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charge of the children for a time, had they not been already removed. The letter from him which follows shows not only the interest which "Lavater's Speculations on Physiognomy" then were exciting, but one of Godwin's favourite theories, which he brings out in several books, and notably in "The Enquirer," that education cannot begin too early, and that in the very dawn of infancy the future character begins to develop. The Diary records that Mr Nicholson visited Godwin on Monday, Sept. 18, and on his return home the letter was written.

William Nicholson to William Godwin.

"NEWMAN STREET, Sept. 18, 1797.

"DEAR SIR,-When I had the pleasure of seeing your little daughter this morning, and you asked my opinion concerning her physiognomy, I experienced some difficulty, partly from an illgrounded sense of ridicule in seeming to assume the character of fortune-teller, partly from a consciousness of imperfect knowledge, but chiefly from the little probability that the opportunity would afford time for a calm consideration of the individual, and of my own associated notions, which require meditation and development before I can satisfy myself. My view was, in fact, slight and momentary. I had no time to consider, compare, and com. bine. Yet I am disposed to think the following imperfect observation may lead you to more than a suspicion that our organization at the birth may greatly influence those motives which govern the series of our future acts of intelligence, and that we may even possess moral habits, acquired during the foetal

state.

1. The outline of the head viewed from above, its profile, the outline of the forehead, seen from behind and in its horizontal positions, are such as I have invariably and exclusively seen in subjects who possessed considerable memory and intelligence.

"2. The base of the forehead, the eyes and eyebrows, are

familiar to me in subjects of quick sensibility, irritable, scarcely irascible, and surely not given to rage. That part of the outline of the forehead, which is very distinct in patient investigators, is less so in her. I think her powers, of themselves, would lead to speedy combination, rather than continued research.

"3. The lines between the eyes have much expression, but I had not time to develope them. They simply confirmed to me the inductions in the late paragraph.

"4. The form of the nose, the nostrils, its insertion between the eyes, and its changes by muscular action, together with the side of the face in which the characteristic marks of affection are most prominent, were scarcely examined. Here also is much room for meditation and remark.

“6. The mouth was too much employed to be well observed. It has the outlines of intelligence. She was displeased, and it denoted much more of resigned vexation than either scorn or rage.

"On this imperfect sight it would be silly to risk a character; for which reason I will only add that I conjecture that her manner may be petulant in resistance, but cannot be sullen. I have chosen to send you these memoranda, rather than seem to shrink from the support of truth by declining to practise what I have asserted could be done without difficulty in the case of my own children.

"That she may be everything your parental affection can desire is the sincere wish of-Yours, with much regard,

"WM. NICHOLSON."

The Diary shows, as might be expected, an almost complete stagnation in Godwin's literary life. Friends were constant in their visits-Holcroft, the Fenwicks, Mrs Reveley, Mrs Barbauld, and many more; but the only reading recorded is his wife's published works, the letters addressed to her, and the MSS. which she left unfinished, and he found almost at once a comfort in beginning to

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compile the memoirs of her which were published in the following year. Mr Skeys, who wrote very cordially to the husband of his first wife's friend, aided him with all the information in his power; but Mrs Bishop and Everina Wollstonecraft, who had never liked the marriage, gave as little help as they could, and hence the meagreness and even inaccuracies, in some parts of that narrative. These ladies found, or said that they found, difficulties in getting situations because of their relationship to Mary Godwin; Mr Skeys, with whom they quarrelled, said it was because of their own infirmities of temper. At any rate, they closed as far as possible, and of their own accord, all communication between Godwin and the family of his wife, and for many years showed no interest in either of the children she had left.

CHAPTER XI.

A SINGULAR COURTSHIP-FRIENDS. 1798.

EARLY in the year of which the domestic record has been given, Godwin published the "Enquirer." It is a collection of essays, based, as he says in his preface, on conversations. It embraces a great variety of subjects, very much of the character which we have already found he and his friends met to discuss, such as "Of Awakening the Mind," "Of Co-habitation," "Of Riches and Poverty," and the like. The volume elaborated in this manner many of the points which had been treated cursorily in "Political Justice." It did not in any degree detract from his fame, and is admirably written, but since it merely reasserted principles already known as his, it excited no special attention, though it went through several editions. A very furious onslaught on the clergy, however, was one of the causes of a coolness which grew between him and Dr Parr. The Doctor had apparently not seen the book when Godwin paid his visit to Hatton with Basil Montagu.

The beginning of the year 1798 saw Godwin restored to the usual tenor of his life, yet with a sense, constantly expressed in his letters, of a great void in his existence which nothing could fill, with pecuniary cares pressing upon him, and an almost bewildered feeling in regard to the nurture and education of the children his wife had left him. Little Fanny had, from an early period, won his warm affection;

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He

she bore his name, and was always treated by him as a daughter. The Diary of this year shews him again much in society; indeed, rarely at home in the evening. had no companion there, and it has been seen already that his health did not allow of literary work beyond the time so closely devoted to it in the morning. Yet the amount of work recorded is surprising. Not only was his pen constantly employed, the early part of this year, on the "Memoirs" of his wife, and afterwards on one of the numerous books, of which he had always one or more in hand; but his reading was varied as ever, and the range was still more extended. He read in this year much Latin literature, chiefly the Poets; many French works, mainly the older and standard authors; the old English dramatists; and kept himself au courant with all the books of merit which issued from the English press. And there is a curious proof that this reading was, on the whole, thorough and methodical, his extreme honesty with himself leading him always to note in his private Diary whenever he merely dipped into a book, and read it here and there. Those who have turned over his MS. notebooks, have been greatly puzzled by an entry occurring at irregular intervals, consisting apparently of the mysterious word, "gala," any explanation of which long seemed quite hopeless. A longer search, however, has shewn that whereas in the earlier note-books he occasionally wrote of an author that he studied him ça et là, this phrase gradually became ça là, and eventually "gala," the conundrum so difficult to solve. The fact that this is occasional, and always in reference to books into which a man would only care to dip, especially when, as was mostly the case, they had been read before, shews clearly enough the thoroughness of the usual study.