Though Lord Trimmerstone was a zealous convert to Mr. Sprout’s theory of the national religion, yet that theory was not quite obvious and distinct to his lordship’s apprehension; and often did he blunder in the enunciation of his theory, and awkwardly did he sometimes express himself when he thought he was contending for the truth: for he has been known to rebuke the unepiscopal worshippers in barns and outhouses for holding the pestilential doctrines of election and predestination. This was pardonable in a young beginner; but Mr. Sprout set him right, and showed that the doctrines of predestination and election had been sometimes erroneously apprehended to mean predestination and election, whereas the proper view of the subject was that they meant election and predestination.
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.”