your notes than in any I ever read, though it struck me more in consequence of their distinguishing excellence in the way of contrast.

I can only now say, in answer to your inquiry, as to the furnishing of the new continent with living creatures, that I do not see why you may not judge and theorise for yourself as well as any geologist, knowing that of the great lands of the globe each has its peculiar animals, and weighing at its true value what I told you in my last regarding the succession of races.

If I dared wish on such a point, I should now wish that I could go out as the chaplain of the Bishop of Jerusalem. I may tell you that I have felt in my heart nearer to the appointment than I ever did to anything else of the sort. But if it had been God's will, I should have been ordained and in other ways ready for it, so it is no doubt best as it is.-Believe me ever, my dear Strachey, yours very affectionately, S. CLARK.

HOLBORN HILL, 12th month, 16th (1841).

MY DEAREST MOTHER,-I had hoped to have spent the anniversary of our beloved Mary's passage from time to eternity with thee, but in consequence of J. M. D.'s absence, it is quite impossible. It is, however, an unspeakable consolation that as we have one faith, one hope, and one Lord and Saviour, we can unite while we are far distant from each other in the body, and inwardly experience along with her the blessed communion of the saints. I often think, when she and dear George and other absent ones

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whom we love occur to my mind, that members of the same family who love each other tenderly would rest satisfied too much in earthly affections and circumstances if it were not for death and absence. And thus those visitations, dreadful as they are, become to those who know Christ links to bind us to God and to each other by spiritual bonds, of which we should not be so conscious if the earthly bonds were present. Since dear Mary has gone home to Christ, I seem often to have felt it a real blessing to have a sister in heaven, even when I have felt it most painful to be deprived of her always loving and sympathetic presence on earth.-Believe me, my dearest mother, thy ever affectionate and dutiful son,

S. CLARK.

CHAPTER IX.

1842-1848.

LETTERS OF COUNSEL-TOUR IN NORMANDY-PARTNERSHIP DISSOLVED-VISITS TO GREECE AND ITALYORDINATION—ST. MARK'S-DEATH OF HIS MOTHER.

W. SQUARE, May 16th.

MY DEAR . . I shall make no apology for expressing myself in a confident and perhaps dogmatical manner regarding the temptations you allude to. If I understand what you say of them aright, I shall speak the truth, if I may place any reliance on my own experience. If I do not apprehend them rightly, I shall be very glad for you to explain them more fully to me; and should I not be able to give you any increased light, you may at least rely on my earnest desire to help you.

As to the degree in which God is to be trusted, you want no teaching of mine or of any one. Your understanding is solidly convinced that He never forsakes those who do not forsake Him; that when He suffers them in worldly matters to sink down, if they do not keep true to Him, the result never fails to be the elevation of them in their spirits, their own proper selves. Regarding confidence in man, there are times

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in our lives in which I believe we do best to shut our eyes as much as possible to the conduct of men altogether, and this may probably be your case at present. It is, however, as we go on, as certain as it is paradoxical to the worldling, that while we trust all things, and therefore all men, we yet place no confidence in man, but all our trust is in God. God places us where we are; God gives to men and to circumstances, including even those of our own past conduct, the influence they may have over us. Whatever may be the intentions or feelings of those whose actions affect us, God ordains all the effects of those actions, as it relates to our own present being. However the race of men may rough-hew their ends, there's a divinity that shapes them. We are then bound to believe that all influences will tend to the glory of God and our own best happiness, if we will have it so, however different they may at first seem to us. I say at first, for I am sure that if we are but willing to love and trust, there are few circumstances which will not soon really appear to us as blessings.

But I am aware that you know all this, and have assented to it long ago in your heart of hearts. It is not a knowledge of the truth you need, but such an abiding sense of that knowledge as shall scare away superficial misgivings. If I may advise you, it is a regular, almost a mechanical, discipline that will best help you to this, and enable you to enjoy richly the fruits of the holy plant which has been planted in your heart. Firmly-fixed habits of private devotion as to time and place, and in them a stated use of the forms which God has given to us in His Church, are, I believe, the best bulwarks we can erect against

the devil of doubt and mistrust, accompanied with an ever-present recollection of the truth that it is as much out of our power, as it is out of our duty, to judge the motives and characters of others. I believe that private devotion, if left to the suggestions of our minds at the time, may often lead us into many and grievous temptations. But if we would find strength in them, we should habitually introduce them by a reflection upon some aphorised portion of Holy Scripture, and a repetition, distinct, thoughtful, and if aloud so much the better, of the Creed and the Lord's Prayer. Whatever relating to our own private circumstances we may have to say, will be best grafted on upon such a beginning. A tone will thus be given to it, and a safeguard imposed.

I believe the use of forms in private is not so generally acknowledged and practised as it ought to be, by those who are really pious and devout. Under feelings such as you describe, they must (I think) be most necessary. If you find what I have written confused and worthless, pray do not the less believe that it is my wish to serve you.-Yours, very truly, S. CLARK.

MY DEAR

To the Same.

SOUTHAMPTON, November 14th, 1842,

-I cannot tell how much pleasure it gave me just now to hear by your letter that H. is going on so favourably. I hope when I return (which will I expect be before the end of this week) to find him rejoicing in a merciful deliverance from an obstinate enemy. Should it please God to restore him to a comfortable degree of health,