A LETTER TO A FRIEND. 255 



we shall pass into the real world of spirits, into the pres- 

 ence of God, and, as millions believe with me, into the 

 presence of the holy angels, and of the Saviour, and of 

 the countless host of the spirits whom He has redeemed. 

 You may remember that, at an early period, we conversed 

 much and freely on the Christian faith ; but, as we did not 

 agree, and as I saw no hope of convincing you, while you, 

 with a spirit of candor and kindness, appeared not to wish 

 to invalidate my belief, we tacitly dropped the subject 

 But, during more than half a century, we have maintained 

 a friendly communion on matters of science, a warm per- 

 sonal friendship, with a frequent interchange of offices of 

 kindness. I was unwilling quite to relinquish the hope 

 that you would eventually become a believer in divine rev- 

 elation, especially as a happy domestic influence on the 

 part of one who, through many years, has worthily pos- 

 sessed your confidence, respect, and love, leaned altogether 

 in the right direction. Your course as a man of science 

 has been honorable, and duly and justly honored by your 

 country and in other lands ; while I, as your friend, have 

 not been slow to proclaim your merits and vindicate your 

 claims. It would have been happy if your public career 



had ended with science You will be hurt I fear 



you will be offended by my plainness ; but when you 

 realize that this is the strongest proof I have ever given 

 you of that friendship which you yourself have valued, and 

 which has been coextensive with our acquaintance, and 

 almost with our lives, you will then perceive that these are 

 indeed the faithful wounds of a friend. As one of your 

 oldest and most faithful surviving friends, with a spirit 

 grieved but not alienated, with hope depressed but not in 

 despair, I have now relieved my mind from a painful sense 

 of responsibility. I stand acquitted to my own conscience, 

 to you and to God ; and I earnestly pray now, as hereto- 

 fore, that, under a divine influence, you may see the spirit- 

 ual world, as I think I see it, through a divine revelation, 



