And as the last half-year's interest was paid punctually, accompanied with a hint, that if doubts were entertained of his probity, the man was ready to refund a great part of the principal, Mr E's confidence revived. Now, the letter in question was from this person; and stated, that, though" circumstances" had compelled him to withdraw from his creditors for the present, in other words-to abscond, he had no doubt that if Mr E would wait a little, he should in time be able to pay him a "fair dividend !"-" Good God! why, E is ruined!" exclaimed Dr D, turning pale, and dropping the letter, after having read it

to me.

"Yes, ruined!-all the hard savings of many years labour and economy, gone at a stroke!"

"Why, was all his small fortune embarked in this man's concern ?" "All, except a few hundreds lying loose at his banker's !—What is to become of poor Miss E-?”

"Cannot this infamous scoundrel be brought to justice?" I enquired.

"If he were, he may prove, perhaps, not worth powder and shot, the viper !"

Similar emotions kept us both silent for several moments.

"This will put his philosophy to a dreadful trial," said I. "How do you think he will bear it, should he recover from the present seizure so far as to be made sensible of the extent of his misfortunes ?"

"Oh, nobly, nobly! I'll pledge my existence to it! He'll bear it like a Christian, as well as a philosopher! I've seen him in trouble before this." "Is Miss E entirely dependent on her uncle; and has he made no provision for her ?"

"Alas! he had appropriated to her L.5000 of the L.15,000 in this man's hands, as a marriage portion-I know it, for I am one of his executors. The circumstance of leaving her thus destitute, will, I know, prey cruelly on his mind." Shortly afterwards, we were summoned into the chamber of the venerable sufferer. His niece sat at the bedside, near his head, holding one of his cold motionless hands in hers. Mr E's face, deadly pale, and damp with perspiration, had suffered a shocking distortion of the features:-the left eye

and the mouth being drawn downwards to the left side. He gazed at us vacantly, evidently without recognising us, as we took our stations, one at the foot, the other at the side of the bed. What a melancholy contrast between the present expression of his eyes, and that of acuteness and brilliance which eminently characterised them in health! They reminded me of Milton's sun, looking

Shorn of its beams." "through the horizontal misty air,

The distorted lips were moving about incessantly, as though with abortive efforts to speak, though he could utter nothing but an inarticulate murmuring sound, which he had continued almost from the moment of his being struck. Was it not a piteous-a heart-rending spectacle? Was this the philosopher?-After making due enquiries, and ascertaining the extent of the injury to his nervous system, we withdrew to consult on the treatment to be adopted. In accounting for the seizure, I considered that the uncommon quantities of laudanum he had so long been in the habit of receiving into his system, alone sufficiently accounted for his present seizure. Then, again, the disease in his spine the consequent exhaustion of his energies-the sedentary, thoughtful life he led-all these were at least pre-disposing causes. The sudden shock he had received in the morning merely accelerated what had long been advancing on him. We both anticipated a speedily fatal issue, and resolved to take the earliest opportunity of acquainting him with his approaching end.

[He lies in nearly the same state during Thursday and Friday.]

Saturday. We are both astonished and delighted to find that E's daily paroxysms have deserted him, at least he has exhibited no symptoms of their appearance up to this day. On entering the room, we found, to our inexpressible satisfaction, that his disorder had taken a very unusual and happy course

having been worked out of the system by fever. This, as my medical readers will be aware, is a very rare occurrence.-[Three or four pages of the Diary are occupied with technical details, of no interest whatever to the general reader.]—His

features were soon restored to their natural position; and, in short, every appearance of palsy left him.

Sunday evening-Mr E-going on well, and his mental energies and speech perfectly restored. I called on him alone. Almost his first words to me were " Well, Doctor, good Mr Boyle was right, you see!" I replied, that it yet remained to be proved.

"God sent me a noble messenger to summon me hence, did he not? One whose character has always been my model, as far as I could imitate his great and good qualities."

"You attach too much weight, Mr E, to that creature of imagination"

"What! do you really doubt that I am on my death-bed? I assuredly shall not recover. The pains in my back have left me, that my end may be easy. Aye, aye, the silver cord is loosed.'" I enquired about the sudden cessation of his chronic complaint. He said, it had totally disappeared; leaving behind it only a sensation of numbness. "In this instance of His mercy towards an unworthy worm of the earth, I devoutly thank my Father-my God!" he exclaimed, looking reverentially upward,-" Oh, how could I in patience have possessed my soul, if to the pains of dying had been superadded those which have embittered life! My constant prayer to God has been, that, if it be His will, my life may run out clear to the last drop; and though the stream has been a little troubled," alluding to the intelligence which had occasioned his illness, "I may yet have my prayer answered-Oh, sweet darling Anne! why should I grieve for you? Where I am going, I humbly believe you are! Root and branch-both gathered home!" He shed tears abundantly, but spoke of the dreadful bereavement in terms of perfect resignation. * * "You are no doubt acquainted," he continued, "with the other afflicting news, which, I own, has cut me to the quick! My confidence has been betrayed, my sweet niece's prospects utterly blighted, and I made a beggar of in my old age. This ungrateful man has squandered away infamously the careful savings of more than thirty years-every penny of which has been

earned with the sweat of my brow. I do not so much care for it myself, as I have still enough left to preserve me from want during the few remaining days I have left me; but my poor dear Emma! My heart aches to think of it!"

"I hope you may yet recover some portion of your property, Mr E--; the man speaks in his letter of paying you a fair dividend."

"No, no-when once a man has deliberately acted in such an unprincipled manner as he has, it is foolish to expect restitution. Loss of character, and the confidence of his benefactor, makes him desperate. I find, that, should I linger on earth longer than a few weeks, I cannot now afford to pay the rent of this house

I must remove from it-I cannot die in the house in which my poor wife breathed her last-this very room!" His tears burst forth again, and mine started to my eyes. "A friend is now looking out lodgings for me in the neighbourhood-to which I shall remove the instant my health will permit. It goes to my heart, to think of the bustling auctioneer disposing of all my apparatus,"―tears again gushed from his eyes-" the companions of many years"

"Dear, dear sir!-Your friends will ransack heaven and earth before your fears shall be verified," said I, with emotion.

"They-you-are very good-but you would be unsuccessful!-You must think me very weak to let these things overcome me in this wayone can't help feeling them!—A man may writhe under the amputating knife, and yet acknowledge the necessity of its use! My spirit wants disciplining."

"Allow me to say, Mr E, that I think you bear your misfortunes with admirable fortitude-true philosophic"

"Oh Doctor! Doctor!" he exclaimed, interrupting me, with solemn emphasis-" Believe a dying man, to whom all this world's fancied realities have sunk into shadows

nothing can make a death-bed easy, but RELIGION-a humble, hearty faith in Him, whose Son redeemed mankind! Philosophy-science-is a nothing-a mockery-a delusion-if it be only of this world!-I believe from

the bottom of my heart, and have long done so, that the essence-the very crown and glory of true philosophy, is to surrender up the soul entirely to God's teaching, and practically receive and appreciate the consola. tions of the gospel of Jesus Christ!" Oh, the fervency with which he expressed himself-his shrunk clasped hands pointed upwards, and his features beaming with devotion! I told him it did my heart good to hear such opinions avowed by a man of his distinguished attainments.

"Don't-don't-don't talk in that strain, Doctor!" said he, turning to me with a reproving air. "Could a living man but know how compliments fall upon a dying man's ear! ** I am going shortly into the presence of Him who is Wisdom itself; and shall I go pluming myself on my infinitely less than glow-worm glimmer, into the presence of that pure effulgence? Doctor, I've felt, latterly, that I would give worlds to forget the pitiful acquirements which I have purchased by a life's labour, if my soul might meet a smile of approbation when it first flits into the presence of its Maker-its Judge!" Strange language! thought I, for the scientific E, confessedly a master-mind among men! Would that the shoal of sciolists, now babbling abroad their infidel crudities, could have had one moment's interview with this dying philosopher! Pert fools, who are hardly released from their leading-strings-the very go-cart, as it were, of elemental science-before they strut about and forthwith proceed to pluck their MAKER by the beard-and this, as an evidence of their "independence," and being released from the "trammels of superstition!"

Oh, Lord and Maker of the universe!-that thou shouldst be so "long-suffering" towards these insolent insects of an hour!

To return. I left Ein a glowing mood of mind, disposed to envy him his death-bed, even with all the ills which attended it! Before leaving the house, I stepped into the parlour to speak a few words to Miss E- The sudden illness of her uncle had found its way into the papers; and I was delighted to find it had brought a profusion of cards every morning, many of them bear

ing the most distinguished names in rank and science. It shewed that E's worth was properly appreciated. I counted the cards of five noblemen, and very many members of the Royal, and other learned Societies.

Wednesday, 15th August.-Well, poor E- was yesterday removed from his house in Row, where he had resided upwards of twentyfive years-which he had fitted up, working often with his own hands, at much trouble and expense-having built the laboratory-room since he had the house-he was removed, I say, from his house, to lodgings in the neighbourhood. He has three rooms on the first floor, small indeed, and in humble style-but perfectly clean, neat, and comfortable. Was not this itself sufficient to have broken many a haughty spirit? His extensive philosophical apparatus, furniture, &c. &c., had all been sold, at less than a twentieth part of the sum they had originally cost him! No tidings as yet have been received of the villain who has ruined his generous patron! E- has ceased, however, to talk of it; but I see that Miss E- feels it acutely. Poor girl, well she may! Her uncle was carried in a sedan to his new residence, and fainted on the way, but has continued in tolerable spirits since his arrival. His conduct is the admiration of all that see or hear of him! The first words he uttered as he was sitting before the fire in an easy chair, after recovering a little from the exhaustion occasioned by his being carried up stairs, were to Dr D, who had accompanied him. "Well!"-he whispered faintly, with his eyes shut-" What a gradation ! -Reached the half-way-house between Row and the house appointed for all living!""

"You have much to bear, sir!" said Dr D- "And more to be thankful for!" replied E. “If there were such a thing as a Protestant Calendar," said Dr D to me, enthusiastically, while recounting what is told above," and I could canonize, E should stand first on the list, and be my patron saint!" When I saw E—, he was lying in bed, in a very low and weak state, evidently declining rapidly. Still he

looked as placid as his fallen features would let him.

"Doctor," said he, soon after I had sat down, "how very good it is of you to come so far out of your regular route to see me!"

"Don't name it," said I," proud and happy".

"But, excuse me, I wish to tell you that, when I am gone, you will find I knew how to be grateful, as far as my means would warrant."

"Mr E- -! my dear sir!" said I, as firmly as my emotions could let me, "if you don't promise, this day, to erase every mention of my name or services from your will, I leave you, and solemnly declare I will never intrude upon you again! Mr E, you distress me-you do, beyond measure!"

"Well-well-well-I'll obey you -but may God bless you! God bless you!" he replied, turning his head away, while the tears trickled down. Indeed! as if a thousand guineas could have purchased the emotions with which I felt his poor damp fingers feebly compressing my hand!

"Doctor!" he exclaimed, after I had been sitting with him some time, conversing on various subjects connected with his illness and worldly circumstances" Don't you think God can speak to the soul as well in a night as a day-dream? Shall I presume to say he has done so in my case?" I asked him what he was alluding to.

"Don't you recollect my telling you of an optical, or spectral illu sion, which occurred to me at Row? A man shutting up the shopyou know ?" I told him I did.

"Well-last night I dreamed-I am satisfied it was a dream-that I saw Mr Boyle again, but how different! Instead of gloomy clothing, his appearance was wondrously radiant

and his features were not, as before, solemn, sad, and fixed, but wore an air of joy and exultation; and instead of a miserable expiring taper, he held aloft a light like the kindling lustre of a star! What think you of that, Doctor? Surely, if both these are the delusions of a morbid fancy, if they are, what a light they fling over the dark valley I am entering!"

I hinted my dissent from the sceptical sneers of the day, which would resolve all that was uttered on deathbeds, into delirious rant-confused, disordered faculties-superstition.

"I think you are right," said he. "Who knows what new light may stream upon the soul, as the wall between time and eternity is breaking down? Who has come back from the grave to tell us that the soul's energies decay with the body, or that the body's decay destroys or interrupts the exercise of the soul's powers, and that all a dying man utters is mere gibberish? The Christian philosopher would be loth to do so, when he recollects that God chose the hour of death to reveal futurity to the patriarchs, and others, of old! Do you think a superintending Providence would allow the most solemn and instructive period of our life, the close-scenes where men's hearts and eyes are open, if ever, to receive admonition and encouragement-to be mere exhibitions of absurdity and weakness? Is that the way God treats his servants?"

Friday afternoon.-In a more melancholy mood than usual, on account of the evident distress of his niece about her altered prospects. He told me, however, that he felt the confidence of his soul in nowise shaken. "I am," said he, "like one lying far on the shores of Eternity, thrown there by the waters of the world, and whom a high and strong wave reaches once more and overflows. One may be pardoned a sudden chilliness and heart-fluttering.

After all," he continued, "only consider what an easy end mine is, comparatively with that of many others! How very-very thankful should I be for such an easy exit as mine seems likely to be! God be thanked that I have to endure no such agonies of horror and remorse as -!" alluding to Mr ——, whom I was then attending, and whose case I had mentioned on a former occasion to Mr E, the one described in a former part of this Diary, under the title,-" A Man about Town"-" that I am writhing under no accident-that I have not to struggle with utter destitution!-Why am I not left to perish in a prison? To

suffer on a scaffold? To be plucked suddenly into the presence of my Maker in battle,* with all my sins upon my head?' Suppose I were grovelling in the hopeless darkness of scepticism or infidelity? Suppose I were still to endure the agonies arising from disease in my spine? -Oh God!" exclaimed Mr E"give me a more humble and grateful heart!"

Monday, 19th September.-Mr E is still alive, to the equal astonishment of Dr D- and myself. The secret must lie, I think, in his tranquil frame of mind. He is as happy as the day is long! Oh, that my latter days may be like his! I was listening with feelings of delight unutterable to E's description of the state of his mind-the perfect peace he felt towards all mankind, and his humble and strong hopes of happiness hereafter-when the landlady of the house knocked at the door, and on entering, told Mr E- that a person was down stairs very anxious to see him. "Who is it?" enquired E. She did not know. "Has he ever been here before?"-"No; but she thought she had several times seen him about the neighbourhood."- "What sort of a person is he?" enquired Ewith a surprised air.-"Oh, he is a tall pale man, in a brown great-coat." E requested her to go down and ask his name. She returned and

on

said, "Mr H-, sir." Ehearing her utter the word, suddenly raised himself in bed; the little colour he had fled from his cheeks: he lifted up his hands and exclaimed-" What can the unhappy man want with me?" He paused thoughtfully for a few moments. "You're of course aware who this is?" he enquired of me in a whisper. I nodded. "Shew him up stairs," said he, and the woman withdrew. "For your own sake, I beg you to be calm; don't allow your feelings"- I was interrupted by the door opening, and just such a person as Mrs had described entered, with a slow hesitating step into the room. He held his hat squeezed in both his hands,

and he stood for a few moments motionless, just within the door, with his eyes fixed on the floor. In that posture he continued till Mrs had retired, shutting the door after her, when he turned suddenly towards the easy-chair by the fire, in which Mr E- was sitting, much agitated approached, and falling down on his knees, he covered his eyes with his hands, through which the tears presently fell like rain; and after many choking_sobs and sighs, faltered," Oh, Mr E- !”

"What do you want with ME, Mr H?" enquired Mr E- in a low tone, but very calmly.

"Oh, kind, good, abused sir! I have behaved like a villain to you""Mr H, I beg you will not distress me; consider I am in a very poor and weak state."

66

Don't, for God's sake, speak so coldly, sir! I am heartbroken to think how shamefully I have used you!"

"Well, then, strive to amend". "Oh, dear, good Mr E! can you forgive me?" Mr E did not answer. I saw he could not. The tears were nearly overflowing. The man seized his hand, and pressed it to his lips with fervency.

"Rise, Mr H, rise! I do forgive you, and I hope that God will! Seek His forgiveness, which will avail you more than mine !"

"Oh, sir!" exclaimed the man again, covering his eyes with his hands,"How very-VERY ill you lookhow pale and thin. It's I that have done it all-I, the d- dest"

Hush, hush, sir!" exclaimed Mr E—, with more sternness than I had ever seen him exhibit, "do not curse in a dying man's room."

"Dying-dying-dying, sir ?" exclaimed the man, hoarsely, staring horror-struck at Mr E- and retiring a step from him.

>

Yes, James," replied Emildly, calling him for the first time by his Christian name, "I am assuredly dying-but not through you, or any thing you have done. Come, come, don't distress yourself unnecessarily," he continued in the kindest tones; for he saw the man con