L E T T E R S

228the sentimental means inherent in it, equality, relationship of feeling to thoughtand action. But he is like an older man already sixty, although animated withthe best desires, not possessing however, fervid enough feeling. He hasstopped short for a long time at something rigid, and he has been up to nowproud of being inflexible in what he considered to be the best system. And thewhole movement around him was not in his eyes providential and progressive.After making concessions to me in what would change completely all hisdoctrines (because he has more than one) he finally came back to his formerway of seeing man and the world. So his conversion would only be possible bythe conversion of several of his followers and their moral reaction on him.Since then I have been in continual touch with them.On the eleventh, Bontemps arrived and by him detailed news which herelated; by his advice and his cooperation he increased my strength and meansof influence here. The books he brought with him are most useful. Most of thetime he was busy with the commercial affairs which called him here. On thefifteenth I introduced him to Mr. Willier and Mr. Owen was there. Thesixteenth that is to say Sunday, he spent with his associate (?) and his family. Iwent to be present at the morning reading of Mr. Oven. There were a fewhundred in the audience. After reading one of his old texts to them Mr. Owenmade his profession of faith (which he gave us in writing the day before) andhe annunced to those present that he had a friend attending, a member of areligious society proposing as he did to radically cure all the ills afflicting thehuman race today. The society (he said) was composed of most intelligentpeople, provided with material means for acting and real lovers of humanity.This friend has interesting insights on the subject, and that he rejoiced greatlyabout conversations he had with me on the matter. He thinks that myobservations on his system would be of great interest for his people and heasked me to speak of them. On the one hand I don't speak English with enoughfacility, and on the other I did not think the audience prepared enough to beable to argue about our doctrine, so I only answered Mr. Owen that all our duty