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130 to disturb his contemplations of the eternal world into which he seemed hastening; and pre-occupied with these ideas, he did not give to my information the close scrutiny I had feared.

"If there was anything on earth of which I was tenacious, it was that of being wedded to a woman capable of engaging and fixing my affections; interested matches I have at all times abhorred; and I was well aware how much my father's notions differed from mine respecting this most important concern. Kept during my childhood at an awful distance from him, fatal impressions were unhappily stamped upon my mind. Truly no man can reverence a father more than I do mine; but to ask of him a mark of condescension, to petition his favour, I cannot; rather would I face the cannon's mouth. Despairing of his approbation of my marriage if solicited, I resolved to act for myself. I could not do better than conform to the opinion of so amiable a guide as your friend.

"'Union of mind' said he, 'harmony of disposition, similarity of taste, should undoubtedly be the first objects of consideration. A match formed upon worldly motives, mere speculation, or ambitious views, is faulty, is highly criminal: the reasons wherefore it is so are many. I conceive that even a want of competency, though undoubtedly