Here is no

to the place from whence he camé. abiding worship, but pilgrims come from afar, leave their treasures, drink deeply this new and maddening love, and depart like an exhausted reveller at the approach of dawn.

"See yonder iron image, whose votaries and victims are the illustrious and the great. Here worship the rulers of the earth, and the honourable among men. To this god, Monarchs bend a haughty knee. His followers he creates Vice-regents over the nations. under his sway. Men come to him for inspiration, and pray for inward light, and he breathes into their souls the love of fame-the lust of power-the spirit of dominion and conquest. From him they learn the science of grim war, and the subtleties of peaceful power. Blood flows in torrents at this shrine, and is held but in light esteem. On his votaries he bestows splendid gifts, and taught by him, they scorn the petty obligations of milder worships. Men of perjuries and broken faith, they trample over the necks of mankind towards the commanding seat; there they enjoy the rewards of their homage to the god. Their crimes are extolled-the spilt blood is washed away-the treasons, lies, and simulations of the noviciate, are forgotten, and Power has raised another shrine, before which the multitudes tremble and revere. H 2

"There are thousands of other Idols, but none so great or omnipotent as these."

It seemed very shocking to hear all the vices and evil passions of men parcelled out into so many different principles, while virtue and the better qualities seemed entirely forgotten. I suggested this to the speaker, whereupon, he continued.

"There may be, for any thing I know, a worship to this Virtue you speak of, and I remember once having heard something to this effect. Its votaries appear to be very innocent and amiable, distinguished more for the simplicity and purity of their lives, than for any commanding quality. Contentment, peace, and good will, are the chief doctrines here inculcated, and they seem to find some followers among the timid and harmless, but it seems a creed totally unfit for more impetuous natures. The terms of this faith are, that an honest and honourable consistency of charactera compassion to every object which appeals to our generosity-a blind observance to the customary religious duties of life—and a benevolent disposition in general, will meet with an infallible reward. You must evince good feeling, disinterestedness, and love to all the world in general, but to negroes in particular, and your reward is sure, certain, and irrevocable, not only in the world to

come, but also in the world terrestrial. Povertystricken you may be, old and decrepid; but if you have passed your life in the prosecution of a general course of benevolence, you have fulfilled the proper object for which existence was given. Your old age shall be peaceful and happy in its decline. Over your bier shall weep the grateful recipients of your love. Honoured and esteemed among men, and blest from above, the whole earth shall be your sepulchre, and blissful will be your hereafter."

CHAPTER VIII.

"God is very merciful to fools."

BENVENUTO CELLINI.

AMONG the group that had heard the foregoing harangue, there was one who seemed, like myself, to have but lately arrived in this other world. He listened with a kind of curious attention to what had been said, and every now and then a smile, or a sneer, would pass across his strongly marked and expressive face. He had a bold bearing and deportment, and the deep lines of that countenance told of strong passions and stern will, and showed the ravages left by a turbulent nature. Altogether he much resembled one of those worthies who so superabound in the works of that notorious novelist, Mr. G. V. B. James. He rose up with that steady self-inclosed air which at once indicates the practised speaker. Thus he began:

"So far as I understand what has been said, I disagree with it; such has not been my experience;

perhaps it is because I have lived in this latter drossy age,' and yet I have marked men and their natures for many years, and fancy that I understand them. I was a Statesman, and in my time have seen much life and more villainy. I must confess I was greatly astonished and delighted at my arrival among you here, for I had fully anticipated warmer latitudes, and less respectable company, and for the first time in my life I intend speaking the truth.

"First of all, I do not believe in this universal tendency among men to follow one ruling prin-ciple exclusively; on the contrary, most men follow no fixed rule at all, for any continuance, but are wafted about continually at the mercy of circumstances and caprice. Even their religion is governed by these fates-their politics also-their notions of right and wrong also. Half the Protestants in the world are so simply because they happened to be born in a Protestant community. Your zealous Tory and sour Evangelical are so, simply because their parents were so before them. In very few instances indeed do you find minds. strong enough to rise above the conventions of their age, and the condition in which they were born, and assert an independent position. It is all an accident, depend upon it, and I think it is a