and ripe judgment.  But, better still, I hope to feel no more that sometimes despairing, sometimes insolently contemptuous, feeling of incongeniality with my time and place.  Who knows but some proper and attainable object of pursuit may present itself to the cleared eye?  At any rate, wisdom is good, if it brings neither bliss nor glory.’

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March, 1834.—­Four pupils are a serious and fatiguing charge for one of my somewhat ardent and impatient disposition.  Five days in the week I have given daily lessons in three languages, in Geography and History, besides many other exercises on alternate days.  This has consumed often eight, always five hours of my day.  There has been, also, a great deal of needle-work to do, which is now nearly finished, so that I shall not be obliged to pass my time about it when everything looks beautiful, as I did last summer.  We have had very poor servants, and, for some time past, only one.  My mother has been often ill.  My grandmother, who passed the winter with us, has been ill.  Thus, you may imagine, as I am the only grown-up daughter, that my time has been considerably taxed.

’But as, sad or merry, I must always be learning, I laid down a course of study at the beginning of winter, comprising certain subjects, about which I had always felt deficient.  These were the History and Geography of modern Europe, beginning the former in the fourteenth century; the Elements of Architecture; the works of Alfieri, with his opinions on them; the historical and critical works of Goethe and Schiller, and the outlines of history of our own country.

’I chose this time as one when I should have nothing to distract or dissipate my mind.  I have nearly completed this course, in the style I proposed,—­not minute or thorough.  I confess,—­though I have had only three evenings in the week, and chance hours in the day, for it.  I am very glad I have undertaken it, and feel the good effects already.  Occasionally, I try my hand at composition, but have not completed anything to my own satisfaction.  I have sketched a number of plans, but if ever accomplished, it must be in a season of more joyful energy, when my mind has been renovated, and refreshed by change of scene or circumstance.  My translation of Tasso cannot be published at present, if ’it ever is.’

* * * * *

’My object is to examine thoroughly, as far as my time and abilities will permit, the evidences of the Christian Religion.  I have endeavored to get rid of this task as much and as long as possible; to be content with superficial notions, and, if I may so express it, to adopt religion as a matter of taste.  But I meet with infidels very often; two or three of my particular friends are deists; and their arguments, with distressing sceptical notions of my own, are haunting me forever.  I must satisfy myself; and having