But he waited in
vain for his triumph, nor dare I in my heavy months expect bright
days. The book was heartily grateful, and square to the author's
imperial scale. You have lighted the glooms, and engineered away
the pits, whereof you poetically pleased yourself with
complaining, in your sometime letter to me, clean out of it,
according to the high Italian rule, and have let sunshine and
pure air enfold the scene. First, I read it honestly through for
the history; then I pause and speculate on the Muse that
inspires, and the friend that reports it. 'T is sovereignly
written, above all literature, dictating to all mortals what they
shall accept as fated and final for their salvation. It is
Mankind's Bill of Rights and Duties, the royal proclamation of
Intellect ascending the throne, announcing its good pleasure,
that, hereafter, _as heretofore,_ and now once for all, the World
shall be governed by Common Sense and law of Morals, or shall go
to ruin.

---------
* Portions of this and of the following letter of Emerson have
been printed by Mr. Alexander Ireland in his "Ralph Waldo
Emerson: Recollections of his Visits to England," &c. London,
1882.
----------

But the manner of it!--the author sitting as Demiurgus, trotting
out his manikins, coaxing and bantering them, amused with their
good performance, patting them on the back, and rating the
naughty dolls when they misbehave; and communicating his mind
ever in measure, just as much as the young public can understand;
hinting the future, when it would be useful; recalling now and
then illustrative antecedents of the actor, impressing, the
reader that he is in possession of the entire history centrally
seen, that his investigation has been exhaustive, and that he
descends too on the petty plot of Prussia from higher and
cosmical surveys. Better I like the sound sense and the absolute
independence of the tone, which may put kings in fear. And, as
the reader shares, according to his intelligence, the haughty
_coup d'oeil_ of this genius, and shares it with delight, I
recommend to all governors, English, French, Austrian, and other,
to double their guards, and look carefully to the censorship of
the press. I find, as ever in your books, that one man has
deserved well of mankind for restoring the Scholar's profession
to its highest use and dignity.* I find also that you are very
wilful, and have made a covenant with your eyes that they shall
not see anyt