1829-3 The Modern Gyges.
and for many months he lived the life of a recluse, refusing all society save that of Walstein.
His infant daughter arrived during his illness, with her Italian nurse, from Lausanne, and grew daily in health and beauty under the maternal care of Amelia ; but to her afflicted father she brought no immediate con- solation, nor indeed bad he for some time resolution to behold her.
For several years the passion of Lord C. for the beautiful and highly- gifted Italian had been a worship, a religion ; and so inordinate, as to ex- clude all sound and operative devo- tional feeling. He had never been deficient in that enthusiastic but cheap admiration of virtue which is common to all generous and noble natures ; but in self-denying obedience to the dic- tates of conscience, he had been want- ing : nor was it until his worldly spi- rit had been bruised and humbled by this sudden bereavement, that a sense of the fleeting nature of all earthly enjoyments flashed upon him. Wal- stein, whose well-regulated mind was deeply tinctured with devotional feel-
A Tale of Trials.
253
ings, .hailed with delight the earliest tokens of a disposition in his noble patron to seek the light, and life, and consolation of revealed religion, that only gift of Heaven which passeth not away. Slowly, but gratefully and gladly, did the searching mind of Lord C. admit the cheering hopes with which the unaffectedly pious Walstein essayed to guide and comfort him. His clear and powerful intellect de- tected at a glance the utter fallacy and barrenness of passive belief, that com- mon refuge of fanatics and hypocrites, who sacrifice no favourite vice, and degrade religion into discipline and form. He sought and found that firm and living faith, that inward stirring principle of good which affects the heart and influences the conduct. Thus guided and controlled, he made a noble use of that moral influence which mental power, conjoined with exalted views and large possessions, bestows on the possessor ; and ere long found peace of mind in the rewarding consciousness of being " useful in his generation."
NEW NOVEL BY MR GALT.
WE are happy to inform our readers that the Author of " Annals of the Parish," " Sir Andrew Wylie," &c. has just finished a New Work, under the title of "Mv LANDLADY AND HER LODGERS." The MS. is expected by the first ship from New York, and the Work will be published without delay.
