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。