during the whole entertainment; three Rationalists (acquaintances of Fellowes), standing at somewhat different points in the spiritual thermometer, one a devoted advocate of Strauss:  add to these a Deist, no unworthy representative of the old English school; one or two others further gone still; a Roman Catholic priest, an admirer of Father Newman, who therefore believes every thing; our sceptical friend Harrington, who believes nothing; and myself, still fool enough to believe the Bible to be “divine,” —­and you will acknowledge that a more curious party never sat down to edify one another with their absurdities and contradictions.

Questionable as was the entertainment for the mind, that for the body was unexceptionable.  The dinner was excellent; our host performed his duties with admirable tact and grace; and somehow speedily put every body at his ease.  Relieved, according to the judicious modern mode, of the care of supplying the plates of his guests, he had eye, ear, and tongue for every one, and leisure to direct the conversation into what channel he pleased.  He took care to turn it for some time on indifferent topics; and each man lost his reserve and his frigidity almost before he was aware; so that, by the time dinner was fairly over, every one was ready for animated conversation.  If any one began to have queer suspicions of his neighbors, he felt, as on board ship, that he was in for it, and bound, by common politeness, to make the best of it.  The Deist, addressing himself to the Italian gentleman, asked him if he had heard lately from Italy.  He replied in the negative.

“I can tell you some news, then,” said he.  “They say that the head of the illustrious Guicciardini family has been just imprisoned at Florence, having been detected reading in Diodati’s Bible a chapter in the Gospel of St. John.  Supposing the fact true, for a moment, may I ask if it would be the wish of the Roman Catholic Church, were she to regain her power in England, to imprison every one who was found reading a chapter in John?  If so, England would have to enlarge her prisons.”

“Not much,” said one of the Rationalist gentlemen, laughing; “for if things go on as they have done, there will not, in a few years, be many who will be found reading a chapter in John.”

“Perhaps so,” said Harrington, smiling, “but, if for the reason you would assign, few will be found in church either; and the ecclesiastical authorities might perhaps put you in prison for that instead.”

“O, I will answer for him!” said the Deist, who knew something of his plasticity; “our friend is very accommodating, and though he would not like to go to go to church, he would still less like to go to prison.  And to church he would go; and look very devout into the bargain.  But, however, I should like to hear what your Italian guest has to say to my question.”

The impatience of the English Catholic could not be repressed.