transaction, such a loss must have been, we are bound to hope, shaped out for him as a punishment inflicted for gracious purposes.  It is true he is ignorant of it, and I trust he shall remain so; but then we know that many a blessing comes to us in deep disguise, and that many a dispensation which we look upon as a favor from above, is far from being so.  If, then, it be true that this thing is vouchsafed to him as a hidden blessing, let us be thankful that we have been selected as the unworthy means through whom he is made to receive it; or if it comes to him as a punishment, still it is our duty to reflect that we are merely the instruments through whose frailties, or virtues, as the case may be, he is visited, and that from the beginning this and many other acts which a blind unenlightened world might censure, were ordained for us, in order that the perfect scheme of Providence might be fulfilled.

“With respect to the spy system, I do agree with you fully.  Many things must be done in secret, which the perversity of the world will not bear to hear of without committing sin.  For instance, my dear Val, in sowing your crop of loyalty, so to speak, it might not, perhaps, be wrong—­I am speaking, now observe, with reference to the cunning of the serpent, which you know we are enjoined to have, and if to have, of course to use when necessary; it might not, perhaps, be wrong I say, to cast a tare or two, if only for the purpose of employing our friends and fellow creatures to pull them, out again.  It is as it were, giving the idle employment, and enabling ourselves in the mean time to gather an abundant harvest into our own garners.

“With respect to Darby, I trust, that if my unworthy example and earnest precept have been successful in rescuing him from the bonds of error and sin—­but what is still more dangerous, from the damnable thrall of Popery—­it is not for me to vainly extol myself therefor.  His conversion, however, will, I trust, be edifying to that interesting, but neglected class, the bailiffs of Ireland.  With reference to them, I am engaged during the very few leisure hours that I can steal—­so to speak—­from my professional employment, in writing a second tract especially for their improvement.  It will be appropriately called, The Bailiff’s Beacon or a Strengthener for tender Consciences, By their friend and brother Christian, Solomon M’Slime, Attorney at Law.

“Verily, my lines have been made to fall in pleasant places.  On yesterday, I had the satisfaction to be appointed soul agent to the Religious Cosmopolitan Assurance Association, being a branch of the Grand Junction Spiritual Railway Society for travellers to a better world.  The salary is liberal, but the appointment—­especially to a man of sincere principles—­is full of care and responsibility.  Allow me, my dear Val, to recommend you and your friends to purchase shares in the Spiritual Railway Society—­it is under Him the safest