Itwillsufficetorelate，thatafterasufficientperiodofpreparationandarrangementsbeingmadeformaintainingacopiousintercoursewithLudlow，IembarkedforBarcelona。Arestlesscuriosityandvigorousapplicationhavedistinguishedmycharacterineveryscene。Herewasspaciousfieldfortheexerciseofallmyenergies。Isoughtoutapreceptorinmynewreligion。Ienteredintotheheartsofpriestsandconfessors，the~hidalgo~andthepeasant，themonkandtheprelate，theaustereandvoluptuousdevoteewerescrutinizedinalltheirforms。
　　Manwasthechiefsubjectofmystudy，andthesocialspherethatinwhichIprincipallymoved；butIwasnotinattentivetoinanimatenature，norunmindfulofthepast。Ifthescopeofvirtueweretomaintainthebodyinhealth，andtofurnishitshighestenjoymentstoeverysense，toincreasethenumber，andaccuracy，andorderofourintellectualstores，novirtuewasevermoreunblemishedthanmine。Iftoactuponourconceptionsofright，andtoacquitourselvesofallprejudiceandselfishnessintheformationofourprinciples，entitleustothetestimonyofagoodconscience，Imightjustlyclaimit。
　　Ishallnotpretendtoascertainmyrankinthemoralscale。
　　Yournotionsofdutydifferwidelyfrommine。Ifasystemofdeceit，pursuedmerelyfromtheloveoftruth；ifvoluptuousness，nevergratifiedattheexpenseofhealth，mayincurcensure，Iamcensurable。This，indeed，wasnotthelimitofmydeviations。
　　Deceptionwasoftenunnecessarilypractised，andmybiloquialfacultydidnotlieunemployed。Whathashappenedtoyourselvesmayenableyou，insomedegree，tojudgeofthescenesinwhichmymysticalexploitsengagedme。Innoneofthem，indeed，weretheeffectsequallydisastrous，andtheywere，forthemostpart，theresultofwelldigestedprojects。
　　Torecountthesewouldbeanendlesstask。Theyweredesignedasmerespecimensofpower，toillustratetheinfluenceofsuperstition:togivescepticstheconsolationofcertainty:toannihilatethescruplesofatenderfemale，orfacilitatemyaccesstothebosomsofcourtiersandmonks。
　　ThefirstachievementofthiskindtookplaceintheconventoftheEscurial。Forsometimethehospitalityofthisbrotherhoodallowedmeacellinthatmagnificentandgloomyfabric。IwasdrawnhitherchieflybythetreasuresofArabianliterature，whicharepreservedhereinthekeepingofalearnedMaronite，fromLebanon。Standingoneeveningonthestepsofthegreataltar，thisdevoutfriarexpatiatedonthemiraculousevidencesofhisreligion；and，inamomentofenthusiasm，appealedtoSanLorenzo，whosemartyrdomwasdisplayedbeforeus。Nosoonerwastheappealmadethanthesaint，obsequioustothesummons，whisperedhisresponsesfromtheshrine，andcommandedtheheretictotrembleandbelieve。Thiseventwasreportedtotheconvent。Withwhateverreluctance，Icouldnotrefusemytestimonytoitstruth，anditsinfluenceonmyfaithwasclearlyshewninmysubsequentconduct。
　　Aladyofrank，inSeville，whohadbeenguiltyofmanyunauthorizedindulgences，was，atlast，awakenedtoremorse，byavoicefromHeaven，whichsheimaginedhadcommandedhertoexpiatehersinsbyanabstinencefromallfoodforthirtydays。Herfriendsfounditimpossibletooutrootthispersuasion，ortoovercomeherresolutionevenbyforce。Ichancedtobeoneinanumerouscompanywhereshewaspresent。Thisfatalillusionwasmentioned，andanopportunityaffordedtotheladyofdefendingherscheme。Atapauseinthediscourse，avoicewasheardfromtheceiling，whichconfirmedthetruthofhertale；but，atthesametimerevokedthecommand，and，inconsiderationofherfaith，pronouncedherabsolution。Satisfiedwiththisproof，theauditorsdismissedtheirunbelief，andtheladyconsentedtoeat。
　　InthecourseofacopiouscorrespondencewithLudlow，theobservationsIhadcollectedweregiven。Asentiment，whichIcanhardlydescribe，inducedmetobesilentonalladventuresconnectedwithmybivocalprojects。Onothertopics，Iwrotefully，andwithoutrestraint。Ipainted，invividhues，thesceneswithwhichIwasdailyconversant，andpursued，fearlessly，everyspeculationonreligionandgovernmentthatoccurred。ThisspiritwasencouragedbyLudloe，whofailednottocommentonmynarrative，andmultiplydeductionsfrommyprinciples。
　　Hetaughtmetoascribetheevilsthatinfestsocietytotheerrorsofopinion。Theabsurdandunequaldistributionofpowerandpropertygavebirthtopovertyandriches，andthesewerethesourcesofluxuryandcrimes。Thesepositionswerereadilyadmitted；buttheremedyfortheseills，themeansofrectifyingtheseerrorswerenoteasilydiscovered。Wehavebeeninclinedtoimputethemtoinherentdefectsinthemoralconstitutionofmen:
　　thatoppressionandtyrannygrowupbyasortofnaturalnecessity，andthattheywillperishonlywhenthehumanspeciesisextinct。
　　Ludloelabouredtoprovethatthiswas，bynomeans，thecase:
　　thatmanisthecreatureofcircumstances:thatheiscapableofendlessimprovement:thathisprogresshasbeenstoppedbytheartificialimpedimentofgovernment:thatbytheremovalofthis，thefondestdreamsofimaginationwillberealized。
　　Fromdetailingandaccountingfortheevilswhichexistunderourpresentinstitutions，heusuallyproceededtodelineatesomeschemeofUtopianfelicity，wheretheempireofreasonshouldsupplantthatofforce:wherejusticeshouldbeuniversallyunderstoodandpractised；wheretheinterestofthewholeandoftheindividualshouldbeseenbyalltobethesame；wherethepublicgoodshouldbethescopeofallactivity；wherethetasksofallshouldbethesame，andthemeansofsubsistenceequallydistributed。
　　Noonecouldcontemplatehispictureswithoutrapture。Bytheircomprehensivenessandamplitudetheyfilledtheimagination。
　　Iwasunwillingtobelievethatinnoregionoftheworld，oratnoperiodcouldtheseideasberealized。ItwasplainthatthenationsofEuropeweretendingtogreaterdepravity，andwouldbethepreyofperpetualvicissitude。Allindividualattemptsattheirreformationwouldbefruitless。Hethereforewhodesiredthediffusionofrightprinciples，tomakeajustsystembeadoptedbyawholecommunity，mustpursuesomeextraordinarymethod。
　　InthisstateofmindIrecollectedmynativecountry，whereafewcolonistsfromBritainhadsownthegermeofpopulousandmightyempires。Attended，astheywere，intotheirnewabode，byalltheirprejudices，yetsuchhadbeentheinfluenceofnewcircumstances，ofconsultingfortheirownhappiness，ofadoptingsimpleformsofgovernment，andexcludingnoblesandkingsfromtheirsystem，thattheyenjoyedadegreeofhappinessfarsuperiortotheirparentstate。
　　Toconquertheprejudicesandchangethehabitsofmillions，areimpossible。Thehumanmind，exposedtosocialinfluences，inflexiblyadherestothedirectionthatisgiventoit；butforthesamereasonwhymen，whobegininerrorwillcontinue，thosewhocommenceintruth，maybeexpectedtopersist。Habitandexamplewilloperatewithequalforceinbothinstances。
　　Letafew，sufficientlyenlightenedanddisinterested，takeuptheirabodeinsomeunvisitedregion。Lettheirsocialschemebefoundedinequity，andhowsmallsoevertheiroriginalnumbermaybe，theirgrowthintoanationisinevitable。Amongothereffectsofnationaljustice，wastoberankedtheswiftincreaseofnumbers。Exemptfromservileobligationsandperversehabits，endowedwithproperty，wisdom，andhealth。Hundredswillexpand，withinconceivablerapidityintothousandsandthousands，intomillions；andanewrace，tutoredintruth，may，inafewcenturies，overflowthehabitableworld。
　　Suchwerethevisionsofyouth！Icouldnotbanishthemfrommymind。Iknewthemtobecrude；butbelievedthatdeliberationwouldbestowuponthemsolidityandshape。MeanwhileIimpartedthemtoLudloe。
　　ChapterVI。
　　InanswertothereveriesandspeculationswhichIsenttohimrespectingthissubject，Ludloeinformedme，thattheyhadledhismindintoanewsphereofmeditation。Hehadlonganddeeplyconsideredinwhatwayhemightessentiallypromotemyhappiness。
　　HehadentertainedafainthopethatIwouldonedaybequalifiedforastationlikethattowhichhehimselfhadbeenadvanced。
　　Thispostrequiredanelevationandstabilityofviewswhichhumanbeingsseldomreach，andwhichcouldbeattainedbymeonlybyalongseriesofheroiclabours。Hithertoeverynewstageinmyintellectualprogresshadaddedvigourtohishopes，andhecherishedastrongerbeliefthanformerlythatmycareerwouldterminateauspiciously。This，however，wasnecessarilydistant。
　　Manypreliminariesmustfirstbesettled；manyarduousaccomplishmentsbefirstobtained；andmyvirtuebesubjectedtoseveretrials。Atpresentitwasnotinhispowertobemoreexplicit；butifmyreflectionssuggestednobetterplan，headvisedmetosettlemyaffairsinSpain，andreturntohimimmediately。Myknowledgeofthiscountrywouldbeofthehighestuse，onthesuppositionofmyultimatelyarrivingatthehonourstowhichhehadalluded；andsomeofthesepreparatorymeasurescouldbetakenonlywithhisassistance，andinhiscompany。
　　Thisintimationwaseagerlyobeyed，and，inashorttime，I
　　arrivedatDublin。Meanwhilemymindhadcopiousoccupationincommentingonmyfriend'sletter。Thisscheme，whateveritwas，seemedtobesuggestedbymymentionofaplanofcolonization，andmypreferenceofthatmodeofproducingextensiveandpermanenteffectsontheconditionofmankind。Itwaseasythereforetoconjecturethatthismodehadbeenpursuedundersomemysteriousmodificationsandconditions。
　　Ithadalwaysexcitedmywonderthatsoobviousanexpedienthadbeenoverlooked。Theglobewhichweinhabitwasveryimperfectlyknown。Theregionsandnationsunexplored，itwasreasonabletobelieve，surpassedinextent，andperhapsinpopulousness，thosewithwhichwewerefamiliar。TheorderofJesuitshadfurnishedanexampleofalltheerrorsandexcellenciesofsuchascheme。Theirplanwasfoundedonerroneousnotionsofreligionandpolicy，andtheyhadabsurdlychosenascene*withinreachoftheinjusticeandambitionofanEuropeantyrant。
　　Itwaswiseandeasytoprofitbytheirexample。Restingonthetwopropsoffidelityandzeal，anassociationmightexistforagesintheheartofEurope，whoseinfluencemightbefelt，andmightbeboundless，insomeregionofthesouthernhemisphere；andbywhomamoralandpoliticalstructuremightberaised，thegrowthofpurewisdom，andtotallyunlikethosefragmentsofRomanandGothicbarbarism，whichcoverthefaceofwhatarecalledthecivilizednations。Thebeliefnowroseinmymindthatsomesuchschemehadactuallybeenprosecuted，andthatLudloewasacoadjutor。Onthissupposition，thecautionwithwhichheapproachedtohispoint，thearduousprobationwhichacandidateforapartonthisstagemustundergo，andtherigoursofthattestbywhichhisfortitudeandvirtuemustbetried，wereeasilyexplained。Iwastoodeeplyimbuedwithvenerationfortheeffectsofsuchschemes，andtoosanguineinmyconfidenceintherectitudeofLudloe，torefusemyconcurrenceinanyschemebywhichmyqualificationsmightatlengthberaisedtoaduepoint。
　　Ourinterviewwasfrankandaffectionate。Ifoundhimsituatedjustasformerly。Hisaspect，manners，anddeportmentwerethesame。Ienteredoncemoreonmyformermodeoflife，butourintercoursebecamemorefrequent。Weconstantlybreakfastedtogether，andourconversationwasusuallyprolongedthroughhalfthemorning。
　　Foratimeourtopicsweregeneral。Ithoughtpropertoleavetohimtheintroductionofmoreinterestingthemes:this，however，hebetrayednoinclinationtodo。Hisreserveexcitedsomesurprise，andIbegantosuspectthatwhateverdesignhehadformedwithregardtome，hadbeenlaidaside。Toascertainthisquestion，Iventured，atlength，torecallhisattentiontothesubjectofhislastletter，andtoenquirewhethersubsequentreflectionhadmadeanychangeinhisviews。
　　Hesaidthathisviewsweretoomomentoustobehastilytakenup，orhastilydismissed；thestation，myattainmentofwhichdependedwhollyonmyself，washighabovevulgarheads，andwastobegainedbyyearsofsolicitudeandlabour。This，atleast，wastruewithregardtomindsordinarilyconstituted；I，perhaps，deservedtoberegardedasanexception，andmightbeabletoaccomplishinafewmonthsthatforwhichotherswereobligedtotoilduringhalftheirlives。
　　Man，continuedhe，istheslaveofhabit。Convincehimto-daythathisdutyleadsstraightforward:heshalladvance，butateverystephisbeliefshallfade；habitwillresumeitsempire，andtomorrowheshallturnback，orbetakehimselftoobliquepaths。
　　Weknownotourstrengthtillitbetried。Virtue，tillconfirmedbyhabit，isadream。Youareamanimbuedbyerrors，andvinciblebyslighttemptations。Deepenquiriesmustbestowlightonyouropinions，andthehabitofencounteringandvanquishingtemptationmustinspireyouwithfortitude。Tillthisbedone，youareunqualifiedforthatpost，inwhichyouwillbeinvestedwithdivineattributes，andprescribetheconditionofalargeportionofmankind。
　　Confidenotinthefirmnessofyourprinciples，orthestedfastnessofyourintegrity。Bealwaysvigilantandfearful。
　　Neverthinkyouhaveenoughofknowledge，andletnotyourcautionslumberforamoment，foryouknownotwhendangerisnear。
　　Iacknowledgedthejusticeofhisadmonitions，andprofessedmyselfwillingtoundergoanyordealwhichreasonshouldprescribe。
　　What，Iasked，weretheconditions，onthefulfilmentofwhichdependedmyadvancementtothestationhealludedto？Wasitnecessarytoconcealfrommethenatureandobligationsofthisrank？
　　TheseenquiriessunkhimmoreprofoundlyintomeditationthanIhadeverbeforewitnessed。Afterapause，inwhichsomeperplexitywasvisible，heanswered:
　　Iscarcelyknowwhattosay。Astopromises，Iclaimthemnotfromyou。Wearenowarrivedatapoint，inwhichitisnecessarytolookaroundwithcaution，andthatconsequencesshouldbefullyknown。Anumberofpersonsareleaguedtogetherforanendofsomemoment。Tomakeyourselfoneoftheseissubmittedtoyourchoice。
　　Amongtheconditionsoftheiralliancearemutualfidelityandsecrecy。
　　Theirexistencedependsuponthis:theirexistenceisknownonlytothemselves。Thissecrecymustbeobtainedbyallthemeanswhicharepossible。WhenIhavesaidthusmuch，Ihaveinformedyou，insomedegree，oftheirexistence，butyouarestillignorantofthepurposecontemplatedbythisassociation，andofallthemembers，exceptmyself。Sofarnodangerousdisclosureisyetmade:butthisdegreeofconcealmentisnotsufficient。Thusmuchismadeknowntoyou，becauseitisunavoidable。Theindividualswhichcomposethisfraternityarenotimmortal，andthevacanciesoccasionedbydeathmustbesuppliedfromamongtheliving。Thecandidatemustbeinstructedandprepared，andtheyarealwaysatlibertytorecede。Theirreasonmustapprovetheobligationsanddutiesoftheirstation，ortheyareunfitforit。Iftheyrecede，onedutyisstillincumbentuponthem:theymustobserveaninviolablesilence。Tothistheyarenotheldbyanypromise。
　　Theymustweighconsequences，andfreelydecide；buttheymustnotfailtonumberamongtheseconsequencestheirowndeath。
　　Theirdeathwillnotbepromptedbyvengeance。Theexecutionerwillsay，hethathasoncerevealedthetaleislikelytorevealitasecondtime；and，topreventthis，thebetrayermustdie。Noristhistheonlyconsequence:topreventthefurtherrevelation，he，towhomthesecretwasimparted，mustlikewiseperish。Hemustnotconsolehimselfwiththebeliefthathistrespasswillbeunknown。Theknowledgecannot，byhumanmeans，bewithheldfromthisfraternity。Rare，indeed，willitbethathispurposetodiscloseisnotdiscoveredbeforeitcanbeeffected，andthedisclosurepreventedbyhisdeath。
　　Bewellawareofyourcondition。WhatInow，ormayhereaftermention，mentionnotagain。Admitnotevenadoubtastotheproprietyofhidingitfromalltheworld。Thereareeyeswhowilldiscernthisdoubtamidsttheclosestfoldsofyourheart，andyourlifewillinstantlybesacrificed。
　　Atpresentbethesubjectdismissed。Reflectdeeplyonthedutywhichyouhavealreadyincurred。Thinkuponyourstrengthofmind，andbecarefulnottolayyourselfunderimpracticableobligations。Itwillalwaysbeinyourpowertorecede。Evenafteryouaresolemnlyenrolledamember，youmayconsultthedictatesofyourownunderstanding，andrelinquishyourpost；butwhileyoulive，theobligationtobesilentwillperpetuallyattendyou。
　　Weseeknotthemiseryordeathofanyone，butweareswayedbyanimmutablecalculation。Deathistobeabhorred，butthelifeofthebetrayerisproductiveofmoreevilthanhisdeath:hisdeath，therefore，wechuse，andourmeansareinstantaneousandunerring。
　　Iloveyou。Thefirstimpulseofmyloveistodissuadeyoufromseekingtoknowmore。Yourmindwillbefullofideas；yourhandswillbeperpetuallybusytoapurposeintowhichnohumancreature，beyondthevergeofyourbrotherhood，mustpry。Believeme，whohavemadetheexperiment，thatcomparedwiththistask，thetaskofinviolablesecrecy，allothersareeasy。Tobedumbwillnotsuffice；nevertoknowanyremissioninyourzealoryourwatchfulnesswillnotsuffice。Ifthesagacityofothersdetectyouroccupations，howeverstrenuouslyyoumaylabourforconcealment，yourdoomisratified，aswellasthatofthewretchwhoseevildestinyledhimtopursueyou。
　　Yetifyourfidelityfailnot，greatwillbeyourrecompence。
　　Forallyourtoilsandself-devotion，amplewillbetheretribution。Hithertoyouhavebeenwraptindarknessandstorm；
　　thenwillyoubeexaltedtoapureandunruffledelement。Itisonlyforatimethattemptationwillenvironyou，andyourpathwillbetoilsome。Inafewyearsyouwillbepermittedtowithdrawtoalandofsages，andtheremainderofyourlifewillglideawayintheenjoymentsofbeneficenceandwisdom。
　　ThinkdeeplyonwhatIhavesaid。Investigateyourownmotivesandopinions，andpreparetosubmitthemtothetestofnumeroushazardsandexperiments。
　　Heremyfriendpassedtoanewtopic。Iwasdesirousofrevertingtothissubject，andobtainingfurtherinformationconcerningit，butheassiduouslyrepelledallmyattempts，andinsistedonmybestowingdeepandimpartialattentiononwhathadalreadybeendisclosed。Iwasnotslowtocomplywithhisdirections。Mymindrefusedtoadmitanyotherthemeofcontemplationthanthis。
　　AsyetIhadnoglimpseofthenatureofthisfraternity。I
　　waspermittedtoformconjectures，andpreviousincidentsbestowedbutoneformuponmythoughts。InreviewingthesentimentsanddeportmentofLudloe，mybeliefcontinuallyacquirednewstrength。
　　Ievenrecollectedhintsandambiguousallusionsinhisdiscourse，whichwereeasilysolved，onthesuppositionoftheexistenceofanewmodelofsociety，insomeunsuspectedcorneroftheworld。
　　Ididnotfullyperceivethenecessityofsecrecy；butthisnecessityperhapswouldberenderedapparent，whenIshouldcometoknowtheconnectionthatsubsistedbetweenEuropeandthisimaginarycolony。Butwhatwastobedone？Iwaswillingtoabidebytheseconditions。Myunderstandingmightnotapproveofalltheendsproposedbythisfraternity，andIhadlibertytowithdrawfromit，ortorefusetoallymyselfwiththem。Thattheobligationofsecrecyshouldstillremain，wasunquestionablyreasonable。