Seven Years Residence in the Great Deserts of North America, Vol. 1 of 2 (Classic Reprint)

My Lord, leaving others to shine in the false glare of a deceitful light, you have followed, perhaps unconsciously, the only road that leads to real greatness. No one better than your Lordship has understood how noble is the task of smoothing the way for young intellects, and removing those obstacles which often subdue their courage and sadden their hearts at the very outset of their career. You felt that to tender assistance to those who are struggling to make available the talents which God has bestowed upon them, while they sustain too hard a combat with the material difficulties of their position, is verily to continue the part of divine Providence on earth. Gratitude, my Lord, is in itself so sweet a feeling that we ought always to bless those who inspire it; but there are selfish and inconsiderate beings with whom all feelings are but empty words, and to whom the weight of gratitude is in reality a heavy burthen. It is therefore not by words too easily uttered, or by doubtful protestations that any mans gratitude ought to bo measured, but by positive facts, spontaneous actions, resolves perseveringly matured, in short by all those proofs which spring from a free heart and a firm will, and which bear the unmistakable stamp of truth. My Lord, at the present time, when a pharisaical spirit is endeavouring to malign you, heedless of adding rays to your glory by making you share in that cup of bitterness which was held to the lips of our Divme Saviour in the garden of Gethsemane, more than ever should I rejoice if, when I inscribe your Lordship sname on the first page of this book, which I have written to make known the wildernesses of theN ew World and their inhabitants, you should be pleased to accept this homage as a proof of my deep gratitude forthe benefits received at your hands, of my sincere admiration for your Christian and episcopal virtues, and o(Typographical errors above are due to OCR software and don't occur in the book.) Read more