ture), and to see them consenting to carry on this tragic farce of insincerity, which is the very thing that cuts up their own comfort with mankind, and makes them fancy them not to be bettered,-this,-if one did not know how weak a thing it was, and how contrary to the part which the unwearied Spirit of the Universe is for ever suggesting to the young and enthusiastic hearts with which it seems to begin its endeavours over again-might be thought sufficient to make one lie down at once, and die of this bad jest of the universe. me not be supposed to believe in any such alternative. The sight of one open face,-I could almost say, of one green and quiet field,-would be enough to make me hope to the last; and I have hope for the next world, should it fail me in this. But the moment is a bitter one, which discovers to C 3 VOL. I. Let us, that those of whom we have entertained the most pleasant ideas, can fail us in the most unpleasant manner. The very light of day, even for ordinary purposes, seems taken from before one's eyes, if we if we cannot rely upon those about us, either for friendship or enmity, nor know who it is that is putting obstacles in our path. The truth is, Mr. Moore could not state his objections to the Liberal fairly, without bringing his own principles into question :he did not choose to do that-and therefore he should have made no objections at all. If he had any thing else to say, for Lord Byron or himself, why did he not speak out? Had Mr. Moore been sincere, he would have saved me the trouble of the present work; or, at least, of a great deal which gives me any pain in it. Had Lord Byron been sincere, he would have saved a great many people, and himself, a world of wretchedness. Let the reader consider but these two facts, and make his own deductions. |