I feel exquisite pleasure in dwelling on the recollections of childhood, before misfortune had tainted my mind, and changed its bright visions of extensive usefulness into gloomy and narrow reflections upon self.

The world was to me a secret which I desired to devine.

Happiness is in its highest degree the sister of goodness.

Polluted by crimes, and torn by the bitterest remorse, where can I find rest but in death?

These wonderful narrations inspired me with strange feelings. Was man, indeed, at once so powerful, so virtuous, and magnificent, yet so vicious and base? He appeared at one time a mere scion of the evil principle and at another as all that can be conceived of noble and godlike.

He was soon borne away by the waves and lost in darkness and distance.

From my infancy I was imbued with high hopes and a lofty ambition.