eading. Schiller's plays he went through with attention,
finding it 'a good plan to read along with history, historical plays of
the same events for material illustration, as well as aid to the
memory.' He read Scott's chapters on Mary Stuart in his history of
Scotland, 'to enable me better to appreciate the admirable judgment of
Schiller (in _Maria Stuart_) both where he has adhered to history and
where he has gone beyond it.' He finds fault with the _Temistocle_ of
Metastasio, as 'too humane.' 'History should not be violated without a
reason. It may be set aside to fill up poetical verisimilitude. If
history assigns a cause inadequate to its effect, or an effect
inadequate to its cause, poetry may supply the deficiency for the sake
of an impressive whole. But it is too much to overset a narrative and
call it a historical play.' Then came a tragic stroke in real life.

DAYS IN SCOTLAND

_October 6, 1833._--Post hour to-day brought me a melancholy
announcement--the death of Arthur Hallam. This intelligence was
deeply oppressive even to my selfish disposition. I mourn in him,
for myself, my earliest near friend; for my fellow creatures, one
who would have adorned his age and country, a mind full of beauty
and of power, attaining almost to that ideal standard of which it
is presumption to expect an example. When shall I see his like? Yet
this dispensation is not all pain, for there is a hope and not (in
my mind) a bare or rash hope that his soul rests with God in Jesus
Christ.... I walked upon the hills to muse upon this very mournful
event, which cuts me to the heart. Alas for his family and his
intended bride. _October 7th._--My usual occupations, but not
without many thoughts upon my departed friend. Bible. Alfieri,
_Wallenstein_, Plato, Gifford's _Pitt_, _Biographia Literaria_.
Rode with my father and Helen. All objects lay deep in the softness
and solemnity of autumnal decay. Alas, my poor friend was cut off
in the spring of his bright existence.

_December 13, Edinburgh._--Breakfast with Dr. Chalmers. His
modesty is so extreme that it is oppressive to those who are in his
company, especially his juniors, since it is impossible for them to
keep their behaviour in due proportion to his. He was on his own
subject, the Poor Laws, very eloquent, earnest, and impressive.
Perhaps h