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Spanish refinement by his manly aversion to the corrupt atmosphere of the society around him. However, he did so, because he resolved to do so, at the dictate of his judgment and prudence.

We now come to that era in his personal life to which we have already referred. We allude to the first upspringing of the religious element in his character. In England he is known emphatically as the Christian soldier of the American Civil War, but hitherto no signs of piety appeared in his history. Its first rise was due, under the blessing of God, to the influence and exertions of Colonel Frank Taylor, commanding his regiment of Artillery. This excellent man was distinguished for his fatherly interest in the spiritual welfare of the young officers under his care, and Jackson's manly and resolute nature, as well as his gallantry in service, had attracted his special regard. His earnest efforts to induce his young friend to decide for God had dated back to the summer campaign, and their results were now beginning to appear. With our hero himself whatever might be the state of his feelings or his interest in, or sympathy with, any duty that presented itself, to be convinced of its obligation was sufficient to secure it prompt recognition at his hands. It was indeed a law of his nature, whenever he saw before him a thing that ought to be done, resolutely and without delay to set about the doing of it. He became a student of the Bible, and a thoughtful religious inquirer. Singularly free from all sectarian

bias, his energy wholly expended itself in the search after truth. Surrounded by Romanists of the highest intelligence and cultivation, he conceived the opportunity a fair one for investigating their system. With this object he sought the society of the Archbishop of Mexico, who in a series of interviews entered into an elaborate explanation of the teaching of his Church. To this step he was doubtless encouraged by his monastic friends, and referring to it afterwards he invariably maintained that he believed that prelate to be a sincere and honest advocate of his creed. He also drew a marked distinction between Protestant and Romish representations of the same system, urging that there was much un'uthful perversion in the former. Yet with all his regard for his new instructors and disposition in favour of their fairness and candour, he left them eventually, convinced in his own mind that the Bible and Popery could not be reconciled in their teaching, and that the truth of the gospel must be sought outside Rome.

Yet hitherto it was but an intellectual effort that he was making to attain to clearer light. Certainly there was associated with the struggle a more punctilious self-government than he had even yet exhibited, and a deeper conscientiousness; but no strong emotions of his nature in consciousness of its needs seemed as yet to be awakened. The question of his salvation was to him one of highest interest, because he was convinced that such it ought to be. He pursued it ap

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parently more from a persuasion of this than from any vigorously aroused sympathy with reference to it.

A treaty of peace having terminated the military occupation of Mexico, his residence in that city was brought to a close. His next station was at Fort Hamilton in Long Island, seven miles below New York, and commanding that approach to its harbour, known as the Narrows. There, in the monotonous discharge of garrison duties, he lived for a time a life which would have been entirely uneventful had it not been marked by decided spiritual awakening and progress in the new life. His inner life, through all its phases, marked as it was by the presence of a sincere recognition of a compliance with duty, unaided as it would appear by the presence of any emotional impulse, was a striking illustration of the psalmist's words-" Unto the upright there ariseth light in the darkness,"

CHAPTER IV.

THE PROFESSOR.

IT was in Fort Hamilton that Jackson came into closest and most constant intercourse with Colonel Taylor-a companionship which, as we have already seen, brought with it advantages of the very highest order. To him, we are told, "he ever looked up as one of the chief instruments of God in bringing him to a saving knowledge of the truth." But besides this truly Christian officer, there was another friend who had no small share in his religious history. Mr Parks, the Episcopal chaplain of the garrison, and an old West Point student, was also his counsellor. Their ardent natures had much in common, and under his influence Jackson so far advanced as to apply for baptism-a rite which, strange to say, he had not as yet received. It now became a business with him to determine the relative merits of the several communions which claimed Lis notice. Popery he had already examined and eschewed; Episcopacy he admitted to be evangelical, with some reserve as to details; and he now sought Episcopal baptism, not with the idea of attaching himself perman

ently to that denomination, but simply as a door of admission to the Catholic Church of Christ, reserving to himself the future privilege of joining that or any other body, when, after due consideration, he had decided where his preference ought to lie. Meanwhile, he was unwilling to delay taking this his first incumbent step. On this understanding, Mr Parks baptized him, and admitted him to the Lord's table.

After residing two years at Fort Hamilton, he was transferred to another fort, probably with the view of recruiting his somewhat enfeebled health. The Mexican campaign had told upon him in no slight degree, and rendered this change needful. At Fort Meade, however, his new station, he remained for a short time only, being transferred to the Military Academy of Virginia, as Professor of Natural and Experimental Philosophy and Artillery tactics. This institution, exactly corresponding to the one at West Point, was established near Lexington, in the county of Rockbridge, one of the most fertile and picturesque districts in the great Virginian Valley. "Its castellated buildings," we are told, "grandly situated on a commanding grassy eminence, overlook the country for many miles, and on the east confront the Blue Ridge Mountains. Here the healthy climate and pleasant and intelligent society proved very refreshing to his spirit, after the uninteresting, and to him always distasteful, inactivity and monotony of garrison life. He was particularly averse to what he termed "rusting," and held in aversion the frivolous