Dear Emerson,--Your Book-parcels were faithfully sent off,
directly after your departure: in regard to one of them I had a
pleasant visit from the proprietor in person,--the young
Swedenborgian Doctor, whom to my surprise I found quite an
agreeable, accomplished secular young gentleman, much given to
"progress of the species," &c., &c.; from whom I suppose you have
yourself heard. The wandering umbrella, still short of an owner,
hangs upon its peg here, without definite outlook. Of yourself
there have come news, by your own Letter, and by various excerpts
from Manchester Newspapers. _Gluck zu!_--
This Morning I received the Enclosed, and send it off to you
without farther response. Mudie, if I mistake not, is some small
Bookseller in the Russell-Square region; pray answer him, if you
think him worthy of answer. A dim suspicion haunts me that
perhaps he was the Republisher (or Pirate) of your first set of
_Essays:_ but probably he regards this as a mere office of
untutored friendship on his part. Or possibly I do the poor man
wrong by misremembrance? Chapman could tell.
I am sunk deep here, in effete Manuscripts, in abstruse
meditations, in confusions old and new; sinking, as I may
describe myself, through stratum after stratum of the Inane,--
down to one knows not what depth! I unfortunately belong to
the Opposition Party in many points, and am in a minority of
one. To keep silence, therefore, is among the principal duties
at present.
We had a call from Bancroft, the other evening. A tough Yankee
man; of many worthy qualities more tough than musical; among
which it gratified me to find a certain small under-current of
genial _humor,_ or as it were _hidden laughter,_ not noticed
heretofore.
My Wife and all the rest of us are well; and do all salute you
with our true wishes, and the hope to have you here again before
long. Do not bother yourself with other than voluntary writing
to me, while there is so much otherwise that you are obliged to
write. If on any point you want advice, information, or other
help that lies within the limits of my strength, command me, now
and always. And so Good be with you; and a happy meeting to us
soon again.
Yours ever truly,
T. Carlyle