f that God who does not forsake him, but he prays
very seldom, is not fond of going to church; and, though he admires Tate
and Brady's version of the Psalms, his admiration is rather caused by the
beautiful poetry which that version contains than the religion; yet his
tale is not finished--like the tale of the gentleman who touched objects,
and that of the old man who knew Chinese without knowing what was
o'clock; perhaps, like them, he is destined to become religious, and to
have, instead of occasional glimpses, frequent and distinct views of his
God; yet, though he may become religious, it is hardly to be expected
that he will become a very precise and strait-laced person; it is
probable that he will retain, with his scholarship, something of his
gypsyism, his predilection for the hammer and tongs, and perhaps some
inclination to put on certain gloves, not white kid, with any friend who
may be inclined for a little old English diversion, and a readiness to
take a glass of ale, with plenty of malt in it, and as little hop as may
well be--ale at least two years old--with the aforesaid friend, when the
diversion is over; for, as it is the belief of the writer that a person
may get to heaven very comfortably without knowing what's o'clock, so it
is his belief that he will not be refused admission there because to the
last he has been fond of healthy and invigorating exercises, and felt a
willingness to partake of any of the good things which it pleases the
Almighty to put within the reach of His children during their sojourn
upon earth.

CHAPTER II. ON PRIESTCRAFT.

The writer will now say a few words about priestcraft, and the
machinations of Rome, and will afterwards say something about himself,
and his motives for writing against them.

With respect to Rome and her machinations, much valuable information can
be obtained from particular parts of Lavengro and its sequel. Shortly
before the time when the hero of the book is launched into the world, the
Popish agitation in England had commenced. The Popish propaganda had
determined to make a grand attempt on England; Popish priests were
scattered over the land, doing the best they could to make converts to
the old superstition. With the plans of Rome, and her hopes, and the
reasons on which those hopes are grounded, the hero of the book becomes
acquainted during an expedition which he makes into the country, from
certain conversations which he holds with a prie