capable of interesting situations.  It throws a curious light upon the aristocratic or rather hieratic influence exercised by the Methodist preachers within the connection, as it is called.  Admirable food this would be for the Quarterly, or any other reviewers who might desire to feed fat their grudge against these sectarians.  But there are two reasons against such a publication.  First, it would do the poor sufferer no good.  Secondly, it might hurt the Methodistic connection very much, which I for one would not like to injure.  They have their faults, and are peculiarly liable to those of hypocrisy, and spiritual ambition, and priestcraft.  On the other hand, they do infinite good, carrying religion into classes in society where it would scarce be found to penetrate, did it rely merely upon proof of its doctrines, upon calm reasoning, and upon rational argument.  Methodists add a powerful appeal to the feelings and passions; and though I believe this is often exaggerated into absolute enthusiasm, yet I consider upon the whole they do much to keep alive a sense of religion, and the practice of morality necessarily connected with it.  It is much to the discredit of the Methodist clergy, that when this calumniator was actually convicted of guilt morally worse than many men are hanged for, they only degraded him from the first to the second class of their preachers,—­leaving a man who from mere hatred at Miss Bell’s brother, who was a preacher like himself, had proceeded in such a deep and infamous scheme to ruin the character and destroy the happiness of an innocent person, in possession of the pulpit, and an authorised teacher of others.  If they believed him innocent they did too much—­if guilty, far too little.[143]

I wrote to my nephew Walter to-day, cautioning him against a little disposition which he has to satire or mechancete, which may be a great stumbling-block in his course in life.  Otherwise I presage well of him.  He is lieutenant of engineers, with high character for mathematical science—­is acute, very well-mannered, and, I think, good-hearted.  He has seen enough of the world too, to regulate his own course through life, better than most lads at his age.

February 3.—­This is the first morning since my troubles that I felt at awaking

    “I had drunken deep
    Of all the blessedness of sleep."[144]

I made not the slightest pause, nor dreamed a single dream, nor even changed my side.  This is a blessing to be grateful for.  There is to be a meeting of the creditors to-day, but I care not for the issue.  If they drag me into the Court, obtorto collo, instead of going into this scheme of arrangement, they would do themselves a great injury, and, perhaps, eventually do me good, though it would give me much pain.  James Ballantyne is severely critical on what he calls imitations of Mrs. Radcliffe in Woodstock.  Many will think with him, yet I am of opinion he is