I knew my own intentions, but the world did not, and I came in for a full share of obloquy and persecution.

This did me much good, and was a preparatory discipline, to make me careless of the opinion of mankind in the matter, so long as I felt that I was in the right, and had the approval of my own conscience.

The more I was opposed, the more were my energies lighted up and strengthened; opposition always sharpened my faculties, instead of overcoming and depressing me.

The whole gradually prospered from the first, under every disadvantage and notwithstanding the strenuous efforts of the short-sighted and bigoted.

These things laid my first patrons prostrate, and the Society of great names which followed, was soon dissolved.