3. The great gift of God to man, Reason! May it influence the world in policy, in laws, and in religion. 4. TRUTH: May the splendour of her charms dissipate the gloom of superstition, and expel hypocricy from the heart of man. 5. May our laws be supported by religion: but may religion never be supported by law. 6. White-robed Charity: May she accompany us in all our steps and cover us with a mantle of love. 7. Christians of all denominations: May they "love one another." As it was a "feast of reason" the purest philanthrophy dignified the conversation; and moderation and temperance bounded every effusion of the heart. It was in the summer of 1797 that he carried forward his work on Phlogiston, alluded to on p. 81. He understood quite well that the entire chemical world was against him but he was not able to find good reasons to despair of the old system. It must be remembered that in these days, also, he had Thomas Cooper with him. With this gentleman he discussed his scientific studies and with him also he carried on many arguments upon the burning subject of infidelity, about which he continuously wrote his friends in this country and in England. It was quite generally believed that Cooper was an infidel. Never, however, did their intimacy suffer in the slightest by their conflicting views. The _Church History_ continued to hold Priestley's first thought. He was a busy student, occupied with a diversity of interests and usually cheerful and eager to follow up new lines of endeavor. The arrival of vessels from the home country was closely watched. Books and apparatus were brought by them. While, as observed, he was singularly cheerful and happy, he confessed at times that my character as a philosopher is under a cloud. Yet, this was but a momentary depression, for he uttered in almost the same breath-- Everything will be cleared up in a reasonable time. Amid the constant daily duties he found real solace in his scientific pursuits; indeed when he was quite prepared to abandon all his activities he declared of his experiments that he could not stop them for I consider them as that study of the works of the great Creator, which I shall resume with more advantage hereafter. He advised his friends Lindsey and Belsham-- I cannot express what _I_ feel on receiving your letters. They set my thoughts afloat, so that I can do nothing but ruminate a long time; but it is a most pleasing melancholy. Far removed from European events he was nevertheless ever keen and alert concerning them. Then the winter of 1797 appears to have been very severe. His enforced confinement to home probably gave rise to an introspection, and a slight disappointment in matters which had formerly given him pleasure. For example, he puzzled over the fact that on his second visit to Philadelphia, Mr. Adams was present but once at his lectures, and remarks--