nths
ago, to an audience of several thousands, in the City, one
evening,--upon Universal Peace, or some other field of
balderdash; which the poor people seemed very patient of. In a
word, I do not see what is to hinder you to come whenever you can
resolve upon it. The adventure is perfectly promising: an
adventure familiar to you withal; for Lecturing is with us
fundamentally just what it is with you: Much prurient curiosity,
with some ingenuous love of wisdom, an element of real reverence
for the same: everywhere a perfect openness to any man speaking
in any measure things manful. Come, therefore; gird yourself
together, and come. With little or no peradventure, you will
realize what your modest hope is, and more;--and I, for my share
of it, shall see you once again under this Sun! O Heavens, there
_might_ be some good in that! Nay, if you will travel like a
private quiet person, who knows but I, the most unlocomotive of
mortals, might be able to escort you up and down a little; to
look at many a thing along with you, and even to open my long-
closed heart and speak about the same?--There is a spare-room
always in this House for you,--in this heart, in these two
hearts, the like: bid me hope in this enterprise, in all manner
of ways where I can; and on the whole, get it rightly put
together, and embark on it, and arrive!

The good Miss Fuller has painted us all _en beau,_ and your
smiling imagination has added new colors. We have not a
triumphant life here; very far indeed from that, _ach Gott!_--as
you shall see. But Margaret is an excellent soul: in real
regard with both of us here. Since she went, I have been reading
some of her Papers in a new Book we have got: greatly superior
to all I knew before; in fact the undeniable utterances (now
first undeniable to me) of a true heroic mind;--altogether
unique, so far as I know, among the Writing Women of this
generation; rare enough too, God knows, among the writing Men.
She is very narrow, sometimes; but she is truly high: honor to
Margaret, and more and more good-speed to her.--Adieu dear
Emerson. I am ever yours,

--T.C.

CXIX. Carlyle to Emerson

Chelsea, 18 March, 1847

Dear Emerson,--Yesterday morning, setting out to breakfast with
Richard Milnes (Milnes's breakfast is a thing you will yet have
to experience) I met, by the sunny shore of the Thames, a
benevolent Son of Adam in blue coat and red collar,