no MORE POT-POURRI 



thoughts. He had a thoroughly strong mind too 

 confident, however, and uncompromising to admit of his 

 being really tolerant of the opinions of others. His 

 conception of the state of man before the Fall, though 

 it savours of course of y e ideal, is a very remarkable 

 performance. Bacon had a practical mind, and no man 

 perhaps ever so thoroughly mastered the subject of 

 human nature as he did. If you can get his Essays, 

 which are sold almost everywhere, pray read them or 

 rather, I should say, study them, for they are models of 

 conciseness. Every sentence admits of development. 

 They force one to think for oneself, which is the best 

 service an author can render one. Justice has not been 

 done to Milton's prose works in this little book, but, as 

 they are mostly confined to political subjects, they 

 might not perhaps interest you so much. Milton's mind 

 was not wholly free from bigotry. But I love him for 

 his hatred of tyranny and persecution under every shape, 

 for his unquenchable ardour for liberty, and his hearty 

 and fearless advocacy of the enlightenment of mankind. 

 Among his poetical works do you know the "Comus" 

 well ? There are parts of it which, I think, he never 

 surpassed. I am sure you must like it. His " Paradise 

 Lost" is indeed a study a noble and improving one 

 for all who can comprehend his sublime conceptions and 

 the beautiful and powerful language in which he has 

 clothed them. But I must think he was unfortunate in 

 his subject. A lover of pure religion can hardly fail to 

 think that the effect of parts is to degrade and humanise 

 the Divinity. I can hardly conceive that the 3 rd Book, 

 in which he propounds the mystery of the Redemption 

 and details its origin, should not be in some degree 

 shocking to a true Christian. The poetry of it is cer- 

 tainly most sublime, but there is, on the whole, a famil- 

 iarity in the scene described which makes me think it 



