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speculative research； affecting the higher and more important
condition of our ultimate being； which have engaged the students
of immaterial philosophy in my own age。
Affixed to the 〃Note〃 with which this work concludes； and which
treats of the distinctions between type and allegory； the reader
will find； from the pen of one of our most eminent living
writers； an ingenious attempt to explain the interior or typical
meanings of the work now before him。
INTRODUCTION。
It is possible that among my readers there may be a few not
unacquainted with an old…book shop； existing some years since in
the neighbourhood of Covent Garden； I say a few； for certainly
there was little enough to attract the many in those precious
volumes which the labour of a life had accumulated on the dusty
shelves of my old friend D。 There were to be found no popular
treatises； no entertaining romances； no histories； no travels； no
〃Library for the People；〃 no 〃Amusement for the Million。〃 But
there； perhaps； throughout all Europe； the curious might discover
the most notable collection； ever amassed by an enthusiast； of
the works of alchemist； cabalist； and astrologer。 The owner had
lavished a fortune in the purchase of unsalable treasures。 But
old D did not desire to sell。 It absolutely went to his heart
when a customer entered his shop： he watched the movements of
the presumptuous intruder with a vindictive glare； he fluttered
around him with uneasy vigilance；he frowned； he groaned； when
profane hands dislodged his idols from their niches。 If it were
one of the favourite sultanas of his wizard harem that attracted
you； and the price named were not sufficiently enormous； he would
not unfrequently double the sum。 Demur； and in brisk delight he
snatched the venerable charmer from your hands； accede； and he
became the picture of despair；nor unfrequently； at the dead of
night； would he knock at your door； and entreat you to sell him
back； at your own terms； what you had so egregiously bought at
his。 A believer himself in his Averroes and Paracelsus； he was
as loth as the philosophers he studied to communicate to the
profane the learning he had collected。
It so chanced that some years ago； in my younger days； whether of
authorship or life； I felt a desire to make myself acquainted
with the true origin and tenets of the singular sect known by the
name of Rosicrucians。 Dissatisfied with the scanty and
superficial accounts to be found in the works usually referred to
on the subject； it struck me as possible that Mr。 D's
collection； which was rich； not only in black…letter； but in
manuscripts； might contain some more accurate and authentic
records of that famous brotherhood；written； who knows？ by one
of their own order； and confirming by authority and detail the
pretensions to wisdom and to virtue which Bringaret had arrogated
to the successors of the Chaldean and Gymnosophist。 Accordingly
I repaired to what； doubtless； I ought to be ashamed to confess；
was once one of my favourite haunts。 But are there no errors and
no fallacies； in the chronicles of our own day； as absurd as
those of the alchemists of old？ Our very newspapers may seem to
our posterity as full of delusions as the books of the alchemists
do to us； not but what the press is the air we breathe；and
uncommonly foggy the air is too！
On entering the shop； I was struck by the venerable appearance of
a customer whom I had never seen there before。 I was struck yet
more by the respect with which he was treated by the disdainful
collector。 〃Sir；〃 cried the last； emphatically； as I was turning
over the leaves of the catalogue；〃sir； you are the only man I
have met； in five…and…forty years that I have spent in these
researches； who is worthy to be my customer。 Howwhere； in this
frivolous age； could you have acquired a knowledge so profound？
And this august fraternity； whose doctrines； hinted at by the
earliest philosophers； are still a mystery to the latest； tell me
if there really exists upon the earth any book； any manuscript；
in which their discoveries； their tenets； are to be learned？〃
At the words； 〃august fraternity；〃 I need scarcely say that my
attention had been at once aroused； and I listened eagerly for
the stranger's reply。
〃I do not think；〃 said the old gentleman； 〃that the masters of
the school have ever consigned； except by obscure hint and
mystical parable； their real doctrines to the world。 And I do
not blame them for their discretion。〃
Here he paused； and seemed about to retire； when I said； somewhat
abruptly； to the collector； 〃I see nothing； Mr。 D； in this
catalogue which relates to the Rosicrucians！〃
〃The Rosicrucians！〃 repeated the old gentleman； and in his turn
he surveyed me with deliberate surprise。 〃Who but a Rosicrucian
could explain the Rosicrucian mysteries！ And can you imagine
that any members of that sect； the most jealous of all secret
societies； would themselves lift the veil that hides the Isis of
their wisdom from the world？〃
〃Aha！〃 thought I； 〃this； then； is 'the august fraternity' of
which you spoke。 Heaven be praised！ I certainly have stumbled
on one of the brotherhood。〃
〃But；〃 I said aloud； 〃if not in books； sir； where else am I to
obtain information？ Nowadays one can hazard nothing in print
without authority； and one may scarcely quote Shakespeare without
citing chapter and verse。 This is the age of facts；the age of
facts； sir。〃
〃Well；〃 said the old gentleman； with a pleasant smile； 〃if we
meet again； perhaps； at least； I may direct your researches to
the proper source of intelligence。〃 And with that he buttoned
his greatcoat； whistled to his dog； and departed。
It so happened that I did meet again with the old gentleman；
exactly four days after our brief conversation in Mr。 D's book…
shop。 I was riding leisurely towards Highgate； when； at the foot
of its classic hill； I recognised the stranger； he was mounted on
a black pony； and before him trotted his dog； which was black
also。
If you meet the man whom you wish to know； on horseback； at the
commencement of a long hill； where； unless he has borrowed a
friend's favourite hack； he cannot； in decent humanity to the
brute creation； ride away from you； I apprehend that it is your
own fault if you have not gone far in your object before you have
gained the top。 In short； so well did I succeed； that on
reaching Highgate the old gentleman invited me to rest at his
house； which was a little apart from the village； and an
excellent house it was；small； but commodious； with a large
garden； and commanding from the windows such a prospect as
Lucretius would recommend to philosophers： the spires and domes
of London； on a clear day； distinctly visible； here the Retreat
of the Hermit； and there the Mare Magnum of the world。
The walls of the principal rooms were embellished with pictures
of extraordinary merit； and in t