Autograph letter signed : Leeds, to William Angus Knight, 1872 February 18.

Thanking him for the copy of 'Colloquia Peripatetica' and discussing, at length and in detail, his differences with Dr. Duncan's assumptions on the relationship between the human and divine spirit; saying "I cannot help myself believing that there are times when the soul emerges from its prison house of flesh, and perceives things spiritually, as clearly as we now perceive material things sensibly - 'The sentiment of being' which Wordsworth describes in the Prelude, or the 'hour of visitation from the most high God' will explain what I mean. This perception cannot from the nature of things be permanent, and must be due surely rather to the action of the divine mind revealing itself to us than to any struggles or efforts of our own...But it is delightful to be thus brought into contact with so vigorous & independent a judgment, and I thank you much for having made me acquainted with the book;" referring to Knight's hymnal and recommending he look at a collection of hymns by the Rev. J.H. Thom of Liverpool, "...a man of the utmost refinement of mind and intensity of spiritual perception : & his book, though not characterised by the same catholicity as Mr. Martineau's Hymns for the Christian Church & Home, contains some hymns of rare beauty and delicacy of feeling;" discussing the spiritual power and the beauty of the Swiss Alps; saying he has "...been amusing myself in hours of weariness by dreaming of Switzerland and find myself drawn thither by a longing I cannot resist. Are you at liberty to spend four or five weeks among the Italian valleys - to my mind the most beautiful portions of the Alps. I find no confirmation of my faith so strong as that afforded me by the mysterious presence that broods upon the mountains : and on the southern slopes of Monte Rosa there is perhaps as much beauty and grandeur combined as any given area in this world can show. A journey through such scenes has to me the solemnity of a religious pilgrimage; nor do I know any support (next to the sympathy of friends) which is of greater value when one has afterward to deal with misery and sin;" discussing Knight's possible visit to London and relating news of mutual friends.