been different with two good boys of this kind!--

Though shattered and trampled down to an immense degree, I do not
think any bones are broken yet,--though age truly is here, and
you may engage your berth in the steamer whenever you like. In a
few months I expect to be sensibly improved; but my poor Wife
suffers sadly the last two winters; and I am much distressed by
that item of our affairs. Adieu, dear Emerson: I have lost many
things; let me not lose you till I must in some way!

Yours ever,
T. Carlyle

P.S. If you read the Newspapers (which I carefully abstain from
doing) they will babble to you about Dickens's "Separation from
Wife," &c., &c.; fact of Separation I believe is true; but all
the rest is mere lies and nonsense. No crime or misdemeanor
specifiable on either side; _unhappy_ together, these good many
years past, and they at length end it.--Sulzer said, "Men are by
nature _good._" "Ach, mein lieber Sulzer, Er kennt nicht diese
verdammte Race," ejaculated Fritz, at hearing such an axiom.

CLXIII.* Carlyle to Emerson

Chelsea, London, 9 April, 1859

Dear Emerson,--Long months ago there was sent off for you a copy
of _Friedrich_ of Prussia, two big red volumes (for which Chapman
the Publisher had found some "safe, swift" vehicle); and _now_ I
have reason to fear they are still loitering somewhere, or at
least have long loitered sorrow on them! This is to say: If you
have not _yet_ got them, address a line to "Saml. F. Flower, Esq,
Librarian of Antiquarian Society, _Worcester,_ Mass." (forty
miles from you, they say), and that will at once bring them. In
the Devil's name! I never in my life was so near choked;
swimming in this mother of Dead Dogs, and a long spell of it
still ahead! I profoundly _pity myself_ (if no one else does).
You shall hear of me again if I survive,--but really that is
getting beyond a joke with me, and I ought to hold my peace (even
to you), and swim what I can. Your little touch of Human Speech
on _Burns'_* was charming; had got into the papers here (and
been clipt out by me) before your copy came, and has gone far and
wide since. Newberg was to give it me in German, from the
_Allgemeine Zeitung,_ but lost the leaf. Adieu, my Friend; very
dear to me, tho' dumb.

--T. Carlyle (in such haste as seldom was).**

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* Emerson's fine speech was made at the celebration of the Burns
Centenary, Boston, January 25, 1859. See h