t, and there were occasionally glimpses of land and of what
might be lights on shore, which yet were pronounced by some of the crew
to be mere illusions. They held that the best thing to be done was to
let the ship drive as she would, without trying to keep her on what was
understood to be her course. For 'the strangest thing on that strange
ship was the fact that there was such a course.' Many theories were
offered about this, none quite satisfactory; but it was understood that
the ship was to be steered due north. The best and bravest and wisest of
the crew would dare the most terrible dangers, even from their comrades,
to keep her on her course. Putting these things together, and noting
that the ship was obviously framed and equipped for the voyage, I could
not help feeling that there was a port somewhere, though I doubted the
wisdom of those who professed to know all about it. I resolved to do my
duty, in the hope that it would turn out to have been my duty, and I
then felt that there was something bracing in the mystery by which we
were surrounded, and that, at all events, ignorance honestly admitted
and courageously faced, and rough duty vigorously done, was far better
than the sham knowledge and the bitter quarrels of the sickly cabin and
glaring lamplight from which I had escaped.

I need add no exposition of a parable which gives his essential doctrine
more forcibly than I could do it. I will only add that he remained upon
good terms with Newman, who had, as he heard, spoken of his article as
honest, plain-spoken, and fair to him. He hopes, as he says upon this,
to see the old man and talk matters over with him--a phrase which
probably anticipates the interview of which I have spoken. Newman
afterwards (September 9, 1866) writes to him in a friendly way, and
gives him a statement of certain points of Catholic moral theology.
They seem to have met again, but without further argument.

Fitzjames wrote various articles in 'Fraser' attacking Manning, and
criticising among other writings Mr. Lecky's 'Rationalism' (very
favourably), and Professor Seeley's then anonymous 'Ecce Homo.' He
thinks that the author is a 'sheep in wolf's clothing,' and that his
views dissolve into mist when closely examined. I need not give any
account of these articles, but I may notice a personal connection which
was involved. At this time Mr. Froude was editor of 'Fraser,' a
circumstance which doubtless recommended the organ. At what time