Dear Emerson,--One word to you before the Packet sail;--on
business of my own, once more; in such a state of _haste_ as
could hardly be greater. The Printers are upon me, and I have
not a moment.
Contrary to all human expectation, this Book on Cromwell proves
salable to mankind here, and a second Edition is now going
forward with all speed. The publication of the First has brought
out from their recesses a _new_ heap of Cromwell Letters;--which
have been a huge embarrassment to me; for they are highly
unimportant for most part, and do not tend to alter or materially
modify anything. Some Fifty or Sixty new Letters in all (many of
them from Printed Books that had escaped me) the great majority,
with others yet that may come in future time, I determine to
print simply as an Appendix; but several too, I think about
twenty in all, are to be fitted into the Text, chiefly in the
early part of the First Volume, as tending to bring some matters
into greater clearness there. I am busy with that even now;
sunk deep into the Dust-abysses again!--Of course I have made
what provision I could for printing a Supplement, &c. to the
possessors of the First Edition: but I find this Second will be
the _Final_ standing Edition of the Book; decidedly preferable
to the First; not to be touched by me _again,_ except on
very good cause indeed. New letters, except they expressly
contradict me, shall go at once into the back apartment, or
Appendix, in future.
The Printers have sent me some five or six sheets, they send me
hitherto a sheet daily; but perhaps there are not above three or
two in a perfect state: so I trouble you with none of them by
this Packet. But by next Packet (3d of March), unless I hear to
the contrary, I will send you all the Sheets that are ready; and
so by the following Packets, till we are out of it;--that you, on
the scene there, may do with them once for all whatsoever you
like. If _nothing_ can be done with them, believe me I shall be
very glad of that result. But if you can so much as oblige any
honest Bookseller of your or my acquaintance by the gift of them,
let it be done; let Pirates and ravenous Bipeds of Prey
be excluded from participating: that of itself will be a
comfortable and a proper thing!--You are hereby authorized to
promulgate in any way you please, That the Second Edition will be
augmented, corrected, as aforesaid; and that Mr. (Any Son of
Adam you please to name) is, so far as I have any voice in the
matter, appointed by me, to the exclusion of all and sundry
others on what pretext soever, to print and vend the same to my
American Friends. And so it stands; and the Sheets (probably
near thirty in number) will be out with the March Packet:--
and if nothing can come of it, I for one shall be very glad!
The Book is to be in Three Volumes now; the first ends at
p. 403, Vol. I.; the third begins at p. 155, Vol. II., of
the present edition.
What are you doing? Write to me: how the Lectures went, how all
things went and go! We are over head and ears in Anti-Corn-Law
here; the Aristocracy struck almost with a kind of horror at
sight of that terrible Millocracy, rising like a huge hideous
Frankenstein up in Lancashire,--seemingly with boundless ready-
money in its pocket, and a very fierce humor in its stomach! To
me it is as yet almost uglier than the Aristocracy; and I will
not fire guns when this small victory is gained; I will
recommend a day of Fasting rather, that such a victory required
such gaining.
Adieu, my Friend. Is it likely we shall meet in "Oregon," think
you? That would be a beautiful affair, on the part of the most
enlightened Nation!
Yours ever,
T. Carlyle