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12 consequences, bequeathed the vexed question to an “Odd Volume” to unravel. That a weighty task was before me you will all admit.

I found myself launched as it were on an unknown sea, and I appeal to you all not to crush me by your criticism on these few remarks I am about to make, but rather to deal charitably with me; for, after all my labours, the surprise to myself is, that

Often as I have sat in my sanctum, crucible before me, boiling and coagulating, watching and waiting, hoping against hope, till my very senses seemed to depart from me, have I exclaimed with Manfred,—