onform in every particular to the plan sketched out by
Norton and you,--unless, in your next Letter, you have something
other or farther to advise:--and so soon as I hear from you that
Harvard accepts my poor widow's mite of a _Bequest,_ I will
proceed to put it down in due form, and so finish this small
matter, which for long years has hovered in my thoughts as a
thing I should like to do. And so enough for this time.

I meant to write a longish Letter, touching on many other
points,--though you see I am reduced to _pencil,_ and "write"
with such difficulty (never yet could learn to "dictate," though
my little Niece here is promptitude itself, and is so swift and
legible,--useful here as a cheerful rushlight in this now sombre
element, sombre, sad, but also beautiful and tenderly solemn more
and more, in which she bears me company, good little "Mary"!).
But, in bar of all such purposes, Publisher Chapman has come in,
with Cromwell Engravings and their hindrances, with money
accounts, &c., &c.; and has not even left me a moment of time,
were nothing else needed!

Vol. XIV. (_Cromwell,_ I.) ought to be at Concord about as soon
as this. In our Newspapers I notice your Book announced, "half
of the Essays new,"--which I hope to get _quam primum,_ and
illuminate some evenings with,--_so_ as nothing else can, in my
present common mood.

Adieu, dear old Friend. I am and remain yours always,

--T. Carlyle

CLXXXI. Emerson to Carlyle

Concord, 21 March, 1870

My Dear Carlyle,--On receiving your letter and catalogue I wrote
out a little history of the benefaction and carried it last
Tuesday to President Eliot at Cambridge, who was heartily
gratified, and saw everything rightly, and expressed an anxiety
(most becoming in my eyes after my odious shortcomings) that
there should be no moment of delay on our part. "The Corporation
would not meet again for a fortnight:--but he would not wait,--
would call a special meeting this week to make the communication
to them." He did so: the meeting was held on Saturday and I
have received this (Monday) morning from him enclosed letter
and record.

It is very amiable and noble in you to have kept this surprise
for us in your older days. Did you mean to show us that you
could not be old, but immortally young? and having kept us all
murmuring at your satires and sharp homilies, will now melt us
with this manly and heart-warming embrace?