14 FEBRUARY 1885, Page 15

CHARLES KINGSLEY'S "DAILY THOUGHTS."

LTO THE EDITOR OF TEE " SPECTLTOR...1

Sia,—In your remarks on " Daily Thoughts " from Charles Kingsley, in last week's Spectator, you say :—" We are aware that in many cases Mrs. Kingsley has availed herself of portions of private letters which do not appear even in the biography. Such is probably the origin of the pregnant saying,—' I do not want to possess a faith, I want a faith which possesses me.' Yet in such cases it is a satisfaction at least to know that the context is beyond our reach."

Will you allow me to point out that the words quoted occur, with the slightest variation, in that striking conversation between Raphael Aben-Ezra and Majoricus, the Prefect, in chapter xvii. of " Hypatia."—I am, Sir, &c.,

Kendal, February 10th. W. H. SOMERYELL.