But the Ritual of England breathes a divine calm. You think of the People walking through ripening fields on a mild day to their Church door. It is the work of a nation sitting in peace, possessing their land. It is the work of a wealthy nation, that, by dedicating a part of its wealth, consecrates the remainder--that acknowledges the Fountain from which all flows. The prayers are devout, humble, fervent. They are not impassioned. A wonderful temperance and sobriety of discretion; that which, in worldly things, would be called good sense, prevails in them; but you must name it better in things spiritual. The framers evidently bore in mind the continual consciousness of writing for ALL. That is the guiding, tempering, calming spirit that keeps in the Whole one tone--that, and the hallowing, chastening awe which subdues vehemence, even in the asking for the Infinite, by those who have nothing but that which they earnestly ask, and who know that unless they ask infinitely, they ask nothing. In every word, the whole Congregation, the whole Nation prays--not the Individual Minister; the officiating Divine Functionary, not the Man. Nor must it be forgotten that the received Version and the Book of Common Prayer--observe the word COMMON, expressing exactly what I affirm--are beautiful by the words--that there is no other such English--simple, touching, apt, venerable--hued as the thoughts are--musical--the most English English that is known--of a Hebraic strength and antiquity, yet lucid and gracious as if of and for to-day. BULLER. I trust that many Presbyterians sympathise with you in these sentiments. NORTH. Not many--few. Nor do I say I wish they were more. BULLER. Are you serious, sir? NORTH. I am. But cannot explain myself now. What are the Three Pillars of the Love of any Church? Innate Religion--Humanity--Imagination. The Scottish worship better satisfies the first Principle--that of England the last; the Roman Catholic still more the last--and are not your Cathedrals Roman Catholic? I think that the Scottish and English, better than the Roman Catholic, satisfy the Middle Principle--Humanity, being truer to the highest requisitions of our Nature, and nourish our faculties better, both of Will and Understanding, into their strength and beauty. Yet what divine-minded Roman Catholics there have been--and are--and will be! BULLER. Pause for a moment, sir,--here comes Seward. NORTH. Seward! Is he not with us? Surely he was, all hour or two ago--but I never missed him--your conversation has been so interesting and instructive. Seward! why you are all the world like a drowned rat? SEWARD. Rat I am none--but a stanch Conservative. Would I had had a Protectionist with me to keep me right on the Navigation Laws. NORTH. What do you mean? What's the matter? SEWARD. Why, your description of the Pools in Cladich-Cleugh inspired me with a passion for one of the Naïads. NORTH. And you have had a ducking! SEWARD.