me
time in that region, if my courage and my head are equal to the
work they offer me. I will write you what befalls me in the
strange city. Who knows but I may have adventures--I who had
never one, as I have just had occasion to write to Mrs. Howitt,
who inquired what mine were?

Well, if I survive Liverpool, and Manchester, and Leeds, or
rather my errands thither, I shall come some fine day to see you
in your burly city, you in the centre of the world, and sun me a
little in your British heart. It seems a lively passage that I
am entering in the old Dream World, and perhaps the slumbers are
lighter and the Morning is near. Softly, dear shadows, do not
scatter yet. Knit your panorama close and well, till these rare
figures just before me draw near, and are greeted and known.

But there is no more time in this late night--and what need?
since I shall see you and yours soon.

Ever yours,
R.W.E.

CXXVI. Carlyle to Emerson

Chelsea, 15 October, 1847

My Dear Emerson,--Your Letter from Concord, of the 31st of July,
had arrived duly in London; been duly forwarded to my transient
address at Buxton in Derbyshire,--and there, by the faithless
Postmaster, _retained_ among his lumber, instead of given to me
when I called on him! We staid in Buxton only one day and night;
two Newspapers, as I recollect, the Postmaster did deliver to me
on my demand; but your Letter he, with scandalous carelessness,
kept back, and left me to travel forwards without: there
accordingly it lay, week after week, for a month or more; and
only by half-accident and the extraordinary diligence and
accuracy of our Chelsea Postman, was it recovered at all, not
many days ago, after my Wife's return hither. Consider what kind
of fact this was and has been for us! For now, if all have gone
right, you are approaching the coast of England; Chelsea and
your fraternal House _hidden_ under a disastrous cloud to you;
and I know not so much as whitherward to write, and send you a
word of solution. It is one of the most unpleasant mistakes that
ever befell me; I have no resource but to enclose this Note to
Mr. Ireland, and charge him by the strongest adjurations to
have it ready for you the first thing when you set foot upon
our shores.*

------------
* Mr. Ireland, in his Recollections of Emerson's Visit to
England, p. 59, prints Carlyle's note to himself, enclosing this
letter, and adds: "The ship reached Liverpool on the 2