it was my delight, during any spell in
London, to visit him at Chelsea. Perhaps, as the matter has been long
under review, I may remark that, to an outsider, no want of harmony was
apparent, in the relations between Carlyle and his wife. You were not
conscious of any element of that description; assuredly I was not, and I
prefer to cling to that impression. Carlyle would sit at the right side
of the fire, through an evening, I on his left, and we would talk on all
manner of topics. I should most accurately describe our talk by saying
that we philosophised. Or, we might read a little; he was a loving
reader.

'Carlyle believed, with truth, that I had been influenced by his
teachings, and if only for that reason he may have been rather fond of
me. We lift our hats, to ourselves, as reflected in somebody else. I had
a regard for him as a man, I gladly looked up to him, though that did not
block out differences of opinion; and altogether we got on admirably.
During one of those fireside talks, he detailed to me an incident, which
quite hurt his feelings.

'He had a horse then, and was in the habit of riding out for exercise,
almost every afternoon. He was never very artistic in his manner of
dressing, and for horseback he had a long and singular fur coat, which
enfolded his legs. Between Chelsea and Maida Vale, some boys were
attracted by this quaint figure astride a horse. Not knowing in the
least, who it was, they shouted at Carlyle; he spoke something to them in
reproof and passed on.

'But next day, at the same place, there were the boys again, and not
content with mocking Carlyle, they threw pebbles at him. He did not
sustain any injury, but he mentioned the matter to me with a sore heart,
as indicative of the condition of the youth of the country, for want of
the better educational opportunities, of which he was so earnest an
advocate.

'As to Babbage, also a very gifted mind, he had Saturday evenings at
home, and a person invited to one, was welcome ever after. His warfare
against street musicians is history, and what I have to tell is one
campaign of it. A German band was in the habit of annexing a position
before his house, and treating him to its music. He might be deeply
immersed in his work, when up would come this band, a trying disturbance
to him. To be quit of the musicians he gave them money, with the
inevitable thanks that they returned, seeking to be paid again, in order
to depart once more.

'Babb