indeed, if
we could imagine the spirit of a German philosopher inhabiting the body
of a Covenanter of dyspeptic and sceptical tendencies, a good idea would
be had of Thomas Carlyle. Needless to say, I have been largely indebted
to the biography by Mr Froude, and to Carlyle's _Reminiscences_. After
all has been said, the fact remains that Froude's portrait, though
truthful in the main, is somewhat deficient in light and
shade--qualities which the student will find admirably supplied in
Professor Masson's charming little book, "Carlyle Personally, and in his
Writings." To the Professor I am under deep obligation for the interest
he has shown in the book. In the course of his perusal of the proofs,
Professor Masson made valuable corrections and suggestions, which
deserve more than a formal acknowledgment. To Mr Haldane, M.P., my
thanks are also due for his suggestive criticism of the chapter on
German thought, upon which he is an acknowledged authority.

I have also to express my deep obligations to Mr John Morley, who, in
the midst of pressing engagements, kindly found time to read the proof
sheets. In a private note Mr Morley has been good enough to express his
general sympathy and concurrence with my estimate of Carlyle.

_EDINBURGH, October 1897._

CONTENTS

PAGE
CHAPTER I

EARLY LIFE 9

CHAPTER II

CRAIGENPUTTOCK--LITERARY EFFORTS 29

CHAPTER III

CARLYLE'S MENTAL DEVELOPMENT 42

CHAPTER IV

LIFE IN LONDON 65

CHAPTER V

HOLIDAY JOURNEYINGS--LITERARY WORK 79

CHAPTER VI

RECTORIAL ADDRESS--DEATH OF MRS CARLYLE 112

CHAPTER VII

LAST YEARS AND DEATH OF CARLYLE 129

CHAPTER VIII

CARLYLE AS A SOCIAL AND POLITICAL THINKER 138

CHAPTER IX

CARLYLE AS AN INSPIRATIONAL FORCE 152

THOMAS CARLYLE

CHAPTER I

EARLY LIFE

'A great man,' says Hegel, 'condemns the world to the task of explaining
him.' Emphatically does the remark apply to Thomas Carlyle. When he
began to leave his impress in literature, he was treated as a confusing
and ine