ve all in character.... A part of your letter
brings to my mind a letter of St. Bernard on the death of his
brother (remember he was a monk and so what a brother might be to
him) which when I read it years ago seemed to me the most touching
and beautiful expression of a natural grief that I had ever
known--I will try to find it, and if I find it answers my
recollection, you shall hear of it again.(135) I always think
Thomas a Kempis a golden book for all times, but most for times
like these; for though it does not treat professedly of sorrow, it
is such a wonderful exhibition of the Man of Sorrows....

_1862_

_April 4._--I am grateful to you and to your thoughts for the
quality they so eminently possess; the Latins have a word for it,
but we have none, and I can only render it by a rude conversion
into "sequacious," or thoughts given to following.

My labours of yesterday [budget speech] had no title to so kind a
reception as they actually met with. Quiet my office in these
times cannot be, but this year it promises me the boon of
comparative peace, at least in the outer sphere. The world
believes that this is what I cannot endure; I shall be glad of an
opportunity of putting its opinion to the test.

All words from you about the Queen are full of weight and value
even when they are not so decidedly words of consolation. In her,
I am even glad to hear of the little bit of symbolism. That
principle like others has its place, and its applications I
believe are right when they flow from and conform to what is
within. I cannot but hope she will have much refreshment in
Scotland. Such contact with Nature's own very undisguised and
noble self, in such forms of mountain, wood, breeze, and water!
These are continual preachers, and so mild that they can bring no
weariness. They come straight from their Maker's hand, and how
faithfully they speak of Him in their strength, their majesty, and
their calm.

As for myself I am a discharged vessel to-day, A load of figures
has a suffocating effect upon the brain until they are well
drilled and have taken their places. Then they are as digestible
as other food of that region; still it is better when they are
off, and it is always a step towards liberty.

I must at some time try to explain a little more my reference to
Thomas