o have, instead of occasional glimpses, frequent
and distinct views of his God; yet, though he may become religious, it is
hardly to be expected that he will become a very precise and
straightlaced person; it is probable that he will retain, with his
scholarship, something of his gypsyism, his predilection for the hammer
and tongs, and perhaps some inclination to put on certain gloves, not
white kid, with any friend who may be inclined for a little old English
diversion, and a readiness to take a glass of ale, with plenty of malt in
it, and as little hop as may well be--ale at least two years old--with
the aforesaid friend, when the diversion is over; for, as it is the
belief of the writer that a person may get to heaven very comfortably
without knowing what's o'clock, so it is his belief that he will not be
refused admission there, because to the last he has been fond of healthy
and invigorating exercises, and felt a willingness to partake of any of
the good things which it pleases the Almighty to put within the reach of
his children during their sojourn upon earth.

CHAPTER II--On Priestcraft.

The writer will now say a few words about priestcraft, and the
machinations of Rome, and will afterwards say something about himself,
and his motives for writing against them.

With respect to Rome, and her machinations, much valuable information can
be obtained from particular parts of Lavengro, and its sequel. Shortly
before the time when the hero of the book is launched into the world, the
Popish agitation in England had commenced. The Popish propaganda had
determined to make a grand attempt on England; Popish priests were
scattered over the land, doing the best they could to make converts to
the old superstition. With the plans of Rome, and her hopes, and the
reasons on which those hopes are grounded, the hero of the book becomes
acquainted, during an expedition which he makes into the country, from
certain conversations which he holds with a priest in a dingle, in which
the hero had taken up his residence; he likewise learns from the same
person much of the secret history of the Roman See, and many matters
connected with the origin and progress of the Popish superstition. The
individual with whom he holds these conversations is a learned,
intelligent, but highly-unprincipled person, of a character however very
common amongst the priests of Rome, who in general are people void of all
religion, and who, notwithst