That part of fanaticism which consists in gloominess and moroseness, his lordship could manage to admiration; for he was thoroughly disgusted with every thing and every body. We cannot resist the inclination to observe in this part of our narrative, how very just and appropriate a punishment is fanaticism for gross immorality. When the mind has spurned the meeker and gentler bonds of religious principle and conscientious thought, it is rightly punished by the withering rigors of fanaticism, and the gloomy terrors of superstition. Under these influences was now lying the Earl of Trimmerstone. And he was engaged in conversation with the Rev. Marmaduke Sprout, when there was delivered into his lordship’s hands the above-mentioned letter of Horatio Markham. His lordship made the apology usual on such occasions, and forthwith opened and read Markham’s letter. As soon as the reading was finished, his lordship said, “This is very honorable conduct in Mr. Markham.” Then handing the letter to Mr. Sprout, he said, “Read this letter, sir, and let me have your advice, how I ought to act under present circumstances.” The reverend gentleman took the letter bowing, and perused it with great attention, and returned to his lordship with another bow, and a smile of satisfaction at being let into a great man’s confidence; and said, “Really, my lord, I hardly know how to advise. Cases do sometimes occur in which there is a great deal of difficulty, and this appears to me to be one of them.” By this speech, though delivered with the solemnity of an oracle, very little information was communicated to his lordship. When people ask for advice, they should, in order to save their friends a great deal of trouble, state explicitly what sort of advice they wish to have. It is for want of this honesty and explicitness that so much good advice is continually thrown away. His lordship was now fairly puzzled and perplexed. It was necessary to send some answer to the communication of Markham; and his lordship had discernment enough to perceive that this gentleman was truly a scrupulous and conscientious man. The present transaction proved that fact abundantly. For nine hundred and ninety-nine persons out of a thousand would, without much if any hesitation, have accepted the legacy in question. That feeling in Markham, to which some persons might be inclined to give the name of moral prudery, prevented him from availing himself of a decided error; and on the other hand, his dislike of ostentatious magnanimity and heroics placed him in an unpleasant situation in making an offer of surrendering the legacy.