19–25 July 1830

. . . Milton,Bacon,Bunyan,Scougal, Herbert, Montesquieu : these are names of good men, but what dissimilar images do they suggest to the soul. Now this is not the thought of men, that to each belongs a separate nature which must be by him cultivated as an inalienable estate. As they say the vines failed because in America they wanted to grow madeira wine, in- stead of bringing out the native wines, probably equally good, of this region, so men fail as far as they leave their native moral instincts in the admiration of other characters. Let them on the contrary have greater confidence in the plan, yet to them unknown, which the moral Architect has traced for them. . . .

Don't say that qualities are so radical in us that the fickle man can never persevere, let him try as he will, nor the selfish man ever distrib- ute ; for on the contrary, any quality of a man may be taken advantage of to lead him to any other that is desirable. I hate steady labour from morn till night, and therefore am not a learned man, but I have an omnivorous curiosity and facility of new undertaking. In voluntary exer- tions to gratify it, may I not become learned and acquire the habits of steady toil ?