Towards against the hurt which threatened him. the close of his happy sojourn in the neighbourhood which had grown so dear to him he described, in somewhat cold terms and with cautious moderation, his hopes and aims :— LETTER V. (To The Rev. J. E. Armstrong, D.D.)" August, 1860. . . . . I am happy to be able to inform you that my restoration to health is rapidly progressing under the influence of the fine air of Wicklow. My studies are, I am sorry to say, advancing languidly enough, much more so than I could wish under more favourable circumstances. English Literature, Logic, Metaphysics, but chiefly Platonic Dialectics, form at present my only intellectual pursuits; yet I hope, with time and perseverance, to succeed in attaining the object to which my wishes converge,-namely, a finished education; although I am far from believing such to be the summum bonum of existence. Yet it is my duty, if it were only as an example to ******, to direct my energies to this end. . . Of course, we must expect many unforeseen dangers and difficulties in [duty's] precipitous path; but let it be remembered that, in the words of the dying Socrates, 'the prize is high, the hope is great. . . .-Your affectionate nephew, E. J. A.” His walks were now gradually lengthened; the old adventurous spirit began to reassert itself as his bodily strength increased; and at last, contrary to all medical injunctions, and the entreaties of overanxious relatives, he succeeded one day in climbing to the top of the highest mountain in the neighbourhood, sniffed the delicious mountain-breezes once again, and descended with feelings of joyous satisfaction and unbounded hope. It It was one of the happiest passages of his life, this period of convalescence in that lovely mountainland; and when the day came when he was to turn his face homeward, he felt unqualified sadness. was then that he wrote his little poem Adieu!, which was read aloud, with solemn ceremony, high up the side of a ferny mountain overlooking "the lowland paradise of grove and lawn;" and then hands were waved to bid farewell, and he and his companion descended the hill disconsolately and slow. 1 See "Poetical Works" (New Edition), p. 313.-ED. CHAPTER VII. 1860, ET. 19—. "A Baphometic Fire-Escape."-New Attitude towards Christianity.-Renewed Work.-Approach of Winter.-More Illustrative Extracts from Diary.-Ordered to leave Ireland. —Letter VI. : A Defence of Opinions.— Resolves to winter in Jersey.-Early Poems burnt.-Journey through England.-First Glimpse of the Channel Islands.—Arrival in Jersey. Ο N his return home from Wicklow, that autumn, he began to read with something of his former sedulity, and wrote frequently as the mood frequently recurred; and his mind soon found itself face to face with the old vexing problems, from which for a time he had held resolutely aloof. One raw and cold Sunday, too bitter for him to venture out, he sat down, as his Diary records, to write an essay on "The Credibility of the Christian Religion." His feeling was antagonistic, and his purpose was chiefly, perhaps, to systematize and formulate his opinions. The result was unexpected; and, as the essay is virtually a passage of autobiography, I transcribe some extracts from it here, as they appear in his notebook, under a title suggested by Sartor Resartus— "A BAPHOMETIC FIRE-ESCAPE. "The principal evidences in favour of the truth of Christianity may be comprised under the following heads: Change produced by Christianity on its introduction; obstacles to the spread of Christianity; the ancient prophecies; miracles, wonders, and signs; internal evidences; good effects of Christianity; modern Jews.'-I shall state briefly my present views and convictions under these heads in their respective order. 66 Change produced by Christianity on its introduc tion.—All men will agree that a vast improvement in the general moral condition of a large section of mankind has taken place gradually since the introduction of Christianity. Few will be found to deny that this improvement is in great measure traceable to the adoption of the Christian religion; while but the bigoted and prejudiced will assert that the establishment of Christianity has been the sole unaided cause of the present higher standard of morality. Much must be attributed to the advance of civilization, the progressive element in the human cha racter, the diffusion of knowledge, the refinement in manners and customs which increases simultaneously with the growth of separate and individual 1 Whately's "Introductory Lessons on the Christian Evidences."-E. J. A. nations, and many other causes too numerous to mention. But it has been urged that in proportion as Christianity was diffused throughout the Roman Empire, a renovation of morals became apparent. Yet it should be remembered that the Roman Empire at the period of the introduction of Christianity was confirmed in its old age, and displayed indubitable symptoms of approaching dissolution; that at no epoch of its history did such gross immorality prevail; and that a reaction was naturally to be expected under any system in which good principles were inculcated and a higher tone of morality enforced. The world was sick at heart, and Rome was the heart of the world. Contrast the moral condition of the Romans in the age of Regulus with that which existed under Caligula and Nero! In the golden age of Rome, morals were at a far higher standard than in the days of her decrepitude and senility, when it was next to impossible to descend any lower in the scale of debasement and impurity. A reaction, I repeat, was inevitable at a time when an emperor could set fire to the metropolis of the world for the sake of a few hours' amusement, and when every species of barbarity that could be conceived was openly practised with impunity throughout the several gradations of society. The change for the better was, moreover, extremely gradual. Several centuries rolled past before the principles of Christianity gained firm |