14–20 September 1840

Can we not trust ourselves ? Must we be such coxcombs as to keep watch and ward over our noblest sentiments even, lest they also be- tray us, and God prove a little too divine ? Dare we never say. This time of ours shall be the era of Discovery ? These have been the ages of darkness. Wide Europe, wide America lieth in night, turneth in sleep. The morning twilight is grey in the East : the Columbuses, the Ves- puccis, the Cabots of moral adventure are loos- ening their sails and turning their bowsprits to the main. Men have never loved each other. See, already they blush with a kindness which is pure, and Genius, the Inventor, finds in Love the unknown and inexhaustible continent. Love which has been exclusive shall now be inclusive. Love, which once called Genius proud, — be- hold, they have exchanged names. Love, which was a fat, stupid Shaker, or a maudlin Metho- dist, or Moravian, now is a brave and modest man of light, sight, and conscience. God hateth the obscure. On the last day, as on the first day, he still says. Let there be Light. Where there is progress in character, there is no confu- sion of sentiment, no diffidence of self, but the heart sails ever forward in the direction of the open Sea.