My Dear Carlyle,--Along with this Letter there will go from
Liverpool, on the 4th instant, the promised Parcel, complete Copy
of the Book called _Past and Present,_ of which you already had
two simultaneous announcements.* The name of the Steam Packet, I
understand, is the "Britannia." I have addressed the Parcel to
the care of "Messrs. Little and Brown, Booksellers, Boston," with
your name atop: I calculate it will arrive safe enough.
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* The letter making the second announcement, being very similar
to the preceding, is omitted.
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About one hundred pages of the Manuscript Copy have proved
superfluous, the text being there also in a printed shape; I had
misestimated the Printer's velocity; I was anxious too that
there should be no failure as to time. The Manuscript is very
indifferent in that section of it; the damage therefore is
smaller: your press-corrector can acquaint himself with the
_hand,_ &c. by means of it. A poor young governess, confined to
a horizontal posture, and many sad thoughts, by a disease of the
spine, was our artist in that part of the business: her writing
is none of the distinctest; but it was a work of Charity to give
it her. I hope the thing is all as correct as I could make it.
I do not bethink me of anything farther I have to add in the way
of explanation.
In fact, my prophecy rather is at present that the gibbetless
thief at New York, will beat us after all! Never mind if be do.
To say truth, I myself shall almost be glad: there has been a
botheration in this anxious arrangement of parts correcting of
scrawly manuscript copies of what you never wished to read more,
and insane terror withal of having your own Manuscript burnt or
lost,--that has exceeded my computation. Not to speak of this
trouble in which I involve you, my Friend; which, I truly
declare, makes me ashamed! True one _is_ bound to resist the
Devil in all shapes; if a man come to steal from you, you will
put on what locks and padlocks are at hand, and not on the whole
say, "Steal, then!" But if the locks prove insufficient, and the
thief do break through,--that side of the alternative also will
suit you very well; and, with perhaps a faint prayer for gibbets
when they are necessary, you will say to him, next time, "_Macte
virtute,_ my man."
All is in a whirl with me here today; no other topic but this
very poor one can be entered upon. I hope for a letter from your
own hand soon, and some news about still more interesting matters.
Adieu, my Friend; I feel still as if, in several senses, you
stood alone with me under the sky at present!*
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* The signature to this letter has been cut off.
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