385 



incapable of comprehending the wisdom or power 

 of God ; nor is it of any use to him to attempt it. 



" Hence all our reasonings respecting a future 

 state, founded on the wisdom or power of God, or 

 on natural principles, have always proved vain." 



" Those only are conclusive which are deduced 

 from his goodness ; of which, as we are formed and 

 commanded to imitate it, we are necessarily able to 

 judge. — J. E. Smith." 



His devotional feelings were ardent, retired, con- 

 fiding : like the pious Fenelon, he felt that " God 

 is the true friend of the heart, and that there is 

 no comforter like him." To say he was accus- 

 tomed to the duty of prayer, seems needless after 

 this, — none was less restricted to a set of words, 

 none expressed "the soul's sincere desire" more 

 frequently or fervently. Devotion and benevolence 

 were the marked characters of his gifted mind. His 

 love of nature was the love of God. 



The subject of the few foregoing pages naturally 

 recalls to mind the events of the spring of 1818. 



The public has already been in possession of the 

 motives which induced Sir James to offer himself 

 as a candidate for the botanical chair at Cam- 

 bridge*, being neither a member of the university, 

 nor of the church of England. 



Among a great variety of letters from the vene- 



* Published in two pamphlets entitled, " Considerations re- 

 specting Cambridge," (1818); and "A Defence of the Church and 

 Universities of England," (1819). 

 VOL. II. 2 c 



