― [page break] ―My friend
I shall not I fear be able to finish and dispatch this today as you so anxiously
desire. It is already near ten: so you must wait a day or two longer. You put a severe
construction upon both parts of my letter. I meant not to impute to you bigotry
or more than a very common and natural degree of zeal for the truth: yet certainly
a Zeal that, in its effects, is somewhat censurable. I far more sincerely condemn
and more anxiously lament my ‸ own incapacity of bearing with complacency the
heat and impetuosity of others in debate. than in
You talk, Joseph, of ingagements mental and personal. Of what colour are the
former? Do you mean somewhat different from commercial? or professional? If you
do, tell me what they are.
A great part of your anxiety is superfluous: You know the tenour of my
predictions: when this unfortunate affair between Stella and you first occurred,
I dreaded the effect of the imputa¬tions which you were about to fire upon her
I estimated highly her sencibility to reputation, and if Timothy participated in
the knowledge of those circumstances, I dreaded the influence of that knowledge
upon his happiness: because that imaginary, ‸ good when withdrawn from his wife,,
must deeply affect him: You may readily imagine that “Stella” can never be
unhappy alone” while she has an husband or a friend to partake of her
griefs: but the evil which you dread exists not. Inviolable and stronger than
ever, if possible is the love between them. Time must be allowed to judge of the
ultimate effects of late occurencies: To our limited sagacity the apparently evil
may finally operate to our eventual benefit: but, Joseph, suffer these
causes to operate in silence: Oblivion to the past is the word. Inviolable Silence
upon these topics appears to be indispenceable.
By my Oracle I thought you would discover without more ado Godwins
Enquiry. I cannot find the book you mentioned: There are two of Lowmans
works in the library: One on the Hebrew Ritual, in which the equity and wisdom
of the hebrew Institutions are asserted: and the other on the Revelation of St. John
― [page break] ―
both works, perhaps are worthy of your Curiosity. I intend to dip slightly into
each to discover their general tendency and purpourt: You may suppose the
end contemplated in the former of these to be sufficiently arduous in my opinion
You do not mention Laura: Or your own operations with respect to her
nor indeed any article of your present situations, in which a thousand things
must occurr capable of interesting one who values your happiness as much as
30 Octob.~1795.