y of the visible
clouds from the visible sky, I could not but reflect upon the glorious
stability of things spiritual, contrasted with the mutability and
evanescence of things temporal. Our hearts, which are united by _real_
bonds--the love of truth, the fear of God, and the desire of duty--have
remained so united through all these years of absence and distance from
each other; and when I thought of our former visit to Netley, I
remembered that nothing had failed me but that which could not be
abiding and steadfast, for it was not good.

To tell you how thence my soul wandered to the eventual reclaiming of
all who have strayed from righteousness, and the possible reunion, in
the immeasurable future, of souls which have been sundered here because
of sin, and the final redemption of all God's poor erring children,
would be to attempt to utter one of those rapid, deep, and ineffable
actions of our spirits which are too full of hope, of faith, and the
holiest peace, for words to be meant to express them.

MORTIMER STREET, Thursday, 6th, 1845.
DEAREST HAL,

My father came home yesterday afternoon from Brighton. He said he was
getting a little tired of his work, and complained of a touch of
rheumatism in his shoulder.... He is making arrangements to read at
Highgate next week. Harry Chester, some cousin or connection of Emily's,
and a quondam kind friend of mine, is at the head of some institution at
Highgate, and has been in negotiations with him for three readings at
some public hall or lecture-room there. My father is to read there three
times, and is to dine each time at some friend's house. Mr. Chester very
kindly begged me to accompany him, and dine with them....

I dined at Sir Edward Codrington's yesterday, and was there introduced
to a charmingly pretty Mrs. Bruce, formerly Miss Pitt, one of the
queen's maids-of-honor; and I assure you my edification was considerable
at some of her courtly experiences....

I believe Solomon says that "in the multitude of counsellors is safety;"
it does not seem so with me just now, for in my multitude of counsels
and counsellors I find only utter bewilderment.

Until Monday I shall be at the Hoo, where you can address me, "To the
care of Lord Dacre, the Hoo, Welwyn, Herts."

God bless you, dearest Hal. Give my kind love to Dorothy.

Yours ever,