You think me in danger of becoming an unhappy being, from my turn of thought and taste. Young as I am, I feel the truth of your observation. I differ from those I converse with, they mortify and disappoint me, I draw back with disgust; I raise wonder, and perhaps hatred also. Sometimes my reserve is construed into pride and affectation. When I am talkative my ideas are laughed at, as inconsistent with the opinions of the world; my conduct and character are not understood, and I am stigmatized with being romantic, that is, ridiculous. What am I to do? either I must give up the world or my own faculties. Am I born to say, “Yes, certainly,” and “that’s right,” when my conviction impels me to say, “No, I doubt,” and “that’s wrong?” ❦ _Providence._ Just as a mother, with sweet pious face, Yearns tow’rds her little children from her seat, Gives one a kiss, another an embrace, Takes this upon her knee, that on her feet; And while from actions, looks, complaints, pretences, She learns their feeling, and their various will, To this a look, to that a word dispenses, And whether stern or smiling, loves them still. So Providence! for us high, infinite, Makes our necessities its watchful task; Hearkens to all our prayers, helps all our wants, And e’en if it denies what seems our right, Either denies, because ’twould have us ask, Or seems but to deny, or in denying, grants. ❦ [Sidenote: Cromwell.] “Cromwell was formed to delude the minds of men. His hypocrisy, a thing far removed from what is ordinarily known by that name, was fervent, and excited sympathy, and created awe in the beholders. The bluntness of his manner, and the occasional familiarity of his deportment, even to the entire emptying himself of all extrinsic and accidental greatness, won the favour of those with whom he had intercourse. There was something deep in his conceptions, that none of his assistants could fathom. He was moderate in his temper, and forbearing in his actions; never allowing himself in violence more frequently, or to a greater extent, than was necessary to his purposes. Add to which the firmness and courage of his spirit, and the greatness of his abilities, whether to procure intelligence, or to overawe the insidiousness and crooked hostility of foreign courts: and we shall own that he was most singularly fitted for the station he filled.”[8] [8] This character of Oliver Cromwell was drawn by William Godwin, author of the Life of Milton’s Nephews, E. and J. Philips. ❦ [Sidenote: Spanish Proverb.] When the child is christened, you may have godfathers enough: when a man’s need is supplied, or his necessities over, people are ready to offer their assistance or service. ❦