1832-37. BEGINS TO KEEP A DIARY. 53 



nounced in one of his letters to Mr. Nelson, was fulfilled so far. 

 The first entry was made before the year closed : it forms a 

 preface to the volume, but, unfortunately, only an eighth part 

 of the book is filled, the rest being blank paper. The entries 

 are irregular, ten occurring in 1836, one in 1837, three in 1838, 

 and the last one in 1839. 



" December 23d, 1835. I have sat down this evening to com- 

 mence what I have long thought of doing, the record of some 

 of the curious thoughts and wild imaginings that pass through 

 my mind during the course of the day. It is not to be a diary 

 either of events or feelings ; that is to say, I have not the inten- 

 tion of chronicling every circumstance that happens to me ; but 

 I intend putting down in this book such of my thoughts as 

 appear to myself worthy of preservation, either on account of 

 their singularity or beauty. And the end I hope to gain by so 

 doing is twofold : I hope to create for myself a store of images, 

 and thoughts, etc., which have been the product of my own 

 meditations, and which will form (independently of their pos- 

 sessing no other claim to attention but the circumstance of 

 having once been my own thoughts) a summary and conclusion 

 of all courses of reasoning which have busied me ; and in this 

 light will occasionally be of service, by affording the necessary 

 conclusions, without the labour of going through the necessary 

 preliminary steps. But the main object of my commencing is 

 the wish to treasure up the prominent features of my mind as it 

 acts at present, both to watch its progress, and to afford a fund 

 of pleasing delight afterwards, in musing over the thoughts of 

 my young days ; and it may appear strange to thee, reader, 

 whoever thou art, that I should put any preface to a collection 

 of my own meditations ! But though destined to be a book 

 read by none but myself at most times, yet there are some who 

 love me, and take a kind interest in me, to whom this shall not 

 be denied, and there is one to whom it will be freely given ; but 

 besides all this, it is possible and by no means improbable that 

 no one will see it during my own life, but to whom it will be 

 of great interest when I am dead ; and though I might wait to 

 see who shall be my survivors, and address them particularly, 



