Chapter 19

           Londonwasourpresentpointofrest;wedeterminedtoremainseveralmonthsinthiswonderfulandcelebratedcity.Clervaldesiredtheintercourseofthemenofgeniusandtalentwhoflourishedatthistime,butthiswaswithmeasecondaryobject;IwasprincipallyoccupiedwiththemeansofobtainingtheinformationnecessaryforthecompletionofmypromiseandquicklyavailedmyselfofthelettersofintroductionthatIhadbroughtwithme,addressedtothemostdistinguishednaturalphilosophers.

           Ifthisjourneyhadtakenplaceduringmydaysofstudyandhappiness,itwouldhaveaffordedmeinexpressiblepleasure.Butablighthadcomeovermyexistence,andIonlyvisitedthesepeopleforthesakeoftheinformationtheymightgivemeonthesubjectinwhichmyinterestwassoterriblyprofound.Companywasirksometome;whenalone,Icouldfillmymindwiththesightsofheavenandearth;thevoiceofHenrysoothedme,andIcouldthuscheatmyselfintoatransitorypeace.Butbusy,uninteresting,joyousfacesbroughtbackdespairtomyheart.Isawaninsurmountablebarrierplacedbetweenmeandmyfellowmen;thisbarrierwassealedwiththebloodofWilliamandJustine,andtoreflectontheeventsconnectedwiththosenamesfilledmysoulwithanguish.

           ButinClervalIsawtheimageofmyformerself;hewasinquisitiveandanxioustogainexperienceandinstruction.Thedifferenceofmannerswhichheobservedwastohimaninexhaustiblesourceofinstructionandamusement.Hewasalsopursuinganobjecthehadlonghadinview.HisdesignwastovisitIndia,inthebeliefthathehadinhisknowledgeofitsvariouslanguages,andintheviewshehadtakenofitssociety,themeansofmateriallyassistingtheprogressofEuropeancolonizationandtrade.InBritainonlycouldhefurthertheexecutionofhisplan.Hewasforeverbusy,andtheonlychecktohisenjoymentswasmysorrowfulanddejectedmind.