r due
delay and meditation; I consented. Let me add only, on this
subject, the story of a certain Rio,** a French Breton, with
long, distracted, black hair. He found your Book at Richard
Milnes's, a borrowed copy, and could not borrow it; whereupon he
appeals passionately to me; carries off my Wife's copy, this
distracted Rio; and is to "read it _four_ times" during this
current autumn, at Quimperle, in his native Celtdom! The man
withal is a _Catholic,_ eats fish on Friday;--a great lion here
when he visits us; one of the _naivest_ men in the world:
concerning whom nevertheless, among fashionables, there is a
controversy, "Whether he is an Angel, or partially a Windbag and
_Humbug?_" Such is the lot of loveliness in the World! A truer
man I never saw; how _wind_less, how windy, I will not compute
at present. Me he likes greatly (in spite of my unspeakable
contempt for his fish on Friday); likes,--but withal is apt
to bore.

----------
* The greater part of this interesting Preface is reprinted in
Mr. George Willis Cooke's excellent book on the _Life, Writings,
and Philosophy of Emerson,_ Boston, 1881, p. 109.

** The author of a book once much admired, _De 'l'Art Chretien._
In a later work entitled _Epilogue a l'Art Chretien,_ but
actually a sort of autobiography, written in the naivest spirit
of personal conceit and pious sentimentalism, M. Rio gives an
exceedingly entertaining account of his intercourse with Carlyle.
----------

Enough, dear Emerson; and more than enough for a day so hurried.
Our Island is all in a ferment electioneering: Tories to come
in;--perhaps not to come in; at all events not to stay long,
without altering their figure much! I sometimes ask myself
rather earnestly, What is the duty of a citizen? To be as I have
been hitherto, a pacific _Alien?_ That is the _easiest,_ with my
humor!--Our brave Dame here, just rallying for the _remove,_
sends loving salutations. Good be with you all always. Adieu,
dear Emerson.

--T. Carlyle

Appleton's Book of _Hero-Worship_ has come; for which pray thank
Mr. Munroe for me: it is smart on the surface; but printed
altogether scandalously!

LXVII. Emerson to Carlyle

Concord, 31 July, 1841

My Dear Carlyle,--Eight days ago--when I had gone to Nantasket
Beach, to sit by the sea and inhale its air and refresh this puny
body of mine--came to me your letter, all bounteous as all your
letters are, gen