The Correspondence of Thomas Carlyle and Ralph Waldo Emerson, 1834-1872 Volume I Part 14

Yours ever, T. Carlyle

I got Th.o.r.eau's Book; and meant well to read it, but have not yet succeeded, though it went with me through all Ireland: tell him so, please. Too Jean-Paulish, I found it hitherto.

CXLII. Carlyle to Emerson Chelsea, 19 July, 1850

My Dear Emerson, My Friend, my Friend,--You behold before you a remorseful man! It is well-nigh a year now since I despatched some hurried rag of paper to you out of Scotland, indicating doubtless that I would speedily follow it with a longer letter; and here, when gray Autumn is at hand again, I have still written nothing to you, heard nothing from you! It is miserable to think of:--and yet it is a fact, and there is no denying of it; and so we must let it lie. If it please Heaven, the like shall not occur again. "Ohone Arooh!" as the Irish taught me to say, "Ohone Arooh!"

The fact is, my life has been black with care and toil,--labor above board and far worse labor below;--I have hardly had a heavier year (overloaded too with a kind of "health" which may be called frightful): to "burn my own smoke" in some measure, has really been all I was up to; and except on sheer immediate compulsion I have not written a word to any creature.-- Yesternight I finished the last of these extraordinary _Pamphlets;_ am about running off somewhither into the deserts, of Wales or Scotland, Scandinavia or still remoter deserts;--and my first signal of revived reminiscence is to you.

Nay I have not at any time forgotten you, be that justice done the unfortunate: and though I see well enough what a great deep cleft divides us, in our ways of practically looking at this world,--I see also (as probably you do yourself) where the rock- strata, miles deep, unite again; and the two poor souls are at one. Poor devils!--Nay if there were no point of agreement at all, and I were more intolerant "of ways of thinking" than I even am,--yet has not the man Emerson, from old years, been a Human Friend to me? Can I ever forget, or think otherwise than lovingly of the man Emerson? No more of this. Write to me in your first good hour; and say that there is still a brother-soul left to me alive in this world, and a kind thought surviving far over the sea!--Chapman, with due punctuality at the time of publication, sent me the _Representative Men;_ which I read in the becoming manner: you now get the Book offered you for a s.h.i.+lling, at all railway stations; and indeed I perceive the word "representative man"' (as applied to the late tragic loss we have had in Sir Robert Peel) has been adopted by the Able- Editors, and circulates through Newspapers as an appropriate household word, which is some compensation to you for the piracy you suffer from the Typographic Letter-of-marque men here. I found the Book a most finished clear and perfect set of _Engravings in the line manner;_ portraitures full of _likeness,_ and abounding in instruction and materials for reflection to me: thanks always for such a Book; and Heaven send us many more of them. _Plato,_ I think, though it is the most admired by many, did least for me: little save Socrates with his clogs and big ears remains alive with me from it.

_Swedenborg_ is excellent in _likeness;_ excellent in many respects;--yet I said to myself, on reaching your general conclusion about the man and his struggles: "_Missed_ the consummate flower and divine ultimate elixir of Philosophy, say you? By Heaven, in clutching at _it,_ and almost getting it, he has tumbled into Bedlam,--which is a terrible _miss,_ if it were never so _near!_ A miss fully as good as a mile, I should say!"

--In fact, I generally dissented a little about the _end_ of all these Essays; which was notable, and not without instructive interest to me, as I had so l.u.s.tily shouted "Hear, hear!" all the way from the beginning up to that stage.--On the whole, let us have another Book with your earliest convenience: that is the modest request one makes of you on shutting this.

I know not what I am now going to set about: the horrible barking of the universal dog-kennel (awakened by these _Pamphlets_) must still itself again; my poor nerves must recover themselves a little:--I have much more to say; and by Heaven's blessing must try to get it said in some way if I live.--

Bostonian Prescott is here, infinitely _lionized_ by a mob of gentlemen; I have seen him in two places or three (but forbore speech): the Johnny-cake is good, the twopence worth of currants in it too are good; but if you offer it as a bit of baked Ambrosia, _Ach Gott!_--

Adieu, dear Emerson, forgive, and love me a little.

Yours ever, T. Carlyle

CXLIII. Carlyle to Emerson

Chelsea, 14 November, 1850

Dear Emerson,--You are often enough present to my thoughts; but yesterday there came a little incident which has brought you rather vividly upon the scene for me. A certain "Mr. ---" from Boston sends us, yesterday morning by post, a Note of yours addressed to Mazzini, whom he cannot find; and indicates that he retains a similar one addressed to myself, and (in the most courteous, kindly, and dignified manner, if Mercy prevent not) is about carrying it off with him again to America! To give Mercy a chance, I by the first opportunity get under way for Morley's Hotel, the address of Mr. ---; find there that Mr.--, since morning, _has been_ on the road towards Liverpool and America, and that the function of Mercy is quite extinct in this instance!

My reflections as I wandered home again were none of the pleasantest. Of this Mr. --- I had heard some tradition, as of an intelligent, accomplished, and superior man; such a man's acquaintance, of whatever complexion he be, is and was always a precious thing to me, well worth acquiring where possible; not to say that any friend of yours, whatever his qualities otherwise, carries with him an imperative key to all bolts and locks of mine, real or imaginary. In fact I felt punished;--and who knows, if the case were seen into, whether I deserve it?

What "business" it was that deprived me of a call from Mr. ---, or of the possibility of calling on him, I know very well,--and ---, the little dog, and others know! But the fact in that matter is very far different indeed from the superficial semblance; and I appeal to all the _gentlemen_ that are in America for a candid interpretation of the same. "Eighteen million bores,"--good Heavens don't I know how many of that species we also have; and how with us, as with you, the difference between them and the Eighteen thousand n.o.ble-men and non-bores is immeasurable and inconceivable; and how, with us as with you, the _latter_ small company, sons of the Empyrean, will have to fling the former huge one, sons of Mammon and Mud, into some kind of chains again, reduce them to some kind of silence again,--unless the old Mud-Demons are to rise and devour us all?

Truly it is so I construe it: and if --- and the Eighteen millions are well justified in their anger at me, and the Eighteen thousand owe me thanks and new love. That is my decided opinion, in spite of you all! And so, along with ---, probably in the same s.h.i.+p with him, there shall go my protest against the conduct of ---; and the declaration that to the last I will protest! Which will wind up the matter (without any word of yours on it) at this time.--For the rest, though --- sent me his Pamphlet, it is a fact I have not read a word of it, nor shall ever read. My Wife read it; but I was away, with far other things in my head; and it was "lent to various persons" till it died!--Enough and ten times more than enough of all that. Let me on this last slip of paper give you some response to the Letter*

I got in Scotland, under the silence of the bright autumn sun, in my Mother's house, and read there.

-------- * This letter is missing.

You are bountiful abundantly in your reception of those _Latter Day Pamphlets;_ and right in all you say of them;--and yet withal you are not right, my Friend, but I am! Truly it does behove a man to know the inmost resources of this universe, and, for the sake both of his peace and of his dignity, to possess his soul in patience, and look nothing doubting (nothing wincing even, if that be his humor) upon all things. For it is most indubitable there is good in all;--and if you even see an Oliver Cromwell a.s.sa.s.sinated, it is certain you may get a cartload of turnips from his carca.s.s. Ah me, and I suppose we had too much forgotten all this, or there had not been a man like you sent to show it us so emphatically! Let us well remember it; and yet remember too that it is _not_ good always, or ever, to be "at ease in Zion"; good often to be in fierce rage in Zion; and that the vile Pythons of this Mud-World do verily require to have sun-arrows shot into them and red-hot pokers struck through them, according to occasion: woe to the man that carries either of these weapons, and does not use it in their presence! Here, at this moment, a miserable Italian organ-grinder has struck up the _Ma.r.s.eillaise_ under my window, for example: was the _Ma.r.s.eillaise_ fought out on a bed of down, or is it worth nothing when fought? On those wretched _Pamphlets_ I set no value at all, or even less than none: to me their one benefit is, my own heart is clear of them (a benefit not to be despised, I a.s.sure you!)--and in the Public, athwart this storm of curses, and emptyings of vessels of dishonor, I can already perceive that it is all well enough there too in reference to them; and the controversy of the Eighteen millions _versus_ the Eighteen thousands, or Eighteen units, is going on very handsomely in that quarter of it, for aught I can see! And so, Peace to the brave that are departed; and, Tomorrow to fresh fields and pastures new!--

I was in Wales, as well as Scotland, during Autumn time; lived three weeks within wind of St. Germa.n.u.s's old "College" (Fourteen Hundred years of age or so) and also not far from _Merthyr Tydvil,_ Cyclops' h.e.l.l, sootiest and horridest avatar of the Industrial Mammon I had ever anywhere seen; went through the Severn Valley; at Bath stayed a night with Landor (a proud and high old man, who charged me with express remembrances for you); saw Tennyson too, in c.u.mberland, with his new Wife; and other beautiful recommendable and 'questionable things;--and was dreadfully tossed about, and torn almost to tatters by the manifold brambles of my way: and so at length am here, a much- lamed man indeed! Oh my Friend, have tolerance for me, have sympathy with me; you know not quite (I imagine) what a burden mine is, or perhaps you would find this duty, which you always do, a little easier done! Be happy, be busy beside your still waters, and think kindly of me there. My nerves, health I call them, are in a sad state of disorder: alas, that is nine tenths of all the battle in this world. Courage, courage!--My Wife sends salutations to you and yours. Good be with you all always.

Your affectionate, T. Carlyle

CXLIV. Carlyle to Emerson

Chelsea, 8 July, 1851

Dear Emerson,--Don't you still remember very well that there is such a man? I know you do, and will do. But it is a ruinously long while since we have heard a word from each other;--a state of matters that ought immediately to _cease._ It was your turn, I think, to write? It was somebody's turn! Nay I heard lately you complained of bad eyes; and were grown abstinent of writing.

Pray contradict me this. I cannot do without some regard from you while we are both here. Spite of your many sins, you are among the most human of all the beings I now know in the world;-- who are a very select set, and are growing ever more so, I can inform you!

In late months, feeling greatly broken and without heart for anything weighty, I have been upon a _Life of John Sterling;_ which will not be good for much, but will as usual gratify me by taking itself off my hands: it was one of the things I felt a kind of obligation to do, and so am thankful to have done. Here is a patch of it lying by me, if you will look at a specimen.

There are four hundred or more pages (prophesies the Printer), a good many _Letters_ and Excerpts in the latter portion of the volume. Already half printed, wholly written; but not to come out for a couple of months yet,--all trade being at a stand till this sublime "Crystal Palace" go its ways again.--And now since we are upon the business, I wish you would mention it to E.P.

Clark (is not that the name?) next time you go to Boston: if that friendly clear-eyed man have anything to say in reference to it and American Booksellers, let him say and do; he may have a Copy for anybody in about a month: if _he_ have nothing to say, then let there be nothing anywhere said. For, mark O Philosopher, I expressly and with emphasis prohibit _you_ at this stage of our history, and henceforth, unless I grow poor again.

Indeed, indeed, the commercial mandate of the thing (Nature's little order on that behalf) being once fulfilled (by speaking to Clark), I do not care a snuff of tobacco how it goes, and will prefer, here as elsewhere, my night's rest to any amount of superfluous money.

This summer, as you may conjecture, has been very noisy with us, and productive of little,--the "Wind-dust-ry of all Nations"

involving everything in one inane tornado. The very shopkeepers complain that there is no trade. Such a sanhedrim of windy fools from all countries of the Globe were surely never gathered in one city before. But they will go their ways again, they surely will! One sits quiet in that faith;--nay, looks abroad with a kind of pathetic grandfatherly feeling over this universal Children's Ball which the British Nation in these extraordinary circ.u.mstances is giving it self! Silence above all, silence is very behoveful! I read lately a small old brown French duodecimo, which I mean to send you by the first chance there is.

The writer is a Capitaine Bossu; the production, a Journal of his experiences in "La Louisiane," "Oyo" (_Ohio_), and those regions, which looks very genuine, and has a strange interest to me, like some fractional Odyssey or letter.* Only a hundred years ago, and the Mississippi has changed as never valley did: in 1751 older and stranger, looked at from its present date, than Balbec or Nineveh! Say what we will, Jonathan is doing miracles (of a sort) under the sun in these times now pa.s.sing.--Do you know _Bartram's Travels?_ This is of the Seventies (1770) or so; treats of _Florida_ chiefly, has a wondrous kind of floundering eloquence in it; and has also grown immeasurably _old._ All American libraries ought to provide themselves with that kind of book; and keep them as a kind of future _biblical_ article.-- Finally on this head, can you tell me of any _good_ Book on California? Good: I have read several bad. But that too is worthy of some wonder; that too, like the Old Bucaniers, hungers and thirsts (in ingenuous minds) to have some true record and description given of it.

---------- * Bossu wrote two books which are known to the student of the history of the settlement of America; one, "Nouveaux Voyages aux Indes occidentales," Paris, 1768; the other, "Nouveaux Voyages dans l'Amerique septentrionale," Amsterdam (Paris), 1777.

And poor Miss Fuller, was there any _Life_ ever published of her?

or is any competent hand engaged on it? Poor Margaret, I often remember her; and think how she is asleep now under the surges of the sea. Mazzini, as you perhaps know, is with us this summer; comes across once in the week or so, and tells me, or at least my Wife, all his news. The Roman revolution has made a man of him,--quite brightened up ever since;--and the best friend _he_ ever saw, I believe, was that same Quack-President of France, who relieved him while it was still time.

My Brother is in Annandale, working hard over _Dante_ at last; talks of coming up hither shortly; I am myself very ill and miserable in the _liver_ regions; very tough otherwise,--though I have now got spectacles for small print in the twilight. _Eheu fugaces,_--and yet why _Eheu?_ In fact it is better to be silent.--Adieu, dear Emerson; I expect to get a great deal brisker by and by,--and in the first place to have a Missive from Boston again. My Wife sends you many regards. I am as ever,-- affectionately Yours,

--T. Carlyle

CXLV. Emerson to Carlyle

Concord, 28 July, 1851

My Dear Carlyle,--You must always thank me for silence, be it never so long, and must put on it the most generous interpretations. For I am too sure of your genius and goodness, and too glad that they s.h.i.+ne steadily for all, to importune you to make a.s.surance sure by a private beam very often. There is very little in this village to be said to you, and, with all my love of your letters, I think it the kind part to defend you from our imbecilities,--my own, and other men's. Besides, my eyes are bad, and p.r.o.ne to mutiny at any hint of white paper.

And yet I owe you all my story, if story I have. I have been something of a traveler the last year, and went down the Ohio River to its mouth; walked nine miles into, and nine miles out of the Mammoth Cave, in Kentucky,--walked or sailed, for we crossed small underground streams,--and lost one day's light; then steamed up the Mississippi, five days, to Galena. In the Upper Mississippi, you are always in a lake with many islands.

"The Far West" is the right name for these verdant deserts. On all the sh.o.r.es, interminable silent forest. If you land, there is prairie behind prairie, forest behind forest, sites of nations, no nations. The raw bullion of nature; what we call "moral" value not yet stamped on it. But in a thousand miles the immense material values will show twenty or fifty Californias; that a good ciphering head will make one where he is. Thus at Pittsburg, on the Ohio, the "Iron" City, whither, from want of railroads, few Yankees have penetrated, every acre of land has three or four bottoms; first of rich soil; then nine feet of bituminous coal; a little lower, fourteen feet of coal; then iron, or salt; salt springs, with a valuable oil called petroleum floating on their surface. Yet this acre sells for the price of any tillage acre in Ma.s.sachusetts; and, in a year, the railroads will reach it, east and west.--I came home by the great Northern Lakes and Niagara.

No books, a few lectures, each winter, I write and read. In the spring, the abomination of our Fugitive Slave Bill drove me to some writing and speech-making, without hope of effect, but to clear my own skirts. I am sorry I did not print whilst it was yet time. I am now told that the time will come again, more's the pity. Now I am trying to make a sort of memoir of Margaret Fuller, or my part in one;--for Channing and Ward are to do theirs. Without either beauty or genius, she had a certain wealth and generosity of nature which have left a kind of claim on our consciences to build her a cairn. And this reminds me that I am to write a note to Mazzini on this matter; and, as you say you see him, you must charge yourself with delivering it.

What we do must be ended by October. You too are working for Sterling. It is right and kind. I learned so much from the New York _Tribune,_ and, a few days after, was on the point of writing to you, provoked by a foolish paragraph which appeared in Rufus Griswold's Journal, (New York,) purporting that R.W.E.

possessed important letters of Sterling, without which Thomas Carlyle could not write the Life. What sc.r.a.p of hearsay about contents of Sterling's letters to me, or that I had letters, this paltry journalist swelled into this puff-ball, I know not. He once came to my house, and, since that time, may have known Margaret Fuller in New York; but probably never saw any letter of Sterling's or heard the contents of any. I have not read again Sterling's letters, which I keep as good Lares in a special niche, but I have no recollection of anything that would be valuable to you. For the American Public for the Book, I think it important that you should take the precise step of sending Phillips and Sampson the early copy, and at the earliest. I saw them, and also E.P. Clark, and put them in communication, and Clark is to write you at once.

Having got so far in my writing to you, I do not know but I shall gain heart, and write more letters over sea. You will think my sloth suicidal enough. So many men as I learned to value in your country,--so many as offered me opportunities of intercourse,-- and I lose them all by silence. Arthur Helps is a chief benefactor of mine. I wrote him a letter by Ward,--who brought the letter back. I ought to thank John Carlyle, not only for me, but for a mult.i.tude of good men and women here who read his _Inferno_ duly. W.E. Forster sent me his Penn Pamphlet; I sent it to Bancroft, who liked it well, only he thought Forster might have made a still stronger case. Clough I prize at a high rate, the man and his poetry, but write not. Wilkinson I thought a man of prodigious talent, who somehow held it and so taught others to hold it cheap, as we do one of those bushel-basket memories which school-boys and school-girls often show,--and we stop their mouths lest they be troublesome with their alarming profusion.

But there is no need of beginning to count the long catalogue.

Kindest, kindest remembrance to my benefactress, also in your house, and health and strength and victory to you.

Your affectionate, Waldo Emerson