heat, I have often asked in vain, a satisfactory solution of the fact, of every man having, if I may be allowed the expression, a sort of 'sallyport' therefrom. Is it because the mind is its own heaven or hell, and cannot conceive the notion of evil being in store from a Being of infinite goodness? or is it that the idea of an eternity of agonizing punishment for temporal wickedness, is in itself inconceivable, because contrary to natural justice; or does it result from the acknowledged theorem,' that man dreads a minor evil, certain and near, a prodigious deal more than he does one awful and tremendous, but distant and uncertain in precise commencement? Certain it is, that whoever is once possessed fully with the idea of being marked as a victim to everlasting punishment, at once loses mental equilibrium, and wanders melancholy, or rages insane.

"In one particular the churchman and the dissenter agree exactly in equal ratios, and that is, in cordially detesting each other: they will both tell you, they like one another very well; and so they do, about as much as the Jews and Samaritans did; namely, hate each other with a perfect hatred. When that little faux-pas of the Bishop took place, which I told you of, several of the independent schism made up to me in triumph; 'Well,' said they 'what

think you now of lawn sleeves? Will they not need a small quantity of salt of lemon?' The truth is, the dissenters are jealous of church erudition and church idleness, which as yet they possess not: the established clergy are in turn envious of their growing influence, because they fancy, and perhaps correctly, that in the erection of independent places of worship, they see the downfall of their own hierarchy. There is a remarkable, and to me pleasing, difference in the conduct of these two sects in devotional exercises; there is a lukewarmness in the church, a fervour in the chapel: I have in the latter seen young girls so devout that their eyes were suffused with holy love, a warm dew has glistened on their lips: this looks well.

"We will now turn homewards, but I have a few more remarks to make on the Hebrew theocracy and writings. It is clear, the existence of a future state was not revealed to Moses, or he would have named it in the first, the very first instance, to his followers. It is impossible to suppose, that had he been aware of the doctrine, he would not have expatiated most largely on a subject so awful; a momentous truth, which is now said to be necessarily revealed, because, without that as a primary datum, men could not be kept in subordination.

The idea had long been familiarly entertained among other religious sects, and we find it in the Hebrew Scriptures, in the more advanced stages of the Jewish government; but it formed no part of the civil policy of Moses, who was a pupil of the priests of Egypt, or, according to the words of his biographer, 'expert in all the learning of the Egyptians.' His laws and institutions are political and ceremonial only; they are admirably suited to keep his followers as a distinct, widely-removed people from the surrounding nations, and to enforce the impressive doctrines of the form of religious worship which he instituted: but I repeat, confidently, that they do not assume to be a rule of action, or to regulate conduct, or destiny beyond the present life. The Sadducees were the sect who adhered to the square text of the Pentateuch."

LETTER XIX.

"I AM going to call on a friend this morning," said L, "you shall go with me; I think you will see something worth your notice."

Accordingly we walked to a house in the neighbourhood, and were ushered up stairs. We found the lady of the house reading: near the window sat a young girl at needle-work, in the extreme of youth and loveliness; we advanced and paid our respects to the mother, and then L-presented me to the daughter. The latter had started up involuntarily at our entrance, and instantly resumed her seat; an hectic flush had for a moment tinged her cheek, and left it ashy pale. While L▬▬ was addressing her as a friend, in his usual accent of kindness, I saw a listlessness in her whole demeanour; she replied hesitatingly, and even with effort: the sunny beam of gaiety played not on her brow, it was shadowy as the moonbeam. I felt my attention irresistibly turned towards her; a curiosity I could not account for several times, though unconscious of my rude notice, she looked up, and gazed on va

cancy, and at length dropped her work: the mother, who was covertly watching, observed this, and tartly remarked, "she did not seem to know quite what she was about." The tears gushed in her eyes, and she hastily quitted the apartment: my friend took not the slightest notice, and presently after we took leave.

The door had scarcely closed on us before I eagerly demanded an explanation: "What is the matter," said I, "what can cause trouble already, to one so young and beautiful, and apparently so amiable?"—"Oh Lord!" said he, "a mere trifle, a very common case; she is in love."-"In love," said I, "what do you mean?" "I mean," said L

"what I say; that her heart is no longer her own, she has entwined her soul with that of him who is to her 'perfection;' in whom she views herself reflected as in a mirror.”—“But why," said I, who had never before thought of such fondness, "why has she done all this?" "What a question!" said L "why because she could not help it, to be sure; do you imagine love is weighed out in squares, by weight and scale ?"—" Well, but," said I, "of she will be united to the man she loves; why not?"-Ha, ha," said he, with a laugh that startled me with its wildness, "of course she will do no such thing: -Oh, my friend!"

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