440 FRAGMENTS OF SCIENCS 



anywhere else. From the house of Dr. Percy, in Binning- 

 ham, he writes thus: 



"Here even here the moment I leave the table, I 

 wish I were with you IN QUIET. Oh, what happiness 

 is ours! My runs into the world in this way only serve 

 to make me esteem that happiness the more." 



And again: 



"We have been to a grand conversazione in the town- 

 hall, and I have now returned to my room to talk with 

 you, as the pleasantest and happiest thing that I can do. 

 Nothing rests me so much as communion with you. I 

 feel it even now as I write, and catch myself saying the 

 words aloud as I write them." 



Take this, moreover, as indicative of his love for 

 Nature: 



"After writing, I walk out in the evening hand in 

 hand with my dear wife to enjoy the sunset; for to me 

 who love scenery, of all that I have seen or can see, there 

 is none surpasses that of heaven. A glorious sunset brings 

 with it a thousand thoughts that delight me." 



Of the numberless lights thrown upon him by the 

 "Life and Letters," some fall upon his religion. In a 

 letter to Lady Lovelace, he describes himself as belonging 

 to "a very small and despised sect of Christians, known, 

 if known at all, as Sandemanians, and our hope is founded 

 on the faith that is in Christ." He adds: "I do not think 

 it at all necessary to tie the study of the natural sciences 

 and religion together, and, in my intercourse with my 

 fellow- creatures, that which is religious, and that which 

 is philosophical, have ever been two distinct things. ' ' He 

 saw clearly the danger of quitting his moorings, and his 

 science acted indirectly as the safeguard of his faith. For 



