heart is ever thrilled by the mystic influences of beauty and of love, as the chords of a suspended lyre tremble in sweetest music responsive to the whispers of the moving wind

'Entranced in prayer,

I worship the Invisible alone.'

"Yours, &c., E. J. ARMSTRONG."

On the 24th he writes "I am studying Goethe's Faust with more ardour and intensity than on any former perusal of that wonderful work ;" and he winds up his account of the month's occupations and proceedings with the following passage, which is a fair picture of his manner of life during that tranquil time:"The last four days have been distinguished by remarkably fine weather,-blue unclouded skies, warm suns, and balmy south-winds. We explored the Castle of Montorgueil, lingering amid broken arches, amid shattered towers and echoing corridors, and linking together many a misty memory of the past. We basked in the warm sunshine on the Victoria Pier, criticising the appearance of the by-passers, and conjecturing of their conditions, their fortunes, and their inner being. We strolled among the woods and heaths of 'Swiss Valley ;' and, this evening, wandered over the graves and among the tombstones of the St. Saviour's Cemetery, where we discussed the improbabilities that beset the theory of a future state. The great round

sun was slowly sinking into the red-tinged deep, and threw a ruddy glare on the tower and vaulted roof of the old Norman Church, causing it to loom almost spectrally from behind its surrounding grove of dark evergreen-oaks. The gravestones glimmered like ghosts in their winding-sheets among the luxuriant shrubs in which they are nearly hidden; and the whole scene was fantastically and wildly picturesque."

CHAPTER IX. 1861, ET. 19-.

Correspondence with G. A. C. commenced.-Letter IX. : Friendship proffered.-Noble Alliance and Lofty Enterprise.-Letter X.: Explanation of late Studious Habits; Analogy of the Christian Religion to the "Constitution and Course of Nature."-Extracts from Journal.—Walks and Scenes in Jersey described.-Opinion of Longfellow's "Evangeline."-Letter XI.: A Religion of Charity as opposed to a Religion of Faith; Doctrine of Responsibility questioned; a Reminiscence of "The Doctor," T. C. D.; New Residence described.-More Extracts from Journal.— Oratorio and High Mass; Reflections. Letter XII.: Notes on Butler's "Analogy."-Letter XIII.: Religion of Charity.-Theory of the Influence of Paul on the Religion of Christ.-Letter XIV.: Historical Evidences of Christianity; Heroic Resolutions.-More Extracts from Journal.-Letter XV. : Charity versus Faith" again.Letter XVI.: Inspiration of Old Testament; Doctrine of Eternal Punishment; Intention of Visiting the Continent. -Letter XVII. Discussion of Questions of Inspiration and Eternal Damnation.

66

N the 2nd of February he writes :-" I walked

ON

by myself in a meditative mood nearly as far as St. John's. . . . . I went down to Le Fevre's library for Macmillan's Magazine, which I wanted on account of an essay on Shelley by the Editor; and, on my way, I met a soldier's funeral.

1 Mr. Masson.-ED.

The dead march—an unusual one, remarkable for the shrill occasional wailing, imitated by the fifes and clarionets-affected me exceedingly." And on the following day, being Sunday, he again goes a round of inspection through the various religious houses; "visited," as he says, "the Puseyite Church, The Town Church (French), the French R. C. Chapel, the English R. C. Chapel, the Chapelle Évangélique, St. Luke's, and the New Jerusalem [!]."

He had been lately exercising himself by writing an Essay on the Life of Shelley, and his mind, from dwelling on the themes which the subject suggested, and speculating in the manner exhibited in the preceding chapter, fell back dreaming over the days in which, with mingled rapture and awe, he first entered upon the paths of investigation; and thus to the romantic circumstances in which the impulse thither first arose, and to the acquaintance with whom such recollections were indissolubly linked. The two acquaintances, as related, had parted, that dark summer-day, after their comfortless walk, and had not met again. The poem "To G. A. C.” had been tendered to Mr. C*******, through the hands of the much-loved friend of both; and various other snatches of verse, written in the summer of 1860, had been sent to be criticised, and had been returned with comments, which had been commented upon again; but there had been no intercommunication by mouth or by letter. The

veiled critic, whose praises had been so often spoken in Armstrong's ear, began now to assume in his imagination something of imposing mystery and indefinable grandeur. But, above all, it seemed to him that here was one, somewhat his senior in age, and, as he believed, his superior in experience, whom it would be healthful to know; and who, as he had shown courage and intelligence in that momentous discussion, and had further exhibited certain distinct symptoms of a fervent love of poetry and of nature, might prove one of the most delectable of friends. Hesitating long, lest haply he should meet with a repulse which neither his pride nor his honesty could brook, he at length succeeded in penning an epistle, in a light-hearted and merry vein, and sent it to the veiled prophet in the hope that it might initiate a correspondence, and help to consolidate a friendship. Whether the prophet slept, or was journeying in a far country, or whether his lofty spirit despised the levity which the letter, written under such peculiar circumstances, betrayed, does not anywhere appear. But the

manner in which it seemed to be received was such that the sensitive and warm-hearted writer was wounded to the quick. And I think it worth while to present here, as illustrating his character, and as exhibiting the unfavourable auspices under which a strong and enduring friendship was begun, the main portion of his remonstrance, which he

M