scheme. At a pause in the discourse, a voice was heard from the
ceiling, which confirmed the truth of her tale; but, at the same
time revoked the command, and, in consideration of her faith,
pronounced her absolution. Satisfied with this proof, the auditors
dismissed their unbelief, and the lady consented to eat.

In the course of a copious correspondence with Ludlow, the
observations I had collected were given. A sentiment, which I can
hardly describe, induced me to be silent on all adventures
connected with my bivocal projects. On other topics, I wrote
fully, and without restraint. I painted, in vivid hues, the scenes
with which I was daily conversant, and pursued, fearlessly, every
speculation on religion and government that occurred. This spirit
was encouraged by Ludloe, who failed not to comment on my
narrative, and multiply deductions from my principles.

He taught me to ascribe the evils that infest society to the
errors of opinion. The absurd and unequal distribution of power
and property gave birth to poverty and riches, and these were the
sources of luxury and crimes. These positions were readily
admitted; but the remedy for these ills, the means of rectifying
these errors were not easily discovered. We have been inclined to
impute them to inherent defects in the moral constitution of men:
that oppression and tyranny grow up by a sort of natural necessity,
and that they will perish only when the human species is extinct.
Ludloe laboured to prove that this was, by no means, the case:
that man is the creature of circumstances: that he is capable of
endless improvement: that his progress has been stopped by the
artificial impediment of government: that by the removal of this,
the fondest dreams of imagination will be realized.