My Dear Emerson,--It is you, I surely think, that are in my debt
now;* nevertheless I must fling you another word: may it
cross one from you coming hither--as near the _Lizard Point_ as
it likes!
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* The preceding letter had not yet arrived.
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Some four sheets making a Pamphlet called _Chartism_ addressed to
you at Concord are, I suppose, snorting along through the waters
this morning, part of the Cargo of the "British Queen." At least
I gave them to Mr. Brown (your unseen friend) about ten days ago,
who promised to dispose of them; the "British Queen," he said,
was the earliest chance. The Pamphlet itself (or rather booklet,
for Fraser has gilt it, &c., and asks five shillings for it as a
Book) is out since then; radicals and others yelping
considerably in a discordant manner about it; I have nothing
other to say to _you_ about it than what I said last time, that
the sheets were _yours_ to do with as you saw good,--to burn if
you reckoned that fittest. It is not entirely a Political
Pamphlet; nay, there are one or two things in it which my
American Friends specially may like: but the interests discussed
are altogether English, and cannot be considered as likely to
concern New-Englishmen very much. However, it will probably be
itself in your hand before this sheet, and you will have
determined what is fit.
A copy of _Wilhelm Meister,_ two copies, one for Stearns Wheeler,
are probably in some of the "Line Ships" at this time too: good
voyage to them! The _French Revolutions_ were all shipped,
invoiced, &c.; they have, I will suppose, arrived safe, as we
shall hear by and by. What freightages, landings, and
embarkments! For only two days ago I sent you off, through
Kennet, another Book: John Sterling's _Poems,_ which he has
collected into a volume. Poor John has overworked himself again,
or the climate without fault on his side has proved too hard for
him: he sails for Madeira again next week! His Doctors tell me
there is no intrinsic danger; but they judge the measure safe as
one of precaution. It is very mortifying he had nestled himself
down at Clifton, thinking he might now hope to continue there;
and lo! he has to fly again.--Did you get his letter? The
address to him now will be, for three months to come, "_Edward_
Sterling, Esq., South Place, Knightsbridge, London," his
Father's designation.
Farther I must not omit to say that Richard Monckton Milnes
purposes, through the strength of Heaven, to _review_ you! In
the next Number of the _London and Westminster,_ the courageous
youth will do this feat, if they let him. Nay, he has already
done it, the Paper being actually written he employed me last
week in negotiating with the Editors about it; and their answer
was, "Send us the Paper, it promises very well." We shall see
whether it comes out or not; keeping silence till then. Milnes
is a _Tory_ Member of Parliament; think of that! For the rest,
he describes his religion in these terms: "I profess to be a
Crypto-Catholic." Conceive the man! A most bland-smiling, semi-
quizzical, affectionate, high-bred, Italianized little man, who
has long olive-blond hair, a dimple, next to no chin, and flings
his arm round your neck when he addresses you in public society!
Let us hear now what he will say, of the American _Vates._*
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* The end of this letter has been cut off.
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