Mangan had a passionate admiration for Swedenborg, and he finally sent me one of his books ("Heaven and Hell," I think), with a letter, exhorting me to study it, too long for publication here.
The unhappy man of genius, whose will did not always prove faithful to his good intentions, fell into new troubles, and at length I received this poignant letter from him:—
"My dear Duffy,— I am utterly prostrated. I am in a state of absolute desolation of spirit."For the pity of God, come to me. I have ten words to say to you. I implore you to come. Do not suffer me to believe that I am abandoned by Heaven and man.
"I cannot stir out cannot look any one in the face. Regard this as my last request, and comply with it as if you supposed me dying.
"I am hardly able to hold the pen, but I will not, and dare not, take any stimulants to enable me to do so. Too long and fatally already have I been playing that game with my shattered nerves. Enough. God ever bless you. Oh, come!—Ever yours,
"J. C. Mangan."
The letter contained this document—
"For Charles Gavan Duffy, Esq.
"I, James Clarence Mangan, promise with all the sincerity that can attach to the declaration of a human being, to dedicate the portion of my life that may remain to me to penitence and exertion.
"I promise in the solemn presence of Almighty God and, as I trust with His assistance, to live soberly, abstemiously, and regularly in all respects.
"I promise in the same presence that I will not spare myself that I will endeavour to do all the good within my power to others that I will constantly advocate the cause of Temperance, the interests of knowledge, and the duties of patriotism; and, finally, that I will do all these things irrespective of any concern personal to myself, and whether my exertions be productive of profit and fame to me, or as may happen in the troublous times that I believe are at
