As Wolsey inscribed upon one of his magnificent buildings the words _Ego et Rex Meus_, so might I place upon the portal of this Edifice _Ego et Doctor Meus_, for I am as much his creature as Wolsey was the creature of bluff King Harry,—as confessedly so, and as gratefully. Without the King's favor Wolsey could not have founded Christ Church; without the Doctor's friendship I could not have edified this monument to his memory. Without the King's favor Wolsey would never have obtained the Cardinal's hat; and had it not been for the favor and friendship and example of the Doctor, never should I have been entitled to wear that cap, my reasons for not wearing which have heretofore been stated, that cap which to one who knows how to wear it becomingly, is worth more than a coronet or a mitre; and confers upon the wearer a more lasting distinction. His happy mind, like the not less happy, and not more active intellect of Humboldt King of Travellers, was excursive in its habits. To such discursive—or excursiveness I also was prone, and he who observed in me this propensity encouraged it, tempering however that encouragement with his wonted discretion. Let your imagination, he said, fly like the lady bird north, south and east and west, but take care that it always comes home to rest. Perhaps it may be said therefore of his unknown friend and biographer as Passovier said of Michel de Montaigne, _il estoit personnage hardy, qui se croyoit, et comme tel se laissoit aisement emporter a la beauté de son esprit; tellement que par ses ecrits il prenoit plaisir de desplaire plaisamment._ Perhaps also some one who for his own happiness is conversant with the literature of that affluent age, may apply to the said unknown what Balzac said of the same great Michael, Michael the second, (Michael Angelo was Michael the first,) _Montaigne sçait bien ce qui il dit; mais, sans violer le respect qui luy est deu, je pense aussi, qu'il ne sçait pas toujours ce qu'il va dire._ Dear Reader you may not only say this of the unknown _sans violer le respect qui luy est deu_, but you will pay him what he will consider both a great and a just compliment, in saying so. For I have truly endeavoured to observe the precepts of my revered Mentor, and to follow his example, which I venture to hope, the judicious reader will think I have done with some success. He may have likened me for the manner in which I have conducted this great argument, to a gentle falcon, which however high it may soar to command a wider region with its glance, and however far it may fly in pursuit of its quarry, returns always to the falconer's hand.