st
the _affliction_ of these visions, of which visions the first was
death. And how?

"He from the well of life three drops instill'd."

What was their operation?

"So deep the power of these ingredients pierced,
_Even to the inmost seat of mental sight_,
That Adam, now enforced to close his eyes
Sank down, and all his spirits became entranced.
But him the gentle angel by the hand
Soon raised"----

The second of these lines it is which betrays the presence of
laudanum. It is in the faculty of mental vision, it is in the
increased power of dealing with the shadowy and the dark, that the
characteristic virtue of opium lies. Now, in the original higher
sensibility is found some palliation for the _practice_ of
opium-eating; in the greater temptation is a greater excuse. And in
this faculty of self-revelation is found some palliation for
_reporting_ the case to the world, which both Coleridge and his
biographer have overlooked.

On all this, however, we need say no more; for we have just received a
note from the writer of the _Opium Confessions_, more learned than
ourselves in such mysteries, which promises us a sequel or _finale_ to
those Confessions. And this, which we have reason to think a record of
profound experiences, we shall probably publish next month.

_Edinburgh: Printed by Ballantyne and Hughes, Paul's Work._

Footnotes:

[1] Reynolds' Discourses, No. 16, _ad finem_.

[2] Macaulay.

[3] The finest design ever conceived by Michael Angelo was a cartoon
representing warriors bathing, and some buckling on their armour at
the sound of the trumpet, which summoned them to their standards in
the war between Pisa and Florence. It perished, however, in the
troubles of the latter city, but an engraved copy remains of part,
which justifies the eulogiums bestowed upon it.

[4] The state of Missouri as almost entirely peopled by emigration
from Kentucky.

[5] The Mississippi water, although slimy, becomes clear after it has
stood few hours, and is then excellent to drink.

[6] An excellent map of Montenegro has been made by an Austrian
officer of engineers, who resided there for the purpose--but I have
not now the advantage of referring to it. This country is divided into
twelve military departments; the natives reckon its extent about three
days' journey in the longest, by two in the widest part. Those, of
course, are foot or mule journeys.

[7] It was this man's father who, s