an immensity of proof, we may understand that intelligence and wisdom, and for the most part goodness, are prodigally displayed over the whole of creation, and we may find the last confirmed still further by (what I must confess I need) Revelation; and here we may rest, leaving insoluble difficulties unsolved. As for those connected with the "Origin of Evil," having studied them enough to know that you cannot master them, leave them alone. As Lord Bacon says, though applying the words to another subject, "Give to Reason the things of Reason, and to Faith the things of Faith."

If you will continue to revolve this mournful mystery, and to yield to its horrible fascination, you will darken and distress your mind. Experto crede. And ever remember this, that, however sublime and momentous the theme of our meditations, if it really be beyond us, it is just as much a waste of our energies and our time to meddle with it, as to busy ourselves with the veriest trifle in existence. If you look ever so fixedly into utter darkness, it is but a waste of eyes, and you might as well keep them shut. I would remind you of what some plain preacher once said "Infinite," said he, "have been the disputes as to the origin of evil but the real question of importance is, not how we got into it, but how we are to get out of it."

Should we not be surprised at a man, who, having tumbled into a ditch, instead of scrambling out as fast as possible, lay still in the mud, revolving in himself the question, "I wonder how I got here?" About as wise are many be not you of the number—who have spent no inconsiderable portion of their time and energies in resolving the question of the origin of "evil," without a thought of how they may evade its consequences.

Ever yours,

R. E. H. G.

My dear Friend,

LETTER XIII.

To C. Mason, Esq.

London, Thursday night, Jan. 9, 1840.

I have nothing in the world to say to you. I write simply because to-morrow is the day on which one may send one's thoughts five hundred miles for a penny; so that the old saying of "a penny for your thoughts" is likely to be more frequently on our lips than ever.

This letter is just to say, "How d'ye do?" and "I am well.” you can say, "So am I," by way of reply, I shall consider it a cheap pennyworth.

If

This Postal revolution is indeed glorious, and well worth any fifteen "political ones." Nor have I the slightest fear of the revenue ultimately suffering. In twenty years (my life for it!) the postal gains will be greater than ever.

in quan

But will not cheap postage lead, think you, to a revolution in our epistolary style? Shall we not become Spartans, and laconise. Crossed letters, I imagine, are now things of the past, and will henceforth exist only as curiosities in museums. When one had to tax a friend ninepence or a shilling for a letter, it seemed but decency to let him have something for his money tity at least, whatever the quality. But now that the whole cost is one penny sterling, and that too paid by the writer, there will be a strong tendency to save time and trouble; and so letters will dwindle except love-letters, perhaps, which always were, and always will be, I suppose, equally voluminous and incomprehensible to the Lilliputian dimensions of the postage.

Pleasant - will it not be?

should the revolution lead to the universal adoption of the curt commercial style! As thus

Dear Sir,

Received yours of 10th ult., and note contents. Pleased to find that expressions of condolence on your wife's death ap

proved; would have enclosed some samples of "sentiment,” but that is a mere drug since the penny postage.

Health here very indifferent; deaths on the rise; drugs firm ; doctors and undertakers looking up; palls and plumes at a premium.

But "matrimonial" also active; and produce market tolerably brisk and lively. Mr. T. just presented with twins. Of "fat" infants, however, and of prime quality, a scanty supply at the present sickly season. Measles and scarlatina firm.

In the last fortnight, a glut of rain; clouds dull and heavy, and go slowly off; no sunshine at any price. Thermometer operating for the rise; barometer for the fall.

66

Politics," a shade easier. During the recent election, bribes done as low as five pounds; plumpers, 23 to 25; split votes at the usual quotations.

Yours to command,

Y. Z.

Such may perhaps be the classic hieroglyphic in which our wise sons may communicate with their friends-to the great saving, surely, of pens, ink, paper, pence, time, thought, feeling, heart, and brains!

Ever believe me,

My dear friend,

Yours affectionately,

R. E. H. G.

LETTER XIV.

To Alfred West, Esq.

London, March 10, 1840.

My dear West,

I went to the office of Messrs. Dyour

about business. What a funny little man he is,

on a drum! - I got from him the memorandum you want, which

and saw the younger

BUSTLING

I enclose; but I got it with ten times the trouble I need have had. He is what they call a bustling man ;- and a most amusing variety of the species-if you do not happen to be in a hurry.

But stay; I think if Bishop Earle had happened to include it in his quaint sketches, entitled "Microcosmography," he would have proceeded somewhat as follows:

A "bustling" man is, to a man of business, what a monkey is to a man. He is the shadow of despatch, or rather the echo thereof; for he maketh noise enough for an alarum. The quickness of a true man of business he imitateth excellently well, but neither his silence nor his method; and it is to be noted that he is ever most vehement about matters of no significance. He is always in such headlong haste to overtake the next minute, that he loseth half the minute in hand; and yet is full of indignation and impatience at other people's slowness, and wasteth more time in reiterating his love of despatch than would suffice for doing a great deal of business. He never giveth you his quiet attention with a mind centred on what you are saying, but hears you with a restless eye, and a perpetual shifting of posture; and is so eager to show his quickness, that he interrupteth you a dozen times, misunderstands you as often, and ends by making you and himself lose twice as much time as was necessary.

He cannot keep his tongue quiet any more than his hands or his feet, which are in perpetual motion; and you cease to wonder that he does not concentrate his mind on his business, since it is more than half employed in managing the motions and postures of his body. It is to be noted that he always performs the formalities and routine of business (for which only he is fit) with much energy; yet even these things he never does well. He writeth the merest note with an air; useth the blotting-paper with a thump as if he would crush it; foldeth it with a flourish; sealeth it with such eagerness that he burneth his fingers, upsetteth the taper, and, in short, maketh noise and wind enough for twenty times the business. In his hurry, he is continually mislaying what he wants, and then causeth worse confusion by turning out the whole contents of a drawer or a desk in finding it. If he

comes to see you on business, he rusheth into the room, throweth down his hat and gloves, as if he had not time to place them anywhere; and taking out his watch, expresseth his regret that he can give you only two minutes, while you think the two minutes too long. After he is gone, with a slam of the door which goes through you, he steppeth back three times to mention some' things he had forgotten. If you go to see him on business, he placeth you a chair with ostentatious haste-begs you will excuse him while he despatcheth two or three messengers on most urgent business-calls each of them back once or twice to give fresh instalments of his defective instructions; and having at last dismissed them, regretteth, as usual, that he hath only five minutes to spare, whereof he spendeth half in telling you the distracting number and importance of his engagements. If he be to consult a ledger, the book is thrown on the desk with a thump as if he wished to break its back, and the leaves rustle to and fro like a wood in a storm. Meantime he overlooketh, while he gabbles on, the very entries he wants to find, and spendeth twice the time he would if he had proceeded more leisurely. In a word, everything is done with a bounce, and a thump, and an air, and a flourish, and sharp and eager motions, and perpetual volubility of tongue. His image is that of a blind beetle in the twilight, which with incessant hum and drone and buzz flieth blundering into the face of every one it chanceth to meet. Your true man of business with silent despatch, quickness without hurry, and method without noise-will do as much in an hour as a man of "bustle" will do in the twenty-four, and every bit of it twentyfour times as well.

Such is a sketch of the peculiar species of the genus "bustling man" whom your letter sent me to consult for you. Consider, I beseech you, the trouble I have taken on your behalf, and either allow me a liberal commission as your agent, which I am sure I well deserve, -or repay me by a long letter. Recollect I have not heard from you, except the three shabby selfish lines which imposed this task upon me, for these three months.

Pray make my apologies to your neighbours (who, I presume,