es. If I fly to the Alps
or the Ocean, her Mother and she must keep one another company,
we think, till there be better news of me. You are to thank Dr.
Channing also for his valued gift. I read the Discourse, and
other friends of his read it, with great estimation; but the
_end_ of that black question lies beyond my ken. I suppose, as
usual, Might and Right will have to make themselves synonymous in
some way. CANST and SHALT, if they are _very_ well understood,
mean the same thing under this Sun of ours. Adieu, my dear
Emerson. _Gehab' Dich wohl!_ Many affectionate regards to the
Lady Wife: it is far within the verge of Probabilities that I
shall see her face, and eat of her bread, one day. But she must
not get sick! It is a dreadful thing, sickness; really a thing
which I begin frequently to think _criminal_--at least in myself.
Nay, in myself it really is criminal; wherefore I determine to
be well one day.

Good be with you and Yours.
T. Carlyle

As to Goethe and your Friend: I know not anything out of
Goethe's own works (which have many notices in them) that treats
specially of those ten years. Doubtless your Friend knows
Jordens's _Lexicon_ (which dates all the writings, for one
thing), the _Conversations-Lexicon Supplement,_ and such like.
There is an essay by one Schubarth which has reputation; but it
is critical and ethical mainly. The Letters to Zelter, and the
Letters to Schiller, will do nothing for those years, but
are essential to see. Perhaps in some late number of the
_Zeitgenossen_ there may be something? Blackguard Heine is worth
very little; Mentzel is duller, decenter, not much wiser. A
very curious Book is Eckermann's _Conversations with Goethe,_
just published. No room more!*

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* Concerning this letter Emerson wrote in his Diary: "January 7,
1837. Received day before yesterday a letter from Thomas
Carlyle, dated 5 November;--as ever, a cordial influence. Strong
he is, upright, noble, and sweet, and makes good how much of our
human nature. Quite in consonance with my delight in his
eloquent letters I read in Bacon this afternoon this sentence (of
Letters): 'And such as are written from wise men are of all the
words of men, in my judgment, the best; for they are more
natural than orations, public speeches, and more advised than
conferences or present speeches.'"
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XIV. Carlyle to Emerson

5 Cheyne Row, Chelsea