It is very hard to get in a mood of writing. One does not feel like repeating in a letter what he has been saying. And I don’t think about anything now that I care about, or that could be written about, that I don’t immediately blab it to Miss Stevens or Miss Emily.

The principal subjects upon which I am exercised now are (in the neighborhood of Sundays): Dr. Bushnell’s Theory of Language—Instinctive (apparently) perception of Truth and subjects adjacent thereto—Landscape [327]Beauty and the Beauty of all nature, and of faces which beat all nature; the Theory, Economy, and Moral Philosophy of Love and Courtship or Courtship and Love; Past Depravity of Human Nature as shown by Macaulay in Lord Jeffries and James 2nd and his devilish queen (one of Mrs. Strickland’s angels), and present perfection as evident in Emily.

All these I enjoy in company with Miss Stevens and Emily—and sometimes with Mrs. Perkins & Mrs. Robinson & Sarah, Livy Day and Tom Beecher. With the latter I have got on very thick and careless terms. Have stayed late with him two evenings and he has opened his private box a good deal to me. I think he is a great man (with some weak links) and I shall not be at all surprised if he turns society completely over here in a few years. He’ll do something great among ideas here if he stays long.

I continue to meet the Macaulay Club every day at Mrs. Robinson’s and enjoy it very much. Walking home with Emily often and going in sometimes (when her mother stops on the way) to finish the conversation, I have got very intimate with her and gallantry and joking aside, really think her a very fine girl. Really one of us, “one of ours,” and enjoying our things more than any of us except perhaps Charley.

I had the most delicious sleigh ride with her yesterday—on the ice, double team in the cutter. We went to Farmington River and back; weather mild and sleighing of course capital—though the streets are wholly bare in the city. I have never enjoyed anything of the sort nearly as much and she said the same.

In the evening after school I had another delightful one with Miss Stevens and Miss ’Livy—who sang richly.

Later in the evening, I went to the Sociable at Mrs. Bunce’s. I confined my attention to Miss Brognard and Fanny and the refreshments, and enjoyed myself from sympathy with the rest of the company, which was quite large. Strange enough, I was able not to speak to either Emily or Sarah. I went home with Tom Beecher and stayed late with him.

Dud and ’Liph I have met once or twice.

I have read Dr. B’s first discourse—and want to read it again. Miss Stevens has read the second. She says it is just what I want.

Spring weather. Nothing new from Northampton.

That letter was from Mrs. LeConte, not Elizabeth. The main object of it was to learn whether I would be willing to take Edwin this summer. She and all the girls are very anxious I should—for his improvement—and I am not surprised. I replied that I would and tried to have them understand that it would not be convenient for me to take anyone else.

I have been reading (part of) Dr. Bushnell on atonement and do like it very much. The sermon on the Trinity, I was not much interested in—that is, not nearly as much, because personally it is not important. I have had all sorts of belief in regard to the Trinity and all shades, my impression [328]never very strong. Sometimes I have acknowledged myself a Unitarian—as much as any thing. Never have been at all satisfied, and never very much worried about any of them. Lately I have thought it of very little practical consequence and could hardly have expressed any opinion as to the Trinity and Unity.

But in regard to the atonement, so-called, that is the subject of Dr. B’s second Discourse. I have found the “doctrine” he advocates very important to me. It has influenced me to good. I have grown better for believing it. I have never assented with understanding or cordiality to any other. Yet, I have not held it clearly and distinctly enough, and I have seen a good many difficulties in regard to it. I could not reconcile certain passages of the Scripture with it and perhaps false views falsely based on those passages.

But I think Dr. B has set it all right. It’s a glorious, reasonable view; I believe it will be generally received. And when our ministers will not feel it their duty to preach Christ solely to the understanding, but let Christ come as Love and not as Logic, the world will grow better faster than it ever has done before. The Devil will draw up Logic against Logic wherever he thinks it will pay to all eternity, but he can’t do much against the sword of the Spirit when it’s pointed against Spirit. Heart answereth to Heart and not to Head.

We expect to hear from you this evening. If so, you may expect to hear again from me soon.

I hope to hear in regard to H. William Blaken, as I want if I can be sure of getting rid of him, to take Terry the Orphan.

Monday noon. Charley Trask and George Hill have been both in town since Saturday night. They called on me this morning, and Charley remained with me till they left this noon. They are both looking very well indeed, better than ever before. Charley you will probably see tomorrow en route to St. Petersburg. He will tell you all about himself. If he don’t I will when I come down. I enjoyed his visit entirely.

Last evening owing to a storm I was permitted to enter the “Sunday Sociable” (private club) with Miss Stevens. There were only Sarah Day, Emily, Sarah, Eliz. Hammersley, ’Livy, Miss S., the Day’s boarder, Tom, & myself. The subject of conversation and Bible study was something like “The Apostolic Expression of Christian Character.” What was it? Shown in their writings and actions. Of course, it was very pleasant, though Tom was rather frightfully earnest.

After conversation we had some singing. Is it not a most useful and agreeable way of spending an evening, particularly Sunday evening? Next Saturday night they meet again at Mrs. Hammersley’s. Sarah Day told me to come under her protection, and I shall be very glad. The subject—The “Magnanimity of Christ” as displayed anywhere and everywhere—&c., &c. I proposed it. Sarah Day showed a quick perception of me in immediately [329]remarking that I thought that smallness was commonly thought a necessary part of Christian Character rather than greatness. “So do I,” she added.

Why have I not heard from J. Van Peet about the turnips that were in the schooner? Do you know anything about them? The hay also.

I shall remain till after next Sunday on account of Communion. May probably leave immediately after with Aunty, who would like to [visit Cheshire on the way], and may remain a few days next week on Aunty’s account.

I gave Charley a scrawl to introduce him to Buck Bull. I wish you could give him another instead of it.