KECOLLECTIONS, 1831-37. 137 



ears! So we shook hands and he ran away saying 

 Adieu ! adieu ! in aeternum ! I repeated the phrase, 

 and . . . After I reached here (America) I wrote to 

 him once. He answered me, but he had misunderstood 

 me in some remarks I had made the first Sunday I was 

 in New York, about the multitude of religious weeds 

 and what I had seen in three different churches I had 

 visited, that he had concluded that I gave the promi- 

 nence to the Oath His answer was such, that I 



felt so indignant, I never wrote him again, his ultra- 

 montanism had broken all the ties of sympathy between 

 us. I suppose he had understood when I was in France 

 that my Protestantism was only platonic. It was and 

 it was not. I am according to my notions a Protestant 

 as 'ever. I protest against what does not agree with 

 my ideas, my conscience, but 1 do it silently. I try 

 not to hurt any body's feelings. I let every one do as 

 they please, and I wish to enjoy the same privilege. 

 Even in my own family, where I ought to have some- 

 thing to say, I let every one of my children do as they 

 please in spiritual affairs. I have tried, I try yet to 

 inculcate in them some principles of good behavior, hon- 

 esty, tolerance, friendly relations with every one worthy 

 of having their associations cultivated! Only one 

 thing I shall never tolerate : " A uricular confession" 

 for me one of the greatest social evils at least for the 

 30 first years of my life. Now I hear nothing of it. 



