and lay apparently asleep, instantly raised his head, and with some
quickness observed, "Ah! if you could only read an act of parliament _in
any way you liked_, what fine things you could do!" The reader is not,
however, to suppose that Mr. Smith's mind was exclusively occupied with
business, and legal topics. On the contrary, I am certain that he both
read and thought much, and anxiously, on religious subjects. I saw the
Bible constantly open, and also one or two religious books; in
particular, Mr. Wilberforce's "Practical Christianity" lay on his table
and on his sofa. He seemed, however, to feel no disposition to
_converse_ on such topics, with any one. If any one attempted to lead
conversation in that direction, he would either be silent, or in a
significant manner change the subject. He had a favourite copy of Dante
lying often near him, and it may be interesting to state, that he has
left, underscored in pencil, the two following verses in the third
canto, (_Del Purgatorio_,) expressive of faith in the great mysteries of
Christianity,--

"Matto è chi spera che nostra ragione,
Possa trascorrer la 'nfinita via,
Che tiene una sustanzia in tre persone.

State contente, umana gente, al quia:
Che si potuto aveste veder tutto,
Mestier non era partorir Maria."

It may not be necessary to say it, but I am persuaded that he was a firm
believer in the truths of Christianity, and a conscientious member of
the Church of England. One day, within about a fortnight of his death,
he said, "There is a work which I have often heard you speak of, and
which, it does so happen, I never read, though I have often wished to do