At Falmouth,as usual,he was soon at home in his new environment;resumed his labors;had his new small circle of acquaintance,the ready and constant centre of which was the Fox family,with whom he lived on an altogether intimate,honored and beloved footing;realizing his best anticipations in that respect,which doubtless were among his first inducements to settle in this new place.Open cheery heights,rather bare of wood:fresh southwestern breezes;a brisk laughing sea,swept by industrious sails,and the nets of a most stalwart,wholesome,frank and interesting population:the clean little fishing,trading and packet Town;hanging on its slope towards the Eastern sun,close on the waters of its basin and intricate bay,--with the miniature Pendennis Castle seaward on the right,the miniature St.Mawes landward to left,and the mining world and the farming world open boundlessly to the rear:--all this made a pleasant outlook and environment.And in all this,as in the other new elements of his position,Sterling,open beyond most men to the worth of things about him,took his frank share.From the first,he had liked the general aspect of the population,and their healthy,lively ways;not to speak of the special friendships he had formed there,which shed a charm over them all."Men of strong character,clear heads and genuine goodness,"writes he,"are by no means wanting."And long after:"The common people here dress better than in most parts of England;and on Sundays,if the weather be at all fine,their appearance is very pleasant.One sees them all round the Town,especially towards Pendennis Castle,streaming in a succession of little groups,and seeming for the most part really and quietly happy."On the whole he reckoned himself lucky;and,so far as locality went,found this a handsome shelter for the next two years of his life.Two years,and not without an interruption;that was all.
Here we have no continuing city;he less than any of us!One other flight for shelter;and then it is ended,and he has found an inexpugnable refuge.Let us trace his remote footsteps,as we have opportunity:--_To Dr.Symonds,Clifton_.
"_Falmouth,June 28th_,1841.--Newman writes to me that he is gone to the Rhine.I wish I were!And yet the only 'wish'at the bottom of my heart,is to be able to work vigorously in my own way anywhere,were it in some Circle of Dante's Inferno.This,however,is the secret of my soul,which I disclose only to a few."_To his Mother_.
"_Falmouth,July 6th_,1841.--I have at last my own study made comfortable;the carpet being now laid down,and most of my appurtenances in tolerable order.By and by I shall,unless stopped by illness,get myself together,and begin living an orderly life and doing my daily task.I have swung a cot in my dressing-room;partly as a convenience for myself,partly as a sort of memorial of my poor Uncle,in whose cot in his dressing-room at Lisworney I remember to have slept when a child.I have put a good large bookcase in my drawing-room,and all the rest of my books fit very well into the study."_To Mr.Carlyle_.