intellect, though sufficient, I suppose, are not well disciplined. Yet all such hindrances may be overcome by an ardent spirit. If I fail, my consolation shall be found in active employment.’
‘Cambridge, March 5, 1826.— Duke Nicholas is to
succeed the Emperor Alexander, thus relieving Europe from
the sad apprehension of evil to be inflicted by the brutal
Constantine, and yet depriving the Holy Alliance of
its very soul. We may now hope more strongly for the
liberties of unchained Europe; we look in anxious
suspense for the issue of the struggle of Greece, the result
of which seems to depend on the new autocrat. I have
lately been reading Anastasius, the Greek Gil Blas,
which has excited and delighted me; but I do not think
you like works of this cast. You did not like my sombre
and powerful Ormond, — though this is superior to
Ormond in every respect; it translates you to another scene,
hurls you into the midst of the burning passions of the
East, whose vicissitudes are, however, interspersed by
deep pauses of shadowy reflective scenes, which open
upon you like the green watered little vales occasionally
to be met with in the burning desert. There is
enough of history to fix profoundly the attention, and
prevent you from revolting from scenes profligate and
terrific, and such characters as are never to be met
with in our paler climes. How delighted am I to
read a book which can absorb me to tears and
shuddering, — not by individual traits of beauty, but by
the spirit of adventure, — happiness which one seldom
enjoys after childhood in this blest age, so philosophic,
free, and enlightened to a miracle, but far removed from
the ardent dreams and soft credulity of the world’s
