ference. But in wandering over these favourite haunts my manliness forsook me, and the old melancholy shed its relaxing influence. The wind sighed mournfully through the trees, whose lengthening shadows spread a solemn twilight over the scene. How strong is the influence of local attachment! There is a mysterious friendship between me and these trees which cannot be dissolved without some pangs on my part. If what some ancient philosophers have said be true, perhaps my friends of the field, the wood, and the grove, will mourn my absence. Farewell, lovely spots! You furnish an emblem of the instability of human happiness. A few months more and your verdure will be shrivelled and your beauty turned into desolation.”

Having reached home he soon visits his favourite resort-Bilbro' Hill. It is situated in a field of park-like dimensions and appearance, and its summit is adorned with a tasteful grove. A fine sweep of richly cultivated land lies eastward, and the scene constitutes a beautiful panorama. Invariably carrying pencil and paper, and habituating himself to jot down at the moment anything he deemed worthy of record, we can realize some of the emotions he here experienced. 30th. "Under the beech-trees, Bilbrough. Prospect towards York beautiful-flying showers, the clouds scattered in grand variety-rain patters upon the leavesthe wind now rustles above my head and then sighs along the plain below. How great, how good, how lovely, must be the Great Author of this scene!"

"There is no tree delights me more than the beech. It stands a model of all that is noble, graceful, and elegant. Its fine, shapely, well-rounded trunk-the beautiful symmetry and proportion with which it spreads its branches-the delicate texture of its twigs, and the rich colour of its leaves, form a combination of beauty upon which the eye can rest with entire complacency. The elegant drooping of

ETAT. 21]

SELF-RELIANCE COMMENDED.

143

its branches is unrivalled throughout the domain of nature. It is a fine emblem of a manly, noble, and cultivated mind." Aug. 1st. "Bilbro' Hill. The sun sends his shaded light over the wide landscape; the lovely green in the distance merges into the heavenly blue. All is still, except now and then the breath of heaven gently stirs the trees. It seems as if nature were listening with delight to her own music."

"It is in the reflecting powers that the superiority of great men consists. Others may make equal attainments-may read and remember as much, but their knowledge will not be as great. These powers are always carrying on a silent process."

"Dependence upon others tends to debilitate the mind, especially where that dependence is for knowledge, judgment-mind itself."-Self-reliance is an invaluable quality, and essential to completeness of character. If, however, a fear of appearing dependent restrains us from availing ourselves of the experience or judgment of others, we shall betray the folly of the traveller who would avoid roads and bridges for the sake of showing his independence. Material for the formation of a right decision should be gathered from all quarters. Having obtained this, and sought counsel from "the Father of Lights," we must usually rely on our own judgment if we would become men.

4th. "Christ was descended from the royal family of Judea. It is probable that, notwithstanding their poverty, there would be an elevation of sentiment and a tone of feeling in both Joseph and Mary far above that of the common people. Doubtless Infinite Wisdom selected the best means for forming the character of the Great Prophet-a happy, intelligent, pious, domestic circle. Assuredly Mary was an exalted character."

"A truly great mind reveals itself in the minutia of

human action. In those minor matters which make up a great part of life, the quality of a spirit will often exhibit itself by the degree of energy it puts forth. When a man evidently spends his all upon trifling objects, it is a sure indication that he has not much to spend. But when we find that harmony of action which gives to every object its proportionate amount of energy, neither wasting it on small things, nor falling short in things more important, we meet with a well-balanced and powerful mind. It is surprising how much of a man's character may be learnt from the more insignificant parts of his conduct. Perhaps more of human character is developed in this way than in any other."

I had arranged to spend a few days with my friend about this time, but an attack of illness prevented. On the 5th he wrote: "I was disappointed at not seeing you last Tuesday, and am truly sorry for the cause. If I were a heathen I should say some evil genius looked with envy upon our friendship, and took a malignant delight in disconcerting our plans. But we have learnt to view these things otherwise.

Although this place is lonely, and the trees seem to put on a solemn aspect, as if they were angry at my disturbing the silence that reigns among them, I have hitherto contrived to lead a pretty comfortable life. Things have turned out better than I expected, and I am rather doubtful, after all, whether I should not make a tolerably good hermit. I am generally busy from morning to night, and though I have no one with whom to share my labours, I look with pleasure to the time when you will. Having been produced in so ungenial a soil, however, I fear the fruit will taste a good deal like crabs.

'My sentiments on the great business of our life are somewhat altered, though I can scarcely tell you in what

ETAT. 21]

METHOD OF SERMONIZING.

145

The

respect. The tone or colouring of my views has undergone a change without any radical alteration of opinion. field appears much more extensive, and my eye has detected an almost infinite diversity in departments which previously presented one general aspect. The conclusion I have reached

-or rather the sentiment impressed upon my mind with peculiar emphasis is, that patient, untiring, industry alone can qualify for eminent and extended usefulness.

"In composing I have adopted a new plan. I generally write my sermons with the pencil in my walks. Of course they are in a very unfinished state, and I intend to leave them so for some time. If we live to meet, you will see they are of a very different character from any of my previous productions. I leave unsaid many things usually said upon common texts, and endeavour to give to the discourse an individuality, a character of its own, which will prove generally interesting. Those verbal divisions so common have lost all attraction with me. The beau-ideal at which I aim is to treat every subject according to nature; to modify every representation to the peculiarities of the thing represented; to catch the spirit of every sacred truth and give it an appropriate incarnation; and carefully to exclude every thing adventitious. This will require a style as varied as the face of nature. The loud and the softthe solemn and the melting the rugged and the harmonious-must all be brought into requisition. Sometimes the ray of a soft and sacred light must be let fall upon the audience-at other times the lightning flash, with its quick and quivering glare, must be employed to startle and arouse them; and of course it must be accompanied with the dark and frowning majesty of the thunder cloud.

"But I fear I am getting into the clouds, and as it is now after ten at night, I don't wish to leave the earth. My brain is beginning to complain of its spiritual taskmaster, and I think I had better lay it upon the pillow.

66

Where is the master-mind when this poor slave of a body is at rest? That is a question I'll thank you to answer me. "My health has been much better. I can say nothing as to the result. These diseases are very insidious. Next winter will try me. This living alone does not suit me -society is necessary to my very existence. My mind often craves the gentle stimulus which it affords. I preached last Sunday and intend to preach to-morrow. I still inhale, and am certain that my chest is considerably enlarged. So far this is favourable."

On the 8th he writes in his Journal: "By writing I intend to do without writing-to teach my thoughts to shape themselves, as it were by instinct, into an elegant and manly model. I have gained for some thoughts an appropriate enunciation; cannot this be done for all? Labour and patience can effect wonders-things that at first sight seem impossible."

10th. "How different are the appearances which the same objects present to the mind at different times. I remember to have stood almost entranced with delight in gazing upon a lovely scene, where every object beamed with a divine beauty that captivated the soul, but in visiting it the next day it appeared quite uninteresting. Let no man decide upon any important object until he has seen it often, and under different circumstances."

11th. "To mark the varied effects which religion produces upon the mind is a truly philosophical way of seeking to understand its nature. To the Christian philosopher, the varied phenomena exhibited by the operation of divine truth upon every diversity of character, must be deeply interesting."

After having stated, amongst other things, that he believed his health to be improving, he writes to me August 12th: "I have found my principal recreation in walking to