r st number s had

Page 103 of 178

1 Thi s al l udes t o a copy of The Ki ngdom of Chr i st whi ch

Dani el had f ound second- hand wi t h some MS. not es by John

St er l i ng, and of f er ed t o send t o Ar chdeacon Har e.

172 THE ARCHDEACON ON MARRI AGE. [ OH. v.

nob t he sal e he want ed. I t woul d be a f oul scandal

i f ever y vul gar j i mmor al , ant i - r el i gi ous paper can

mai nt ai n i t sel f f or year af t er year , and when a

paper i s at l ast publ i shed t o mai nt ai n pol i t i cal ,

mor al , and r el i gi ous pr i nci pl es, i t shoul d be l et di e

away. I expect much hel p f r om your count r ymen

i n Scot l and. " . . .

We shal l have t o r et ur n t o t hi s subj ect f ur t her

on, and al so t o t hat of t he next l et t er , t he new

l i f e of mar r i age, whi ch commenced f or Dani el

Macmi l l an i n Sept ember , 1850.

" HTJRSTMONCEATJX, Sept ember 9, 1850.

" I t was a gr eat pl easur e t o me t o r ecei ve your

weddi ng- car ds, as i t had been some mont hs ago t o

hear f r om Mr . Nut t t hat you wer e goi ng t o be

mar r i ed. Havi ng such exper i ence mysel f what

an unt ol d bl essi ng a good wi f e i s, I am al ways

desi r ous t hat my f r i ends shoul d become par t aker s

of t he same bl essi ng ; and t hough i t i s t oo mani -

f est t hat al l pear l s ar e not equal l y pr eci ous, yet

one hopes t hat one' s f r i ends, at l east , may have

t he bl essi ng of f i ndi ng a t r ue pear l ; and such, I

hope and t r ust , has been gr ant ed t o you. I f so,

you wi l l f i nd t hat your pear l becomes mor e and

mor e pr eci ous day by day and year by year . " . . .

The next l et t er i s f r om Dani el t o hi s br ot her ,

f r om Hur st monceaux, wher e he i s on a vi si t wi t h

hi s wi f e t o t he Ar chdeacon.

1843- 55 J WORDSWORTH. 173

" HURSTMONCEAUX, June 17, 1851.

" I shal l t r y t o have some conver sat i on t o- day

about Wor dswor t h. We had some yest er day. Har e

not i ced a cur i ous f act t hat Wor dswor t h had t aken

gr eat pai ns t o educat e hi msel f as a poet , and had

pr oduced not hi ng bef or e hi s educat i on was compl et e.

The Whi t e Doe of Eyl st one was hi s l at est pr o-

duct i on, and t hat was wr i t t en about 1815 or 1816.

Al l t hat went bef or e consi st ed of sl i ght t hi ngs,

Eveni ng Vol unt ar i es and t he l i ke, but no gr eat or

sust ai ned ef f or t t o pr oduce t hat of whi ch t he

Pr el ude or Excur si on wer e but as t he commence-

ment . I expr essed some sur pr i se at hi s meagr e

cat al ogue of t he most obvi ous amusement s of

London whi ch he gave as hi s vi ew of t hat won-

der f ul pl ace. He - sai d f i r st of al l London at t hat

t i me was t he most bar r en pl ace, and he does gi ve

what r eal l y wer e t hen i t s chi ef amusement s. The

t heat r e was t he onl y t hi ng t hat had l i f e and vi gour ,

Page 104 of 178

and t hat , f r om hi s gr eat di f f i cul t y i n dr amat i c ap-

pr eci at i on, woul d have no i nt er est t o hi m and t he

same def ect made al l t he obvi ous out si de l i f e of

London l ook ver y si l l y t o hi m. He was wr apt up

i n hi s own vi ews of t hi ngs, whi ch hi nder ed hi m

f r om under st andi ng and even seei ng what was not

i ncl uded i n hi s own wor l d. He despi sed much

t hat was despi cabl e, but was of t en t oo sweepi ng

i n hi s condemnat i ons. The t i me i n whi ch hi s

vi si t t o London i s l ai d was a most nar r ow par t y-

per i od of Engl i sh hi st or y. Ther e was not hi ng but

174 WORDSWORTH. [ CH. v

Whi g and Tor y pat t er t i l l t he Spani sh war ap-

pear ed, when Engl and began t o show a bet t er ,

mor e nat i onal spi r i t .

" The wor t hy Ar chdeacon has not yet r ead Wor ds-

wor t h' s l i f e. He says Mr s. Har e has, and has

compar ed i t wi t h hi s wor ks, and was somewhat

i nt er est ed wi t h t hat par t . But f r om what she

sai d i t was evi dent t hat Dr . Wor dswor t h di d not

under st and hi s uncl e. He f anci ed t hat Wor ds-

wor t h began by bei ng a Eadi cal , and gr adual l y

i mpr oved i nt o a Hi gh Chur chman. Fr om hi s

Excur si on he r ose i nt o t he Eccl esi ast i cal Sonnet s ;

but i n- al l hi s Poet r y never r eached t o anyt hi ng

l i ke hi s nephew' s Pr i ze Poem. "

The Ar chdeacon' s heal t h began ser i ousl y t o f ai l

i n 1851, but t he cor r espondence cont i nued at

i nt er val s. One mor e ext r act , f r om t he l ast l et t er

of any i mpor t ance t hat passed bet ween t hem, may

f i t l y cl ose t hi s par t of t he st or y.

D. MACMI LLAN t o ARCHDEACON HARE.

" CAMBRI DGE, June 25, 1853.

( Af t er i nqui r i es f or hi s heal t h and not i f yi ng

t he despat ch of a number of t he Evangel i cal

Revi ew cont ai ni ng an el abor at e ar t i cl e on hi s

wor ks. ) " I have sel dom vent ur ed when wr i t i ng

or speaki ng t o you t o do mor e t han al l ude t o

how much I f eel what I owe t o your gr eat ki nd-

1843- 55. ] A GRATEFUL RETROSPECT. 175

ness and t hat of your br ot her . But I sel dom

f or get i t , and my wi f e and my br ot her j oi n wi t h

me, and our chi l dr en wi l l l ear n t o l ove and r ever -

ence your name. I f i t had not been f or your

ki nd hel p and encour agement , and f r i endl y r e-

commendat i ons, I shoul d not have been her e, and

I shoul d never have been i n a posi t i on t o mar r y,

nor woul d my br ot her . When I see so many

bl essi ngs shower i ng down on my br ot her and

mysel f and t hose who ar e dear est t o us, I am

r emi nded t hat God has sent t hem t o us i n gr eat

Page 105 of 178

measur e t hr ough you.

" My l i f e at Mr . Seel ey' s had f ewer car es and

anxi et i es. I coul d t hi nk and r ead mor e cont i nu-

ousl y. My wor k had become so easy t o me t hat

I coul d do i t wi t hout ef f or t . The busi ness moved so

st eadi l y, and was so deepl y r oot ed, t hat t her e was no

anxi et y about i t . But i t woul d have been i mpossi -

bl e f or me t o have r et ai ned my si t uat i on wi t h such

heal t h as I have had f or t he l ast ni ne year s. But

her e wi t h my br ot her ' s const ant l ove and car e, I can

be of some l i t t l e ser vi ce even when I do not wor k. "

Then af t er speaki ng of t he desi r e of hi msel f and

hi s br ot her t o l i ve f or t he same obj ect , and wor k

i n t he same spi r i t as t hei r t wo el der br ot her s t he

Bapt i st mi ni st er s, he goes on, " and we f eel t hat her e

we can do so whi l e qui et l y f ol l owi ng our cal l i ng

and wor ki ng f or our dai l y br ead. Men of t en t el l

us af t er t hey have set t l ed i n par i shes and cur aci es,

t hat t he books we r ecommended t o t hem have

176 THE ARCHDEACON' S DEATH. [ CH. v.

been usef ul i n hel pi ng t hem t o do t hei r wor k

and as f r esh set s of men come and go ever y t hr ee

year s we f eel t hat our post i s an i mpor t ant one,

and al l t he bet t er t hat we of t en meet wi t h much

t o humbl e us and much t o r ai se up t he ol d Adam

wi t hi n us. We ar e i n ver y sl i ght danger of gi vi ng

our sel ves ai r s ! so much t he bet t er ! Thi s i s not

j ust t he way we shoul d have chosen when I wr ot e

t o you t wel ve year s ago. But I have no doubt i t

i s a bet t er way one i nt o whi ch God has l ed us

as we l ook on you as t he means you can har dl y

wonder t hat we shoul d al ways f eel most gr at ef ul .

I shoul d al so ment i on your ki ndness i n t el l i ng

me of Mr . Maur i ce' s books and i nt r oduci ng me

t o hi msel f . We have i ndeed f ound hi m a most

pr eci ous f r i end. Gr eat l y as we admi r e and r ever e

t he wi sdom and power and goodness of hi s books

we t hi nk hi m so much gr eat er and bet t er , and I

count i t one of t he ver y hopef ul pr i vi l eges of my

l i f e t o know hi m. He seems t o me one of t he

nobl est men I ever hear d or r ead of . "

The f ol l owi ng ent r y i n Dani el Macmi l l an' s

j our nal t el l s of t he end

" Tuesday, Januar y 23, 1855.

" Ar chdeacon Har e di ed t hi s mor ni ng at Hur st -

monceaux. A mor e nobl e, si mpl e- hear t ed man

never l i ved. I t i s sad f or us t o l ose a man of

such cour age, so gent l e, wi t h such a si ngl e eye

f or God' s gl or y. We can i l l spar e hi m. One

1843- 55. ] THE ARCHDEACON' S DEATH. 177

knows so f ew equal , none l i ke hi m. But t hough

i t gi ves one a sad hear t t o l ose such a f r i end,

Page 106 of 178

yet as he had such poor heal t h one f eel s t hat

i t i s a gr eat bl essi ng f or hi m t o be t aken t o

hi s r est . . . . Al l who knew must have l oved

hi m. Hi s was such a beaut i f ul nat ur e, so manl y,

so t r ut hf ul , so chi l d- l i ke. I t does one good t o

t hi nk of hi m. Now t hat he i s gone may God

hel p me t o st r i ve t o do what ever i s i n my power

t o f or war d t he wor k he was doi ng i n t he wor l d

i n t he post I am pl aced i n. "

CHAPTEE VI .

MARRI AGE AND HOME LI FE. 1850- 56.

No r eal l y sat i sf act or y i dea can be f or med of a

man wi t hout some gl i mpse i nt o t he sacr ed r ecesses

of hi s home l i f e. And i f t hi s be go, even i n t he

case of st at esmen, sol di er s, expl or er s men whose

car eer s have been f ul l of act i on and st i r r i ng

i nci dent how much mor e st r ongl y does i t hol d

good of men l i ke Dani el Macmi l l an. The ques-

t i on, al ways a di f f i cul t and del i cat e one, must ar i se

i n ever y case, how f ar t he vei l can be dr awn back

so as t o l et t he man be seen i n t hose r el at i ons

whi ch most shr ewdl y t est hi s manhood, wi t hout

pander i ng t o i dl e cur i osi t y, or uncover i ng t hi ngs

t oo sacr ed f or t he casual eye of st r anger s. Much

must depend of cour se upon what i s behi nd t he

vei l . I f , as i n t hi s case, t her e shoul d be not hi ng

but what i s pur e and of good r epor t , and t he

pr i nci pal act or s have passed f r om amongst us, t he

l i ght may be l et i n f r eel y. Those who can ap-

( pr eci at e what i s pur e and of good r epor t al ways

1850- 56. ] ENGAGEMENT. 179

l et us hope and bel i eve t he gr eat maj or i t y wi l l

be st r engt hened and r ef r eshed by what t he l i ght

di scl oses, whi l e i t wi l l at any r at e not i nj ur e t he

mi nor i t y who may pass l i ght l y by wi t h a shr ug or

a sneer . I n t hi s bel i ef t he f ol l owi ng ext r act s ar e

gi ven f r om t he l et t er s and j our nal s of t hi s per i od.

He became engaged i n t he f i r st days of June,

1850, t o Fr ances, daught er of Mr . Or r i dge, a Cam-

br i dge chemi st of good st andi ng, and a bor ough

magi st r at e, wi t h whose f ami l y t he Macmi l l ans

had l ong been i nt i mat e. The at t achment had

mat ur ed gr adual l y, and was of some st andi ng

on hi s si de, but t he st at e of hi s heal t h, and t he

smal l r et ur ns f r om hi s busi ness dur i ng i t s ear l y

year s had hi t her t o kept hi m f r om any engagement .

Hi s f i r st l et t er t o hi s bet r ot hed was accompani ed

by a number of hi s ol d j our nal s and l et t er s.

" June 7, 1850.

" . . . I am anxi ous t hat you, my dar l i ng,

shoul d know me as I know mysel f as God

knows me and so t ake t he best means i n my

power t o l ay my hear t bar e t o you. Per haps

Page 107 of 178

you wi l l see much t o sur pr i se you. But i t i s

bet t er t hat you shoul d know me t o t he hear t ' s cor e :

so t hat you may hel p t o del i ver me f r om my f aul t s

and f ol l i es. You wi l l see many weaknesses ; but

you wi l l hel p me t o be st r ong, and hol y, and

humbl e.

" Ther e i s one set of l et t er s whi ch I shoul d l i ke

. N 2

180 CONFESSI ONS TO HI S BETROTHED, [ en. vi .

t o have dest r oyed. I wonder I kept t hem. The

chi ef r eason was t hat I di d t hi nk of wor ki ng up

my l i f e- st or y i nt o a popul ar t al e ; and i n l ooki ng

over t he l et t er s whi ch came back f r om H. B. I

kept such as woul d hel p me t o see my ol d spi r i t ual

st andi ng- poi nt . Si nce t hese chanced t o be pr e-

ser ved I t hought onl y r i ght t o send t hem j ust as

t hey st ood. I f eel as i f I had vol umes and vol umes

of expl anat i ons t o gi ve : but t hese I must speak. "

" Monday Ni ght .

" . . . You can, I am sur e, sympat hi se wi t h

me, when I t el l you t hat i t gi ves me unspeakabl e

sat i sf act i on t o f eel sur e, as I do, t hat t her e i s

no chasm bet ween us : t hat i n al l r egi ons of

t hought and f eel i ng we can under st and each ot her .

One has of t en seen f ol ks whose l i ves wer e, on

t he whol e, pl easant , who wer e cut of f f r om each

ot her : one of t he t wo, who ought t o be one,

i s t aken up wi t h what i s a bor e t o t he ot her . I

have al ways f el t t hat i t woul d be most di st r essi ng

t o me i f i n any r espect my wi f e di d not see what

I meant . . . .

" You wi l l see t oo many f aul t s among ot her s,

a needl ess vehemence on al l occasi ons. You wi l l

see somet i mes i ndi cat i ons of pr i de and cont empt

t owar ds peopl e I don' t l i ke. "

At t he dat e of t he next l et t er Mi ss Or r i dge

i s on a vi si t t o London.

1850- 56. ] A. SCOTT AND MAURI CE. 181

" Wednesday Eveni ng, June 19, 1850.

" . . . I f you coul d do as you l i ke, as I know

you cannot , I shoul d r ecommend you t o hear a

ver y r emar kabl e man pr each or l ect ur e next

Sunday ni ght . I mean Pr of essor Scot t . He i s

a pr of essor i n Uni ver si t y Col l ege, and on Sunday

eveni ngs he pr eaches i n a Li t er ar y I nst i t i i t i on i n

Edwar d' s St r eet , Por t man Squar e. He i s a man

of ver y gr eat mar k. Hi s mi nd i s si ngul ar l y cl ear ,

or der l y, sci ent i f i c; yet he has a most war m,

devout , r ever ent hear t . I wi sh he woul d wr i t e

Page 108 of 178

mor e: f or he i s one of t he best t hi nker s of our

day : and hi s i nf l uence i s al ways whol esome. . . .

" Maur i ce gr eat l y admi r es hi m, and t hi nks hi m

an abl er man t han hi msel f . But t hat i s not t he

case. I ndeed I r eal l y don' t bel i eve t hat Maur i ce

has any second i n our t i me. He t ower s f ar above

al l ot her s, and yet he i s t he most pr of oundl y

humbl e man I ever knew. Per haps i t woul d be

t r uer t o say t hat he i s humbl e because he i s so

gr eat , or so gr eat became he i s so humbl e. Tr ul y

' hi s mi nd i s l of t y and l owl y, l i ke t he Mast er whom

he ser ves ; ' and j ust because he i s so l of t y and so

l owl y he keeps cl ear of al l nar r owness and one-

si dedness : and l ooks honest l y at t he pr i nci pl es of

al l par t i es, and r ecogni ses and appr opr i at es t he

t r ut h whi ch l i es i n t hem. Ar t , sci ence, l i t er at ur e,

ever yt hi ng t hat i s a devel opment of t he good, t he

beaut i f ul , and t he t r ue, i s dear t o hi m. No man

i s so f r ee f r om al l pedant r y, al l pr et ence. He

182 FAMI LY HI STORY. [ CK. VI .

onl y seems t o car e f or what i s l i vi ng and r eal

what has t o do wi t h man' s l i f e. He i s what

Car l yl e cal l s ' a t r ue t r ut h- l ovi ng man! I don' t

know whet her or not you r ead t hat book of hi s

whi ch I l ent t o your f at her . I f el t i t t o be qui t e

i nval uabl e t o me. The ear l y par t , on t he Hebr ews,

seemed t o me most pr eci ous because i t gave

cl ear ness and uni t y t o my f or mer not i ons about

t hat par t of wor l d- hi st or y, and hel ped t o unf ol d

many, many t hi ngs of whi ch I onl y saw t he

out si de. Ther e was much t hat was qui t e new

t o me; f ar mor e expansi ve, and f ar deeper t han

anyt hi ng I had ever dr eamt of . . . . "

" Thur sday, June 20, 1850.

" . . . I di d not r egr et l osi ng what t he book

sai d, but when I spoke t o you, I di d r egr et t hat

I coul d get no answer . Shal l I t el l you what I

sai d ? I t ol d you agai n and agai n t he st or y of

my l i f e, now and t hen st oppi ng t o f i l l up det ai l s ;

gi vi ng you many epi sodes, whi ch, st r ange t o say,

di d not seem t o t i r e you. For want of bet t er t o

do I shal l wr i t e down some par t of my st or y.

" I am qui t e an ol d man now. Next 13t h of

Sept ember I shal l be t hi r t y- seven. So i t i s now

near l y t hi r t y- seven- year s si nce I made my f i r st

appear ance on t he st age of t hi s wor l d. The scene

was l ai d i n a most humbl e house on t he br ow of

a hi l l over l ooki ng t he sea, and get t i ng, on cl ear

days, a cl ear vi ew of t he Ayr shi r e coast . Hi gh

1850- 56. ] FAMI LY HI STORY. 183

Page 109 of 178

mount ai ns cover ed wi t h snow l ay behi nd t hi s l i t t l e

house. The f l ocks of sheep wi t h t he hogget s wer e

gat her ed i nt o t hei r f ol d by t he shepher ds' car e

and t he Al mi ght y Shepher d wat ched over my

mot her and over me. He al l owed her t o t r ai n and

hel p t he f or mat i on of my spi r i t f or t went y year s,

and t hen t ook her t o dwel l among t he pur e and

beaut i f ul spi r i t s of al l ages. She i s gone f r om t hi s

wor l d, but her i nf l uence can never di e. She

hel ped t o f or m my br ot her s and si st er s : t hey have

i nf l uenced ot her s, and so t he good wor ks t hr ough

al l gener at i ons and t he evi l t oo f r om whi ch

many l essons may be l ear nt . But t o pr oceed.

" My f at her di ed when he was l i t t l e mor e t han

f i f t y. He was a l ar ge, st r ong man, and onl y t oo

r eady t o use hi s st r engt h. Al exander i s a ' good

deal l i ke f at her , onl y my f at her was sever er and

st er ner - l ooki ng. He was a man wi t h consi der abl e

humour . He mar r i ed ver y young, and br ought on

hi m t he car es of t he mar r i ed st at e somewhat

t oo ear l y i n l i f e. He di d a l i t t l e f ar mi ng and was

a car t er , and of cour se hi s wor k l ay al t oget her out

of door s. He of t en got t oo much heat ed, and

t hen, not bei ng caut i ous he caught col d col d

upon col d. He was t oo car ef ul about hi s f ami l y

t o t hi nk much about hi msel f . He was f ar t oo

anxi ous- mi nded. So bet ween one t hi ng and an-

ot her hi s vi gor ous, r obust , manl y f r ame was al l

t oo soon br oken up and gave way. A br aver ,

a mor e upr i ght man never l ef t t hi s wor l d. I wi sh

184 EARLY MEMORI ES. [ CH. vr .

I coul d r emember mor e of hi m. But what I do

makes me f eel t hat he was most t r ul y a ki ng, and

pr i est , and t r ue ' man of God/

" My mot l i er was si xt y- t hr ee when she di ed.

She had no di sease, pr oper l y so cal l ed. The f r ame -

wor k of one of t he nobl est and pur est spi r i t s ever

mani f est ed i n t he f l esh was qui t e wor n out , and

t he spi r i t passed wi t hout a st r uggl e i nt o i t s t r ue

nat i ve r egi on. . . .

" Mal col m, our el dest br ot her , was a ki nd of

f at her t o us. how ki nd and good he was, and

how l i e st r uggl ed t o make us f ear God. and do t he

wi l l of God ! How he wat ched over us, and hel ped

us i n ever y way ! He was a wor ki ng car pent er ,

and yef c he managed t o t each hi msel f or get hi m-

sel f t aught , Lat i n and Gr eek, and some Hebr ew,

and he knew Engl i sh wel l , and coul d wr i t e and

pr each i t admi r abl y. He l ef t hi s car pent er - wor k

and kept a school . Then he became t he Mi ni st er

of a Bapt i st Chur ch, and t her e he di d hi s wor k

nobl y, and was admi r ed and l oved by al l who

knew hi m. . . .

" But he was cal l ed away bef or e hi s t i me. At

l east so i t seemed, f or he was a most beaut i f ul

pr eacher , and j ust as he was showi ng hi s gi f t , he

Page 110 of 178

was t aken away. But God di d i t ; and i t i s al l

r i ght . . . .

" I r emember wat chi ng t he cows t o keep t hem

f r om t he cor n. I r emember wander i ng al one and

t hi nki ng of t he i nf i ni t e, of space and t i me, of

1850- 56. ] EARLY MEMORI ES. 185

heavei i and hel l , good and evi l , of angel s and

of devi l s. I r emember Al exander ' s bi r t h, and

nur si ng hi m. I used t o l i e at t he bot t om of a

ver y l ar ge cr adl e and r ock hi m and mysel f t o

sl eep. I r emember i nnumer abl e conver sat i ons

wi t h mot her , and I r emember my f at her ' s i l l ness

and deat h and f uner al . I t made so gr eat an i m-

pr essi on on me t hat up t o t he t i me I was t went y

I coul d not speak of my f at her wi t hout t he t ear

st ar t i ng i n my eye.

" Fr om . t en t o sevent een I was an appr ent i ce. I

l ear nt t o bi nd books and sel l t hem and buy t hem,

t o gr oom and r i de hor ses, t o st ai n and var ni sh wood,

and ver y many t hi ngs not speci f i ed i n my i nden-

t ur e, f or my mast er was a queer , queer man, and

pai d mor e at t ent i on t o anyt hi ng t han t o hi s t r ade.

Hi s wi f e was ver y ki nd t o me, but ' a wee daf t , '

and t ol d me al l her l ove af f ai r s bef or e I was

t wel ve.

" Af t er such a wi de exper i ence I ought t o be

f ar bet t er t han I am. I ought t o be f r ee f r om

many f aul t s whi ch I t r ust you wi l l hel p me t o

cor r ect . Ah me ! I f i t wer e r i ght t o r egr et , how

much I have t o r egr et ! But i t i s a wast e of t i me,

and one ought t o pass on and be t hankf ul f or

t he l essons of humi l i t y t hey have t aught me,

and whi ch I have yet t o l ear n. You wi l l hel p

me. . . .

" I f el t t hat I must speak i t out , whet her you

l i st ened t o i t or no. "

186 ASPI RATI ONS. [ OH. VI .

" Fr i day, June 21, 1850

" I f ear you wi l l t hi nk t l i at I am ver y t i r esome

wi t h t hese l ong l et t er s. But t he f act i s I am anxi ous

t hat you shoul d know al l about me. I t hi nk i t

best t hat I shoul d speak out al l I know of mysel f ,

al l t hat woul d hel p you t o under st and me, wi t h

ease and f r eedom. I t seems t he wi sest way f or

me t o be cl ear and st r ai ght f or war d, and t hat I

shoul d t el l you ever yt hi ng ; t hat t her e shoul d be

no ment al r eser vat i on, no Jesui t r y. I f we cl ear

t he way as we go al ong, and see t he way as we go

al ong, i t may be pl ai ner , mor e t edi ous, l ess l i ke

a f l ower y f ai r y - l and ; but i t i s l i kel y t o be mor e

subst ant i al , f r eer f r om swamps and pi t f al l s.

Page 111 of 178

" So t hat al l t hi s may l ead t o a deeper under -

st andi ng of each ot her i t i s most needf ul , as you

hi nt , t hat we shoul d see t he gui dance of t he

Hi ghest , t he Ever - pr esent Gui de. I shal l st r i ve t o

t ake your hi nt , a most needf ul t hi ng at al l t i mes,

but especi al l y needf ul when one has such ver y

gr ave pr ospect s bef or e one. . . . "

" Tuesday Af t er noon, June 25, 1850.

" . . . We ar e al ways f al l i ng i nt o t he vul gar

not i on of heaven ; l ooki ng on i t as a mer e r ewar d

( somewhat of t he nat ur e of a br i be) f or good

behavi our her e ; and so we f al l i nt o a mer e sel f i sh

ot her - wor l dl i ness ( as Col er i dge t er ms i t ) i nst ead

of f eel i ng t hat t he Ki ngdom of Heaven i s set

1850- 50. ] CONFESSI ONS TO HI S BETROTHED. 187

up by our common Fat her , wi t hi n t he hear t s of

al l men ; and t hat j ust so f ar as t hey obey i t s

l aws t hey ent er i nt o t he Di vi ne or der , and f i nd

t hat t he t r ue end of t hei r exi st ence i s obeyi ng

i t s l aws ; and t hat r i ght and bl essedness ar e

i dent i cal ; and t hat t he pr i mal r oot of al l di s -

cor d, al l di sor der , i s hunger i ng and t hi r st i ng af t er

sel f - gr at i f i cat i on, r ewar ds, i n t hi s or i n ot her

wor l ds. . . . "

" Thur sday Ni ght , June 27, 1850.

" . . . I t i s st r ange t hat I have never been abl e

t o say t o you what was at my hear t and even on

my t ongue. I t al ways seems as i f I coul d not f i nd

ut t er ance when i n your pr esence ; and yet t her e i s

mor e on my mi nd and mor e i n my hear t when I

see you t han at any ot her t i me ; and per haps i t i s

because I have so much t o say t hat I can ut t er

next t o not hi ng. When I have l ef t you I al ways

f eel i ncl i ned t o l augh at mysel f f or havi ng sai d so

l i t t l e, and so l i t t l e t o t he pur pose. But t hough I

l augh, and f l out , and t wi t at mysel f wi t hout mer cy,

i t seems t o do no good. I wi l l t r y t o say al l t hat

l i es on my hear t next t i me we meet . Pr ay hel p

me. I have ver y numer ous i magi nar y conver sa-

t i ons wi t h you. The day wi l l soon come, 1 hope,

when t he r eal ones wi l l be f r eer , easi er , l ess f or mal ,

and mor e geni al t han any we have yet had. Ever y

f r esh one wi l l hel p us t o see deeper i nt o each

ot her ' s hear t s. You ar e mor e dear t o me t han

188 CONFESSI ONS TO HI S BETROTHED. [ CH. vi .

wor ds can ut t er . I l ove you wi t h my whol e hear t ,

and wi sh you t o know al l my t hought s. I woul d

hi de not hi ng f r om you.

" About November , 1842, I f anci ed I had met

wi t h one I had l ong sought f or . But i n Mar ch,

1844, when qui t e out r ageous l abour had br ought

Page 112 of 178

on ser i ous i l l ness, and her f r i ends i nsi st ed on t he

t er mi nat i on of . . . Thi s of cour se gr eat l y i n-

cr eased my i l l ness, and made i t l ast l onger , and

mor e sever e t han i t woul d ot her wi se have been.

I t hought i t r i ght t o t el l you t hi s, so t hat you

mi ght qui t e under st and t hat / was cast of f wi t h

t he gr eat est ki ndness on al l hands, but st i l l ver y

di st i nct l y. To a man so f ar away f r om al l i nt i mat e

f r i ends as I was you can har dl y t el l how desol at e

my hear t f el t , or how much I endur ed; my heal t h

bei ng so bad 1 f el t my sor r ows t he mor e keenl y ;

and my sor r ows i ncr eased my i l l ness. When my

br ot her came down and l i ved wi t h me hi s soci et y

was most pr eci ous. Oh, how I l onged f or my

mot her ! Al exander di d hi s best t o suppl y al l

my want s. But my hear t cr aved f or some one,

and now and t hen I seemed t o cat ch a gl i mpse

of t he God- appoi nt ed wi f e. But i t t ur ned out a

mer e wi l l - o' - t he- wi sp, a mer e shadow. But yet

a shadow al ways t el l s of a r eal i t y t o come.

So, when I met you, and hear d your dear voi ce,

and l ooked i nt o t hose most bl essed eyes of your s,

I wai t ed and t hought , and t hought and wai t ed, t i l l

I f el t my hear t say, as i f i t wer e t he voi ce of God,

1850- 56. ] CONFESSI ONS TO HI S BETROTHED. 189

" Thi s i s t he r i ght f ai r sai nt f or you ; t her e your

hear t and mi nd wi l l f i nd al l you need. ' , . .

" But t hr ough al l my t r oubl es i t i s wonder f ul

how ki nd I have al ways f ound peopl e. One f eel s

sur e t hat t he r adi ance of God' s l ove shi nes out

of al l hear t s; f or i n I r vi ne, St i r l i ng, Gl asgow,

Cambr i dge, London, Edi nbur gh, Lei t h, wher ever

I have been, I f ound ki nd l ovi ng hear t s. Shop-

boys, por t er s, wai t er s at di ni ng- houses, ever ywher e,

and f r om ever y one, I have met wi t h expr essi ons

of ki ndness i n some f or m or ot her . "

The next l et t er i s wr i t t en as he i s on hi s way t o

t he weddi ng of hi s f r i end MacLehose :

" CROWN HOTEL, FLEETWOOD, Jul y 16, 1850.

" What a gl or i ous ni ght we had on our way f r om

London t o Pr est on. The most br i l l i ant l i ght ni ng

i n t he di st ance, spl endi d cl ouds r ound t he moon,

and t he moon her sel f heavenl y sweet , and t hose

st ar s one coul d see most di vi nel y spar kl i ng. The

moon was onl y hal f a one, and was cal l i ng out f or

i t s compl ement , whi ch i t wi l l obt ai n soon I t r ust .

" When l ooki ng at t he sky I f el l asl eep t o dr eam of

a l ovel i ness f ar mor e dear . I sl ept a good deal ,

waki ng at shor t i nt er val s. But sl eepi ng or waki ng

my t hought s wer e of t hat most pr eci ous and beau-

t i f ul spi r i t whi ch i s f or ever l i nked wi t h mi ne.

When awake, and al l t he r est of my f el l ow pas-

senger s asl eep, I l ooked up and ut t er ed f r om my

190 MARRI AGE HONEYMOON. [ CH. vi .

Page 113 of 178

hear t t hat di vi ne pr ayer whi ch t he Eedeemer

t aught us. I f el t mor e t r ul y t han ever t hat I

mi ght say ' Our Fat her , ' and t hat you wi l l al ways

hel p me t o say f r om t he hear t , ' Thy wi l l be

done. ' . . . I have been her e f or t wo hour s or

mor e. I have gr eat l y enj oyed meet i ng my f r i end,

who i s a f i ne, war m- hear t ed f el l ow. We shal l

soon st ar t f or t he I sl e of Man. I never f el t

i n bet t er heal t h, and qui t e hope t o r each t he

i sl and wi t hout much suf f er i ng. Good be wi t h

you. "

Dani el was mar r i ed on t he 4t h of Sept ember ,

1850, and t r avel l ed wi t h hi s wi f e nor t h by Rugby

t o spend some weeks at t he Cumber l and l akes

and i n vi si t i ng hi s r el at i ves and f r i ends i n Scot l and.

The weat her was ver y f i ne, and al l went wel l ; but

even now, on t he t hr eshol d of hi s new l i f e, t he

shadow i s t her e. On Oct ober 2, he wr i t es t o hi s

br ot her , " t he f act i s, I have had a col d hangi ng

about me ever si nce I came f r om Cambr i dge. Now

and t hen i t has l ef t me ( f or i nst ance when I was

i n Ar r an) , but when I came t o St i r l i ng, Cal l ander ,

&c. , and now i n Edi nbur gh, i t bot her s me a l i t t l e.

To- ni ght I f eel a sl i ght pai n i n t he si de. We have

vi l e east wi nds, and so i t st r i kes me t hat t he best

t hi ng I coul d do woul d be t o go t o such a pl ace as

Tor quay. I f eel sur e I am bound t o t ake t he

pr ecaut i on of goi ng t o some war m pl ace t o get r i d

of al l t he seeds of my t r oubl es. I am t he mor e

1850- 56. ] A YEAR' S RETROSPECT. 191

per suaded t o do so because si nce I came her e I

have been t r oubl ed wi t h sever al t wi t ches of pai n

i n my bones, t he shoul der s and f i nger - j oi nt s. I

qui t e t hi nk a f or t ni ght at Tor quay woul d put al l

t hat t o f l i ght . "

To get r i d of al l t he seeds of my t r oubl es !

Poor f el l ow ! That was never t o be, and except

i n hi s own ver y sangui ne moment s he had ceased

t o expect i t . But f or t he t i me he was r i ght .

The f or t ni ght at Tor quay, i n t he house of hi s

good l andl ady and f r i end Mr s. Mayo, whi ch had

al r eady become a second home t o hi m, sent hi m

back t o Cambr i dge at t he end of hi s mar r i age

t our i n f ai r heal t h and hi gh hopes ; abl e t o t ake

mor e act i ve par t i n t he det ai l s of t he busi ness

t han he had done f or some year s.

I n August , 1851, hi s br ot her mar r i ed, t o whom

he wr i t es f r om Cambr i dge

" CAMBRI DGE, August 13, 1851.

" I wi sh you and your dear wi f e al l j oy. I f eel

sur e you have i t . But you know not hi ng yet of

t he deep bl essedness whi ch mont h af t er mont h of

qui et and const ant i nt er cour se and l ove wi l l gi ve

you. The honeymoon i s not hi ng compar ed wi t h

t he mont hs t hat f ol l ow. I t i s t r ue t hat I have not

Page 114 of 178

yet been mar r i ed a year , and so you may t hi nk I

am no gr eat aut hor i t y. But st i l l el even mont hs'

exper i ence must be of gr eat val ue compar ed

wi t h one day. I am sur e t hat t hi s mont h has

192 A YEAR' S RETROSPECT. [ en. vi .

been a t housand t i mes mor e j oyf ul t han t he f i r st ;

and t hat ever y succeedi ng mont h wi l l wi den and

deepen our qui et gl adness of hear t . So I am sur e

i t wi l l be wi t h you bot h. I t has been no smal l

par t of our pl easur e dur i ng t he l ast si x mont hs t o

see you and Car r y becomi ng mor e and mor e at

home wi t h each ot her ; and i t wi l l gr eat l y i ncr ease

t he del i ght of comi ng year s t o see you gr owi ng i n

l ove and al l ot her vi r t ues whi ch gr ow out of l ove.

That goi ng out f or t he honeymoon i s a most wi se

and usef ul i nvent i on ; i t enabl es you t o be so

const ant l y t oget her , and t o obt ai n a deeper know-

l edge of each ot her : and i t al so hel ps one t o see

and f eel t he pr eci ousness of such i nt i macy as

not hi ng el se coul d. I nt er cour se i n t he pr esence

of ot her s never l eads bel ow t he sur f ace, and i t i s

i n t he ver y dept hs of our bei ng t hat t r ue cal m,

deep and t r ue peace and l ove l i e. Not hi ng so

wel l pr epar es f or t he ser i ous dut i es of af t er - l i f e.

I t i s i n peacef ul f ami l y l i f e t hat you wi l l f i nd r est

f or your hear t s. Not hi ng gr ows upon us l i ke

r est l essness. . The cur e f or i t and al l ot her spi r i t ual

di seases l i es i n qui et l y wor ki ng and wor shi ppi ng

t oget her as man and wi f e. Besi des t hat we have

even st i l l hi gher t asks bef or e us, we have t o t r ai n

up t hose who ar e t o f i ght agai nst t he evi l s of t he

wor l d when we ar e cal l ed away t o meet our f at her s

and mot her s, and br ot her s and si st er s. But t hi s

i s not at al l what I i nt ended t o say when I

st ar t ed. "

1850- 56. ] CHI LDREN. 193

The met hod of per f ect openness of maki ng hi s

wi f e t he shar er of al l hi s t hought s and t he

counsel l or i n al l hi s pl ans, whi ch as we have seen

had been an ef f or t t o hi m at f i r st bor e i t s sur e

f r ui t i n t hei r happy, t hough somewhat anxi ous,

mar r i ed l i f e. Hi s nat ur al vehemence, and i m-

pat i ence, and i ncl i nat i on t o despondency, wer e

soot hed and al l evi at ed. She seems t o hi m t o r ead

al l t he l essons of l i f e much mor e cl ear l y t han he

can. " I shal l do al l i n my power , " he says

pl ayf ul l y, " t o l i ve as l ong as I can near such a

wi f e. " Thei r f i r st boy, Fr eder i ck, was bor n i n 1851,

t he second, Maur i ce, cal l ed af t er hi s godf at her , i n

1853. The chi l dr en br i ng wi t h t hem new home

del i ght s and anxi et i es. A passage or t wo f r om

hi s j our nal f or t hi s and t he f ol l owi ng year s wi l l

i ndi cat e t hese suf f i ci ent l y :

" Thur sday, May 19, 185. 3. I f eel t hat

Page 115 of 178

i t i s no smal l bl essi ng t o have such gi f t s, and

t o have t he del i ght of seei ng t hem gr ow, and

t o wat ch t hei r mi nds openi ng and t hei r hear t s l ay

hol d of goodness and t r ut h. Dear l i t t l e Maur i ce

onl y a mont h ol d t hi s day ! and yet one f eel s t hat

one woul d par t wi t h al l one has or can hope t o

have r at her t han l ose hi m ! And t hen t o have a

qui et home, and qui et eveni ngs wi t h one' s wi f e,

al l t hat one r equi r es, and al l wi t hout gr eat t oi l

and anxi et y. When one l ooks out i nt o t he gar den

t hi s l ovel y spr i ng eveni ng and sees t he sunbeams

o

194 SELF- QUESTI ONI NGS. [ en. vi .

mel l owi ng t he gr een l eaves, and sees t he qui et sky

t hr ough t hem, and f eel s t hat one' s day' s wor k i s

over , and not hi ng i s l ef t but t o t hank God and

r ej oi ce i n Hi s bl essi ngs one f eel s t o bl ush deepl y

at one' s gr umbl i ng.

" However , one quest i on wi l l r i se, Had I any r i ght ,

wi t h my f r agi l e and pr ecar i ous heal t h, t o mar r y

and t ake a wi f e away f r om her comf or t abl e home

t o r un t he r i sk of l eavi ng her so soon a wi dow,

wi t h no di st i nct pr ovi si on? And now t hat t he

t hi ng i s done, i s i t r i ght i n me sel f i shl y t o enj oy

t he pr esent wi t hout t aki ng any t hought f or t he

possi bl e f ut ur e of my wi f e or chi l dr en ? I t hi nk

not . But st i l l , am I not l i kel y t o do mor e damage

t han good, by over - anxi et y ? Woul d i t not be

wi sest , most Chr i st i an, t o wor k zeal ousl y and

t hought f ul l y, and cal ml y t o wai t t he r esul t ? Wel l ,

t hat I wi l l st r i ve t o do. "

" Hast i ngs, Sunday, June 26, 1853. I t r ai ned

ver y much ; we coul d not go t o chur ch ; but had

ser vi ce at home, whi ch per haps i s t he most r eal way

of at t endi ng chur ch. Yet I am al ways gl ad when

t he weat her i s f i ne and I am st r ong enough t o go.

That seems i n many ways t he best . Yet one i s

gl ad t o be abl e t o j oi n i n t he common pr ayer

even at one' s own f i r esi de wi t h t hose who use i t

t hr oughout t he wor l d, and wi t h t hose who ar e

pr ayi ng f or t he same obj ect s i n ot her f or ms.

Fi ni shed my l et t er t o Ar chdeacon Har e. I am

gl ad I wr ot e i t . Sur el y i t does one good t o

1850- 56. ] JOURNAL OF AN I NVALI D. 195

expr ess t hankf ul ness. I t i s r i ght t o do i t at t he

r i ght t i mes i f one al ways knew when t hey ar e,

and i n t he r i ght way i f one knew t hat . At

al l t i mes and i n al l pl aces i t i s meet and r i ght t o

expr ess and deepl y t o f eel t hankf ul ness t o Hi m

who i s t he sour ce of al l l ove and goodness. "

" Hast i ngs, Monday, June 27, 1853. . . . . The

f r esh ai r di d me good. But I al most dai l y f eel

Page 116 of 178

t hat i t i s absur d f or me t o hope f or r ecover y or

t o expect t o l i ve t en or t went y year s. I n a l et t er

I had f r om Geor ge Wi l son he speaks hopef ul l y.

I of t en have gr eat hope mysel f . But t hen comes

sudden weakness, ut t er pr ost r at i on of st r engt h,

pai n i n t he back and chest , di f f i cul t y of br eat hi ng,

and numer ous sympt oms whi ch can har dl y be

named, but whi ch bear har d on t he spi r i t s and t he

heal t h. However , i t i s wel l t o r emember i n

whose hands we al l ar e, and t o cast al l our car e

on Hi m. These qui et wal ks al one gi ve one t i me

t o t hi nk, i f one coul d t ur n al l t hese t hought s i nt o

l i f e and act i on, and r eal l y l i ve t o t he gl or y of

God, whet her we eat or dr i nk or what soever we

do. One cr aves above al l t hi ngs t o be br ave and

gent l e and l ovi ng, and r eal l y t o l i ve a l i f e of Fai t h

a Chr i st i an l i f e. "

" Monday, Jul y 25, 1853. . . . . Our nar r ow

i ncome has not enabl ed us t o pay our way qui t e

as we l i ke. Papa pays our r ent , and we hoped

t hat we shoul d have been abl e t o do t he r est . But

t he debt s gr ew t o 36. and wer e qui t e a bur den

o 2

196 JOURNAL OF AN I NVALI D. [ CH. vi .

on our mi nds. At l ast , mamma was consul t ed

by dear est Fanny, and she spoke t o papa, and

he gave t he 36 t o- day, and Fanny has pai d of f

ever yt hi ng. So we ar e now qui t e cl ear . Thi s i s

most del i ght f ul t o us bot h. To me t he del i ght woul d

have been mor e unmi xed i f our own busi ness had

yi el ded t he means of maki ng us cl ear and f r ee

of debt . But as i t cannot I must be cont ent t o

l i ve on char i t y, and be gl ad and gr at ef ul t hat

t he char i t y comes f r om t hose who l ove us so

dear l y. . . . "

" Sunday, December 13, 1854. Had our ser vi ce

at home, i nst ead of at chur ch. Thi s, on account of

my heal t h, i s st i l l our cust om. Af t er t he eveni ng

ser vi ce we l ooked t hr ough our ol d not e- books,

so as t o r ecal l t he past . Ver y i nt er est i ng and

i nst r uct i ve i t was t o l ook back on al l we coul d

r emember and t hi nk of . Ther e i s so much t o be

most t hankf ul f or . Ther e i s so much t o humbl e

us. My l i f e has been so f ul l of i l l - heal t h, of

anxi et y and car es as f ar back as I can at al l r e-

member . Yet al ong wi t h i t al l most br i ght happy

hour s and t hor ough enj oyment of l i f e wi t h i t s bat t l e.

I t has been f ul l of hi gh hopes of t he r esul t and

goal t o whi ch al l t hi s seemi ng and r eal conf usi on

i s l eadi ng. I have no wi sh t o go over my l i f e

agai n, but on t he whol e am r i ght t hankf ul f or

al l I have seen and exper i enced. . . .

" I f I am per mi t t ed t o r emai n wi t h t hem anot her

year , I hope t hat God, t hr ough t he i nf l uence of

Page 117 of 178

1850- 56. ] JOURNAL OF AN I NVALI D. 197

t he Hol y Ghost , wi l l make us al l mor e l i ke our

Eedeemer . . . . "

" Sunday, Januar y 21, 1855. . . . . We have

been t hi nki ng a gr eat deal t o- day of t he wonder f ul

bl essi ngs whi ch God has sur r ounded us wi t h, and

f eel gr eat l y ashamed of our f ol l y and si n i n not

l i vi ng i n t he r ecol l ect i on of Hi m f r om whom al l

comes. I f we di d how bl essed our l i f e woul d be,

and how l i t t l e anxi et y we shoul d have about our

posi t i on and ci r cumst ances, or even about i l l -

heal t h and weakness ! How much bet t er and mor e

cheer f ul l y we shoul d do our wor k ! How much

mor e ki nd and gent l e we shoul d be I How much

bet t er we shoul d be abl e t o bear di sappoi nt ment ,

unki ndness, mal i ce, and al l unchar i t abl eness ! and

how much mor e ear nest l y we shoul d pr ay t hat our

enemi es shoul d be f or gi ven and t hei r hear t s

changed ! How much mor e zeal ousl y we shoul d

wor k f or t he ut t er dest r uct i on of evi l i n our sel ves

and ot her s ! How much mor e hopef ul l y we shoul d

l ook on al l ef f or t s t o l ead men t o t r ust al one i n t he

one per f ect sacr i f i ce of our Lor d Jesus Chr i st ! I

have been t hi nki ng about my f at her and mot her

and br ot her s and si st er s who have gone bef or e us

i nt o t hei r r est . They had t r oubl es and t r i al s

enough i n t hei r day, but even I , l ooki ng at t hem

wi t h t he wor l d and i t s af f ai r s pr essi ng on me, can

l ook upon t hese as l i ght af f l i ct i ons whi ch wer e but

f or a moment . I t seems, t oo, when by r eadi ng t he

Bi bl e, by j oi ni ng i n t he pr ayer s of t he Chur ch, by

198 ALONE AT TORQUAY. [ CH. vi .

r eadi ng a ser mon, or any book whi ch deal s wi t h

God' s ways t o man, and hel ps me t o see t hi ngs as

t hey r eal l y ar e, t hat I shal l never be anxi ous any

mor e, and never f or get t hat God car es f or us al l

and wat ches over us al l : but go on i n t he r emem-

br ance of t hese t r ut hs wor ki ng manf ul l y as a sol di er

and ser vant of Jesus Chr i st , seeki ng onl y f or Hi s

gl or y, f or Ri ght eousness and Tr ut h, and Mer cy, t o

be godl y mysel f , and i n as f ar as i n me l i es, t o l ead

al l ot her s t o do t he l i ke. O God, hel p us ! "

A sever e at t ack of i l l ness obl i ged hi m t o l eave

hi s f ami l y at Cambr i dge and hast en t o Tor quay i n

t he spr i ng of t he next year . I n t he meant i me hi s

t hi r d chi l d and onl y daught er Kat her i ne had been

bor n, and t he anxi et y on hi s wi f e' s account added

much t o t he or di nar y t r i al of absence.

To HI S WI FE.

" TORQUAY, Apr i l 19, 1855.

" I t ook t he l et t er s t o t he post - of f i ce mysel f

t hi s af t er noon, and, of cour se, I f ol l owed your

advi ce and t ook t hem t o Tor r . Af t er whi ch I

Page 118 of 178

wal ked down by t he t ol l - bar , and up t hr ough

t he l ane by t he mi l l , t i l l I came upon a par t

wher e t her e wer e some t r ees l yi ng cut , ver y dr y,

and whi ch made a ni ce r est i ng- pl ace, and dr eamed

away, baski ng i n t he sun f or a good hour and

a hal f . Then wal ked home t hr ough t he Abbey

1850- 56. } ALONE AT TORQUAY. 199

gr ounds ver y pl easant t hey ar e and how t hank-

f ul one shoul d be f or such del i ght s ! How

beaut i f ul t he sea l ooked f r om under t he el m- t r ees !

I was out near l y f i ve hour s t o- day, and f eel ver y

much bet t er t han I have f el t f or many a day. I

was home about hal f - past f i ve. "

" TORQUAY, Fr i day, Apr i l 20, 1855.

" You ar e my const ant compani on i n my wal ks.

I l i ke t o go over t he ol d gr ound and t hi nk of you.

I am much bet t er t han when we wer e her e t oget her

l ast year my br eat hi ng i s so much easi er , and

my cough l ess t r oubl esome. God bl ess you

al ways. Good ni ght . . . .

" You woul d har dl y bel i eve what a di f f er ence

t he f ew days I have been her e has made. I qui t e

eoj oy t hese wal ks, and come home f r esher t han

when I st ar t . My way of f i f e i s as f ol l ows : The

war m wat er comes at seven. I get up i mme-

di at el y. Get down t o br eakf ast at t en mi nut es

past ei ght . Ki ng ; up comes a sl i ce of bacon, some

t oast , but t er , mi l k, and cof f ee. Out of t hese I

make a br eakf ast . Af t er br eakf ast I wal k. At

el even come i n and t ake a gl ass of bi t t er beer ,

t hen wal k, t hen come home at one f or di nner a

coupl e of chops ( now) , and br ead and bi t t er beer ;

t hen have my l ongest wal k and come home f or

t ea. Af t er t ea l i e down and have a good r est i n

bed don' t obj ect t o sl eep. Then get up and

wr i t e any l et t er s I have and go t o bed.

200 ALONE AT TORQUAY. [ CH. vi .

" Eeal l y I have r eason t o t hank God f or t he i m-

pr ovement si nce t hi s day week. I f i t goes on

l i ke t hi s al l t he summer I may hope f or compl et e

r est or at i on. Oh ! t hat i t mi ght come. "

" TORQUAY, Sunday Ni ght , Apr i l 23, 1855.

" . . . 1 am so much bet t er . Mr s. Tet l ey says

I l ook bet t er t han when I l ef t l ast year . The sun

has done much. My di gest i on i s i n good or der .

I have not f el t anyt hi ng l i ke so wel l f or many a

day. I have, i ndeed, st r onger hopes t han I ever

had si nce my f i r st i l l ness el even year s ago, t hat I

shal l r eal l y get per manent l y wel l . I cer t ai nl y

shal l t r y.

Page 119 of 178

" . . . Af t er t ea t o- ni ght I went t o sl eep f or up-

war ds of t wo hour s. I t does not t he l east l essen or

al t er my ni ght ' s r est . The bei ng out i n t he ai r

al l day makes me sl eepy al l day, but as I do not

al l ow mysel f t i me af t er br eakf ast , or l unch, or

di nner , t he onl y t i me I t ake r est i s af t er t ea, and

of f I go i nt o pr of ound sl eep. I t i s qui t e wonder -

f ul what t he week has done f or me. Bot h Mr s.

Tet l ey and Mr . Spr agge evi dent l y t hought t o- day

t hat I di d not at al l l ook l i ke an i nval i d. Now

on t he way down I cer t ai nl y di d l ook l i ke one.

For i n t he car r i age t o Di dcot t her e wer e t wo

Oxf or d hor se- deal er s who wer e ver y at t ent i ve t o

i ne and evi dent l y concer ned about me. So an ol d

gent l eman who came wi t h me t o Exet er and went

on t he nor t h l i ne t o Bar nst apl e. I gave no hi nt

1850- 56. ] ALONE AT TORQUAY. 201

t o ei t her of t hese peopl e, yet t hey evi dent l y t r eat ed

me wi t h gr eat t ender ness and consi der at i on. But

t o- ni ght , what wi t h t he sun and ai r , I seem t o

have a ki nd of col our and my f ace l ooks f ul l er ;

but of cour se I am not r eal l y much st out er i n one

week. I f or got my oi l ; Mr s. Mayo sent i t up as

usual , but t he gi r l put i t i n a cupboar d and I

di d not see i t . . . .

" I r eal l y t hi nk I must have been mor e t han

hal f asl eep or I shoul d not have wr i t t en you al l

t hi s absur d gossi p. - Ther e i s a wr et ched l i t t l e

gi r l cr yi ng ( about a year ol d) and t hey ar e wal k-

i ng up and down wi t h i t t o get i t t o sl eep,

and af t er a f ew t ur ns up and down and si ngi ng

sof t l y comes a good scol di ng. Poor l i t t l e daugh-

t er of Eve ! her nur ses ar e not over wi se,

and she must suf f er f or i t ! Mor e gossi p wi t h

r ef l ect i ons ! "

" ToKQUAY, May 1, 1855.

" When I t hi nk of you and of your l ove, and

goodness, and wi sdom, and di vi ne per f ect i on, and

of t he happy days and year s we have had, and

how much mor e happy t hey mi ght have been i f

i t had not been f or my weakness and wi l f ul ness ;

when I t hi nk of t he t r easur es God has gi ven

us i n t hese dear chi l dr en, I f eel most t hankf ul

t hat I di d not go t o Aust r al i a i n 1849, even

t hough I mi ght have made 30, 000. i n sheep-

f ar mi ng as some have done even i n a shor t er

202 ALONE At TORQUAY. | ct f . VI .

t i me. I ndeed I f eel t hat I ought t o be t hankf ul

f or al l t he t r oubl es I have had t o go t hr ough. I f

I di d not need t hem t hey woul d scar cel y have

come on me. I seem ver y sl ow of l ear ni ng t he

l esson God means me t o l ear n. Let us hope

t hat wi t h your hel p and ear nest pr ayer , t hat t hi s

Page 120 of 178

l ong r est i n t he summer may be t he means. For

your sake, my dear est , as wel l as f or t he sake

of our dear chi l dr en, I hope i t may. My dear est

and best , do hel p me. You ar e so wi se and

so good. Don' t hesi t at e t o t el l me pl ai nl y of

my f aul t s. . . . "

" TORQUAY, May 8, 1855.

" . . . I al ways t hi nk you ar e t he wi sest per -

son i n t he wor l d. But i f you come t hr ough i n

a day I shal l doubt i t . As cook coul d easi l y see

af t er t he l uggage at Di dcot whi ch need onl y l i e

at t he st at i on f or t he ni ght and as you, wi t h

t hei r hel p, ought t o have no t r oubl e or f at i gue,

I t hi nk t he way I suggest ed woul d be t he best .

Then, wi t h your weak back, and af t er such a

t i me, i t i s a f ear f ul l y l ong j our ney. The mode I

suggest woul d br eak i t i n t wo so ni cel y. The

addi t i onal expense i s so ver y t r i f l i ng. My ease

of mi nd on t he poi nt woul d pay f or i t al l . Then

what coul d we say i f you wer e t o have an i l l ness ?

Pr ay do t hi nk of i t agai n, and t ake my advi ce. I

spoke t o Dr . Tet l ey yest er day af t er noon when he

cal l ed, and he sai d t hat i s t he r i ght way. So says

1850- 56. 1 ALONE AT TORQUAY. 203

Mr s. Mayo. Ther ef or e, do r ecoDsi der i t . But do

make up your mi nd and t el l me by next l et t er ,

so t hat I may ar r ange wi t h t he omni bus man.

But t hat does not mat t er . I t woul d be best t o

come wi t h t he omni bus f r om t he st at i on, and t o

br i ng al l t he l uggage wi t h you. I don' t t he l east

t hi nk I shal l be abl e t o keep away. So i f you

see me don' t be vexed or anxi ous. Keep your

mi nd easy.

" I t has j ust st r uck me t hat I cannot get a

wr i t t en answer f r om you by Thur sday. Thi s wi l l

not r each you t i l l Wednesday af t er noon, and

I cannot have a wr i t t en answer t i l l Fr i day

mor ni ng. So we shal l not know whet her t o

expect you or not .

" I f you qui t e r esol ve t o come t hr ough i n a day

you had bet t er t el egr aph f r om London. That i s,

as soon as you ar e st ar t ed l et your br ot her go t o

t he t el egr aph- of f i ce and send t he i ncl osed message.

I t wi l l r each me about seven, or soon af t er per -

haps bef or e; and we shal l be qui t e pr epar ed f or

you. I f , on t he cont r ar y, you t ake my advi ce aud

st op at Di dcot , you need not t el egr aph. I shal l

l ook f or you by t he quar t er - past f our t r ai n on

Fr i day af t er noon.

" You can har dl y guess what a st at e my hear t

i s i n at t he hope of seei ng you, and especi al l y

when I come t o t hi nk t hat you coul d not answer

my l et t er t i l l I saw you. "

Page 121 of 178

204 AN ANNI VERSARY. [ CH. vi .

To HI S BROTHER.

WRI TTEN ON THE ANNI VERSARY OF HI S WEDDI NG DAT.

" Sept ember 4, 1855.

" . . . . I dar esay you have not f or got t en t hi s

day f i ve year s ago: t hi s i s qui t e as br i l l i ant a

mor ni ng but a good deal cool er . When I see

my wi f e and t he t hr ee chi l dr en i n such f i ne

heal t h and spi r i t s, and t he baby such a sweet l i t t l e

angel , t he boys so vi gor ous and j oyous, I have

ever y r eason t o be gr at ef ul f or t hat day and t hi s

day and al l t he i nt er veni ng ones. As f or my own

heal t h, i t i s gr eat l y bet t er t han i t has been f or

seven or ei ght mont hs. I cough much l ess, but

st i l l I do cough, and br eat he har d, and f i nd i t

i mpossi bl e t o wal k except ver y sl owl y, and have

ever y i ndi cat i on t hat even i f l i f e i s gi ven me her e,

and I am al l owed t o wor k f or my wi f e and chi l -

dr en, and t o hel p i n t hei r educat i on, i t wi l l be a

const ant st r uggl e wi t h di sease and f i ght wi t h

deat h. But i f I can l ovi ngl y bel i eve and pr act i se

t he gr eat t r ut hs whi ch I cl ear l y see and know, I

shal l l ook upon t hat as most l i ght af f l i ct i on, not

t o be compar ed t o t he deep consol at i on whi ch

t he Eedeemer and Pur i f i er pour s i nt o our hear t s.

" I t has been a most l ovel y day, br i ght and cl ear ,

and cool and wi ndy, so t hat one enj oyed t he qui et

shel t er of t he l anes. Fanny and I had a wal k i n

t he ear l y par t of t he day and i t seemed qui t e new

1850- 56. ] AN ANNI VERSARY. 205

t o us. The weat her whi l e hot seemed t o do me

mor e good enj oyi ng mysel f under a t r ee. The

eveni ng i s l ovel y, I never r emember a sweet er ;

much such a ni ght as we had at Rugby f i ve year s

ago, but our envi r onment i s mor e beaut i f ul , we

know so much mor e of each ot her , and t he

exper i ence has not been t hr own away, t hough i t

has not t aught me so much as i t ought . I t r ust

my weakness and bl i ndness wi l l l ead me t o l ean

mor e const ant l y on Hi m who can make us st r ong

and gi ve us l i ght , l ovi ng Hi m and Hi s l aws, and

not t he t hi ngs whi ch ar e seen and per i sh. "

Fr om t hese gl i mpses of hi s home we must now

r et ur n agai n t o t he or di nar y r out i ne of hi s busi ness

l i f e, t aki ng i t up f r om t he t i me of hi s r emoval t o

Cambr i dge i n t he aut umn of 1843.

CHAPTER VI I .

Page 122 of 178

CAMBRI DGE. 1843- 57.

" I x woul d be har d t o f i nd i n any i ndi vi dual

booksel l er so ext ensi ve a knowl edge as Besser

possesses of t he most cel ebr at ed books i n al l

l anguages, t hei r char act er and val ue ; and t her e i s

no one who knows so wel l as he does wher e t o

f i nd and how t o pr ocur e t hem. " So Per t hes t he

gr eat Ger man booksel l er , whose pat r i ot i sm gai ned

hi m t he hi gh honour of bei ng speci al l y except ed

wi t h ni ne ot her s f r om t he amnest y whi ch Napol eon

pr ocl ai med i n 1813 t o t he ci t i zens of Hambur g

speaks of hi s par t ner ; and t he wor ds may wel l be

appl i ed t o Dani el Macmi l l an at t he t i me when he

became hi s own mast er , wi t h t he chance of wor k-

i ng out hi s own i deas. We have al r eady seen

how he gai ned t he chance, and have now t o f ol l ow

hi s car eer under t he new condi t i ons.

Hi s posi t i on was a pecul i ar one, wi t h gr eat

dr awbacks, and consi der abl e advant ages t o count er -

bal ance t hem. Amongst t he f or mer , next t o hi s

1843- 57. ] POSI TI ON AT CAMBRI DGE. 207

bad heal t h, whi ch af t er t he f i r st year of i nt ense

wor k and anxi et y necessi t at ed l ong absences f r om

Cambr i dge, came t he want of capi t al . As we

have seen, t he 750 on whi ch he and hi s br ot her

st ar t ed was al l bor r owed, and soon pr oved t oo

l i t t l e f or t he busi ness. The mor e r api dl y t hei r

t r ade gr ew, and i t gr ew r api dl y f r om t he f i r st ,

t he mor e t hi s di f f i cul t y pr essed upon t hem. A

Uni ver si t y t own, t hough i n ot her r espect s an

admi r abl e f i el d f or a booksel l er of hi s cal i br e, i s

or at any r at e was i n t hose days heavi l y wei ght ed

f or men wi t hout command of capi t al , by t he

syst em of l ong cr edi t s. The Ar chdeacon had

war ned t hem of t hi s di f f i cul t y, and t he ef f or t s of

t he new f i r m t o r ef or m t he syst em, and t o cul t i -

vat e t he habi t amongst t hei r cust omer s of payi ng

bi l l s wi t hi n t he year , wer e a const ant sour ce of

smal l t r oubl es t o t hem. As t hey t ook no l ong

cr edi t s t hemsel ves, t he st r ai n f r om t he f i r st was

sever e, t hough by gr eat car e and economy t hey

managed t o keep out of debt , and make bot h

ends meet .

On t he ot her hand, as a set of f agai nst bad

heal t h and i nsuf f i ci ent capi t al , hi s f r i endshi p wi t h

Ar chdeacon Har e gave t he f i r m at once a posi t i on

wi t h t he l eadi ng men i n t he uni ver si t y, whi ch hi s

own t act , knowl edge, and abi l i t y enabl ed hi m

r api dl y t o i mpr ove. Out si de t he uni ver si t y t oo

t he Ar chdeacon' s connect i on st ood hi m i n good

st ead, and he was soon i n r el at i ons mor e or l ess

208 POSI TI ON AT CAMBRI DGE. [ CH. vn.

i nt i mat e wi t h F. D. Maur i ce, A. P. St anl ey, t he

Page 123 of 178

pr esent Ar chbi shop of Dubl i n t hen Mr . Tr ench,

Bi shop Col enso, Char l es Ki ngsl ey, and ot her s of

t he l i ber al school of Chur chmen and soci al r e-

f or mer s. The t i me t oo was si ngul ar l y f or t unat e

f or a man of hi s pecul i ar exper i ence and wi de

sympat hi es t o st ar t as a booksel l er i n a Uni -

ver si t y t own. Engl and has sel dom been i n a

mor e el ect r i c st at e, i nt el l ect ual l y and mor al l y.

The Ant i - Cor n Law agi t at i on was st i r r i ng t he

nat i on t o i t s dept hs, and t he t r i umph of t he

mi ddl e cl ass al l but assur ed. Behi nd and beneat h

i t , t he gr eat movement of t he wor ki ng- cl ass was

al r eady maki ng i t sel f f el t , i n Char t i sm, and hal f -

bl i nd at t empt s at associ at i on i n one and anot her

di r ect i on. The t hought s whi ch had been t r oubl i ng

hi m f or so l ong, and whi ch he had pour ed out

i n hi s l et t er s t o t he Ar chdeacon, wer e f er ment i ng

i n t he mi nds of al l t he best men who wer e gr owi ng

i nt o manhood. And her e at Cambr i dge he had

hi s hand as i t wer e on t he pul se of t he r eadi ng

publ i c, ever y sect i on of whi ch, f r om t he buyer s

of j est books t o t he r i pest schol ar s i n sear ch of t he

l ast Ger man t r eat i se, was r epr esent ed i n t he t hr ongs

who soon began t o f r equent t he Tr i ni t y St r eet shop,

I t was i n Cambr i dge, t wel ve year s bef or e, t hat

he had f or med hi s hi gh i deal of what a book-

sel l er ' s cal l i ng shoul d be, and t o Cambr i dge he

had now r et ur ned t o t est how f ar t hat ear l y dr eam

of a hi sh vocat i on coul d be r eal i sed.

1843- 57. ] THE LETTERS OF AN I NVALI D. 209

I i i t he aut umn of 1843, t hen, we f i nd hi m i n-

st al l ed i n Tr i ni t y St r eet i n t i me t o be r eady f or

t he gat her i ng of t he Uni ver si t y f or Mi chael mas

t er m. He was al one at f i r st , f or hi s br ot her coul d

not be spar ed f r om Al der sgat e St r eet . I n t he

pr ess of wor k, of hand as wel l as head, he had

l i t t l e t i me f or cor r espondence, but managed t o

keep up t hat wi t h Mr . Maur i ce, t o whom he had

been i nt r oduced i n t he spr i ng by Ar chdeacon Har e.

He had sent some MS. l et t er s f or Mr . Maur i ce' s

per usal , and had r ecei ved hi s comment s on t hem ;

t o whi ch he r epl i es :

To t he EEV. F. D. MAURI CE.

" CAMBRI DGE, Sept ember , 1813.

" I was most gl ad t o see your ver y ki nd

l et t er . I f el t af r ai d l est t he meani ng of t he

' l et t er s of an i nval i d ' shoul d be mi sunder st ood :

and was ver y gl ad t o f i nd t hat you saw t hem

i n t he r i ght l i ght . I was anxi ous t hat you, and

some f ew of your f r i ends, shoul d see t he sor t

of appear ance t hat t he spi r i t ual condi t i on of

our count r y pr esent s t o young Scot chmen. The

st r ong l anguage wi t h r egar d t o t he Cl er gy does

not r epr esent my pr esent f eel i ngs : but I wi shed

t o r emember di st i nct l y what I have f el t : what

many of my f r i ends have f el t : what many young

men now f eel .

Page 124 of 178

" Wi t h r egar d t o publ i shi ng t hem, I shoul d-

210 OBJECTI ONS TO PUBLI SHI NG. [ en. vn.

al t oget her obj ect t o i t , not because i t woul d be

any br each, of conf i dence f or none of t he per sons

ment i oned coul d det ect t hemsel ves i n so al t er ed

a gui se, t he f act s ar e f act s ; a f ew ci r cumst ances

ar e al t er ed : t he names of per sons and t owns

woul d r equi r e t o be l ef t out but because I

honest l y bel i eve t hat wr i t i ng f or t he publ i c i s not

my wor k at al l . For many year s I must be

si l ent and l ear n. I am ever y day f eel i ng t hat

t he wi sest and heal t hi est pl an f or me i s t o pl ace

my f i nger s on my l i ps.

" Thi s may seem t o cont r adi ct my own conduct .

I know I don' t al ways act accor di ng t o my

convi ct i ons, and t al k t oo much.

" But wi t h r egar d t o t hese l et t er s, unl ess t hey

went excl usi vel y i nt o t he hands of ' t he upper

cl asses who f eel a deep i nt er est i n t he condi t i on of

Engl and, or i nt o t he hands of t he Cl er gy, t hey

coul d do no good.

" I know t hat your wr i t i ngs ar e of t en mi sunder -

st ood and mi sr epr esent ed. I f eel sur e, however ,

t hat t hey poi nt i n t he r i ght di r ect i on, and wi l l

do good t o many who at pr esent ar e onl y

i r r i t at ed by what i s so st r ange t o t hem. I

t hi nk you have no r eason t o bl ame your sel f ,

and much r eason t o hope. I know no books

mor e l i kel y t o meet t he want s of t he young men

of our t i me.

" For one t hi ng I f eel qui t e sur e t hat sudden

conver si ons ar e not good t hi ngs. Those syst ems

1843- 57. ] RELATI ONS WI TH UNDERGRADUATES. 211

whi ch ar e nar r owest and shal l owest ( of t he

Mor i son' s pi l l ki nd) make t he most r api d

pr ogr ess, wher eas what woul d l ead men beyond

al l syst ems, or t o r ecogni se an el ement of good

i n syst ems t hey have f r om chi l dhood f ound com-

f or t i n abusi ng, i s not so l i kel y t o be r eadi l y

r ecei ved. "

To est abl i sh good r el at i ons wi t h t he under -

gr aduat es, and especi al l y wi t h t he st udi ous por t i on

of t hem, was one of t he f i r st mat t er s whi ch

occupi ed t he at t ent i on of hi msel f and hi s br ot her .

As t o t hi s par t of t hei r wor k, one of t he ear l i est

of t hei r cust omer s wr i t es :

" When t he Macmi l l ans f i r st est abl i shed t hei r

Page 125 of 178

shop i n t he hear t of t he Uni ver si t y, on a wel l -

chosen si t e opposi t e t he gat es of t he Senat e House,

we under gr aduat es f el t t hat wi t h men har dl y ol der

t han our sel ves t her e was opened t o us a new

spher e of i nt er est . They wer e t he f i r st booksel l er s

whom I . f or my own par t , hud ever known t o

t ake an ent husi ast i c i nt er est i n t hei r busi ness and

t o have a l i t er ar y i nsi ght bel ow t he bi ndi ng of

t hei r books. . . . Dani el was a man, l i ke hi s

Semi t i c namesake, i n whom ' was f ound an excel -

l ent spi r i t , ' t al l , but wi t h a f r ame al r eady some-

what wast ed; pal e f ace, aqui l i ne nose, a l ar ge

mout h wi t h f ul l l i ps, dar k l ust r ous eyes wi t h l ong

l ashes. He l ooked l i ke one whom God l oved, I

p 2

212 RELATI ONS " WI TH UNDERGRADUATES, [ ci r . vn.

mean one who mi ght pass away f r om us whi l e yet

young.

" He was f ond of t al ki ng, especi al l y on books,

and soon gr oups of men woul d gat her r ound hi m

i n t he shop and l i st en t o cr i t i ci sms f ul l of humour

and knowl edge on books and aut hor s. I t was he

who f i r st t ol d us of a young wr i t er ' who l ooked

l i ke a l i on, ' showi ng us Ki ngsl ey' s Vi l l age Ser mons

and t he Sai nt ' s Tr agedy, and i nt r oduced many of

us t o Har e' s Vi ct or y of Fai t h, and Guesses at

Tr ut h, and t o Tr ench' s poems and ot her wor ks,

and t o Col er i dge' s Ai ds t o Ref l ect i on. Ther e was a

l i t t l e snugger y at t he t op of t he house, i n whi ch

i n t he eveni ngs many of us f i r st l ear nt t o appr e-

ci at e l i t t l e- known Scot ch songs and bal l ads, such

as t hose of Mot her wel l and Al ex. Kodger s. He

gave me a l i t t l e f at r ed vol ume of t hem, bear i ng

t he char act er i st i c t i t l e of Whi st l e Bi nki e"

The conf i dence of under gr aduat e r eader s and

pur chaser s of books gr ew r api dl y, as t hey r ecog-

ni zed t hat her e was a man who showed not onl y

i nsi ght but consci ent i ousness i n hi s deal i ngs

wi t h t hem. One such I r emember br i ngi ng an

admi r abl y sel ect ed l i br ar y t o hi s r ooms i n Li ncol n' s

I nn, whi ch he had col l ect ed at Cambr i dge. He

had had a gr eat f ancy f or good bi ndi ng, and used

t o r el at e how, when he f i r st began t o col l ect , he

had f i xed hi s af f ect i ons on t he ei ght vol ume edi t i on

of Mi t f or d' s Gr eece, beaut i f ul l y bound, whi ch he

1843- 57. ] RELATI ONS WI TH UNDERGRADUATES. 213

di scover ed on t he shel ves i n Tr i ni t y St r eet . The

pr i ce, havi ng r egar d t o t he cost of such bi ndi ng,

he knew t o be exceedi ngl y moder at e. He had

accor di ngl y or der ed t he books t o be sent t o

hi s r ooms, but on ment i oni ng t he pur chase t o

Dani el , and admi t t i ng t hat i t was t he bi ndi ng

whi ch had deci ded hi m, he was advi sed t hat t he

Page 126 of 178

cont ent s r at her t han t he backs of books was t he

poi nt t o be st udi ed ; and t hat as he want ed t he

best hi st or y of Gr eece t hi s woul d not be hi s

pr oper i nvest ment . He exchanged i t , af t er f ur t her

t al k, f or t he edi t i on of Thi r l wal l i n cl ot h, became

a st eady cust omer , and al ways at t r i but ed t he

absence of r ubbi sh on hi s shel ves t o t he good

advi ce whi ch he got on t hi s and subsequent

occasi ons.

One ot her t est i mony may be added. " When I

began t o r esi de as a f r eshman, " wr i t es Pr of essor

Hor t , " hi s f i r st st age of Cambr i dge l i f e was over , as

he had j ust passed f r om t he smal l shop opened at

f i r st t o t he l ar ge and conspi cuous pl ace whi ch has

bor ne t he name ever si nce. My t ut or put down hi s

name f or me by way of r ecommendat i on, but wi t h-

out comment . He was i n t he habi t , I hear d l ong

af t er war ds, of doi ng t hi s wi t h pupi l s supposed

t o be booki sh. I do not i n t he l east r emember

how I f i r st got i nt o conver sat i on wi t h hi m, but

i t must have been ver y soon, bef or e t he end of

my f i r st t er m. I was r eadi ng away at Maur i ce,

of whom I had hear d f r om John El l er t on, t he

214 DELATI ONS WI TH GRADUATES [ OH. vn.

pr esent Rect or of Bar nes, and t hi s as a mat t er

of cour se l ed t o f r equent conver sat i ons as t i me

went on. The Cambr i dge habi t of st andi ng and

t ur ni ng over books made i t easy f or hi m t o begi n,

t al ki ng t o men, and he used t he oppor t uni t y

f r eel y, wi t h books f or a st ar t i ng poi nt . Hi s t al k

was at once so i nt er est i ng and so hi gh i n t one

t hat i t coul d not f ai l t o do good, but I know

l i t t l e of i t s act ual ef f ect . Nat ur al l y per haps, i t

di d not al ways f i nd f avour . " The f r i endshi p t hus

f or med bet ween t he Scot ch booksel l er and t he

pr esent Hul seai i Pr of essor , l ast ed unt i l t he deat h

of t he f or mer , as was t he case wi t h many ot her

of t he best Cambr i dge men of t hat gener at i on

wi t h whom he became acquai nt ed i n t hei r ear l y

year s.

As t o Dani el Macmi l l an' s per sonal r el at i ons

wi t h t he el der men, I may quot e t he wor ds of

t he di st i ngui shed headmast er of Uppi ngham, who

wr i t es :

" Few men have l ef t wi t h me a mor e abi di ng

memor y of di st i nct per sonal i t y t han he has.

I can see hi m now wi t h hi s t hought f ul f ace,

and a cer t ai n at t r act i ve gent l e power , as he st ood

and had a f ew wor ds, now wi t h one, now wi t h

anot her , as t hey came i n. I do not know how

i t was t hat he and I f i r st came i n cont act , but ver y

soon, i f I chanced t o l ook i n, he used t o come

f or war d and have a qui et t al k wi t h me, gener al l y

Page 127 of 178

1843- 57. ] CONGRATULATI ONS FROM G. WI LSON. 215

I t hi nk on some ment al or soci al quest i on r at her

t han on books ; or i f on books, di scussi ng t opi cs of

l i f e whi ch wer e suggest ed by t hem. He st ands

out i n my memor y per haps t he most di st i nct per -

sonal i t y of my ear l y manhood, an embodi ment

of gent l e, t hought f ul power , whi ch at t r act ed me

exceedi ngl y, and l i ves wi t h me st i l l , t hough I do

not r ecol l ect wi t h cer t ai nt y any of our conver sa-

t i ons. I have no doubt , i ndeed I am sur e, t hat

hi s wor ds wer e at t he t i me i nt er est i ng ; but I now

f eel t hat i t was t he man, not what he sai d, t hat

t ook such hol d on me, and i t i s as a l i vi ng pr e-

sence, not as a speaker of wor ds, t hat he abi des

wi t h me st i l l . "

Congr at ul at i ons and encour agement came i n

f r om many f r i ends i n t hese f i r st mont hs, f r om

G. Wi l son amongst t he f or emost . He i s as usual

suf f er i ng sadl y hi msel f , and wr i t es, on hear i ng of

t he at t ack of haemor r hage f r om t he l ungs whi ch

had pr ost r at ed hi s f r i end, a l et t er f ul l of ki ndl y

and hopef ul wi sdom.

" I have been pr eachi ng t o mysel f , " he ends, " al l

t hi s whi l e, and t hi nki ng t hr ough my pen. I have

sai d not hi ng t hat you do not know. I t woul d be a

sad t hi ng f or us i f we had t o i ndul ge i n novel t i es.

But I know how t hankf ul I am t o get a hi nt

f r om a r el i gi ous f r i end, t hough he shoul d but

r epeat a ver se - I had been r eadi ng t he moment

216 REPLY TO CONGRATULATI ONS. [ en. vn.

bef or e. To me t he pr ayer of t he humbl est

Chr i st i an, however def ect i ve he may be i n ot her

gi f t s and gr aces, t han t hose whi ch God gr ant s t o

t he weakest br et hr en, i s al ways comf or t i ng and

r ef r eshi ng : and i t br i ngs you and me cl oser t han

r ai l ways coul d i f we can r ej oi ce t oget her , as havi ng

' one f ai t h, one Lor d, one bapt i sm. ' . . .

" And now I wi l l t r oubl e you no f ur t her . Your

namesake, t he pr ophet , was i n a den of l i ons, and

God shut t hei r mout hs. Your s i s a t r i al of an

opposi t e ki nd, f or t he den and t he l i ons ar e i n

you. Thei r mout hs can be shut by God al so, and

I pr ay t hat t hey may. I never can cease admi r -

i ng t hat beaut i f ul r equest of t he Pr ayer - book, ' a

happy i ssue out of al l t hei r af f l i ct i on. ' I t i s so

humbl e, so undi ct at i ng t o God, so moder at e, yet

so ampl e. God gi ve t hat t o us bot h. Amen, i n

Hi s way and t i me, i n t hi s wor l d and i n t he next .

" To be wel l enough t o wor k, i s t he wi sh of my

nat ur al hear t ; but i f t hat may not be, I know

t hat ' t hey al so ser ve who onl y st and and wai t . '

God wi l l not r equi r e heal t hy men' s l abour f r om

Page 128 of 178

you or me ; and i f we ar e poor i n power and oppor -

t uni t y t o ser ve Hi m, our wi dow' s mi t e wi l l wei gh

agai nst t he gol d i ngot s of Hi s chosen apost l es. . . . "

To whi ch Dani el r epl i es :

" 17, TJUNI TY STEEET, Apr i l 10, 1844.

" I t hank you most hear t i l y f or your ki nd not e,

whi ch was t he mor e gr at ef ul t o. me because i t

1843- 57. ] REPLY TO CONGRATULATI ONS. 217

showed me t hat you f i nd your consol at i on wher e

my hear t f eel s and has l ong f el t i t i s onl y t o be

f ound i n Hi m by whom we ar e r econci l ed t o

God and uni t ed t o each ot her . I of t en f eel most

t hankf ul f or my l ong and f r equent i l l nesses; j ust

because by t hem, mor e t han anyt hi ng el se, I have

been abl e t o see t he nobl eness, t he t ender ness, t he

goodness of t he human hear t ; t he power of t he

Gospel t o unf ol d what i s deepest , t r uest , most

godl i ke ; and del i ver us f r om what i s mean, t r i vi al ,

f al se ; because i t does mor e t han al l ot her t hi ngs

t o i ncr ease my deep and f i r m convi ct i on t hat t her e

i s no ot her hope of uni on, r econci l i at i on, br ot her -

hood among men but i n Hi m who i s t he gr eat

per sonal cent r e : by whi ch men may be r ai sed out

of t hei r own meanness, sel f i shness, and r econci l ed

t o God and uni t ed t o each ot her i n t he onl y t r ue

and l i vi ng br ot her hood a t r ue and uni ver sal

br ot her hood, because i t embr aces al i ke r i ch and

poor , l ear ned and i gnor ant , bond and f r ee. Your

l et t er was most gr at ef ul t o me. That r i ght hand

of sympat hy whi ch you so af f ect i onat el y hel d out

was mor e hi ghl y val ued t han I can easi l y t el l

you. "

Al r eady bef or e t he end of t he f i r st year t he

possi bi l i t i es of t he publ i shi ng busi ness ar e i n hi s

mi nd, and he i s maki ng some caut i ous exper i -

ment s i n t hi s di r ect i on. The most i mpor t ant i s

al l uded t o i n t he f ol l owi ng l et t er :

218 MAURI CE' S BOOKS. [ en. vn.

To t he KEY. D. WATT.

" 17, TRI NI TY STUEET, CAMBRI DGE, August 13, 1844.

" Sur el y af t er r eadi ng Mr . Maur i ce' s Look you

cannot f ancy t hat he has any nar r owness, sect ,

or par t y- spi r i t . That i s t he ver y t hi ng he f eel s

cal l ed t o war agai nst t he t hi ng he f eel s t o be

t l i e evi l and cur se of our t i me ; and t he bol d

ut t er ance of t hi s t r ut h has br ought on hi m t he

abuse of al l Sect ar i ans, or par t y- men, i n and out

of t he Chur ch. You r eal l y must consi der hi s

book a l i t t l e l onger , so t hat you may see and

Page 129 of 178

sympat hi se wi t h hi s spi r i t

" Do you know anyt hi ng of Wi l l i am Law' s

wr i t i ngs, t he aut hor of t he Ser i ous Cal l ? He

wr ot e an answer t o Mandevi l l e' s Fabl e of t he Bees.

John St er l i ng, who i s j ust dyi ng, l at el y met wi t h

i t , and was so much st r uck wi t h i t , as gi vi ng hi nt s

t owar ds a t r uer , deeper syst em of mor al phi l o-

sophy t han any ext ant , t hat he wi shes i t r epr i nt ed,

and wi shes Mr . Maur i ce t o wr i t e an i nt r oduct i on

t o i t . I t i s now at pr ess, and we ar e t o publ i sh i t .

I t wi l l onl y make a smal l vol ume. Law' s t r eat i se

i s ver y cl ever ( Mr . Maur i ce t hi nks r at her t oo

cl ever ] , and shows up t he i l l ogi cal and pr of ane

absur di t i es of Mandevi l l e most t r i umphant l y.

But t he best par t i s t hat wher e he advances posi -

t i ve t r ut h i n a sol emn manner . I don' t know

what sor t of t hi ng Mr . Maur i ce' s I nt r oduct i on

1843- 57. ] ARNOLD' S " LI FE" PROGRESS. 219

wi l l be, f or I have not seen i t yet . I have no doubt

of i t s bei ng good. I hope t o have t he whol e

t hi ng i n pr i nt i n about a f or t ni ght or t hr ee

weeks.

" Have you seen Dr . Ar nol d' s Li f e, ? I am sur e

you woul d be ver y much i nt er est ed i n i t . They

ought t o have i t i n t he I r vi ne Li br ar y. I t consi st s

chi ef l y of l et t er s t o t he most di st i ngui shed men i n

Engl and t o Car l yl e among ot her s. Tr y t o get i t

vot ed i n i f you can, or use your i nf l uence t o

get some one el se t o vot e f or i t . I have never

seen a book t hat pl eased me bet t er . "

John St er l i ng had pr ovi ded t he f unds f or t hi s

publ i cat i on of Law' s answer t o Mandevi l l e. On

t he whol e, however , f or t he pr esent at any r at e,

publ i shi ng seems t o D. Macmi l l an t oo specul a-

t i ve. Thei r ai m shoul d be r at her t o t hr ow al l

t hei r st r engt h i nt o t he booksel l i ng, especi al l y

t he " ol d book t r ade, " t he onl y cer t ai n means of

br i ngi ng f i r st - r at e men t o t he shop.

By t he end of t he f i r st year sat i sf act or y pr ogr ess

had been made. The val ue of t he st ock had

doubl ed si nce t hei r st ar t , but t he smal l ness of t hei r

capi t al kept t he br ot her s i n const ant anxi et y.

" Ther e i s gr eat need of a st out hear t , " he

wr i t es i n Febr uar y, 1845, t o G- . Wi l son, " t o al l who

begi n l i f e wi t hout money. A sor e f i ght i t i s, t r ul y ;

and not al ways a ver y nobl e one. "

220 PROGRESS I N FI RST YEARS. [ en. vn.

Page 130 of 178

And agai n a l i t t l e l at er :

" . . . I f i t wer e not t he bel i ef t hat i n many

ways I can her e be a wi t ness f or Tr ut h, I shoul d

not f or a day bear t he f at i gue of body and mi nd

whi ch t he car es of t hi s busi ness i nvol ves. I

of t en f eel sur e t hat my l i f e cannot be a l ong one :

and am most anxi ous t hat i t shoul d not be a

wor l dl y one : t hat I shoul d f eel t hat my dai l y Task -

wor k i s nobl e and hol y and spi r i t ual because of

Hi s appoi nt ment whose we ar e and whom we

ser ve. . . . "

At t he end of t he second year , i n t he aut umn of

1845, an event occur r ed whi ch, whi l e i t doubl ed

t hei r r et ai l busi ness, made i t necessar y f or t hem t o

l ook abr oad f or hel p, and br ought i nt o t he f i r m a suc -

cessi on of par t ner s wi t h money, but wi t h no know-

l edge of booksel l i ng, whose pr esence pr oved a sor e

t r i al t o t he vehement and sensi t i ve seni or par t ner .

For t he condi t i ons of t he new par t ner shi p wer e

t hat t he pr of i t s shoul d be di vi ded i nt o equal t hi r ds,

but t hat i n t he event of t he deat h of ei t her of t he

wor ki ng par t ner s hi s i nt er est shoul d cease, and

so pass t o t he sur vi vor s. Thi s ar r angement l ast ed

t i l l wi t hi n a f ew mont hs of Dani el Macmi l l an' s

deat h. At f i r st i t di d not t r oubl e hi m ser i ousl y >

but f r om t he dat e of hi s mar r i age i n 1850 was

t he sour ce of const ant anxi et y t o hi m, and was,

t o use hi s own st r ong expr essi on, " l i ke a car r i on

1843- 57. J EXTENSI ON OF BUSI NESS. 221

cr ow gnawi ng at hi s hear t . " The new money was

r equi r ed f or t he pur chase of t he busi ness of Mr .

St evenson, t he abl est of t he ol der Cambr i dge

booksel l er s. Fai l i ng heal t h i nduced hi m t o sel l ,

and he made t he f i r st of f er t o t he br ot her s. The

r i sk was gr eat , as t he val uat i on came t o upwar ds

of 6000J. , but af t er mat ur e consi der at i on was ac -

cept ed, and, t hough embar r assi ng f r om t he necessi t y

of t aki ng i n st r ange par t ner s, gave t he oppor -

t uni t y f or devel opi ng t he publ i shi ng busi ness,

whi ch was now becomi ng t he mai n obj ect wi t h

Dani el Macmi l l an. Two year s' exper i ence had

modi f i ed hi s vi ews and gi ven hi m conf i dence.

Si nce hi s i l l ness i n t he spr i ng of 1844 he had

been abl e t o t ake a l ess act i ve shar e i n t he wor k

of t he shop, and had come t o f eel mor e and mor e

t hat t he chance of gr owt h f or t hei r busi ness l ay

i n t he di r ect i on of publ i shi ng, whi l e i t was t he

met hod i n whi ch he coul d best hel p. I t seemed i n-

deed t o hi m a pr ovi dent i al out l et f or hi s wor k. The

advant ages whi ch t hei r posi t i on at t he hear t of a

gr eat l i t er ar y cent r e gave t hem had become mor e and

mor e appar ent t o hi m. Her e was a mi ne, hi t her t o

al most un wor ked, of t he best book- pr oduci ng power

of t he nat i on, especi al l y f or educat i onal wor ks.

Ther e was a gr eat want of t hese, and i n ever y

gener at i on of under gr aduat es wer e men speci al l y

f i t t ed f or wr i t i ng or edi t i ng t hem. Fr om t hi s t i me

Page 131 of 178

he t ur ned t o publ i shi ng wi t h hi s accust omed ener gy

and caut i on. Even dur i ng hi s l engt hened absences

222 THE NEW CATALOGUE. [ en. vn.

f i oi n Cambr i dge he was abl e t o super vi se and

di r ect i t wi t hout l osi ng si ght of t he r et ai l busi ness,

ever y det ai l of whi ch was known t o hi m t hr ough

t he dai l y r epor t s of hi s br ot her . The per f ect

accor d bet ween t hem was never br oken f or a day.

The st ock t aken over f r om Mr . St evenson was

ver y ext ensi ve, and new cat al ogues had t o be

pr epar ed.

To G. WI LSON.

" CAMBRI DGE, Sept ember 14, 1846.

" . . I t i s most f ear f ul t o wor k whi l e one i s

suf f er i ng f r om pai n and weakness as I know, as

you know f ar bet t er .

" We ar e busy f i ni shi ng our Theol ogi cal Cat al ogue

a wor k of 250 oct avo pages, and pr epar i ng a

cat al ogue of gener al l i t er at ur e, whi ch we f ear wi l l

be a wor k of t he same si ze. We shal l send you

each of t hese when r eady. The l at t er wi l l not be

r eady f or a mont h or t wo. We ar e al so busy

get t i ng t hi ngs i n r eadi ness f or t he wi nt er ' s wor k,

dust i ng and ar r angi ng ; but t hese t hi ngs apar t , we

have no ot her busi ness, f or t her e i s not a man i n

t he uni ver si t y now. I f we had not t hese pr epar a-

t i ons t o make not hi ng coul d be dul l er . . . . "

Thi s aut umn was, however , enl i vened by t he

cor r espondence al r eady r ef er r ed t o i n t he Har e

cor r espondence, as t o Si r Wi l l i am Hami l t on and

t he accur acy of hi s knowl edge of t he t heol ogy of

1843- 57. ] THE SCOTCH UNI VERSI TI ES. 223

t he Ger man Ref or mat i on, and especi al l y of Lut her ' s

wor ks. I n i t t he quest i on of t he compar at i ve

mer i t s of t he Scot ch and Engl i sh uni ver si t i es had

been i nci dent al l y r ai sed, upon whi ch Dani el

Macmi l l an unpat r i ot i cal l y wr i t es :

To G. WI LSON.

" Apr i l 6, 1847.

" . . . The not i on whi ch Cambr i dge men have

about t he Scot ch uni ver si t i es i s t hat t hey know

ver y l i t t l e about mat hemat i cs not so much as i n

t hei r best school s ; and about cl assi cs t hey t hi nk

t hat i t woul d be an i nsul t t o t he best school s t o

compar e t he t wo. They al so t hi nk t hat Scot ch-

men ar e never ver y accur at e i n any of t hei r l i t er -

ar y or sci ent i f i c ef f or t s, and poi nt t r i umphant l y

and scof f i ngl y t o t he men of gr eat est r eput e i n

Page 132 of 178

Scot l and. . . "

The pr ospect s of t he busi ness and t he r el at i ons

whi ch t he f i r m, wer e by degr ees est abl i shi ng wi t h

t he best wr i t er s and edi t or s amongst Cambr i dge

men wer e of t he most encour agi ng char act er , as

may be gat her ed f r om t he f ol l owi ng :

To G. WI LSON.

" CAMBRI DGE, August 14, 1847.

" . . . We have some hopes of a f i r st r at e edi t i on

of Bacon' s wor ks bei ng publ i shed bef or e l ong,

whi ch wi l l cont ai n sever al i mpor t ant t hi ngs hi t her t o

224 NEW PUBLI CATI ONS. [ CH. vn.

unpubl i shed. I t i s t o be edi t ed by a Mr . Speddi ng

and Mr . Rober t Lesl i e El l i s, bot h of Tr i ni t y

Col l ege. The f or mer has been wor ki ng on Bacon' s

l i f e and wor ks f or ei ght year s, and gave up an

i mpor t ant posi t i on i n t he Col oni al Of f i ce so t hat

he mi ght devot e hi msel f t o i t . I f i t goes on you

wi l l see i t adver t i sed bef or e l ong. " We ar e t o have

a shar e i n i t . You have of cour se seen t he ad-

ver t i sement s of a new edi t i on of Jer emy Tayl or

whi ch i s comi ng out i n vol umes. I t i s bei ng

edi t ed wi t h gr eat car e by a man of i mmense l ear n-

i ng, who i s ver y f ond of l abour , f or he has under -

t aken t o ver i f y al l t he r ef er ences ; and i n t he

vol ume al r eady publ i shed has done so, and i n a

way, schol ar s t el l me, t hat onl y a man of al most

i mmeasur abl e r eadi ng coul d do i t . We have a

shar e i n t hi s book, and 112 subscr i ber s, and t he

mer i t of get t i ng i t wel l edi t ed. "

Tr ench' s Hul sean Lect ur es was per haps t he most

not ewor t hy of t he Cambr i dge books publ i shed by

t he f i r m i n t hi s year , but t hei r posi t i on and r eput e

wer e const ant l y i mpr ovi ng. G- . Wi l son hear s of

i t i n Edi nbur gh, and ment i ons t he good r epor t ; t o

whi ch Dani el r epl i es :

" The Cai us men you saw who spoke of our

' bi bl i opdi c gr eat ness ' onl y see t he out si de of

t hi ngs. The f act i s t hat t hi s new t hi ng has

i nvol ved so much wor r y and anxi et y t hat I have

1843- 57. ] AI R. MAURI CE' S I NFLUENCE. 225

of t en wi shed mysel f back i nt o my ol d pl ace i n

Fl eet St r eet . But i t i s no good wi shi ng. Her e

we ar e, and must make t he best of i t . But i t

i s ver y f ar f r om easy. St i l l t her e i s a gr eat deal

t hat i s cheer i ng. One f eel s t hat we sel l many

good books t hat woul d not ot her wi se be sol d ; and

t hat one can do somet hi ng, l et i t be ever so l i t t l e,

i n f or mi ng and i mpr ovi ng t he t ast e of t he r i si ng

Page 133 of 178

gener at i on. And by and by even t he f i nanci al

mat t er s wi l l go easi er , and we shal l be much mor e

comf or t abl e ; so we shal l onl y have t o bear t he

yoke i n our yout h.

" We have st ar t ed a bi ndi ng shop, and have

seven men, t wo women, and t wo boys at wor k.

Al l of t he men ar e f i r st - r at e wor kmen. The best

f i ni sher ( a Scot chman) we pay 21. 6s. a week f or

t en hour s a day; t he next 21. a week; and t he

ot her men 32s. , 34s. , and 36s. ; and t he women

12s. a week. So when you come you wi l l see

bet t er bi ndi ng t han you ever saw bef or e, and a

f i ner and bet t er managed bookshop, and we sha' n' t

t r oubl e you wi t h t he car e and wor r y we have had

and have i n keepi ng i t goi ng. . . . "

The gr owi ng i nf l uence of Mr . Maur i ce' s wor ks

on Dani el Macmi l l an becomes now ver y appar ent .

The mor e he st udi ed t hem t he mor e t hey i m-

pr essed hi m; and, as was hi s habi t i n t he case

of al l books whi ch had i nf l uenced hi s own mi nd,

he l ost no oppor t uni t y of pr essi ng t hem on t he

Q

226 MR. MAURI CE' S I NFLUENCE. [ on. vn.

at t ent i on of r eader s. Hi t her t o t hi s had been an

easy and popul ar dut y, especi al l y at Cambr i dge,

no open at t ack havi ng been as yet made on

Mr . Maur i ce' s or t hodoxy whi l e hi s Subscr i pt i on

no Bondage, pr obabl y at t hat t i me t he best known

of hi s wor ks, had been wel comed not onl y by al l

Li ber al Chur chmen, but by l ar ge sect i ons of t he

Hi gh Chur ch and Evangel i cal par t i es. Now,

however , a gr eat change was at hand. The year

of r evol ut i ons br ought Mr . Maur i ce t o t he f r ont

as a bol d and ear nest soci al r ef or mer . As

Chapl ai n of Guy' s Hospi t al , Pr of essor at Ki ng' s

Col l ege, and l at t er l y as r eader at Li ncol n' s I nn,

he had become t he cent r e of a number of younger

men who had l ear nt much f r om hi s t eachi ng, and

wer e eager t o put t hat t eachi ng i n pr act i ce. Thei r

f i r st ef f or t was t he weekl y paper , Pol i t i cs f or t he

Peopl e, f or whi ch Ar chdeacon Har e had asked

Dani el Macmi l l an' s suppor t . I t was a bol d ef f or t ,

but , not wi t hst andi ng t he vi gour and f r eshness of

many of t he cont r i but i ons of Mr . Ludl ow t he

edi t or , Mr . Maur i ce, C. Ki ngsl ey, and ot her s l ess

known, and t he war m i nt er est i t exci t ed i n many

quar t er s, Pol i t i cs f or t he, Peopl e, never r eached a

payi ng ci r cul at i on. The publ i sher , J. W. Par ker ,

l ost hear t , and t he paper had t o be di scont i nued

bef or e t he end of t he year . I t s sal e was pr omot ed

bot h at Cambr i dge and i n Scot l and by Dani el

Macmi l l an, who al so cont r i but ed t he f ol l owi ng

char act er i st i c l et t er t o one of t he number s ;

1843- 57. ] " POLI TI CS FOR THE PEOPLE. " 227

Page 134 of 178

To THE EDI TOR of " POLI TI CS FOR THE PEOPLE. "

" SI R,

" I am sor r y, but not at al l sur pr i sed, t o see

t hat your per i odi cal i s t o st op so soon. I t i s not

l i kel y t hat any per i odi cal whi ch does not advocat e

t he vi ews and i nt er est s of a par t y can answer i n

Engl and.

" I don' t know t hat i t i s ot her wi se i n f or ei gn

count r i es, because I don' t know anyt hi ng about

ot her count r i es. I am mer el y a handi cr af t sman,

and have ver y l i t t l e i nf or mat i on on any subj ect .

I dar e say, however , t hat i f t he wr i t er of t he

Di al ogues wer e t o wor k up t he pr i nci pl es he has

t o t each i n ot her and mor e at t r act i ve f or ms, hi s

wor k woul d f i nd numer ous and t hankf ul r eader s

among al l cl asses.

" I may her e ment i on a f act whi ch of t en occur s

t o me. I not i ce among my comr ades some whose

wor k has gr eat st i f f ness and awkwar dness, some-

t i mes because t hey wer e br ed i n count r y shops,

wher e t he met hods wer e l oose. Then ot her s whose

wor k, as f ar as t he mer e mechani sm goes, as f ar as

t he squar e and compasses can hel p i t , i s wr l l

enough, and even admi r abl e ; yet t hi s wor k has

al ways a st i f f and f or mal ai r , al most as di sagr ee-

abl e as t he cl umsi ness of t he i l l - i nst r uct ed. The

best wor kman' s wor k has an ai r of f r eedom and

ease whi ch makes t he pi ece of f ur ni t ur e l i ght and

Q 2

228 " POLI TI CS FOE THE PEOPLE. " [ CH. vn.

gr acef ul , and t hough i t be but a t abl e or a chai r ,

l ooks al most l i ke l i f e. The wor st wor kmen sel dom

see t he beaut y ' of t he best wor k; and i f t hey do,

t hi nk t hat because ever yt hi ng about i t l ooks f r ee

and easy, i t i s' t o be obt ai ned by easy and car el ess

wor ki ng and so become st i l l mor e awkwar d

and cl umsy. The best wor kman i s as car ef ul ,

and assi duous wi t h hi s r ul e and compasses as

t he most f or mal : i f possi bl e he i s st i l l mor e

pai nst aki ng ; but he ar dent l y l oves hi s wor k, and

st r uggl es har d t o at t ai n excel l ence, and t hat i s hi s

r ewar d. I am not a good wor kman : and t hough

I have a good pl ace and good wages, i t i s because

my mast er s have t aken a f ancy t o me, and have

gi ven me a pl ace of t r ust . I ment i on t hi s per sonal

mat t er t o show you t hat I am an i ndi f f er ent

wi t ness. I t i s of t en my busi ness t o show st r anger s

over t he est abl i shment , and i t i s ver y sel dom t hat

t he ver y best wor k get s pr ai sed, har dl y ever as i t

deser ves. I t mat t er s not t o t he men who l ove

excel l ence : whenever t hey can t hey wi l l do t hei r

best , and i t i s wonder f ul what t hey pr oduce. I

Page 135 of 178

say whenever t hey can f or i n t hese days of

cheapness, t he mast er or t he f or eman has of t en t o

come and say, / have t o do t hese at a l ow f i gur e, and

can' t gi ve you above so and so f or t hem, so you must

l ose no t i me. Of cour se such wor k i s i nf er i or .

But t hose whi ch come f r om t he hands of t he best

men ar e st i l l beaut i f ul .

" We ( cr af t smen l i ke mysel f ) gener al l y not i ce

1843- 57. ] " POLI TI CS FOR THE PEOPLE. " 229

t hat pr eacher s ar e a ver y awkwar d set ; t hei r pr o-

duct i ons ar e cl umsy and conf used. One woul d f ancy

t hat t hey wer e al l br ought up i n count r y shops,

wher e t he met hods wer e bad or car el essl y used.

My shopmat ea go t o al l sor t s, of pl aces, t he Engl i sh

chur ches, t he Scot ch ki r k, t he I ndependent s, Bap-

t i st s, Wesl eyans, &c. &c. When any of us com-

pl ai n t hat we never hear good ser mons, t he r est

ar e sur e t o cr y, ' Come and hear Mr . So- and- so ; '

but one f i nds t hem near l y al l al i ke f ew over pr o-

duce a wor kmanl i ke ser mon. I wi sh not t o be

unchar i t abl e, but I of t en t hi nk i f cl er gymen l oved

excel l ence f or i t s own sake, we shoul d have much

wi ser , mor e coher ent , and mor e beaut i f ul ser mons,

and i t i s needl ess t o say what t he r esul t s woul d

be. Bef or e your paper st ops, per haps you wi l l

gi ve a l esson or t wo on t he t r ut h t hat , i n maki ng

poems, pi ct ur es, ser mons and l aws, as wel l as i n

maki ng t a. bl es and chai r s, t he wi sest and most

successf ul pl an i s not t o seek f or weal t h, or f ame,

but t o st r i ve af t er t he best f or i t s own sake. I am

sur e t hat i f you wr ot e a t r eat i se on pol i t i cs, you

woul d t each t hi s. I am sur e t hat a beaut i f ul

ar t i st - l i ke wor k set t i ng t hi s f or t h cl ear l y, usi ng

Chr i st i an ar gument s wi t hout cant i ng, put t i ng t he

hi ghest and pur est t hought s i n t he si mpl est and

most or di nar y f or ms of Engl i sh speech ( such

Engl i sh as Pal ey' s si mpl e and ver nacul ar , yet

cl ear and pr eci se) , woul d be a t r ue Pat r i ot . I f

Engl and ever came t o bel i eve t hi s doct r i ne, and

230 THE CHRI STI AN SOCI ALI STS. [ cu. vn.

act on i t , i t woul d be a bl essed i f not a mer r y

Engl and. As I am not a good penman I have

asked our book- keeper t o copy t hi s and cor r ect

my spel l i ng ; but he has made no al t er at i ons,

" Your const ant r eader ,

" X. Y. Z. "

Mr . Maur i ce and hi s f r i ends wer e not di spi r i t ed,

and t he Chr i st i an Soci al i st newspaper , and t r act s

t ook t he pl ace of Pol i t i cs f or t he Peopl e, and

car r i ed on t he wor k whi ch had been so wel l begun

i n t hat paper .

The name of Chr i st i an Soci al i st s st ar t l ed peopl e,

Page 136 of 178

and t he t hor oughgoi ng r ef or ms advocat ed i n t hei r

publ i cat i ons, wi t hout any r egar d t o par t y or t he

r ul es of t he pol i t i cal game, soon made t hem sus-

pect ed, and dr ew t he f i r e of cr i t i cs and wr i t er s of

al l par t i es. Mr . Maur i ce, as was i ndeed i nevi t abl e,

had t o bear t he br unt of t hese at t acks, whi ch, how-

ever , i ncl uded al l t hose wi t h whom he was asso-

ci at ed, and not abl y hi s br ot her - i n- l aw, Ar chdeacon

Har e, and hi s pupi l , Char l es Ki ngsl ey. But t he

mor e Mr . Maur i ce and hi s wr i t i ngs wer e assai l ed,

t he mor e st aunch and st eady became t he suppor t

of t he Tr i ni t y St r eet f i r m, who f r om t hi s t i me wer e

mor e and mor e i dent i f i ed wi t h hi m and t hose

wi t h whom he was associ at ed. Dani el Macmi l l an

i n f act became an act i ve and ent husi ast i c pr opa-

gandi st , f ul l of l ove and zeal f or hi s gr eat t eacher ,

and never t i r ed of pr ocl ai mi ng t he val ue of t hat

1843- 57. ] TI I - E STERLI NG CLUB. 231

t eacher ' s - wr i t i ngs t o r el i gi ous t hought . The

most not or i ous of t hese at t acks on Mr . Maur i ce,

t hat connect ed wi t h t he St er l i ng Cl ub, began

ear l y i n 1849, i n a ser i es of vi r ul ent ' ar t i cl es i n t he

dai l y and weekl y pr ess. The Engl i sh Revi ew,

t hen t he or gan of t he Hi gh Chur ch par t y, was

t he f i r st i n t he f i el d, f ol l owed by t he Mor ni ng

Her al d and t he Recor d f r om t he ot her si de. Mr .

Wat t i s anxi ous t o l ear n t he t r ut h and appl i es t o

hi s f r i end i n some anxi et y. I n r epl y, af t er de-

nounci ng i n st r ong l anguage t he di shonest y of t he

cr i t i cs, who, when set r i ght as t o f act s had gone

on speci al pl eadi ng as t o ol d l i es, and suggest i ng

new ones, hi s cor r espondent goes on t o t el l t he

st or y, whi ch has had sever al nar r at or s but none

who have put i t mor e pl ai nl y, or i n shor t er

compass.

" The st r ong poi nt wi t h t hem i s t hat a cer t ai n

cl ub i s cal l ed t he St er l i ng Cl ub, and t hen t hey

asser t t hat John St er l i ng was an avowed i nf i del ,

t hat t hi s cl ub was i n honour of John St er l i ng

and t her ef or e i t must be an i nf i del cl ub. Bi shop

Thi r l wal l and Bi shop Wi l ber f or ce and Ar ch-

deacons Har e and Manni ng, and I saac Wi l ber -

f or ce, and Mr . Maur i ce, and Mr . Tr ench ar e

member s of i t . Never mi nd, so much t he wor se

f or t hem t he cl ub i s i nf i del . Thi s i s spi ced

wi t h l ot s of sl ang and cant , and spi t e and

mal i gni t y, and i s maki ng a ver y gr eat f uss, of

232 " THE SAI NT' S TRAGEDY. " [ CH. vn.

cour se, among t he r el i gi ous wor l d, or a cer t ai n

r egi on of i t . They ar e mor e sever e on Maur i ce

t han any one el se, and ar e most anxi ous t o make

hi m out an i nf i del or at l east a r at i onal i st ! And

as compar at i vel y f ew of t hese peopl e have r ead

Page 137 of 178

hi s books and f ewer under st ood t hem, t hat r ubbi sh

i s bel i eved i

" About t he St er l i ng Cl ub t hese ar e t he f act s as

near as I can t el l you. About t en or t wel ve year s

ago St er l i ng suggest ed t hat t her e shoul d be cheap

mont hl y di nner s gi ven, wher e some f r i ends mi ght

meet once a mont h, and wher e men who di d not

go out much, or coul d not af f or d t o gi ve di nner s,

mi ght meet t hei r ol d col l ege f r i ends. I t was

st ar t ed, and at t he f i r st meet i ng t he quest i on ar ose,

What i s t o be i t s name ? The names wer e wr i t t en

on a pi ece of paper and put i n a hat . They wer e

al l di f f er ent , and when r ead over , ' The St er l i ng '

was among t he r est and was unani mousl y agr eed

upon. St er l i ng obj ect ed; but t he r est i nsi st ed

t hat t hough St er l i ng chanced t o be hi s name i t

di d not f ol l ow t hat t he Soci et y was cal l ed af t er

hi m, St er l i ng bei ng a st er l i ng Engl i sh wor d. "

Then t ur ni ng t o l i t er ar y news he adds :

" I know ver y f ew books of not e l at el y publ i shed.

Ther e i s a smal l book cal l ed The Sai nt ' s Tr agedy,

by a Mr . Ki ngsl ey, whi ch gi ves a most l i vi ng pi ct ur e

of t he Mi ddl e Ages. You woul d be gr eat l y pl eased

1843- 57. ] C. KI NGSLEY. 233

wi t h i t . He has al so adver t i sed a vol ume of

Ser mons, whi ch I have no doubt wi l l be good.

He seems t o me a man of gr eat mar k, and wor t h

your not i ce. . . . "

The l ast l et t er i s wr i t t en f r om Tor quay wher e

he was expect i ng a vi si t f r om Mr . Maur i ce and

Mr . Ki ngsl ey.

C. KI NGSLEY t o D. MACMI LLAN.

" I LFRACOMBE, Febr uar y 29, 1849.

" . . . I have been f or some t i me past hopi ng

t hat I shoul d hear f r om you as t o your heal t h.

The account s Mr . Maur i ce gave me when he

was down her e made me af r ai d t hat you wer e

ver y poor l y. I have had bet t er account s of you

si nce, but none def i ni t e. Pr ay l et me know

whet her you t hi nk t hi s heavenl y cl i mat e, and r i ch,

sof t , sham wi nt er , has done you r eal good. I t has

so f ar set me up t hat I am at wor k agai n ( i n t he

r evi ewi ng l i ne) and t r yi ng t o f i nd some man who

wi l l come her e and r ead f or or der s wi t h me t hi s

spr i ng ; i f you hear of any one pr ay do not f or get

me. I was ver y near l y r unni ng down t o you wi t h

Maur i ce, but I happened t o be t oo poor l y t he day he

l ef t . Wer e I your doct or , I shoul d have sai d, ' Come

t o I l f r acombe f or t he f i r st hal f of t he wi nt er , ' now

I am af r ai d I must say, ' St ay wher e you ar e t he

next si x weeks, ' and do not go back t o Cambr i dge

Page 138 of 178

234 CREDI T AT CAMBRI DGE. [ CH. vn.

bef or e t he Mar ch east er l y wi nds ar e wel l over , and

war m- hear t ed Apr i l comes bl ubber i ng i n l i ke a

handsome, naught y gi r l , as she i s. One week of

Fen nor t h- east er s wi l l undo t hr ee mont hs of Tor -

quay second- hand t r opi cs. I send t hi s vi d Cam-

br i dge, not knowi ng your di r ect i on. " Wi l l you

gi ve your br ot her my ki nd r egar ds and a hi nt t o

hel p me t o a pupi l ? "

I n t he f ol l owi ng, t o an angr y gr aduat e who had

r esent ed t he met hod t aken by t he f i r m f or ob-

t ai ni ng payment of a l ong st andi ng account , we

get a gl i mpse of t he t r oubl es i n connect i on wi t h

t he cr edi t syst em whi ch had been pr edi ct ed f or

t he f i r m by Ar chdeacon Har e :

" SI R,

" We dul y r ecei ved t he copy of t he l et t er you

wr ot e t o t he London Tr ade Pr ot ect i on Soci et y,

f or whi ch we ar e much obl i ged. We ar e qui t e

awar e of t he Uni ver si t y r ul es, and al ways t ake

car e t o obser ve t hem. But at t he same t i me we

cannot but t hank you f or your anxi et y on t hat

poi nt . Then as t o your t hr eat about maki ng

known i n t he Uni ver si t y t he use we make of t he

London Pr ot ect i on Soci et y we have no obj ect i on

t o t hat . We ar e par t i cul ar l y anxi ous t hat ever y

one shoul d know t hat we do not gi ve l ong cr edi t ,

and t hat we shoul d much pr ef er bei ng wi t hout

t he cust om of t hose who wi sh f or l onger cr edi t

1843- 57. ] CREDI T AT CAMBRI DGE. 235

t han a year ' s r unni ng account . The descr i pt i on

you gi ve of t he Tr ade Pr ot ect i on Soci et y i s not at

al l j ust . I t i s si mpl y a number of t r adesmen,

banker s, and ot her s, cl ubbi ng t oget her t o secur e

bet t er l egal advi ce, and a mor e pr ompt cour se of

act i on t han can be secur ed by any si ngl e per son

wi t hout goi ng t o gr eat expense : what we have t o

pr ot ect our sel ves agai nst i s not del i ber at e swi n-

dl i ng ( t hough now and t hen t hat happens) , but such

an ut t er want of t hought and car e as t o damage

us near l y as much as di shonest y can do. Long

st andi ng account s eat away our pr of i t and gi ve us

a gr eat deal of t r oubl e, and of t ener t han we l i ke

end i n bad debt s. But wi t h r egar d t o your own

l i t t l e mat t er we beg t o cal l your at t ent i on t o t he

f act s, and i f you keep t o t hem we have no obj ec -

t i on t o your maki ng t hem wi del y known. I f we

have done wr ong we shoul d be r i ght gl ad t o suf f er

f or t he wr ong, as we bel i eve t hat puni shment i s

t he best possi bl e t hi ng t hat can come t o t he evi l

doer . "

The r eput at i on of t he f i r m now br ought many

Page 139 of 178

appl i cat i ons f or empl oyment , especi al l y f r om young

Scot chmen, eager , as Dani el Macmi l l an had hi m-

sel f been, t o push t hei r f or t unes i n t he sout h.

The next l et t er t o one of t hem gi ves a gl i mpse

of t he car e wi t h whi ch t he i nt er nal economy of

t he busi ness was super vi sed by t he seni or par t ner .

I t i s addr essed t o Mr . Eobb, at t hi s t i me a shop-

236 THE DUTI ES OF A CLERK. [ CH. vn.

man i n t he ser vi ce of Messr s. Edmonst on and

Dougl as, of Edi nbur gh :

" CAMBRI DGE, Sept ember 3, 1849.

" SI R,

" Fr om what Messr s. E. and D. and Mr . Cr ombi e

Br own say of you, and f r om t he t one of your own

not e, we ar e i nduced t o of f er you t he si t uat i on now

vacant i n our house wi t h a sal ar y of 60 a year

t o begi n wi t h. I f you shoul d meet our expect at i ons

we shal l be gl ad t o r ai se your sal ar y f r om year

t o year . But bef or e you deci de t o come, we may

as wel l t el l you what we expect you t o do and

what hour s we expect you t o wor k, so t hat t her e

may be no mi sunder st andi ng af t er war ds.

" 1. I t wi l l be needf ul t o come t o wor k punct u-

al l y at seven o' cl ock ever y mor ni ng. Thi s i s a

poi nt we l ay gr eat st r ess on. Fr om seven t i l l ni ne

we expect you t o put al l t hi ngs i n ni ce or der : t o

see t hat t he boys cl ean wi ndows and so f or t h. " We

expect you not onl y t o dust and ar r ange t hi ngs,

but t o see t hat t hese er r and- boys do t hei r wor k

t hor oughl y see t hat t hey wor k separ at el y, t hat

i s, i f one i s wor ki ng down st ai r s l et t he ot her wor k

up st ai r s or i n t he back- shop or i n a di f f er ent par t

of t he f r ont - shop. Wat ch, t oo, t hat t he boys do

not go about i dl i ng t hei r t i me, and t hat t hey do

not st ay t oo l ong when t hey go t o del i ver books,

or ot her messages. Al l t hi s we t hi nk of gr eat

i mpor t ance.

1843- 57. J THE DUTI ES OF A CLERK. 237

" 2. \ Ve shal l expect you al ways t o do t he day' s

wor k i n t he day t hat i s, t o see al l t he or der s

execut ed, al l t he l et t er s answer ed, al l t he books

t hat come i n dai l y cl ear ed away i n t he day, and

al l t he books post ed dai l y.

" 3. Never t o st ay l onger t han an hour t o br eak -

f ast , an hour t o di nner , and hal f - an- hour t o t ea.

We shut up at ei ght i n t he wi nt er and ar e anxi ous

t hat t he wor k shoul d be pr essed f or war d i n t he

day so as t o l eave as soon af t er t he shop shut s as

possi bl e.

" We may as wel l expl ai n t hat we at t end t o t he

Page 140 of 178

shop most l y our sel ves, and make our assi st ant s

at t end t o most of t he det ai l s, such as wr i t i ng

or der s, keepi ng books, l ooki ng af t er account s, and

most of t he or di nar y cor r espondence, sendi ng out

or der s, and maki ng t he boys si gn f or t he books

t hey t ake out . So t hat our post i ng may be done

dai l y we have t wo day- books, one i n use i n t he

ent er i ng r oom and t he ot her get t i ng post ed i n t he

count i ng- house. Yest er day' s day- book i s post ed

up t o- day, and t o- day' s day- book goes i nt o t he

count i ng- house t o- mor r ow. Al l our account s ar e

r ender ed quar t er l y, and t hi s i nvol ves a gr eat deal

of wr i t i ng, as al l , or near l y al l , of our busi ness i s

cr edi t . Our assi st ant s see ever y par t of our busi -

ness, so i t i s a good pl ace f or l ear ni ng how a

t r ade i s managed, how books ar e bought , and

how account s ar e kept . But of cour se, as

not hi ng i s kept secr et f r om our assi st ant s, we

238 THE DUTI ES OF A CLERK. [ ci i . vn.

expect t hem t o be honour abl e and t r ust wor t hy,

and not t o gossi p t o any one about what t hey see

or hear r el at i ng t o busi ness.

" I n t he summer mont hs we shut up at seven,

and f or t hr ee mont hs we al l ow t he assi st ant s t o

get away al t er nat el y at t hr ee o' cl ock, t hat i s unl ess

any pr essi ng busi ness shoul d hi nder .

" Thi s l et t er wi l l gi ve you a pr et t y cl ear not i on

of what ki nd of a l i f e you woul d have wi t h us.

I f you f eel any doubt or di f f i cul t y i t woul d be

bet t er f or you t o gi ve up al l t hought of t he pl ace.

But i f you have no f ear , i f you don' t shr i nk f r om

t he hour s, i f you woul d t hr ow your sel f hear t i l y

i nt o t he wor k, i f you ar e r esol ved t o do al l you

can t o make your sel f a t hor ough booksel l er and

man of busi ness, we have no doubt you woul d get

on ver y comf or t abl y wi t h us.

" I f af t er l ooki ng at t he mat t er del i ber at el y you

f eel desi r ous t o t ake t he si t uat i on, i t woul d be

bet t er f or you t o come i mmedi at el y, so t hat you

mi ght get up t he subj ect bef or e t he t er m com-

mences. Hopi ng t o hear by an ear l y post t hat

you ar e on t he way,

" We r emai n, Si r ,

" Your s most obedi ent l y,

" MACMI LLAN AND Co.

" P. S. We can gi ve you a bed f or a ni ght or so,

t i l l you can f i nd l odgi ngs t o sui t you. "

The publ i shi ng busi ness was gr owi ng now

1843- 57. ] THE PUBLI SHI NG BUSI NESS. 239

Page 141 of 178

r api dl y, and much of hi s cor r espondence i s de-

vot ed t o suggest i ons as t o books whi ch he t hi nks

may be usef ul and pr of i t abl e.

To i ns BROTHER.

" June 10, 1851.

" . . . For t he book on Chur ch Gover nment , i t

ought t o be a man who under st ands t he di ssent i ng

st and- poi nt . I woul d have most conf i dence i n Mr .

Ki ugsbur y. He knows so wel l al l t he vi ews of t he

Lut her an and t he Ref or med, and t he r el at i on t hey

have t o t he Swi ss, Dut ch, and Scot ch Pr esbyt er i ans.

He never woul d l et a scof f or a sneer f al l f r om hi s

pen. I have been cl oud- spi nni ng at t wo books whi ch

I t hi nk woul d answer . The f i r st i s a book t hat

woul d gi ve t he r esul t s of al l t hat John Mi l l , and

Dr . Whewel l , and Comt e have been abl e t o make

cl ear on t he Logi c of I nduct i on, and how peopl e

get t o know La Phi l osophi c Posi t i ve, and al so t o

gi ve a summar y of what i s unset t l ed and t he

ar gument s on each si de. I shoul d f ancy such a

book i s possi bl e, and t hat Vaughan and Davi es

coul d do i t . " What do you t hi nk ? The second i s

a book of t he same ki nd on Pol i t i cal Economy,

gi vi ng al so al l t hat i s acknowl edged as set t l ed,

f r om Adam Smi t h, MacCul l och, Mal t hus, Pi i car do,

De Qui ncey, and John Mi l l , and whoever el se has

t hr own l i ght on t hese mat t er s, i ncl udi ng r ecent

Fr enchmen. I f ancy Vaughan and Davi es coul d

240 J. LLEWELLYN DAVI ES. [ CH. vn.

do t he same wor k. We mi ght t al k t o t hem when

t hey come up i n Jul y. . . . "

The l ast - named gent l emen had been amongst hi s

cust omer s at Cambr i dge, and had become hi s

f r i ends now t hat t hey had t aken or der s, and wer e

engaged i n par i sh wor k Mr . Davi es i n Whi t e-

chapel , Mr . Vaughan i n Lei cest er . They wer e at

t hi s t i me engaged on t he t r ansl at i on of Pl at o' s

Republ i c, The r el at i ons whi ch ' Dani el Macmi l l an

had est abl i shed wi t h t he abl est young men of t he

Uni ver si t y may be gat her ed f r om t hi s exampl e.

D. MACMI LLAN t o THE EEV. J. LLEWELLYN DAVI ES.

" CAMBRI DGE, Mar ch 12, 1852.

" . . . I have not r ead anyt hi ng f or many a day

t hat gave me such j oy as your l ast l et t er . I f t he

par sons go qui et l y t o wor k i n t hat spi r i t , some-

t hi ng may yet be hoped f or t he poor . Si nce I

came t o Cambr i dge I have of t en l ost al l hope:

and was gl ad t o see even t he f i er y zeal of Mr .

Ki ngsl ey r uf f l i ng t he dead cal m of t he comf or t abl e

and r espect abl e cl asses ; and al ways hai l ed wi t h

gl adness any ut t er ance of Thomas Car l yl e' s whi ch

Page 142 of 178

mi ght dr aw at t ent i on t o t he condi t i on of Engl and.

But of l at e I have had my hopes r ai sed by what

I hear of cur at es' doi ngs t hr oughout t he count r y.

Onl y a f ew days ago I had a l et t er f r om a young

cur at e i n Der byshi r e, who t ol d me t hat he had a

1843- 57. ] THE YOUNGER CLERGY. 241

ni ght - school wi t h sevent y pupi l s, ol d and young.

Then a l ong conver sat i on I had wi t h Mr . Thr i ng

convi nced me t hat t he ' Bl ack Dr agoons ' ar e doi ng

t hei r wor k wel l ; and what t hey do i s not ' t o t he

det r i ment of Engl and. ' I don' t know what

means can be t aken t o l essen t he chance of ' peopl e

havi ng t hei r heal t h r ui ned by downr i ght hunger '

but I am sur e i t i s a t hi ng t hat ought t o be

ai med at . Hunger and mi ddl i ng f ood i s not so

damagi ng ei t her t o t he heal t h or t he mor al s i n t he

count r y as i t i s i n t he whi r l , and act i vi t y, and

f ever of l ar ge t owns. Thi s i s a poi nt I can speak

of , f or I have exper i enced bot h : and t hough my

heal t h has been per manent l y damaged by t hat

exper i ence, yet I am r i ght gl ad I know what i t i s.

Even whi l e I endur ed i t my Cal vi ni st i c educat i on

t aught me t o l ook on i t as ' t he chast eni ng of

t he Lor d. ' And even when envy and anger r ose

i n me, I l ooked upon t hat as t eachi ng me humi l i t y,

as t el l i ng t hat i t was onl y t he gr ace of God whi ch

kept me f r om bei ng vi ol ent and di shonest . I

f eel sur e t hat such f ai t h as I saw f r om my ear l i est

days woul d be one of t he power f ul est means of

enabl i ng t he poor t o bear and t o conquer pover t y ;

f r om becomi ng mer e haught y and r ebel l i ous

r adi cal s, or sneaki ng sycophant s. Yet I t hi nk

pover t y a r eal evi l ; and pr ay f or i t s ext i nct i on

dai l y when I say, ' Thy ki ngdom come. Thy wi l l

be done. ' I see no chance of t he dest r uct i on

of t hat and t he deeper evi l s of whi ch i t i s t he

B

242 CARLYLE ON PLATO. [ OH. vn.

si gn, except i n t he comi ng of t he ki ngdom, and

t he doi ng of t he wi l l of God. . He i s t he t r uest

pat r i ot who st r uggl es ear nest l y and wi sel y f or t hat

pur pose. The f act t hat so many do l abour qui et l y

and per se ver i ngl y wi t h t hat ai m i s t he hope of

Engl and. One hopes t hat t he number may st eadi l y

i ncr ease. . . . "

To THE SAME.

" CAMBRI DGE, May 7, 1852.

" . . . That ext r act f r om Car l yl e was ver y

Page 143 of 178

beaut i f ul . I don' t t hi nk hi m r i ght about i ndi s -

t i nct ness i n Pl at o, who i s chi ef l y r emar kabl e f or

hi s f i r m det er mi nat i on t o get hi msel f and hi s

st udent t o see what ever t hey ar e l ooki ng at , and

not t o mi st ake i t f or anyt hi ng el se, and not t o

be f obbed of f wi t h mer e t al k ' about i t , and

about i t . ' But ' most l of t y At heni an gent l eman ; '

dr eadf ul l y ' at hi s ease i n Zi on' seems t o me

t o hi t of f Pl at o t o t he ver y l i f e t hat i s as he

appear s t o a Scot chman who has had a ' Hebr ew-

Chr i st i an- Cal vi ni st i c ' t r ai ni ng. Ther e i s none of

t he year ni ng over t he si ns of t he wor l d whi ch

expr esses i t sel f i n ' Tear s r un down my cheeks

because men keep not Thy l aw, ' nor ' I coul d

wi sh mysel f accur sed f or my br et hr en' s sake. '

He has no f eel i ng of bear i ng t he si ns of t he

wor l d. Vi ce and mean conduct ar e ver y ugl y.

He woul d do al l i n hi s power t o bani sh t hem : but

he speaks of t hem i n t he t one of a ' ver y l of t y

At heni an gent l eman. ' . . . "

1843- 57. ] DR. THOMAS FULLER. 243

To THE SAMK.

" CAMBRI DGE, May 25, 1852.

" . . . Though i t i s so near what i s cal l ed mi d-

summer i t i s r eal l y much mor e l i ke Mar ch. We

have st i l l east wi nd, and a dul l , l eaden sky. But

i n spi t e of t he col d, and t he absence of . sunshi ne

we see gr een l eaves and bl ossoms i n t he Downi ng

Col l ege gr ounds behi nd us. For I am st i l l away

f r om busi ness and under t he doct or ' s hands, and

sor el y t or t ur ed wi t h an open bl i st er , and not

al l owed t o move, or speak, or wr i t e. So f or mor e

t han a f or t ni ght I have been l yi ng on my back

and r eadi ng Dr . Thomas Ful l er ; and af t er r ead-

i ng t en vol umes I can most hear t i l y say Amen

t o al l t he spl endi d pr ai se t hat Col er i dge gi ves

hi m. . . .

" I have onl y been kept al i ve by i ssues, bl i st er s,

set ons, t i l l my whol e chest i s a ser i es of scar s

got i n t he bat t l e of l i f e. My l i f e, l i ke t hat

of my admi r abl e f r i end Geor ge Wi l son, i s

' copi ousl y i l l ust r at ed wi t h cut s! Pl at o woul d

have al l owed me t o di e ei ght year s ago. Ther e

i s no doubt t hat we ar e kept al i ve by ar t i -

f i ci al means. I n 184G I saw a nephew of

mi ne who was a hand- l oom weaver i n I r vi ne

i n Ayr shi r e. He was mar r i ed, and had one or

t wo chi l dr en. One coul d see t hat he had di s-

eased l ungs. But he l ooked st r onger and bet t er

R 2

244 THANKFULNESS FOR AFFLI CTI ONS. [ CH. vi i .

Page 144 of 178

t han I di d. But he di ed mor e t han a year ago :

hi s deat h gr eat l y hast ened no doubt by hi s poor

l i vi ng, and t he car e and anxi et y whi ch he was sur e

t o f eel about hi s wi f e and chi l dr en. I have been

kept al i ve by havi ng been abl e t o t ake ease and

r est , and get pur e ai r , and t he ki nd of f ood whi ch

consumpt i ve peopl e need. I f I coul d have been

f r eer f r om car e and anxi et y doubt l ess I shoul d

have been st i l l bet t er . Somet i mes I f eel i ncl i ned

t o t hi nk Pl at o was r i ght , and t hat i t woul d be

bet t er t o st i ck t o our post t i l l we di ed. I f I

had consul t ed mer el y what woul d be l east t r oubl e

I shoul d have done so. For when I have been

ver y i l l I have had no wi sh t o r ecover , and an

i nt ense anxi et y t o see what coni es next . But now

j ust f or t he sake of l i f e, and wor k, and f or t he

sake of t hose who make l i f e and wor k nobl e, I am

submi t t ed t o new t or t ur es, and t aki ng cod- l i ver

oi l t hr ee t i mes a day. I t hi nk we ought t o

f i ght agai nst di sease, what ever Pl at o may say.

One f eel s t hat i t does one good i n many ways.

I can say f r om t he hear t , t hank God f or my

af f l i ct i ons. . . "

To THE SAME.

" CAMBRI DGE, June 23, 1852.

" . . . I don' t wonder at your t hi nki ng t hat

Ki ngsl ey dwel l s t oo much on t he physi cal condi -

t i on of t he poor . Those who have not known t he

1843- 57. ] THE SCOTCH POOR. 245

poor and how t hei r mor al i t y i s so of t en l ower ed, not

wi t h a cont i nual st r uggl e wi t h pover t y, but by

t hei r gi vi ng up hope, and ceasi ng t o f i ght , must

t hi nk as you do. Among t he poor ( I onl y speak

what I know) i t goes har dest wi t h t he women.

Of cour se I onl y speak of Scot l and. The Engl i sh

I don' t know so wel l . . . . No one can t el l , who

has not known such l i f e, t he sad, hear t r endi ng

t hi ngs such mot her s have t o see. No one can t el l

t he mor al gul f t hat yawns bet ween such mot her s

and t he daught er s so t r ai ned. For of cour se t hei r

r eal t r ai ni ng was i n ser vi ce. Wi t h t he sons i t

t ur ns out so di f f er ent l y. They wor k t hei r way

i nt o Gl asgow, or Li ver pool , or Manchest er . Fr om

t hei r qui et sedat e habi t s of sel f - command t hey

t hr i ve, become r i ch, and somet i mes cul t i vat ed

men; of t en mer el y r i ch and pur se- pr oud. They

di e, l eave chi l dr en who never hear d of t hei r poor

cousi ns. But t he si st er s' chi l dr en have hear d of

t hei r r i ch cousi ns and envi ed t hem, and despai r ed

of ever r eachi ng t hei r gr eat ness, and have sunk

l ower and l ower i t i s sad t o know t o what

dept hs. I have known such gi r l s becomi ng ' un-

f or t unat e f emal es, ' and t hei r br ot her s si nk i nt o

gr eat dept hs wher e no eye coul d f ol l ow t hem. I t

i s f r om havi ng known of such cases t hat I l ook on

pover t y and hunger as evi l s, and l eadi ng t o gr eat er

Page 145 of 178

evi l s. Hunger , f or i nst ance, and t he st at e of

st omach t hat hunger pr oduces, gi ves r i se t o a

cr avi ng f or st r ong dr i nk. I ndeed, l ow di et does

24S NEW PUBLI CATI ONS, 1852. [ en. vn.

t he same. A gr eat deal of t he dr unkenness

common i n Scot l and ar i ses f r om pover t y and

bad f eedi ng. . . . "

Besi des t he t r ansl at i on of Pl at o' s Republ i c by

Davi es and Vaughan, t he publ i cat i ons of t he f i r m

dur i ng t hi s year i ncl ude, amongst ot her books not

so wel l known, Mr . Maur i ce' s Pr ophet s and

Ki ngs, Mr . Ki ngsl ey' s Phaet hon, a second edi t i on

of Ar cher But l er ' s Ser mons, t he Rest or at i on of

Rel i ef , and Todhunt er ' s Di f f er ent i al Cal cul us. Hi s

vi ews as t o t he i mpor t ance of t hi s par t of t hei r

wor k wer e conf i r med. Looki ng at t he r esul t of

f our year s of anxi ous ef f or t , he can now wr i t e

conf i dent l y t o hi s ol d f r i end :

To J. MACLEHOSE.

" Jul y 20, 1852.

" The r et ai l busi ness wi l l keep as good as ever ,

but my gr eat hopes ar e i n t he publ i shi ng. I am

convi nced t hat we shal l gr adual l y, i n a f ew year s,

have a f i r st - r at e and capi t al payi ng publ i sher ' s

t r ade our r et ai l t r ade wi l l chi ef l y be val uabl e as

br i ngi ng about us men who wi l l gr ow i nt o aut hor s.

Most of t he abl e young men i n t he Uni ver si t y

ar e our cust omer s, and many of t hem most

ki nd f r i ends. "

Then af t er nami ng sever al good books, Mer i val e' s

Sal hi st and ot her s, whi ch t hey have i n hand, he

1843- 57. ] MAURI CE' S " THEOLOGI CAL ESSAYS. " 247

concl udes t hat what i s want ed t o compl et e t he

busi ness i s a London house wher e men can cal l

and consul t af t er l eavi ng Cambr i dge.

To J. MACLEHOSE.

" HASTI NGS, Monday, December 20, 1852.

" . . . . Thi ngs move on ver y smoot hl y on

t he whol e, and we hope t o see our way i nt o

a mor e whol esome wor ki ng of our busi ness, i nt o

doi ng mor e t r ade, mor e especi al l y of a publ i shi ng

ki nd, wi t hout at al l i ncr easi ng t he capi t al . We

must do so, f or i n t hese l at e movement s about

booksel l er s' pr of i t s, t he r et ai l pr of i t s have been

ver y gr eat l y r educed.

" We must , i n t hi s and i n al l ot her ways, t r y

t o wor k nobl y, upr i ght l y, and zeal ousl y, and see

Page 146 of 178

what i t l eads t o. I hope t hat what ever we do,

what ever our success may be, we shal l never get

i nt o expensi ve and ext r avagant ways of l i vi ng,

but st r i ve t o l i ve si mpl y, and wi t hout l uxur y of

any ki nd. "

I n t he next year Mr . Maur i ce' s Theol ogi cal

Essays wer e publ i shed by t he f i r m, wi t h t he

r esul t r ef er r ed t o i n t he f ol l owi ng ent r y i n hi s

j our nal :

" HASTI NGS, Wednesday, June 22, 1853.

" . . . . Si nce my l ast ent r y I have been t wi ce

i n London on May 31 and June 10. Bot h t i mes

248 THRI NG' S " CHI LD' S GRAMMAR. " [ OH. vn.

I saw Mr . Maur i ce, and had r at her l ong chat s

wi t h hi m. The l ast t i me I t ook up and put i nt o

hi s hand 100 t o pay f or t he f i r st edi t i on of hi s

Theol ogi cal Essays. I never pai d money wi t h

such pl easur e i n my l i f e. "

I n t hi s same mont h anot her of t he f r i ends he

had made at Cambr i dge, Mr . E. Thr i ng, was ap-

poi nt ed head mast er of Uppi ngham School . I n

congr at ul at i ng hi m Dani el Macmi l l an wr i t es :

" I t seems t o me one of t he sur est ways of doi ng

good. Whi l e a man i s gi vi ng l i f e and st r engt h

t o hi s count r y i n t hat way he does not pr ocl ai m

hi msel f ei t her pat r i ot or pr ophet , but mer el y seems

t o be wor ki ng f or wi f e and f ami l y. I t has t he

gr eat advant age of maki ng no f uss. "

To J. MACLEHOSE.

" June 26, 1853.

" Mr . Thr i ng i s begi nni ng t o t ake i n Engl and.

We have so much conf i dence i n hi m t hat we

st er eot yped hi s Chi l d' s Gr ammar ! Ver y r ash,

you wi l l say. But as i t i s t he onl y book i n

exi st ence on t he subj ect whi ch i s at once t he

r esul t of pr of ound knowl edge, and yet a most

cl ear and si mpl e st at ement of t he l aws of speech.

I don' t t hi nk i t i s so ver y r ash. "

Har d t i mes wer e not yet over f or t he f i r m. The

annual st ock- t aki ng i n Jul y showed a l ess f avour -

1843- 57. ] A BAD BALANCE- SHEET. 249

abl e r esul t t han had been ant i ci pat ed, and caused

some di ssat i sf act i on t o t he moneyed par t ner s.

Whi l e gr appl i ng wi t h t he di f f i cul t y, and poi nt i ng

out i n det ai l t o hi s br ot her t he di r ect i ons i n whi ch

st ock may be saf el y di mi ni shed and expenses cur -

t ai l ed, Dani el cannot al t oget her suppr ess hi s

annoyance, whi ch f i nds expr essi on i n hi s cor r e-

Page 147 of 178

spondence. The i nsecur i t y of hi s posi t i on i s har d

t o bear when he i s consci ous t hat t he sol i d success

whi ch has been achi eved i s due i n gr eat measur e

t o hi s exer t i ons. Fr om hi s aut umn quar t er s he

wr i t es t o hi s br ot her on t hi s subj ect

" TORQUAY, Oct ober 11, 1853.

" I f I am t o di e i n t hi s year , or t he next , al l

my exer t i ons wi l l be f or ot her s, and r eal l y I

f eel no cal l t o such wor k. I am sur e you don' t

wi sh me t o wor k mysel f t o deat h f or your sake.

As f or my wi f e and boys t hei r i nt er est i n t he

busi ness t er mi nat es wi t h my deat h. Besi des

t hat , t hey, i n any case, wi l l not be pl unged i n

hopel ess pover t y. I snoul d l i ke t hem t o wor k

f or t hei r l i vi ng, and not t o l ean on ot her s. I f I

am t o r ecover , t he r esul t wi l l pay f or what i t cost s.

That , at l east , i s my est i mat e. I wi sh I had t aken

t hat vi ew of t hi ngs sooner , and t hat I had spent

t he l ast f our spr i ngs i n Tor quay. We cannot

br i ng back t he past . I f we coul d I shoul d have

t aken car e not t o have any anxi et i es about money

mat t er s. I f I had pl ayed my car ds wel l i t mi ght

250 MR. MAURI CE AND KI NG' S COLLEGE. [ CH. vn.

have been so easy. However , i t i s wi sest t o be-

l i eve t hat our cour se i s gui ded by gr eat er wi sdom

t han our own. Al l t hi s anxi et y and vexat i on may

have been a bl essi ng t o us, at al l event s, her e we

ar e, and I mean t o make t he best of i t , t o t ake i t

easy and not t o f r et mysel f about anyt hi ng. When

I get back I shal l do exact l y as much wor k as I

f eel abl e f or , and no mor e. "

To HI S BROTHER.

" Oct ober 25.

" Dr . Tet l ey has r epeat ed hi s opi ni on agai nst

my goi ng t o chur ch. I t ol d hi m I sel dom di d

except t o t he Communi on Ser vi ce. He sai d t hat

t hat woul d not do me any har m i f I was car ef ul ,

f or t her e ar e so many f ewer i n t he chur ch, and t he

ai r get s changed and i mpr oved by t he openi ng

of t he door s, &c. , &c. But I must avoi d, not onl y

chur ch, but cr owded r ooms or meet i ngs t i l l ever y

t endency t o bl eedi ng and cough di es away. ' He

was ear nest on t hi s poi nt . I am ver y gl ad t hat

he di d not obj ect t o t he Communi on Ser vi ce,

whi ch has al ways seemed t o me t o say mor e t han

al l ot her ' means of gr ace, ' as t o how we ar e uni t ed

t o each ot her and t o God. "

The cont r over sy bet ween Mr . Maur i ce and Dr .

Jel f , t he Pr i nci pal of Ki ng' s Col l ege, on t he mean-

i ng of t he wor d et er nal , and t he subj ect of t he

et er ni t y of puni shment , ended at t hi s t i me by Mr .

Page 148 of 178

1843- 57. ] MR. MAURI CE AND KI NG' S COLLEGE. 251

Maur i ce' s di smi ssal f r om hi s pr of essor shi p. Ou

t hi s D. Macmi l l ai i wr i t es t o hi s br ot her

" Oct ober 23, 1853.

" . . . I have j ust seen Mr . Maur i ce. I spent

about an hour wi t h hi m. He i s di smi ssed, and

at once. He i s not even al l owed t o l ect ur e

t o- day. As he expect ed t hi s f r om t he f i r st , he

i s not gr eat l y sur pr i sed. I t hi nk he does f eel t he

mode i n whi ch i t has been done, t hat i s t he sud-

denl y bei ng f or bi dden by t he Pr i nci pal t o l ect ur e,

even t o t he hi st or i cal st udent s. Never mi nd !

God r ul es over al l ! I asked hi m about t he f ut ur e,

and hal f r epent ed havi ng done so. Hi s answer was,

' suf f i ci ent unt o t he day i s t he evi l t her eof . 1 . . . .

He i s a gr and man ! and must endur e l i ke ot her

pr ophet s. The good peopl e of t he next age wi l l

bui l d hi s t omb.

" He has l ent me t he cor r espondence and gi ven

me hi s own def ence. He has asked l eave t o pr i nt

and publ i sh t he whol e, most l i kel y wi t h such

addi t i ons and pr ef aces as may seem needf ul . 1

wi sh we coul d do i t , and shoul d l i ke t o wr i t e

of f er i ng t o do so at l at est on Sunday ni ght . I t i s

sur e t o pay, most l i kel y i t woul d have a ver y

l ar ge sal e. I shoul d be gl ad i f i t sol d so wel l t hat

we coul d gi ve hi m 20/ . , but at al l event s I shoul d

l i ke t o pr i nt i t . Tal k wi t h H. G. about i t . He

may have t he pamphl et s on Sat ur day af t er noon

and coul d make up hi s mi nd. I n t he meant i me a

252 " WESTWARD HO ! " [ CH. vn.

l i t t l e pr el i mi nar y t al k mi ght be usef ul . I f i t wer e

possi bl e, I shoul d l i ke t o wr i t e on Sunday ni ght , so

t hat he mj ght have t he l et t er on Monday mor ni ng.

I t hi nk i t woul d pl ease hi m and cheer hi m a

l i t t l e. . . . "

He spent t he gr eat er par t of t hi s wi nt er wi t h-

out ser i ous i l l ness at Tor quay, but on hi s r et ur n

t o Cambr i dge i n t he spr i ng t he good ef f ect s passed

of f , and i n t he summer he was obl i ged suddenl y

t o l eave home f or t he sea- si de. He went t o t he

Nor f ol k coast , t he near est t o Cambr i dge, hopi ng

t o get back soon, but a sever e at t ack of bl eedi ng

f r om t he ef f ect of east wi nd, war ned hi m t o seek

hi s secgnd home i n t he west . But bl eedi ng f r om

t he l ungs does not st op wor k. He had l at el y

r ecei ved f r om Ki ngsl ey t he sket ch of West war d

Ho ! on whi ch he wr i t es

To C. KI NGSLEY.

Page 149 of 178

" CROMER, June, 1854.

" We ar e gr eat l y t aken wi t h al l you t el l us

about t he pl an and char act er s of your novel . Of

cour se you wi l l not adopt t hat pseudo- ant i que

manner i n whi ch Esmond, Mar y Powel l , &c. , &c. ,

ar e wr i t t en. That st yl e i s now get t i ng a bor e.

The f r ee mar ch of your own st yl e wi l l be much

mor e El i zabet han i n manner and t one t han any

you can assume. We f eel sur e i t wi l l be a r i ght

br ave and nobl e book, and do good t o Engl and. "

1843- 57. ] " PAST AND PRESENT. 253

To GEORGE WI LSON.

" CROMER, Jul y 27, 1854.

" Somet i mes I f eel qui t e wel l , somet i mes ver y

i l l , and i t of t en comes i nt o my head, ' My

dear f el l ow, i t i sn' t of t he sl i ght est consequence '

( Past and Pr esent , book i i i . chap, i v. , " Happy ! " ) .

But of t ener a bet t er and mor e hopef ul message

comes. I see my f at her and mot her and Mal col m

and Wi l l i am t hr ough t he dar k cl oud, and hope t o

be par t aker s of t hei r j oy. I n t he meant i me

t he ver y l owest vi ew one can t ake i s t hat of

Car l yl e a f ar bet t er one t hat St . Paul t el l s us

of , whi ch was r eveal ed t o hi m by our bl essed

Lor d, who somet i mes gi ves us, t oo, a gl i mpse

of i t , and woul d gi ve us a f ur t her vi si on i f we

wer e f i t . "

Next mont h he i s at Tor quay, and i n a f ew

days t he cr uel f i ckl e i l l ness seems t o yi el d t o

t he sof t ai r and sun, and he can wr i t e t o hi s

br ot her

" TORQUAY, August 28, 1854.

" . . . Yest er day I was out f or above f our

hour s, si t t i ng i n t he shade of t he Eomi sh chur ch,

r eadi ng Maur i ce on t he Ol d Test ament ( i t i s a

di sgr ace t o Engl and t hat 100, 000 copi es of t he

book have not been sol d) , and l i st eni ng whi l e

254 ' NEW PUBLI CATI ONS, 1854. [ en. vi r .

r eadi ng t o most l ovel y chant i ng and si ngi ng. I

was qui t e unseen as pr i vat e as i n one' s own

r oom, and yet coul d enj oy t he sof t west wi nd

f anni ng my f ace. The sky, t he t r ees, t he musi c,

and t he book I was r eadi ng hel ped me t o r eal i se

much t hat I speak and r ead of wi t hout al ways

f eel i ng i t s f or ce. I t was a bl essed Sabbat h. "

Page 150 of 178

Amongst t he publ i cat i ons of t hi s year wer e

Maur i ce' s Eccl esi ast i cal Hi st or y and t he Ser mons

on Sacr i f i ce, West cot t ' s Canon of t he Nei v Test a-

ment , Fr ost ' s Thucydi des, and Ki ngsl ey' s Al ex-

andr i a and her School s. West war d Ho ! was

near l y compl et ed and bei ng put i n t ype, and

i t i s t o t hi s t hat t he next char act er i st i c not e

r ef er s.

To C. KI NGSLEY.

" December 12, 1854.

. " Unl ess i t r uns count er t o some deep- r oot ed

t heor y of your s, pr ay l et t he novel have head-

l i nes. I t i s. agai nst al l t he usages t o send out a

r espect abl e book ot her wi se. Why shoul d not t he

t i t l e of each chapt er be t he headi ng ? Don' t l et

i t go out l i ke a Mi ner va Pr ess novel . We want i t

t o l ook ver y handsome, and t o send i t out wi t hout

headl i nes woul d never do. You can wr i t e t o Cl ay

t el l i ng hi m what t he headi ngs ar e t o be. Why

behead your own book ? "

1843- 57. ] " THE CAMBRI DGE ESSAYS. " 255

Fr om HI S JOURNAL FOR THE NEW YEAR.

" Wednesday, Januar y 3, 1855. . . . . Wr ot e

t o Mr . Maur i ce t o- day, t o wi sh hi m a happy new

year , and many of t hem, t hat i s f or t he sake of

t he good he may do t o Engl and and t he wor l d.

For hi s own sake, sur el y, t he wor l d l i e woul d ent er

upon woul d be much abl er t o see hi m as he r eal l y

i s. He i s most sadl y mi sr epr esent ed and mi sun-

der st ood. Many of t hose who wr ot e agai nst hi m

must be ei t her shamef ul l y i gnor ant or di sgr acef ul l y

di shonest . But God has gi ven Engl and Maur i ce

as a Pr ophet , and Engl and r ecei ves pr ophet s as

I sr ael di d, and t r eat s hi m as our Lor d and Hi s

Apost l es wer e t r eat ed. He wi l l be wat ched over

and car ed f or as t hose who di d t he same wor k i n

ol d t i mes. . . . "

Geor ge Br i ml ey, t he l i br ar i an of Tr i ni t y, t o

whom t he next l et t er i s addr essed, was an i nt i mat e

f r i end and near connect i on of D. Macmi l l an, hi s

br ot her havi ng mar r i ed Br i ml ey' s si st er . Br i ml ey

was a good schol ar and cr i t i c, and had been

sel ect ed t o wr i t e on Tennyson f or t he vol ume of

Cambr i dge Essays publ i shed i n t hi s year . He had

wr i t t en t o D. Macmi l l an f or suggest i ons, knowi ng

how t hor oughl y he had st udi ed and appr eci at ed

t he l aur eat e.

256 - POETS. [ CH. vi r .

" CAMBRI DGE, Febr uar y 24, 1855.

Page 151 of 178

" . . . 1 have so t i t t l e power of expr essi ng on

paper my f eel i ngs and t hought s about t he poet s

who have been of most use i n hel pi ng me t o pur i f y

and el evat e t hese, t hat your not e r ead ver y much

l i ke i r ony.

" However , I f eel sur e i t was not so meant ;

and t hough I have not hi ng new t o say I wi l l put

down a f ew l oose r emar ks t o show you t hat I am

wi l l i ng i f I wer e abl e.

" You of cour se know t hat t her e ar e some not es

i n t he l ast edi t i on of Guesses at Tr ut h t hat woul d

be wor t h your l ooki ng at .

" I need not t el l you t hat I am qui t e i gnor ant

of t he canons of cr i t i ci sm, and can onl y speak of

Tennyson or any ot her poet as he has act ed on

me. I have no r ul es t o measur e hi m by t aken

out of books but I of cour se t hi nk a man a poet

or a r hymer accor di ng as he possesses or does not

possess cer t ai n gi f t s. I t i s not enough t hat a man

shoul d l ove and appr eci at e t he beaut i f ul , t he t r ue,

and t he good, and ent er deepl y i nt o t he st r uggl es

of hi s own t i me, and do hi s ut most t o r ai se men

out of conf usi on and di ssonance i nt o har mony and

or der . A poet must do t hi s ; but many who ar e

not poet s do so. I n our own t i me t her e ar e sever al

who st r i ve af t er al l nobl e ai ms, per haps even mor e

obvi ousl y t han Tennyson. Yet we do not cal l t hem

poet s. Yet we f eel t hat any one who deser ves

1843- 57. ] POETS. 257

t he name of a poet must f i r st of al l be a pat r i ot .

Mi l t on and Wor dswor t h ar e obvi ous exampl es.

One sees i n t he ' Pr el ude ' and t hr oughout al l

Wor dswor t h' s smal l er pi eces t hat he mi ght have

been a gr eat popul ar l eader i f a hi gher wor k had

not been assi gned hi m. Hi s hear t y l ove f or human

wor t h i n t he humbl est f or ms, hi s deep i nsi ght

enabl i ng hi m t o see i t t hr ough t he most r ugged

cover i ng, and t o despi se t he opposi t e, however

much i t mi ght be decked and gi l ded, pr ove t hat

he was a st r ong massi ve Engl i shman, j ust as

much as hi s r esol ut e, much - endur i ng wi l l and

si ngul ar sel f - conf i dence and i ndi f f er ence t o t he

cont empt t hat was shown t o hi m i n hi s yout h. I n

t hi s r espect he r emi nds one of Wel l i ngt on and

many ot her s. One demands al l t hese gi f t s f r om

a gr eat poet , but somet hi ng mor e whi ch i s speci al l y

hi s own. I t i s not t he power of maki ng smoot h

and gr acef ul ver ses, f or many weak per sons do

t hat , and many sensi bl e men t oo. These by a l ar ge

char i t y ar e cal l ed poet s, but we f eel t hat i t i s a

mi snomer . Then, agai n, many of our best pr ose

wr i t er s set f or t h wi t h a beaut i f ul cadence and

measur ed mar ch t he pur est and nobl est t hought s,

so t hat when we r ead t hem we f eel i mpel l ed t o

act nobl y ever mor e. The mor e musi cal l y t he sen-

t ence f l ows whi ch cont ai ns l of t y t hought s or t ender

Page 152 of 178

f eel i ngs, t he near er i s i t s appr oach t o poet r y we

cal l i t poet i cal . Thi s hel ps one t o under st and

what a poet i n t he hi ghest sense speci al l y i s. That

s

258 POETS. [ CH. vi i .

i s t he man who does al l t hat t he nobl est t hi nker s

do, but f ar mor e per f ect l y. They not onl y speak

about har mony, or der , bl essedness, r est , act i on,

f r eedom, vi r t ue, enj oyment , r est r ai nt , i n shor t ,

what ever const i t ut es t he gol den year and t he

heaven we al l so much need and l ong f or , and of t en

seek wher e i t i s not t o be f ound, but t hey show us

i n what i t consi st s. Ever y poem wor t h t he name

i s i t sel f a gl i mpse of t he el ement s of t r ue bl essed-

ness i t i s sel f - f or get f ul , f r ee, or der l y, and har -

moni ous compl et e, t oo, i n i t sel f , what we cal l

per f ect , and yet poi nt i ng t o somet hi ng hi gher

t han i t sel f . And i t i s j ust because al l men f eel

t he need of what t he poet i s cal l ed t o gi ve and

does gi ve t hat poet s ar e t he most popul ar of al l

wr i t er s

" Of cour se I am qui t e awar e t he poet i cal power ,

l i ke t he power of t he si st er ar t s, musi c and pai nt -

i ng may be used f or degr adi ng pur poses, t o

st r engt hen t he devi l and t he beast i n each man

r at her t han t o subdue and expel t hem. The

power i s not t he l ess a God- gi ven one. The power

i s good t hough used f or a bad, a f r i vol ous, or sel f i sh

pur pose. But t hat i s ver y obvi ous. We mi ght

cal l t hose who mi suse t hei r power f al se poet s, or

pai nt er s, or musi ci ans.

" The t r ue poet seems t o have t he same wor k

appoi nt ed as al l t r ue men. But t he mode of doi ng

hi s wor k i s di f f er ent . He not onl y sees t he i deal

i n t he r eal but he si ngs i t . Thi s i s hi s way. He

1843- 57. ] TENNYSON. 259

sees t he or der and beaut y t hat under l i e and over -

ar ch al l , and set s f or t h hi s vi si on wi t h such sweet

and power f ul musi c, and wi t h such cl ear ness, and

di st i nct ness, and exqui si t e gr ace, t hat t he most

t hought f ul and cul t i vat ed of hi s r eader s f eel . I

have seen and f el t al l t hi s bef or e, but never so

di st i nct l y, so j ust l y, so gr acef ul l y. Ever y wor d i s

r i ght l y chosen. Ther e i s not one t oo much or t oo

l i t t l e. I t seems t o be a necessi t y of hi s nat ur e

t hat i t shoul d be so. Yet i t i s al l so easy, so

nat ur al . Common l i f e i s not common i n hi s eyes.

I t ought not t o be so i n mi ne. Then what he shows

you i n f l at scener y, i n common wi l l ows, i n t he

t r ees, and f i el ds, and cl ouds, why, one has been l ook -

i ng on i t al l one' s l i f e and has never seen i t bef or e.

" Al l t hi s I have f el t t o be speci al l y t r ue of

Page 153 of 178

Tennyson. Ther e i s gi gant i c st r engt h ; al l t he

mor e evi dent l y st r ong because of i t s cal mness and

gr ace, and most wonder f ul har mony. Hi s cl ear

i nsi ght and manl y sense i s al ways nobl e and

di gni f i ed. I t never put s one f or a moment i n

mi nd of t hat knowi ngness whi ch i s cal l ed man of

t he wor l d, but whi ch al ways r emi nds one of ' ape

of t he Dead Sea. '

" My copy of Tennyson i s down at Tor quay,

wher e I r ead i t car ef ul l y l ast summer and hope t o

do t hi s, so I cannot r ef er t o any of t he poems ex -

cept t he most obvi ous, ' Locksl ey Hal l , ' t he ' Vi si on

of Si n' ( a most nobl e and wonder f ul wor k) , and ' The

Pal ace of Ar t . ' But i f I had t he vol ume I shoul d

s 2

260 " WONDERS OF THE SEA- SHORE. " [ CH. vn.

t el l you of at l east a dozen smal l poems whi ch

I coul d cl i p out of my copy wi t h gr eat good wi l l .

Ther e ar e t wo dozen l i nes i n t he ' Pr i ncess, ' and

about t he same number i n t he ' I n Memor i am'

t hat I coul d er ase.

" I f eel now t hat I have sai d not hi ng t o t he

pur pose, but I am gl ad t o show you t hat I am

wi l l i ng t hough not abl e t o do what you wi sh. "

To THE KEY. C. KI NGSLEY.

" Febr uar y 22, 1855.

" Many t hanks f or your ar r angement about t he

Wonder s of t Ji e Sea Shor e. The end of Mar ch wi l l

be a good t i me. I t wi l l make t he book come out

j ust when t he count r y l ooks beaut i f ul and peopl e

ar e t hi nki ng of t he seasi de. We know Ken-

nedy ver y wel l , and shal l wr i t e t o hi m t o say he

may have t he Edi nbur gh agency i f he car es about

i t . When we get t he t hi ng i n our hands and see

what we can do wi t h i t , what i t wi l l make and

sel l f or , we shal l make you a bi d. You may

t r ust t hat we shal l do as wel l as we can. We

don' t t hi nk i t wi l l pay t o gi ve copi es t o t he

count i y paper s. The r ascal s sel l and l end t he

books, and do mor e har m t han good. "

To C. KI NGSLEY.

" Mar ch 2, 1855.

" . . . We or der ed 5, 000 addi t i onal Br ave

Wor ds t o be pr i nt ed, and as soon as t hey ar e

1843- 57. ] " WESTWARD HO- ! " 261

r eady 1, 000 wi l l be del i ver ed t o Mr . Bul l ar .

Ever ybody says i t i s your s. Davi es bought 500

Page 154 of 178

t o gi ve away i n hi s par i sh, or r at her he and

Vi vi an j oi ned. Davi es was i mmensel y pl eased

wi t h i t , and t hought i t gave t he hi nt of a ser i es

of t r act s whi ch a man coul d di st r i but e wi t hout

scr upl e. I t mi ght be wor t h t l i i nki ng of some

day. . . .

" Of cour se you wi l l be pl eased t o hear t hat we

have had a cor r espondence wi t h Mudi e, whi ch

ended i n hi s gi vi ng us an or der f or 350 copi es of

West war d Ho! f or hi s l i br ar y. He i s t o adver t i se i n

t he London and Manchest er paper s ; t hat wi l l make

t he ot her l i br ar i es buy i t . An Exet er booksel l er i s

now wr i t i ng about a dozen copi es. We have sent

of f t i t l e- pages t o t he Tor quay booksel l er s, and

I have wr i t t en t o a Pl ymout h booksel l er about

whom I know somet hi ng ; so I hope we shal l

make a f ai r st ar t on t he 20t h.

" Hor t and Mar t i neau have squeezed a r eadi ng

of t he r ough pr oof out of my br ot her . Hor t says i t

has mor e of t he l i f e and vi gour and enj oyment of l i f e

t hat t he I l i ad shows t han any book he ever r ead.

He t hr eat ened t o wr i t e t o you about i t and ver y

l i kel y wi l l . I have not yet had my second r ead-

i ng, but at pr esent I wonder mor e and mor e at i t s

gr eat beaut y and power and wi sdom. That duel

i s mat chl ess. Then t he conver sat i on of Ai r s.

Hawki ns wher e on ear t h di d you ever meet her ?

Ther e ar e no such f ol k i n Engl and nowadays, and

262 ADVI CE TO A NEPHEW. [ CH. vn.

f ew i n Scot l and. But I have seen and hear d one

or t wo. Then Fr ank how beaut i f ul he i s, especi -

al l y i n t he Voyage and t he I nqui si t i on ! Then al l

t he t r opi cal descr i pt i ons ! you must have seen

t hem ! I was i mmensel y pl eased wi t h your est i -

mat e of Don Qui xot e. I t i s by f ar t he best t hi ng

I have ever seen on t he subj ect . . . .

" I f or got t o say t hat we al l t hi nk t he endi ng

somewhat pai nf ul . We have no doubt you ar e

qui t e r i ght . But i t i s sad t o see so nobl e a soul as

Amyas al most eat en up wi t h r evenge. Eemember

t hese ar e onl y f i r st i mpr essi ons. "

To a nephew whom he had br ought up f r om

Scot l and and pl aced i n t he busi ness :

" TORQUAY, May 2, 1855.

" As you wer e l ef t under my car e a l ong t i me

ago by your f at her and mot her , I dar esay you

somet i mes wonder t hat I don' t somet i mes gi ve

you f or mal advi ce. I have not done so f or sever al

r easons. Fi r st , because I am so ver y much i n

need of i t mysel f , t hat i t woul d l ook pr et endi ng

t o mor e wi sdom and goodness t han I have, i f I

wer e t o wr i t e or speak l ong homi l i es t o you.

A second r eason i s t hat such t hi ngs ar e con-

si der ed a ver y gr eat bor e. Though I say you

Page 155 of 178

must somet i mes wonder t hat you don' t get t hem,

I am qui t e sur e t hat you have no i nt ense

desi r e f or t hem. I know al so f r om exper i ence t hat

1843- 57. ] ADVI CE TO A NEPHEW. 2- 33

t hey of t en r ender t hat di sagr eeabl e whi ch t hey

wer e meant t o make at t r act i ve. I r emember havi ng

i t made cl ear t o me t hat i f one wer e t o be ver y

good one woul d get on wel l and r i se t o r i ches

and di st i nct i on. My answer was, ' Why, t hen,

mor al i t y and r el i gi on i n your vi ew i s si mpl y

maki ng a good specul at i on. ' And when I came

t o exami ne t he mat t er f or mysel f , I di d not f i nd

t hat t he best and nobl est peopl e wer e t he most

successf ul i n t hese mat t er s. I saw at home my

own f at her , t han whom a nobl er and mor e godl y

man never t r od t hi s ear t h, br oken down wi t h t oi l

and car e and i l l - heal t h, and sent t o hi s gr ave soon

af t er he was my age. Then my mot her , who was

a sai nt , i f ever t her e was one, wor n out l ong bef or e

her t i me, and f ul l of car es and anxi et i es about

ot her s. Then my br ot her s Mal col m and Wi l l i am,

j ust t he same. But t aki ng a wi der r ange, al l hi st or y

t el l s t he same st or y. So i t seemed t o me t hat t he

' get t i ng on ' was not t he t r ue mot i ve t o a nobl e

and godl y l i f e. I t st r uck me t hat bei ng nobl e and

gent l e, and j ust and t r ue, and meek and l owl y of

hear t , and ki nd and gener ous, and pur e of hear t

and of l i f e and speech, wer e i n t hemsel ves f ar

gr eat er t hi ngs t han r i ches or hi gh posi t i on coul d

pur chase. I f ound i n t he 19t h Psal m and i n t he

Ser mon on t he Mount t hat t hat was t he Chr i st i an

vi ew. I f ound al so t hat as much l i ght as t hat had

been gi ven t o Pl at o. But I won' t go i nt o t hese

quest i ons, because ( and t hat i s t he t hi r d r eason

264 ADVI CE TO A NEPHEW. [ OH. vi r .

why I have not gi ven you advi ce) I know

t hat you ar e al ways under t he hand and under

t he eye of t he Gr eat Teacher and Ki ng and

Fat her of your spi r i t . Any l ove we can have

f or you i s but a f ai nt r ef l ex of Hi s, whi ch

never var i es.

" For mysel f I f ound gr eat i nst r uct i on i n r eadi ng

Maur i ce on t he Ol d Test ament bef or e I l ef t home,

and hi s book on The Uni t y of t he New Test ament

si nce I came her e. I don' t advi se you t o r ead

ei t her of t hese books, because no one can t el l

what wi l l sui t anot her . I onl y ment i on t hem i n

passi ng. . . . "

To THE SAME.

" TORQUAY, May 19, 1855.

Page 156 of 178

" Your r emar ks about doi ng good and r i ght

act s f or t he sake of goodness and r i ght eousness

wer e ver y good and i nt er est i ng, and al so t he

quot at i ons f r om Dr . Aber cr ombi e' s book on t he

mor al f eel i ngs. I have no doubt t hat t he mean-

i ng of many t hi ngs whi ch now puzzl e you wi l l

come out i nt o cl ear ness by exper i ence and by

t he t eachi ng of t hat Spi r i t whi ch pr oceeds f r om

t he Fat her and t he Son, who never l eaves you

but cont i nues t o speak t o you and al l men,

whet her we l i st en or no. We may be deaf ,

dr owned i n out war d t hi ngs, and never hear , or

we may be consci ous of Hi s pr esence, and voi ce,

1843- 57. ] ADVI CF. TO A NEPHEW. 265

and what He says ( what we cal l t he voi ce of

consci ence, t he i nner eye or ear , or sense common

t o man as man, and not dependi ng on cl ever -

ness or knowl edge) , and when we hear we may

r esi st or may obey. I f we obey, and i n pr o-

por t i on t o t he absol ut eness of our obedi ence, we

ar e bl essed. I f we di sobey, t he cont r ar y f ol l ows.

Thi s i s because our t r ue const i t ut i on r equi r es

per f ect obedi ence, t he yi el di ng up of our own

wi l l s t o t he Di vi ne Wi l l . We can onl y see what

our t r ue const i t ut i on i s by r eadi ng and st udyi ng

our Bl essed Lor d and Redeemer , t he Et er nal Son

of God, t hr ough whom we ar e made chi l dr en of

God. We al l manki nd have l ed and do l ead

di sobedi ent l i ves, di seased l i ves, not accor di ng t o

t he t r ue const i t ut i on of man. We f eel t he evi l

nat ur e wi t hi n us st r uggl i ng f or t he pr edomi nance.

We f eel t he hi gher nat ur e, t he t r ue Chr i st - gi ven

const i t ut i on, war r i ng agai nst t he enemi es whi ch

assai l us. The nat ur e of t hese enemi es and t he

way of escape i s nowher e bet t er set f or t h t han i n

t he ' Li t any. ' One knows t hat t he power of habi t

i s so gr eat t hat al l who do evi l we al l f eel t hi s

mor e or l ess woul d si nk l ower and l ower , and

wi t hout hope, wer e i t not f or t he power of our

Eedeemer and Sanct i f i er , by whom t he chai n of

our si ns i s br oken, and t he power t o t hi nk good

and pur e t hought s i s gi ven. Thus man does come

t o under st and t hat goodness and r i ght eousness and

wi sdom can onl y be f ound i n Hi m who cr eat ed,

266 ADVI CE TO A NEPHEW. [ CH. vn.

r edeemed, and pur i f i es, and who i s r i ght and

t r ue, and good and wi se. Per haps a good deal of

t hi s wi l l seem mer e wor ds t o you. Onl y exper i ence,

act ual l i f e, and f i ght i ng wi t h t he evi l s of l i f e t he

wor l d, t he f l esh, and t he devi l wi l l show you how

r eal i t al l i s. For al l t he mi ght i est t r ut hs com-

muni on wi t h God, and doi ng Hi s wi l l , whi ch i s

l i f e ; or communi on wi t h t he evi l spi r i t , and doi ng

hi s wi l l , whi ch i s conf usi on, mi ser y, deat h may

be exper i enced i n si mpl e dai l y l i f e. Al l pat hs,

t he l owl i est and t he l of t i est , have heaven over head

Page 157 of 178

and i n t he hear t , or hel l under neat h and i n t he

hear t . We may at t ai n al l t he excel l ence of whi ch

humani t y i s capabl e whi l e doi ng t he si mpl est dai l y

dut i es. The gr eat t hi ng i s t o f eel t hat He has

pl aced us at our sever al post s, and r esol ve t o

do t he dut y t hat l i es near est us. Thus we shal l

gat her st r engt h. Ther e i s no need f or st r ai n-

i ng and maki ng gr eat ef f or t s. The way t o get

r i d of evi l t hought s and act i ons i s qui et l y t o

occupy onesel f wi t h good ones. I n t hi s we ar e

sur e of hel p. You see I have spoken at l engt h

on t he poi nt s you ment i on. I don' t know t hat

I have cl ear ed up any mat t er t o you. But I

have done my best , and t hat I shal l al ways be

gl ad t o do. . . . "

To hi s br ot her , i n answer t o a pr oposal t o pr i nt

at once a cheap edi t i on of Mr . Maur i ce' s Lear ni ng

and Wor ki ng, j ust publ i shed :

1843- 57. ] MR. MAURI CE' S WORKS. ' 2 ' 7

" TORQUAY, May 24, 1855.

" To make Lear ni ng and Wor ki ng answer at

2s. , you must have a sal e of 8, 000, and Maur i ce

hasn' t such an audi ence. Besi des t hat , we don' t

mean t o publ i sh ugl y books. I woul d st r ongl y

advi se Maur i ce not t o publ i sh any mor e books

t han t hose al r eady pr oj ect ed. I know f r om some-

t hi ng he sai d t hat he woul d l i ke t o say somet hi ng

about t he war , but I t ook no not i ce of i t . He

has qui t e enough on hi s hands al r eady. When

he i s wr i t i ng on t he Apocal ypse he can come

out about t he war , but no separ at e pamphl et s

or ser mons. I hope, however , t hat he pr eser ves

al l t hose he pr eaches. But i n t he meant i me

t he compl et i on of t he Mor al Phi l osophy, t he

St . John, and t he Eccl esi ast i cal Hi st or y ar e

qui t e enough f or one man t o have on hi s hands.

Scol d F. f or di st ur bi ng Mr . Maur i ce about new

schemes. . . . I f I wer e r i ch I woul d cer t ai nl y

make an ef f or t t o get hi s books i nt o wi de ci r -

cul at i on by i ssui ng t hem i n I d. number s. That

I shoul d l i ke t o do, and al so a f r esh t r ansl at i on of

t he Bi bl e, wi t h a shor t i nt r oduct i on and mar gi nal

not es t o show t he cour se of t he hi st or y or ar gu-

ment . That I shoul d l i ke hawked about i n I d.

number s. These t wo t hi ngs ar e much near er my

hear t t han a per i odi cal . However , we must t ake

t o t he t asks t hat ar e cl ear l y gi ven us. "

268 SUGGESTED WORK FOR C. KI NGSLEY. [ CH. vn.

To HI S BROTHER.

Page 158 of 178

" TORQUAY, June, 1855.

" When I saw F. ' s l et t er I f el t vexed t hat t hey

ur ged hi m t o pr i nt t hat addr ess, but when I r ead i t

t hi s mor ni ng I wi shed t hat ever ybody i n Engl and

coul d do t he same. How t r ue and nobl e i t i s ! what

wonder f ul i nsi ght t he man has ! I am gl ad, how-

ever , t o see t hat he i s goi ng on wi t h hi s Hi st or i cal

Lect ur es, whi ch ar e sur e t o be ver y gr eat . I have

f ai t h t hat hi s books wi l l sel l when Engl and can

bear t hem. We wi l l hel p t o make hi s audi ence.

The mor e I t hi nk of i t , t he mor e st r ongl y I shoul d

advi se t he st er eot ypi ng al l t he books he pr i nt s,

t hey ar e so ver y gr eat .

" I have been t hi nki ng i t woul d be a capi t al pl an

f or Ki ngsl ey i n hi s next moder n novel t o t ake up

Mr s. Gr undy, and make t he l eadi ng char act er s ver y

cl ever , and t hi nk and speak i n t he spi r i t of t he

day del i ght ed wi t h t he gr eat ness of our com-

mer ce, pol i t i cal syst em, ar t , l i t er at ur e, and sci ence,

and ut t er i ng br i l l i ant t r ui sms on al l t he common-

pl ace t opi cs of cour se i ncl udi ng t he war , whi ch

of cour se wi l l be t he l eadi ng subj ect ver y t r ue

and r i ght , but one- si ded and sensi bl e goosey, but

j ust what goes down f or t he hei ght of wi sdom and

sagaci t y. A ver y young man mi ght come i n who

had geni us and i nsi ght , but somet i mes, i ndeed,

of t en, mi xed up f ool i sh dr eams wi t h hi s wi sdom.

1843- 57. ] PERPLEXI NG HEALTH. 269

He shoul d not be al l owed t o say much, and some

cl ever commonpl ace f el l ow shoul d snub hi m and

put hi m down wi t h sound good sense, and some

unquest i onabl e axi oms. The yout h shoul d f eel

put down, and t ake i n t he wi sdom cont ai ned i n

t he commonpl ace. That shoul d be hi s t r ai ni ng t o

wi sdom. But i n t he book t hi s shoul d not be seen.

The Gr undy vi ew of t hi ngs shoul d seem t r i -

umphant . Thi s woul d be sur e t o make t he book

a gr eat hi t . I t woul d be l ooked on as a r ecant a-

t i on of hi s er r or s. By and by he mi ght t ur n t he

t abl es by a bi ogr aphy of t he yout h, who shoul d

have r ecogni sed al l t he t r ut h i n al l t he si des of

Gr undyi sm. But i n t he meant i me he r eal l y ought

t o do such a novel as I suggest , j ust f or t he f un of

t he t hi ng, and f or t he sake of t he wi sdom t hat

mi ght f ol l ow. Per haps t her e coul d be no bet t er

way of showi ng t hat t r ut h does not dest r oy, but

f ul f i l s al l t he aspi r at i ons and good t hat l i e i n t he

most conf used syst ems. "

To HI S BROTHER.

" TORQUAY, June, 1855.

" I don' t wonder at your bei ng per pl exed at my

account s of my heal t h. They per pl ex mysel f . My

di gest i on and gener al heal t h wer e never bet t er . I

am evi dent l y gai ni ng f l esh and st r engt h. I wal k

wi t h r eal enj oyment . Cough sel dom t r oubl es me,

Page 159 of 178

and never vi ol ent l y. My br eat hi ng i s so ver y

270 PERPLEXI NG HEALTH. [ CH. vn.

much f r eer t han i t has been f or many a day. Yet

now and t hen t her e ar e shar p pai ns t hr ough my

chest j ust under t he bl i st er , and t he bl eedi ng goes

on at shor t i nt er val s not ver y ser i ousl y never

qui t e pur e bl ood, and al ways t o t he evi dent r el i ef

of my br eat hi ng. Thi s ki nd of t hi ng occur s at

st at ed i nt er val s. Then t her e i s none al l day

agai n. Per haps t hr ee days pass, and i t comes

on agai n. But i t has no i nf l uence on my heal t h.

Now and t hen i t does af f ect my spi r i t s. I

t hi nk of my poor wi dow and her or phan chi l dr en,

and al l t he r est . Then I r ecover and t hi nk of t he

l ove and car e t hat i s wat chi ng over us al l , and

say, Not my wi l l , but Thi ne be done. But , on t he

whol e, I am hopef ul of my r ecover y. I am l ook-

i ng so much bet t er . Dr . Tet l ey does not seem t o

car e much about t he bl ood- spi t t i ng, and never

suggest s any medi ci ne. He t hi nks i t bet t er t han

t he l abour ed r espi r at i on I had l ast year . I ndeed,

when I t hi nk of l ast year , I shoul d say t hat I am

qui t e wel l . Fanny says she never saw me l ook so

wel l , and she i s f ul l of hope, t he bl ood- spi t t i ng

not wi t hst andi ng, and she knows al l about i t . We

ar e not wi t hout hope t hat even t hat may go away

bef or e l ong, and t hen I shal l gat her st r engt h st i l l

f ast er t han I have been doi ng. I have t ol d you

t he whol e t r ut h r espect i ng t hi s mat t er . The f act

i s I meant t o do so f r om day t o day, and most

l i ke] y I di d, but i t l ooks cont r adi ct i ous. You wi l l

under st and i t bet t er af t er t hi s expl anat i on. "

1843- 57. ] MAURI CE ON SACRI FI CE. 271

The next l et t er dat es f r om Cambr i dge, wher e he

had been abl e t o r et ur n f or st ock- t aki ng and

maki ng up t he year ' s account s. Mr . Maur i ce' s

book on Sacr i f i ce was j ust out , and cr i t i ci sm on i t

aboundi ng, one of whi ch i s t he subj ect of t he

next l et t er t o hi s br ot her :

" CAMBRI DGE, Jul y 6, 1855

' ' I t ook Bl ackwood wi t h me t o t he t op of

t he hi l l and r ead i t cal ml y ( whi l e t he sweet est

cool br eeze was cool i ng, cheer i ng, i nvi gor at i ng,

my wi f e, my chi l dr en whose voi ces at a l i t t l e

di st ance made i t pl easant er and mysel f ) and

qui et l y, ever y wor d ; some of i t of t euer t han once.

The man i s not ver y cl ever . Hi s l i ght chaf f i s

ver y damp and l ooks a f ai l ur e. Depend on i t

he i s some Scot ch par son per haps Candl i sh

some one of t hat cut . The pr et ence not t o

know about t heol ogy i s pr et ence. Such as i t i s

r at her heat heni sh i t i s t he man' s t r ade. Some of

t he t hi ngs l ook l i ke bi t s of ol d ser mons made t o

sui t Bl ackwood. I shoul d l i ke t o hear who i t i s.

Page 160 of 178

I f r epor t says a l ayman I shal l di sbel i eve t he

r epor t . He wr i t es l i ke a bi r d of dar kness. But

he shoul d be answer ed. I t i s cur i ous t o see

how he avoi ds st at i ng hi s own vi ew of sacr i f i ce,

yet he f eel s t hat t he one set f or t h by Maur i ce as

t he popul ar one, i s ver y hat ef ul ; and he i s not

abl e t o compr ehend t he Chr i st i an doct r i ne of sacr i -

f i ce, t he sel f - concei t bl i ndi ng hi m. Many of t he

272 MATJKI CE OJST SACRI FI CE. [ OH. vn.

ext r act s he gi ves f r om Maur i ce ar e wonder f ul l y

beaut i f ul . Somet i mes i t seems as i f hi s obj ect

wer e t o do Maur i ce good, but he soon shows t hat

hi s pur pose i s ver y di f f er ent . St i l l , I cannot t hi nk

t he ar t i cl e wi l l do much har m. My chi ef r eason f or

wi shi ng he woul d answer i t i s, t hat he set s f or t h

most of t he popul ar f al sehoods agai nst Maur i ce.

He mi ght di spose of t hem al l i n a dozen pages

of t he pr ef ace t o t he second edi t i on of t he Ol d

Test ament . I f not , he had bet t er l et t he mat t er

al one. The wr i t er char ges Maur i ce wi t h :

" ( 1) Maki ng man a st andar d f or God.

" ( 2) That he does not bel i eve i n a r evel at i on,

pr oper l y so- cal l ed.

" ( 3) That he over l ooks t he f al l and i t s con-

sequences.

" ( 4) That God does not i nt er f er e di r ect l y wi t h

human af f ai r s.

" ( 5) That he f ai l s t o show what t he meani ng of

sl ayi ng t he l amb i n t he Ol d Test ament sacr i f i ces was.

. " ( 6) That he mi sr epr esent s t he char act er and

wor k of Noah and hi s sacr i f i ces.

" ( 7) So Abr aham.

" ( 8) That hi s not i on of sacr i f i ce bei ng t he Law

of Li f e, and bel ongi ng t o t he most per f ect con-

di t i on, i s nonsense ; whi ch t he wr i t er wi t t i l y i l l us -

t r at es by t he f abl e of t he Man and t he Ass.

" ( 9) That he makes Davi d see hi s means of

sacr i f i ce, wher eas t he apost l es di d not t i l l af t er

Chr i st ' s deat h.

1843- 57. ] MAURI CE ON SACRI FI CE. 273

. ^ ,

' ' ( 10) That Mr . Maur i ce ut t er l y f ai l s t o show

t he meani ng and pur pose of Chr i st ' s sacr i f i ce.

Page 161 of 178

" ( 11) Set s f or t h an el egant t heol ogy so di f -

f er ent f r om t he Bi bl e so mi l d and phi l an-

t hr ophi c ( si c) ,

" Now i t seems t o me t hat t hese i ncl ude t he

most popul ar bl under s about Mr . Maur i ce and hi s

t heol ogy. He mi ght say a f ew wor ds on each

poi nt t hat woul d be ver y usef ul . Thr ee l i nes on

t he j ocul ar t one assumed by t he par son- wr i t er

woul d be enough.

" When you have made up your mi nd about t he

r epr i nt of t he Ol d Test ament , you or I mi ght wr i t e

t o hi m on t he subj ect . He coul d appeal t o t he

ser mons i n t hi s vol ume agai nst al l t he char ges, and

br i ng out di st i nct l y hi s f ai t h and t eachi ng. St . Paul

and St . John as our Lor d had al l t hat ki nd of

wor k t o do wi t h t he r el i gi ous and r espect abl e

peopl e of t hei r day and t he devi l i s not dead yet .

But we may r ej oi ce t hat t he Evi l One, and al l hi s

pr ogeny, wi l l be ut t er l y put down. Of t hat we

have t he f ul l assur ance of God and al l Hi s pr o-

phet s. May we be enabl ed t o hel p i n t hat good

wor k! I t wi l l be done, whet her we do or no.

May God hel p us al l . I see t hat t he f i r st ar t i cl e

i n t he Quar t er l y i s ' The l at e Ar chdeacon Har e. '

Tel l me about i t ; but unl ess i t shoul d be ver y

f i ne i ndeed, don' t send i t me. "

Those who ar e ol d enough t o r emember t he

T

274 TENNYSON' S " MAUD. " [ CH. vn.

Cr i mean War wi l l r ecol l ect t he bur st of i r r i t at i on

wi t h whi ch Mr . Tennyson' s Maud was r ecei ved

by t he pr ess, i n t he mi dst of t he agoni zi ng st r ai n

of t he wi nt er si ege of Sebast opol . I t wi l l amuse

younger r eader s t o see how t he poet l aur eat e,

whose ever y wor d i s now t r easur ed by t he whol e

r eadi ng publ i c, and quar r el l ed f or by compet i ng

publ i sher s, was r egar ded i n t hose days.

To HI S BROTHER.

" TORQUAY, Ai i gust 2, 1855.

" The mor e I t hi nk of i t t he mor e I admi r e t he

bol dness of Mr . Tennyson i n exposi ng t he deep-

r oot ed sel f i shness of our t i me, and showi ng what

an ut t er f ai l ur e i t i s. The met hod he has chosen

seems t o me al most t he onl y one he coul d have

chosen. The man who compl ai ns i s as much out

of t une as t hose he r ai l s at , and i n hi s r ai l i ng you

see anot her f or m of sel f i shness. The poor f el l ow

f eel s t hat hi msel f and r ai l s at hi msel f . Then hi s

madness enabl es hi m t o dr aw i n t he st r ongest

col our s t he hat ef ul ness and l i t t l eness of so much

t hat passes f or at t r act i ve and gr eat . Then t he war

l ooked on as a way out of so much evi l i s not new.

The war i n i t s management has l ai d bar e much of

Page 162 of 178

i t , and may per haps l ead t o gr eat sear chi ngs of

hear t . I t i s t o me qui t e del i ght f ul t o see a man

speak out what he t hi nks so br avel y, especi al l y

when he knows i t must be so unpopul ar . For t he

1843- 57. ] TENNYSON' S " MAUD. " 275

Ti mes, i n t he mi dst of al l t he evi l s t hat ar e bei ng

l ai d bar e, dai l y boast s, i n a most r ot t en- hear t ed

way, ' t hat t he peopl e i s sound at hear t . ' Wher eas

what we need i s ' t o t ur n t o God ' and have t he

axe l ai d at t he r oot of t he t r ee, and seek t he

gr eat est of bl essi ngs, nat i onal r epent ance, as a

del i ver ance f r om t he common l yi ng, and cant of

phar i sees and at hei st s ( i f t her e i s any di f f er ence

at hear t ) , and al l i nt er medi at e par t i es, i ncl udi ng

t he phi l osopher s. "

And agai n a mont h l at er

" I have j ust had a t hi r d r eadi ng of Maud,

and r eal l y I t hi nk al l t he cr i t i ci sms I have

seen mor e absur d t han ever t he Ti mes, Dai l y

News, Li t er ar y Gazet t e, Mor ni ng Her al d, Gt i ar di an,

Di spat ch. I don' t wonder at t hei r bei ng angr y

wi t h hi m f or choosi ng such a subj ect , or f or

t he way he l ays bar e t he evi l s of soci et y, i ncl ud-

i ng t he bi t t er ness and sel f i shness of t he her o of

t he st or y but I do mar vel at t hei r pr et endi ng

t hat t he execut i on i s i nf er i or t o anyt hi ng he has

ever done. I t seems t o me i f possi bl e mor e

per f ect . The way i n whi ch t he r hyt hm al t er s t o

sui t t he t one of t hought i s mor e per f ect l y ar t i st i c

t han anyt hi ng even he has done bef or e. However ,

t hat t he poem shoul d i r r i t at e most of t hose who

r ead i t i s qui t e nat ur al . I n i t I f ound, t he f i r st

and second t i me, and st i l l mor e t he t hi r d, a gr eat

deal t o humbl e me. I t t ouches so cl osel y on t he

T 2

276 J. M. CAMPBELL. [ CH. vi r .

si ns t hat cl eave t o one. As I sai d bef or e, I am

sur e he has done a good wor k, and a r i ght and

br ave one i n wr i t i ng and publ i shi ng Maud. I t

must do good al l t he mor e i f i t i s dul y hat ed and

abused i f onl y i t i s r ead. "

I n Sept ember he r ecei ved a vi si t f r om John

Macl eod Campbel l , who was desi r ous t hat t he f i r m

shoul d publ i sh bi s wor k on t he At onement . They

became f r i ends at once ; and Dani el ' s est i mat e of

hi s di st i ngui shed count r yman may be gat her ed

f r om t he f ol l owi ng ext r act s f r om l et t er s t o Mr .

Hor t : -

" TORQUAY, Sept ember 25, 1855.

Page 163 of 178

" I have sel dom seen a mor e sai nt l y man t han

t hi s Mr . Campbel l : a good por t r ai t of hi m woul d

hel p t he usef ul ness of hi s book. A deep qui et

j oy and l ove shi nes f r om hi s f ace, but mor e

st r ongl y f r om hi s r ound open eye. Hi s manner

has t he ease of a f i ni shed cour t i er and t hor ough

man of t he wor l d ; but you have not spoken a

dozen wor ds bef or e you see t hat i t i s f ar deeper .

He i s not hi ng l i ke so st r ong a man as hi s f r i end

Al exander Scot t , but has t he same l ove f or a cl ear

f oot i ng on mot her ear t h, t hough hi s eye and hear t

dwel l i n t hat whi ch t he ear t h does not yi el d. 5 '

" TORQUAY, Sept ember 29, 1855.

" I have ver y near l y r ead Mr . Campbel l ' s manu-

scr i pt , whi ch I ver y gr eat l y l i ke. I have al so had

1843- 57. ] FAI LI NG HEALTH. 277

anot her l ong t al k wi t h hi m. I l i ke hi m mor e

and mor e. He i s a most ' heavenl y- mi nded ' man.

One can qui t e under st and why I r vi ng and Er ski ne

and Chal mer s l oved hi m so much, and why

Al exander Scot t and Mr . Maur i ce and ot her s

al ways speak of hi m wi t h such af f ect i on. He

came her e yest er day mor ni ng at hal f - past ei ght

and st ayed t i l l t hr ee, and i t seemed onl y a shor t

hal f hour , so pl easant was i t . "

As t he aut umn dr ew on t he hopes of r egai ni ng

heal t h, whi ch so of t en f l i t t ed bef or e hi m dur i ng

hi s l ong vi si t s t o Tor quay, wer e once agai n f adi ng

away. Mor e and mor e ever y year i s t her e need of

a st out hear t t o f i ght t he bat t l e of l i f e f ai r l y out

t o t he end. I n t hi s mood he wr i t es on t he eve

of hi s r et ur n t o Cambr i dge f or t he Mi chael mas

Ter m :

" TORQUAY, Sept ember 19, 1855.

" . . . At one t i me I hoped t hat t he l ong

r est s I have been abl e t o t ake, and t he wi se

advi ce of t he best physi ci ans, and t he const ant

car e of t he most sel f - denyi ng and l ovi ng of

wi ves, and t he most r i gi d at t ent i on t o al l t he

means pr escr i bed ( f or i nst ance, i ssues and open

bl i st er s f or now upwar ds of ei ght year s) woul d

have r est or ed me t o heal t h by God' s bl essi ng. But

now I have no such hope. Ther e i s no doubt t hat

not wi t hst andi ng al l t hese means, ever y year f i nds

278 FAI LI NG HEALTH. [ OH. vu.

me weaker , and t hat t he di sease of t he l ungs i n-

cr eases. So, i nst ead of ever hopi ng f or heal t h, al l

I can hope f or i s t o mai nt ai n a const ant st and- up

f i ght wi t h deat h. Sor e bat t l e i t i s, and onl y t he

l ove f or my wi f e and chi l dr en coul d make me wi sh

i t pr ol onged f or a day. But f or t hei r sakes I do

wi sh i t most ear nest l y f or my shar e i n t he

Page 164 of 178

busi ness di es wi t h me and poor Fanny woul d

have a har d st r uggl e wi t h t hese t hr ee chi l dr en

so young. Wi t h God' s hel p she woul d be abl e,

I have no doubt f or she has a r i ght val i ant hear t

and st r ong f ai t h and a cl ear head and r eady

hand but yet i t woul d be sad t o see her l ef t wi t h

such a t ask. I hope i t wi l l not be. But God' s

wi l l be done. That i s al ways t he best , t hough we

do not under st and and see how i t wor ks. Hi s l ove

under l i es and over ar ches al l ; and our Lor d Jesus

Chr i st i s as r eal l y wat chi ng over and r ul i ng al l as

when He cur ed di seases and t aught Hi s di sci pl es

i n Judaea 1800 year s ago. So i n t hat I may

t r ust .

" Many f i ne dr eams t hat I used t o have ar e now

seen t o be onl y dr eams. I used t o hope t hat I

shoul d get r i ch, and t hat I shoul d be abl e t o hel p

some of Kat e' s chi l dr en, and Mar y' s, and ot her s

of our ki ndr ed ; and t hi nk what del i ght i t woul d

have been t o r ne. Ever si nce I mar r i ed I have

kept t hi nki ng what a pl easur e i t woul d have been

i f one coul d have t r ai ned and br ought up a pr et t y

l i t t l e son of Mal col m McKay' s t hat I saw wi t h hi s

1843- 57. ] FAI LI NG HEALTH. 279

gr andf at her . I t hought of t he many ki ndnesses

of my uncl e and aunt , and how gl ad I shoul d have

been t o show my gr at i t ude i n t hat way. But i t i a

ver y l i kel y t hat a good deal of vani t y may have

mi xed wi t h al l t hese cast l es i n t he ai r of mi ne. At

any r at e, t hi ngs have t ur ned out so di f f er ent l y f r om

my hopes and pr oved my hopes t o be vai n dr eams.

Thi s and many ot her di sappoi nt ment s have humbl ed

me gr eat l y, and I hope t hey may have done me

good. They have not t aught me al l t hey ought ,

nor made me humbl e enough. I am begi nni ng t o

l ear n not t o be over - anxi ous about anyt hi ng, and

not t o f r et because I cannot do many t hi ngs t hat

I shoul d l i ke t o do. I begi n t o see t hat i t may be

I shoul d not r eal l y have been i mpr ovi ng t hose

I t hought of r emovi ng t o st r ange posi t i ons. At

any r at e, I f eel sur e t hat I and t hey ar e i n God' s

hand, and al ways under Hi s gr aci ous t r ai ni ng, even

t hough we may deny and f or get Hi m. . . . "

Hi s f or ebodi ngs wer e soon r eal i zed on t hei r

r et ur n t o Cambr i dge. Onl y a f ew days af t er war ds

hi s wi f e wr i t es :

" Novar i bcr 15, 1855.

" . . . . We f ound our new beaut i f ul nur ser y,

and enj oyed our home ver y much f or a f ew days,

but t he next week my dear husband t ook a t er -

r i bl e col d and was i n bed a whol e day. I t was

di st r essi ng t o begi n so af t er a whol e summer f r om

280 NEW PUBLI CATI ONS, 1855. [ en. vn.

Page 165 of 178

home i n sear ch of heal t h : i t made us t al k of

gi vi ng up our house and t aki ng one on t he Hi l l

near busi ness. "

The year whi ch was t hus cl osi ng i n so mour n-

f ul l y had been an act i ve and memor abl e one f or

t he f i r m. Besi des a second ser i es of Ar cher

But l er ' s Ser mons, Campbel l ' s At onement , and

Har dwi ck' s Chr i st and ot her Mast er s, t hey had

publ i shed Ki ngsl ey' s Gl aucus, Her oes, and West -

war d Ho! and by ar r angement wi t h J. W.

Par ker had t aken over al l t he ear l i er wor ks of

Maur i ce. Tor year s t hi s had been a cher i shed

wi sh of Dani el Macmi l l an' s. I t was now r eal i sed,

and he f el t t hat he had acqui r ed new power f or

t he wor k whi ch he had l ong r ecogni sed as t he

hi ghest t o whi ch he coul d devot e hi msel f .

I t i s necessar y t o keep t he pai nf ul r ecor d of

f ai l i ng heal t h and st r engt h i n mi nd t o appr eci at e

t he wor k whi ch went on st eadi l y i n spi t e of i t .

Hi s cor r espondence woul d f i l l vol umes, and shows

no si gn of wear i ness or r epi ni ng. No new openi ng

i s negl ect ed, and advi ce, suggest i on, cr i t i ci sm, i s

al ways r eady f or any compet ent man i n t r avai l

wi t h an i dea wor t h expr essi ng. But bef or e al l

t hi ngs st ands hi s anxi et y t o spr ead t he i nf l uence

of t he t eacher t o whom he hi msel f owed mor e

t han t o al l ot her s. A f ew ext r act s f r om hi s cor -

r espondence f or t he next year , wi l l show how he

was wor ki ng f or t hi s obj ect .

1843- 57. ] MR. MAURI CE' S HABI TS. 281

To J. MACLEHOSE.

" Apr i l , 1856.

" . . . . The f act i s t hat Mr . Maur i ce has

wonder f ul vi gour and power of endur ance, or l i e

coul d not st and t he wor k he does. He i s const ant l y

wor ki ng, and t akes f ar t oo l i t t l e r est . He does

not go t o bed t i l l t wel ve or at l east hal f - past

el even. He of t en r i ses at hal f - past t hr ee, and

r ar el y ever i s l at er t han f i ve, or hal f - past . These

ear l y hour s ar e hi s chi ef hour s of st udy, and of

cour se he must val ue t hem so hi ghl y t hat i t can

onl y be a l ong i l l ness t hat wi l l get hi m t o gi ve

t hem up, and do hi s heal t h a l i t t l e mor e j ust i ce.

I n t he dayt i me he has so much on hi s hands, he i s

so r eady t o r un al l about London t o obl i ge any one.

He has so many good wor ks al ways i n hand, and

i s so of t en cal l ed on by peopl e who wi sh t o consul t

hi m, and has so many l et t er s t o answer , t hat one

does not wonder at hi s r obbi ng hi msel f of hi s r est

f or t he sake of st udy. . . . I am gl ad t o hear of

any one who f ul l y r ecogni ses t he gr eat bl essi ng

t hat God has conf er r ed on t hi s gener at i on i n

sendi ng i t so godl y, so br ave, and so meek a

t eacher as Mr . Maur i ce. "

Page 166 of 178

To t he KEY. F. D. MAURI CE.

" CAMBRI DGE, August , 1856.

" MY DEAR FRI END,

" I ought t o have sent a l i ne al ong wi t h t he

account . I t r eal l y i s not so bad as i t seems t o you.

282 MR. MAURI CE' S AUDI ENCE. [ en. vn.

I t r epr esent s a gr eat mass of books and t he st er eo-

t ype pl at es of t he f i r st vol ume of t he Ol d Test a-

ment . Then when t he books came i nt o our hands,

we t hought i t needf ul t o spend mor e i n adver t i si ng

t han we shoul d t hi nk of doi ng agai n. Then we

had t o do some up i n cl ot h wi t h f r esh t i t l e- pages

So a good deal of t hi s expense was i ncur r ed by t he

t r ansf er . The sal e i s not so l ar ge as we expect ed.

Yet when you consi der t hat t hey ar e not f ashi on-

abl e, and t hat ever y copy t hat i s sol d i s bought

f or pur poses of st udy, I f ancy t hat one may make

up one' s mi nd t hat t hey ar e havi ng a f ar gr eat er

i nf l uence t han many books, t he sal e of whi ch i s

t en t i mes as l ar ge. Ther ef or e I t hi nk t hat what

i s now want ed i s pat i ence t o wai t and see t he

r esul t . We shal l not f ai l i n our par t of t he wor k

i n keepi ng t hem dul y bef or e t he booksel l er s, and

not l et t hem be l ost si ght of . I do hope you wi l l

publ i sh t he St . John. I shoul d not be sur pr i sed

i f i t had a much l ar ger sal e t han any ot her of your

books, f or sur el y i t i s what men want t o hear . Yet

we must not be sur pr i sed i f t he sal e shoul d be smal l .

I t i s qui t e sur e t o sel l enough t o cover t he ex -

penses of publ i shi ng. Your t ask seems t o be t o

t each t hose who have t o t each ot her s. Few, even

of t hem, qui t e under st and you; one cat ches one

si de, one anot her , and so good i s done on t he

whol e. Thi s seems t o me a most i mpor t ant post .

Of cour se i t i s ver y t r yi ng t o be mi sunder st ood

and mi sr epr esent ed and abused, and t o f eel t hat

1843- 57. ] MI ! . MAUKI CE' S AUDI ENCE. 288

even t he most f r i endl y onl y par t i al l y see your

dr i f t . I onl y wi sh t hat I wer e mor e abl e t o cheer

you whi l e you bear t hese t r i al s. I conf ess t hat I ,

f or t he l ast t hi r t een year s, have been hopi ng f or a

r evi val of godl i ness i n Engl and as a f r ui t of havi ng

God' s t r ut h st at ed wi t h such f ul ness and dept h.

Though I conf ess di sappoi nt ment , I am as f ar

as possi bl e f r om t hi nki ng t hat your wor k has

been i n vai n. The r api d sal e of t he f i r st edi t i on

of Pr ophet s and Ki ngs gave me f or a t i me t he

hope t hat you woul d become popul ar and what

i s bet t er , usef ul among t he r el i gi ous publ i c of

Engl and and Scot l and. The mor e r api d sal e of

t he f i r st edi t i on of t he Essays i ncr eased t hi s hope.

But t he f r i ght f ul i gnor ance and st upi di t y of t he

r evi ewer s f i l l ed one wi t h despondency. Now my

Page 167 of 178

hope i s t he ol d one, t hat your t ask i s t o t each t he

mor e t hought f ul t heol ogi ans, especi al l y among t he

younger men. I t i s a gr eat wor k, and t he r esul t s

whi ch one can see r eal l y ought t o cheer us al l .

Besi des whi ch, no one can ever t el l a hundr edt h

par t of t he good t hat your books do and ar e doi ng.

None of t hem st op sel l i ng. Of cour se t he pam-

phl et s do st op. Al l t he books have a sl ow, st eady

sal e. Thi s i s r eal l y a gr eat er si gn of l i f e t han a

r api d sal e suddenl y st oppi ng. But I shoul d gi ve

i t as my deep convi ct i on t hat i t woul d be unwi se

t o al l ow any one t o publ i sh i n your name any

mor e pamphl et s. Those on Admi ni st r at i ve Ref or m

onl y wast ed money i n adver t i si ng. They dr aw

284 MR. MAURI CE AS A LOGI CI AN. [ OH. VH.

away at t ent i on f r om your books. Not hi ng I coul d

say coul d expr ess t hi s convi ct i on of mi ne t oo

st r ongl y. "

To I SAAC TAYLOR/ ESQ.

" CAMBRI DGE, November 21, 1856.

" As one knows t hat such a man as John

St uar t Mi l l says t hat Mr . Maur i ce i s t he

abl est and most subt l e l ogi ci an i n Eur ope, one

woul d be sur pr i sed t o see hi m char ged wi t h bei ng

dr eamy, onl y i t i s f r equent l y done. A ver y

l ear ned man who had r ead and t hought as f ew

have, and was a per f ect Cambr i dge schol ar , once

sai d t o my br ot her t hat Mr . Maur i ce has t he

most subt l e i nt el l ect t hat had been on t he f ace of

t hi s ear t h si nce Pl at o. Anot her man, as cal m and

cl ear as Ar i st ot l e, sai d t o me, ' The wor l d has

onl y had t hr ee gr eat t heol ogi ans, August i ne,

Lut her , Maur i ce, and t he gr eat est of t hese i s

Maur i ce. ' Then I have hear d many compl ai n

t hat he i s obscur e, and al l t he r evi ews echo and

r e- echo each ot her and t hat t une. So I , who am a

si mpl e per son and wi t hout l ear ni ng and don' t

pr et end t o any j udge as I f i nd, and don' t f eel

at al l i nf l uenced by t he aut hor i t i es or t he maj or i t y.

I f i nd no man so si mpl e, so cl ear , so r esol ut e, t o

keep hi msel f and hi s r eader s out of l i mbo. I

f i nd no wr i t er who knows t he Bi bl e so wel l , and

1 The aut hor of " The Nat ur al Hi st or y of Ent husi asm, "

" The Rest or at i on of Bel i ef , " &c.

1843- 57. ] MR. MAURI CE AS A THEOLOGI AN. 285

t hat i s t he book I am best acquai nt ed wi t h. I

l i ke hi m because he has no myt hi cal expl anat i ons,

no cl ever expl ai ni ng away of t he Bi bl e or i t s

wor ds. The book means what i t says wi t h hi m.

Then, mor e t han any ot her wr i t er , one i s r emi nded

by hi m t hat t he Bi bl e r eveal s t he Li vni g God, who

i s al ways wat chi ng over us and car i ng f or us, not

an abst r act i on, or a bundl e of doct r i nes, but t he

Page 168 of 178

Fat her , t he Son, and t he Hol y Ghost . I bel i eve

t hat t hat i s t he r eason why he i s hat ed by t he

r el i gi ous wor l d. Hi s new book on ' Mi ddl e

Age Phi l osophy, ' publ i shed i n t he Ei i cycl opcedi a

Met r opol i t ana, i s a wonder f ul pi ece of wor k. "

To I SAAC TAYLOR.

" November 26, 1856.

" I don' t f eel t he l east i ncl i ned f or a di scus -

si on. Mr . Maur i ce does not want or need any

def ence. He has no di sci pl es t hat I know

of . I am not one. I am so ver y i gnor ant on

al l poi nt s t hat I cannot even pr et end t o f ol l ow

aut hor i t i es when t hey pr ai se hi m. I know no-

t hi ng about t he f i r st i nt el l ect s of Eur ope. I know

al most not hi ng about Lut her or August i ne. Hi s

wr i t i ngs I have f ound usef ul t o mysel f . I have

r ead t hem al l wi t h car e, some of t hem I have

r ead sever al t i mes. I know t hat peopl e say he

i s obscur e. I cannot guess why. I j udge by my

own eyesi ght . I wi sh ot her s t o do t he same.

28f i MR. MAURI CE' S CRI TI CS. [ CH. VI T.

Engl and pr of esses t o be a f r ee count r y, I wi sh i t

t o be r eal l y f r ee, and i n t hi s r espect , t hat each one

j udge by hi s own exper i ence, and not by any

aut hor i t y.

" I never knew any one who has r ead Mr .

Maur i ce' s wr i t i ngs wi t h car e who i s not ver y zeal ous

and har d- wor ki ng i n hi s cal l i ng, st r i vi ng t o do God' s

wi l l f r om hi s hear t . Of cour se t her e ar e cl ever

young men who f i nd gr eat f un i n t he nonsense

t hat i s wr i t t en by Mr . Maur i ce' s cr i t i cs. Cer t ai nl y

t hey ar e of t en ver y dr ol l and ver y pompous

enough t o make l ess f r i vol ous men l augh l oud

and l ong. But t hese young men do not r ead Mr .

Maur i ce' s books. Al l f r i vol ous per sons ei t her gi ve

hi m or t hei r f r i vol i t y up. But t he most of t hem

end by j oi ni ng t he popul ar cl amour agai nst hi m

not because t hey f i nd hi m obscur e, but because

t hey f i nd hi s addr esses t o t he consci ence pai nf ul l y

cl ear .

" Maur i ce i s as f ar as possi bl e f r om bei ng or

becomi ng popul ar . Al l young men of t he wor l d

who want t o get on and be popul ar wi l l be sur e t o

avoi d hi m and hi s books, and wi l l f i nd i t wi se t o

speak agai nst hi m. I f he does hi s Mast er ' s wor k,

he wi l l be sur e of t he same t r eat ment . So i t was

so i t i s. But i t woul d be f ool i sh t o f r et . "

Amongst t he books publ i shed by t he f i r m i n

t hi s t he l ast year of hi s act i ve l i f e, may be not ed

Ll ewel l yn Davi es' St . Paul and Moder n Thought ,

1843- 57. ] NEW PUBLI CATI ONS, 1856. 287

Page 169 of 178

Ar cher But l er ' s Lect ur es, Har dwi ck' s Ref or mat i on,

and Par t I I . of Chr i st and ot her Mast er s, Masson' s

Essays, and Geor ge Wi l son' s Fi ve Gat eways of

Knowl edge. No book of Ki ngsl ey' s appear ed i n

1856. He had anot her novel al r eady i n vi ew,

Two Year s Ago, but had been per suaded t o put i t

asi de i n t he ear l y par t of t he year and gi ve hi msel f

a r est .

D. MACMI LLAN t o MRS. KI NQSLEY.

" Mar ch 6, 1856.

" . . . . I was so f ar f r om bei ng vexed about

your st oppi ng t he novel t hat I never mor e hear t i l y

r ej oi ced t hat Mr . Ki ngsl ey had your wi se car e

al ways over hi m t o keep hi m f r om over wor ki ng.

When I t hought al so of t he pl ot of t he pr oposed

book, and t he l abour i t i nvol ved, and how he

must t hr ow hi s hear t i nt o i t , I r eal l y t hanked you

most hear t i l y f or gi vi ng hi m a year ' s compar at i ve

r est bef or e he goes on wi t h i t .

" I am ver y gl ad t hat you agr ee t o t he l et t er s

f r om Snowdon. I t woul d seem as i f t he mer e

get t i ng up of t he mat t er woul d do hi m good i n-

st ead of har m. We hope t o have t wo or t hr ee

smal l books whi l e t he t wo year s' r est , pr epar at or y

t o t he gr eat one, ar e passi ng. Ther e i s no doubt

t hat a gr eat one wi l l be wel l r ecei ved, ver y much

bet t er t han anyt hi ng he has done. We see t hat

Mr . Mudi e char ges 15s. f or second- hand copi es of

West war d Ho I whi l e he sol d Thacker ay' s Esmond

288 " TWO YEARS AGO. " [ CH. vn.

at 9s. Thi s shows t hat t hough Thacker ay' s book

was much mor e successf ul at f i r st , because he has

been l onger i n t he f i el d and f ought hi s way t o a

hi gh pl ace, r i ght manf ul l y, yet Mr . Ki ngsl ey' s

book has pr oved mor e per manent l y i nt er est i ng t o

t he Engl i sh publ i c. Fr om whi ch I make t hi s

deduct i on, t hat i f Mr . Ki ngsl ey makes a book

equal t o hi msel f wi t h t he pl ot he sket ched out

some t i me ago, we do not t hi nk i t woul d be at al l

r ash i n us t o pr omi se t o pr i nt a f i r st edi t i on l ar ge

enough t o yi el d hi m 1, OOOZ. "

The ef f ect of hi s shor t r est and summer hol i day

i n Snowdon was t o send Char l es Ki ngsl ey back t o

hi s wor k i n such condi t i on t hat he f i ni shed Two

Year s Ago wi t h a r ush, and i t was i n t ype by

Chr i st mas. A wonder f ul f eat ; but al as, such f eat s

must be pai d f or , as hi s sor r owi ng count r y came

t o know when he di ed, a wor n- out man, at t he age

of f i f t y- t hr ee.

Dani el Macmi l l an' s cal l was t o come even ear l i er .

He was onl y f or t y- f our , but had ent er ed on hi s

l ast year . I n t he l at e aut umn he l ef t hi s second

home at Tor quay, and r et ur ned t o Cambr i dge f or

Page 170 of 178

t he l ast t i me.

CHAPTER VI I I .

LAST DAYS. 1857.

THE ei i d was now near , but bef or e i t cai ne t he

ai m was achi eved f or whi ch he had so l ong and

br avel y st r i ven. The bal ance sheet of 1856 was t he

best t he f i r m had ever known, and t he pr ospect

br i ght er . Thei r busi ness had t aken r oot , and t he

st eady demand f or t hei r books, and t he gr owi ng

popul ar i t y of t he wr i t er s wi t h whom t hey wer e con-

nect ed, above al l of Mr . Ki ngsl ey, i nspi r ed con-

f i dence i n t hei r f ut ur e. Pr i nt er s and paper maker s

wi t h whom t hey had deal t f or year s wer e r eady t o

gi ve l engt hened cr edi t and advance f unds, and t he

l ast of t hei r non- pr of essi onal par t ner s was now

oppor t unel y medi t at i ng emi gr at i on, and anxi ous

t o r eal i ze hi s i nvest ment . Thus t he oppor t uni t y

had come at l ast , and by Chr i st mas t he t er ms of

hi s r et i r ement wer e set t l ed, t he par t ner shi p di s-

sol ved, and Dani el Macmi l l an coul d l ook wi t hout

anxi et y f or t he f i r st t i me on t he f ut ur e of hi s wi f e

TJ

290 " TWO YEARS AGO. " [ en. vi n.

and chi l dr en. The change i nvol ved much hus-

bandi ng and get t i ng t oget her of r esour ces f or t he

t i me f r om al l quar t er s, but t he r el i ef act ed as a

t oni c, and he coul d wr i t e i n t he ear l y days of t he

new year :

" My heal t h i s on t he whol e bet t er t han i t

has been f or many a wi nt er . I f eel t o have

mor e f r eedom and hope i n my wor k t han I ever

had. Of cour se i t wi l l be a consi der abl e ef f or t ,

and we shal l of t en f eel hamper ed f or some f ew

year s, but we shal l on t he whol e f eel t hat we

ar e maki ng way and t hat our chi l dr en may hope t o

r eap t he f r ui t of our l abour s i f t hey ar e wi se.

Thi s al one i s enough t o make one happy, and make

l i f e f l ow mor e pl easant l y. . . . "

I t was a f or t unat e t i me t oo i n ot her ways. The

wor k i n hand t o whi ch he coul d t ur n wi t h mor e

f r eedom and hope t han ever bef or e was al l of a

pr omi si ng char act er . Two Year s Ago was i n t he

pr i nt er ' s hands, on t he eve of publ i cat i on. He

had wat ched i t s pr ogr ess t hr ough t he aut umn,

and now as t he pr oof - sheet s come i n t hi nks mor e

hi ghl y of i t t han ever . " I never f el t sur er of

anyt hi ng, " he wr i t es t o t he aut hor , " t han t hat

t hi s new book wi l l be t he most successf ul t hat

you have done. The pr esent cal m i n pol i t i cs

and al l ot her t hi ngs i s of cour se i n your f avour . "

And t hen comes t he usual qui et cr i t i ci sm and

Page 171 of 178

1857. ] C. KI NGSLEY ON DI SSENTERS. 291

suggest i on : " Tom Thur nal l i s ver y f i ne : one en-

j oys hi s t al k on eccl esi ast i cal mat t er s, but wonder s

wher e he pi cked up hi s expl anat i ons of St . Paul .

. . . Maj or Cawmul I l ong t o see. I don' t t hi nk

he shoul d t al k Scot ch, onl y use Scot ch i di oms.

The pecul i ar i t i es of moder at el y cul t i vat ed Scot ch-

men cannot be gi ven i n spel l i ng. Mr . Thacker ay

made a f r i ght f ul f ai l ur e of Bi nni e. He has no

i nsi ght i nt o Scot chmen. No one has done t hat

so wel l as you have. "

The f i r st edi t i on went of f i n a f ew weeks, and

Dani el i s busy, pr epar i ng f or a second edi t i on and

answer i ng cr i t i ci sms, t he most ser i ous of whi ch

come f r om hi s f r i end \ Vat t , t o whom he r epl i es :

" Mar ch 4, 1857.

" I have of t en spoken t o hi m about hi s un-

f ai r ness t o Di ssent er s. Hi s answer has al ways

been t he same, ' I don' t know t he same ki nd

you know. Those I gi ve ar e dr awn f r om l i f e,

and ar e done consci ent i ousl y. I pl ai nl y i ndi cat e

t he per sons I mean, and f eel sur e my sket ches ar e

accur at e. I knew t hem i n Cor nwal l when I was a

boy and a yout h ; and anot her set I know near my

own par i sh now. I am not goi ng t o descr i be what

I onl y hear about , but what I act ual l y know. ' To

whi ch t her e i s no answer t o be made.

" Fr om what one knows hi s account of Bant er s

i s not f ar f r om r i ght , and t her e ar e some hi gher

u 2

292 ALEXANDER SMI TH' S POEMS. [ OH. vi n.

Cal vi ni st i c Bapt i st s near Cambr i dge and i n Cam-

br i dge of whom hi s descr i pt i ons ar e not f ar wr ong.

" You may t hi nk i t odd, but I st i ck f ast t o t he

doct r i ne of r epr obat i on. I t seems t o me t he onl y

scheme t hat st ands cl ear on i t s f eet . I do bel i eve

t hat t he r epr obat e man i n me and i n al l men wi l l

be cast out and dest r oyed. I f I di d not I shoul d

t hi nk i t a ver y dr ear y uni ver se t hat we have got

i nt o. But as I bel i eve t hat our Lor d Jesus Chr i st

i s t he same wi t h God, and per f ect l y mani f est s t he

Fat her ' s wi l l i n Hi s l i f e and on t he Cr oss, I see

hi ghest r easons f or t hanki ng God f or l i f e.

" About t he f ut ur e we have t he st r ongest con-

sol at i on i n t he f ai t h t hat He r ul es over al l and

wi l l put al l enemi es under Hi m. . . . "

Never i ndeed had hi s cor r espondence been mor e

var i ed or mor e vi gor ous. Two speci mens must

suf f i ce. The f i r st i s a cr i t i ci sm on Al exander

Page 172 of 178

Smi t h' s second vol ume of poems :

" Mar ch 18, 1857.

" The t hi ng t hat st r i kes one i s a st r ange subt l e

power of maki ng conf essi ons i n a wonder f ul

di ct i on, yet ver y r eal , al l t he mor e because i t i s

hazy and per pl exi ng, l i ke r eal l i f e.

" Ther e i s not much r esembl ance t o hi s f or mer

vol ume. I n many r espect s t her e i s i mpr ovement .

He has not st r ewed st ar s and f l ower s so pr odi gal l y

Ther e ar e r at her t oo many st i l l . He seems i n

1857. ] KI NG SOLOMON. 293

some r espect s mor e mat ur e. Yet t her e i s a haze

and want of di st i nct ness i n hi s st or i es whi ch pest er

one. He seems t o be wi t hout any f i r m st andi ng-

gr ound, and does not seem t o f eel t hat he needs

one. So t her e i s a want of pur pose and bewi l der ed

unhappy st at e al most l i ke madness whi ch per pl exes

one, and makes one ver y i mpat i ent . "

The second i s a l et t er i n answer t o one i n

whi ch I had st r ayed i nt o some di spar agi ng r e-

mar ks on Ki ng Sol omon. I had used car el essl y

t he epi t het subj ect i ve i n compar i ng hi m wi t h hi s

f at her Davi d. He r epl i ed at once, Apr i l 14, 1857 :

" About Sol omon you ar e al l wr ong. What on

sar t h shoul d l ead you t o cal l hi m subj ect i ve ? He

l i ves t he most out war d l i f e. He st udi es al l ki nds

of nat ur al hi st or y and col l ect s mat er i al s f or i nduc -

t i on. He engages i n bui l di ng, di gs f or wat er , ai ds

commer ce. Then hi s st udy of manki nd i s al l of

an out war d ki nd. Just t hi nk of t he col l ect i on of

women he made t o put i n hi s museum why he

was a man af t er Goet he' s own hear t , a ki nd of

ant i que Jewi sh Goet he, wi t h t he same many- si ded

obj ect i ve nat ur e. Of cour se i f you f ancy t hat he

had anyt hi ng t o do wi t h ' The Pr eacher ' you wi l l

bel i eve and t al k any nonsense about Sol omon.

But Sol omon had as much and as l i t t l e t o do wi t h

t he aut hor shi p of ' Eccl esi ast es ' as you had. I t

was wr i t t en by some bewi l der ed Jew hundr eds of

294 FATAL I LLNESS. [ cm. vi a.

year s af t er Sol omon' s t i me, whose head had got

f ul l of f ool i sh heat hen ( Per si an) specul at i on, and

i t i s good f or not hi ng but t o show how st upi d and

godl ess a Jew may become, when he l et s go hi s

hol d of t he t r ut hs t hat he woul d have f ound i n

t he ' Pr over bs of Sol omon. ' Then agai n t hese

' Pr over bs, ' t hey wer e col l ect ed by Sol omon t hat

i s most of t hem t he suppl ement s at t he end

expl ai n t hemsel ves. Her e agai n you see t he

nat ur al i st showi ng hi msel f i n Sol omon ; he col l ect s

pr over bs as he does her bs, and t r ees, and bi r ds,

Page 173 of 178

and beast s, and women f r om var i ous count r i es.

They ar e speci mens of God' s wor l d whi ch he l oves

t o st udy. As f or hi s t ol er ance, i t i s a gr eat

mi st ake t o suppose t hat i t was i ndi f f er ence. He

hat es evi l and si n of al l ki nds qui t e as much as

Davi d. He t hi nks i t i nt ensel y st upi d. He does

not go i nt o any bl ust er about i t , he has t he deepest

convi ct i on t hat i t i s sui ci dal , and cannot escape

unpuni shed. So he can wor k on qui et l y i n hi s own

ki ngl y pr ovi nce, and not put hi msel f out because

f ool s wi l l be f ool s and f al l i nt o di t ches. Al l I

mean i s t hat a l ess cl oud- spi nni ng son of Adam

t han Ki ng Sol omon t he Gr eat never l i ved, so don' t

conf ound hi m wi t h t he cl oud- spi nner s ! "

On t he 7t h of May an at t ack of pl eur i sy was

added t o hi s ot her ai l ment s. St i l l he bor e up, f or

shor t as hi s t i me mi ght be t her e was st i l l wor k t o

be done on whi ch hi s hear t was set . Amongst

1857. ] LAST LETTER TO HI S OLDEST FRI END. 295

t hei r Looks on t he eve of publ i cat i on wer e my own

f i r st wor k, and hi s ol d and dear f r i end Geor ge

Wi l son' s Fi ve Gat eways of Knowl edge, whi ch he

was bent on maki ng, i n t ype and bi ndi ng and

i l l ust r at i on, wor t hy of i t s aut hor and hi s t heme.

The l ast l et t er of hi s l ong cor r espondence wi t h t he

f el l ow suf f er er who had been as a br ot her t o hi m

f or a quar t er of a cent ur y, whi ch al so was amongst

t he l ast he ever wr ot e, r ef er s t o t hi s book, and t o

t he bi r t h of hi s youngest chi l d, and may f i t l y cl ose

t he ext r act s f r om hi s cor r espondence.

To GEORGE WI LSON.

" CAMBRI DGE, May 13, 1857.

" MY DEAR GEORGE,

" Di d you ever get t he i nt er l eaved copy of The

Gat eways t hat Mr . Cl ay sai d he woul d send you ?

Tf so, have you had t i me t o make t he al t er at i ons ?

What about t he pr omi sed vi gnet t e ?

" Pr ay t el l us how you ar e. We have t hought a

gr eat deal about you. I have had t wo sl i ght

at t acks of bl eedi ng f r om t he l ungs t hough never

f or ced t o cr oss t he door , and t he wi nd has been

bet t er . We wi shed you al l possi bl e pr ot ect i on.

Tel l us how you f ar ed. I shoul d be qui t e wel l ,

but have been bot her ed wi t h a smal l ul cer i n t he

t hr oat . I t i s f r i ght f ul wor k t o eat and dr i nk.

They don' t seem t o be abl e t o gi ve me any hel p.

They t al ked of bur ni ng i t , but t hey seem t o t hi nk

296 LETTER TO G. WI LSON. [ CH. vm.

Page 174 of 178

i t har d t o get at . I wi sh t hey woul d t r y. I hope

i t . wi l l soon get bet t er . I t makes me gr owl mor e

t han al l my f or mer sor r ows.

" But I ought t o t el l you t hat my wonder f ul wee

wi f e has pr esent ed me wi t h a f i ne boy at t hr ee

o' cl ock t hi s af t er noon. A j ol l y l i t t l e f el l ow, who

l ooks ver y wi l d and i s l i ke hi s el der ( not el dest )

br ot her , Maur i ce, as f ar as one can t el l af t er a f ew

hour s. The mot her and chi l d ar e doi ng wel l .

What a br ave hear t she has t o be whi ski ng about

and l ooki ng af t er my ai l ment s, not onl y f or t he

l ast mont h but wi t hi n an hour or t wo of t he bi r t h

of t he boy. I am bei ng qui t e cor r upt ed and made"

sel f i sh. Dur i ng t he next mont h I must have

anot her l esson.

" I f i n t he cour se of t he summer you come t o

Manchest er pr ay do ar r ange t o come t o us. We

shoul d so l i ke t o see you and Jessi e. Wi t h most

ki nd l ove t o your mot her ,

" Your s ever af f ect i onat el y,

" D. MACMI LLAN. "

Hi s wi f e was by hi s si de agai n i n t he ear l y

June days, and t he boy t hr ove, and hi s f at her

r ej oi ced over hi m, and hi msel f made al l ar r ange-

ment s f or t he chr i st eni ng he was not t o be al l owed

t o see. For now t he end dr ew vi si bl y near , and

hi s l i f e wor k was done, t hough st i l l an echo f r om

t he out si de wor l d whi ch he had st r i ven i n so man-

f ul l y woul d r each hi m now and t hen and r ouse

1857. ] TOO LATE. 297

hi m f or a f ew moment s. The l ast of t hese, and

t he most f ul l of pat hos, when one t hi nks of t he

ci r cumst ances and of t he man, must f i nd i t s pl ace

her e bef or e t he cur t ai n f al l s on a br ave l i f e br avel y

l i ved. I t needs no wor d of comment

" PORTSMOUTH, June 23, 1857.

" DEAR Sl K,

" I n addr essi ng you I pr esume I am addr essi ng

t he same Mr . Macmi l l an who was assi st ant t o

Mr . Johnson i n 1834 and 1835.

" I f I am r i ght i n t hi s supposi t i on, you wi l l , I

dar e say, r emember me ; I was at t hat t i me a

bachel or at Tr i ni t y, r eadi ng f or Hol y Or der s, and

l odgi ng at Baxt er ' s. I used t o be much i n Mr .

Johnson' s shop, and al ways f el t mysel f much i n-

debt ed t o you f or your val uabl e i nf or mat i on about

books, &c.

" I have been near l y t en year s i n t he Aust r al i an

col oni es ; and l anded i n t hi s count r y onl y yest er -

day eveni ng. Her Maj est y has been pl eased t o

desi gnat e me as t he f ut ur e bi shop of West er n

Page 175 of 178

Aust r al i a. I have come di r ect f r om t hat col ony

and have wr i t t en ( whi ch I i nt end f or you) a pam-

phl et on t he convi ct exper i ment whi ch i s now

bei ng t r i ed t her e. As t he publ i cat i on of t hi s

pamphl et wi l l pr obabl y exer ci se consi der abl e i n-

f l uence upon my par t i cul ar f unct i ons i n t he col ony,

I am anxi ous t o get i t i nt o pr i nt wi t h as l i t t l e

del ay as may be ; and happeni ng t o see by an

298 TOO LATE. [ CH. vnr .

adver t i sement whi ch caught my eye l ast eveni ng,

t hat you have publ i shed a vi si t at i on t our l or

Bi shop Col enso; i t st r uck me t hat , f or ol d

acquai nt ance' sake, I shoul d l i ke t o have my

br ochur e publ i shed by you al so.

" Wi l l you ki ndl y l et me know, by r et ur n of

post , whet her I am r i ght i n concl udi ng t hat you

ar e my ol d acquai nt ance. I t hi nk i f so, you wi l l

r emember me, as we exchanged l et t er s once or

t wi ce af t er I had t aken or der s.

" I r emai n,

" Your s ver y f ai t hf ul l y,

" MATTHEW B. HALE. "

To whi ch hi s br ot her and par t ner answer ed

f r om besi de hi s deat h- bed, af t er acknowl edgi ng

t he Bi shop' s l et t er , and conf i r mi ng t he assumpt i on

on whi ch i t had been wr i t t en :

To THE EEV. M. B. HALE, BI SHOP OF WESTERN

AUSTRALI A.

: < He had al r eady seen your appoi nt ment t o t he

bi shopr i c of West er n Aust r al i a and r ej oi ced i n i t .

Had your l et t er come t o hi m at a t i me when he

was abl e t o t ake an i nt er est act i vel y i n anyt hi ng

you woul d cer t ai nl y have had a l et t er f r om hi m

expr essi ng t he del i ght i t af f or ded hi m. He has

f or t wel ve or t hi r t een year s been suf f er i ng f r om

pul monar y di sease. For sever al year s past hi s

r i ght l ung has compl et el y l ost i t s f unct i ons and

1857. 1 TOO LATE. . 299

hi s l ef t has been mat er i al l y af f ect ed. St i l l , t i l l

wi t hi n t he l ast f ew weeks, wi t h t he except i on of

a f ew mont hs of t wo or t hr ee wi nt er s at Tor quay,

he has al ways been abl e t o at t end t o busi ness and

t o t ake t he l i vel i est i nt er est i n i t . About si x

weeks ago, a sor e t hr oat he had f el t t r oubl esome

f or some t i me past assumed a ser i ous aspect . The

swal l owi ng of any sol i d f ood became act ual t or -

t ur e t o hi m, so much so t hat he conf i ned hi msel f

t o mi l k and eggs beat up, and beef - t ea, and ot her

Page 176 of 178

f l ui d nut r i ment . The ul cer was di scover ed and

t r eat ed wi t h opi at ed caust i c, and he was f or a shor t

t i me abl e t o eat al most anyt hi ng. But about t en .

days ago, a new and mor e f or mi dabl e sympt om

appear ed. He coul d swal l ow no f ood, even f l ui d,

wi t hout t he most vi ol ent and di st r essi ng cough.

Of cour se t he ef f ect of t hi s on a const i t ut i on

al r eady gr eat l y weakened by l ong- cont i nued i l l -

ness has been ver y f or mi dabl e. Pr act i cal l y he

has t aken no f ood f or some days, and f or t he

l ast si x- and- t hi r t y hour s posi t i vel y none. Ever y

at t empt has been baf f l ed, t he f ood caused

si mpl y vi ol ent coughi ng and was r ej ect ed. I

have, per haps, gone i nt o mor e det ai l t han i s

necessar y. You wi l l , I am sur e, par don me i f I

have. I was mai nl y anxi ous t o expl ai n t o you

how i t i s t hat he can send no message adequat e t o

t he f eel i ngs wi t h whi ch he woul d i n heal t h have

wel comed t he r enewal of a most pl easant and

gr at i f yi ng i nt er cour se. "

300 . A BRAVE ENDI NG. [ cu. vni .

On Mi dsummer Day he was up f or t he l ast

t i me, and abl e t o get t o t he sof a i n hi s dr essi ng-

r oom, wher e he sat wi t h hi s wi f e f or some hour s.

The sof t mel l ow sunshi ne soot hed hi m i n spi t e

of t he const ant angui sh i n t hr oat and chest . He

coul d onl y speak, and t hat wi t h gr eat di f f i cul t y,

at i nt er val s.

" Oh, I shoul d l i ke my chi l dr en t o have a

beaut i f ul home, t o speak gent l y t o each ot her ,

and t o hel p i n ever y way t o spr ead t he ki ngdom

of God. "

The chi l dr en wer e al l owed t o pl ay si l ent l y i n

t he r oom, and f r i ends and r el at i ves st ol e i n t o see

hi m f or t he l ast t i me. To each he was abl e t o say

a f ew wor ds of f ar ewel l .

To Mr . James Fr aser , t hei r f r i end and con-

f i dent i al cl er k :

" I am sur e you wi l l do r i ght . I am sor r y

t o l eave you, but I t hi nk I shal l come f l oat i ng

among you al l . We have t al ked over ever yt hi ng

i n l i f e bef or e t hi s. Let me see, how l ong i s i t

si nce you came ? "

To hi s si st er - i n- l aw, hol di ng her hand. " Good-

bye, we shal l meet agai n under ot her ci r cumst ances,

t hough t hese ar e not bad. God has been so ver y

ki nd t o us al l God bl ess you. "

To hi s wi f e, l ooki ng at t hei r second boy :

" I t hi nk he wi l l be ver y l i ke me. and ver y l i ke

me i n char act er , and be t he same comf or t t o you

t hat I was t o my mot her . "

Page 177 of 178

1857. ] A BRAVE ENDI NG. 301

Al l hope of hi s r ecover y was now at an end,

and hi s ol d f r i end MacLehose was t el egr aphed f or ,

but ar r i ved an hour t oo l at e t o see hi m al i ve.

He st i l l l i nger ed f or a f ew days, wat ched un-

ceasi ngl y by wi f e and br ot her . They bat hed hi s

f ace and hands wi t h col d wat er whi ch r evi ved hi m.

" The onl y physi cal pl easur e I have had f or mont hs. "

Then he spoke wi t h t hem of hi s dr eams of

bat hi ng under t he Bl ue Eock i n Ar r an of hi s aunt

and uncl e McKay of t hei r weddi ng t our , and hi s

j oy t hat t hey had been t oget her t o hi s own

count r y. Of t he l ovel y weat her t hey had had i n

Ar r an, " as br i ght and beaut i f ul as t hi s, but wi t h-

out t he oppr essi on " of t hei r wal ks t o Br ackl i nn

and t he Tr ossachs. Then agai n, af t er an i nt er val ,

of hi s mot her , of soon meet i ng her agai n. Of

her i l l ness and deat h " al most wi t hout suf f er i ng. "

Of her sweet si ngi ng, " I ' m wear y of hunt i ng and

f ai n woul d l i e down, " and " The yel l ow hai r ed

l addi e, " f ool i sh she used t o cal l t hem, none of t he

chi l dr en woul d be l i ke her .

Some days bef or e he had post poned hi s l i t t l e

boy' s bapt i sm " t i l l I get st r onger . " Now he

whi sper s t o hi s wi f e, " You wi l l wr i t e t o Mi ss Cl ay

t hi s mor ni ng t o ask her t o be godmot her f or baby ;

you know I need not be pr esent , dear . " And agai n,

of t he ki ndness of Mr . Cl ay and t he ot her f r i ends

who had hel ped t hem i n payi ng out t hei r par t ner ,

whi ch had r emoved t he wor st st i ng of al l hi s

f or mer i l l nesses.

802 A BRAVE ENDI NG. [ CH. vni .

He coul d st i l l see t he deep bl ue sky t hr ough

t he wi ndow, and men wor ki ng on t he r oof of

St . Mar y' s Chur ch, and wat ched i t i nt ent l y. " How

beaut i f ul t o f l oat up t her e ! I am so t i r ed, t i r ed !

Oh God, sur e t o del i ver ! " But t he l i ght was gr ow-

i ng f ai nt er and f ai nt er , and t he wor ds came at

l onger i nt er val s and mor e f eebl y, t o hi s wi f e as

she l eant over hi m.

" Good- bye, ki ss me, why don' t you speak t o

me ? . . . . You wi l l see so much of me come

out i n t he chi l dr en, dear . I t wi l l be a gr eat com-

f or t t o you . . . but you wi l l see t he i mpet uosi t y. "

I n a f ew hour s t he i mpet uous spi r i t was at r est .

He di ed on t he 27t h of June, 1857.

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