Favourite Tastes and Pursuits.

399

speak better sense upon it than I shall ever speak meanwhile; certain that even though they may differ in details, and even some of them err, they will at least prepare the mind of the Church for the reception of eternal truth.

"I regret much to find that the name of my beloved and revered friend and teacher, the late Mr. Maurice, should have been introduced into this little controversy, and that expressions have been used concerning his opinions, which I must believe would be modified with regret, on a more thorough understanding of his writings. I am bound to say of him that he was always most jealous of Catholic orthodoxy, as he conceived it, both in himself and in others; that he not only shrank from all 'Rationalism,' but was seriously angry with me some years since, when he suspected me (though mistakenly) of leaning to the socalled Rationalist party, and that from him I first learned to value the Athanasian Creed, as a bulwark alike to the theology and the ethics of Christendom, and to defend its public use, including the so-called damnatory clauses, in the services of our Church. And what he did for me I have full reason to believe he did for many more.

"I shall trouble you with no rejoinder to any comments which this etter may evoke,

"And remain, with deep respect,

"Your faithful servant,

"C. KINGSLEY."

While paying a visit in Weybridge at this time, he was asked to write some answers to the following questions in a book kept for the Autographs of literary men. The answers are charac

teristic, truthful, and therefore interesting:

"Favourite character in history? David.

"Favourite kind of literature? Physical science.

"Favourite author? Spenser.

"Favourite male and female character in fiction? (No answer given.) "Favourite artist? Leonardo de Vinci.

"Favourite composer? Beethoven.

"Favourite dramatic performance? A pantomime.

"Favourite public character? (No answer given.)

"Favourite kind of scenery? Wide flats or open sea.

"Place at home and abroad you most admire? Clovelly.

"Favourite reminiscence? July, 1839.

"Favourite occupation? Doing nothing.

"Favourite amusement? Sleeping.

"What you dislike most? Any sort of work.

"Favourite topics of conversation? Whatever my companion hap

pens to be talking about.

"And those you dislike most? My own thoughts.

"What you like most in woman? Womanliness. "What you dislike most? Unwomanliness.

"What you like most in man? Modesty.

"What you dislike most? Vanity.

"The character you most dislike? Myself. "Your ambition? To die.

"Your ideal? The One ideal.

"Your hobby? Fancying I know anything.

"The virtue you most admire? Truth.

"The vice to which you are most lenient? All except lying. "Your favourite motto or proverb?

Be strong.'

"CHARLES KINGSLEY."

His year closed at Eversley with his three children round him, his eldest daughter having returned safe from a long visit to her brother in Colorado, and a perilous journey with him and some American friends through Mexico, who were "prospecting" for the carrying on of the narrow gauge railway which her brother had assisted in building from Denver down to Colorado Springs, and which the company hoped to take through the heart of Mexico down to the city itself. The Report made by his son on the survey had been a great source of pride and joy to his father, and seemed to open great prospects for his own future, and for that of civilization, which, however, were finally frustrated by the Mexican Government. During the last six months the Rectory had the pleasant addition of a young German tutor, who was preparing the youngest boy for a public school. Dr. Karl Schulze had been all through the Franco-Prussian war, and had come to England to learn the language before settling in his professorship in Berlin. His society was a great pleasure to Mr. Kingsley, who in return had the same magnetic attraction for him, as for all young men who came within his influence. The following letter shows the impression made on Dr. Schulze during this short time, by Mr. Kingsley's "home life" at Chester and Eversley, which he said had made him "a better man,"

A German's Sympathy.

401

and of which he could not think without tears in his eyes. From Grünberg, in Silesia, he wrote in January, 1875:

"When the newspaper of to-day announced the death of Mr. Kingsley, Canon of Westminster, I would not trust my own eyes, and could not help thinking and hoping that this might be a mistake. But it is only too true: dear Mr. Kingsley is dead. What a sad news to all those that knew, loved, and admired him-to all that read his works; and still more so to those who had the honour of knowing him personally! What a loss to literature, science; what a great loss to his innumerable friends! But what a heavy loss to you and his whole family, whom he loved as never man loved his wife and father his children. I can fancy how great your grief is; may God be your consolation and help in these mournful days.

"How is it possible, I ask again and again, that this man, whom I saw but two years ago in full strength of mind and body, is now dead? How did it come to pass, that this powerful man was broken down in the prime of his age?

"How quickly he used to walk, that we, being so much younger, could scarcely follow him; in what a lively way he would tell us about his travels in the West Indies! How I remember his bright eyes when he talked to us about all he had seen; how full of humour he was, when he told his stories! And, again, how mild and earnest he was when he preached his beautiful sermons; those specimens of true. Christian kindness and love. What a genius! and all this is now gone. It is very sad to think of it. There was never man whom I admired so much as I did Mr. Kingsley."

VOL. II.

D D

CHAPTER XXXI.

1873-4.

AGED 54-5.

HARROW-ON-THE-HILL-CANONRY OF WESTMINSTER-HIS SON'S RETURN-HIS MOTHER'S DEATH-PARTING FROM CHESTER-CongratULATIONS-SERMON AND LETTERS ON TEMPERANCE-PREACHING IN WESTMINSTER ABBEYVOYAGE TO AMERICA-EASTERN CITIES AND WESTERN PLAINS-CANADA -NIAGARA-THE PRAIRIE-SALT LAKE CITY-YO SEMITE VALLEY AND BIG TREES-SAN FRANCISCO-ILLNESS-ROCKY MOUNTAINS AND COLORADO SPRINGS-LAST POEM-RETURN HOME-LETTER FROM JOHN G. WHITTIER.