as all men must do who form their early acquaintances--friendships I
will not call them--amongst the multitude who are only bound together
by the casual ties of pleasure and convenience. The temporary purpose
gained, or the transient gratification satisfied, no memory remains of
favour conferred, no gratitude survives for benefits received. While
youth continues we _waste_ our resources, because they are liberally
replenished, and in the abundance and variety of the springs from
whence they flow, we cannot anticipate a season of dearth; but the
cisterns, however bounteously supplied, will become dry at last, and
even _drops_ will, in the end, seem precious of that which we lavished
before with thoughtless prodigality. Your brother, however, is too
just to hate his fellow-creatures because he has neglected to render
himself an object of their love; but, though he does not actually
set his mind in array against them, he is too proud to acknowledge
dependence, and his temper is not sufficiently under controul to prevent
him from involuntarily revenging on society the insulation which he
has imposed on himself, by avoiding rather than courting communion
with the world, for an intercourse with the best and wisest of which
he is peculiarly gifted. It would seem as if he had laid down a law
for himself to be severe and repellent, which the natural kindness of
his character renders impossible, and the _most_ that he can achieve
is an air of uncertainty bordering on caprice, which strangers ascribe
to bad health. I suspect that during the halcyon days of youth,
religion which, in India, has been cruelly neglected, made no part
of his concern, but a mind of such height and depth as his can never
continue careless on the subject of its immortal interests; and,
if my observations be correct, he is at this moment suffering those
_transition pangs_ incident to the awakened conviction of having been
wrong, and desiring to be right, which are rendered more than commonly
poignant in his instance by that scrupulous conscientiousness which
suggests the inquiry whether his motive in searching after truth
may not partly arise from a belief that he feels "the silver cords"
beginning to give way and threaten dissolution.
You will not think me tedious in thus endeavouring to give you a clue
to the character of one who is formed in no ordinary mould, and for
whom I anticipate all the happiness which he is capable of enjoying
at Glenalta. You will have no difficulty to contend with, no plot to
sustain. Oh! my dear Caroline, it is worth coming into a sophisticated
scene like this, to behold, in all its loveliness, the beauty of a
single heart. The moral like the physical circumstances which surround
us daily, are not half appreciated, because that they want contrast.
We are ungrateful and forget our blessings. I shall have much to tell
you, which I do not like to write. Dear Arthur would furnish materials
for another sheet, but I must not lengthen this letter, already so
voluminous. Frederick's love, with mine, to the _Trias Harmonica_, and
Mr. Oliphant. Adieu, dearest friend.
Yours ever and sincerely,
E. OTWAY.
END OF VOL. II.
PRINTED BY J. B. NICHOLS, 25, PARLIAMENT-STREET.
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Transcriber's note
Text enclosed by underscores is in italics, e.g. _italics_.
Spelling and punctuation have been preserved as printed in the
original publication.