People like myself, of lively imagination, may have often felt that change
of place suddenly extinguishes, or gives a new direction to, the ardour of
their enthusiasm. Such persons may, therefore, naturally suspect, that, as
"my steps retired from Cam's smooth margin," my enthusiasm for my learned
rabbi might gradually fade away; and that, on my arrival in London, I
should forget my desire to become acquainted with the accomplished Spanish
Jew. But it must be observed that, with my mother's warmth of imagination,
I also had, I will not say, I inherited, some of my father's "_intensity of
will_,"--some of that firmness of adhesion to a preconceived notion or
purpose, which in a good cause is called resolution, in a bad cause
obstinacy; and which is either a curse or a blessing to the possessor,
according to the degree or habit of exercising the reasoning faculty with
which he may be endowed.

On my arrival in London, a variety of petty unforeseen obstacles occurred
to prevent my accomplishing my visit to the Spanish Jew. New and
never-ending demands upon my time arose, both in and out of my own family,
so that there seemed a necessity for my spending every hour of the day and
night in a manner wholly independent of my will. There seemed to be some
fatality that set at nought all my previous plans and calculations. Every
morning for a week after my arrival, I regularly put my letter of
introduction to Mr. Montenero into my pocket, resolving that I would that
day find him out, and pay my visit; but after walking all the morning, to
bear and to forbear various engagements, to execute promised commissions,
and to fulfil innumerable duties, I regularly came home as I went out, with
my letter in my pocket, and with the sad conviction that it was utterly
impossible to deliver it that day. These obstacles, and this contrariety of
external circumstances, instead of bending my will, or making me give up my
intention, fixed it more firmly in my mind, and strengthened my
determination. Nor was I the least shaken from the settled purpose of my