on, 19 November, 1841

Dear Emerson,--Since that going down of the American Timber-ship
on one of the Banks of the Solway under my window, I do not
remember that you have heard a word of me. I only added that the
men were all saved, and the beach all in agitation, certain women
not far from hysterics;--and there ended. I did design to send
you some announcement of our return hither; but fear there is no
chance that I did it! About ten days ago the Signor Gambardella
arrived, with a Note and Books from you: and here now is your
Letter of October 30th; which, arriving at a moment when I have
a little leisure, draws forth an answer almost instantly.

The Signor Gambardella, whom we are to see a second time tonight
or tomorrow, amuses and interests us not a little. His face is
the very image of the Classic God Pan's; with horns, and cloven
feet, we feel that he would make a perfect wood-god;--really,
some of Poussin's Satyrs are almost portraits of this brave
Gambardella. I will warrant him a right glowing mass of
Southern-Italian vitality,--full of laughter, wild insight,
caricature, and every sort of energy and joyous savagery: a most
profitable element to get introduced (in moderate quantity), I
should say, into the general current of your Puritan blood over
in New England there! Gambardella has behaved with magnanimity
in that matter of the Portrait: I have already sat, to men in
the like case, some four times, and Gambardella knows it is a
dreadful weariness; I directed him, accordingly, to my last
painter, one Laurence, a man of real parts, whom I wished
Gambardella to know,--and whom I wished to know Gambardella
withal, that he might tell me whether there was any probability
of a _good_ picture by him in case one did decide on encountering
the weariness. Well: Gambardella returns with a magnanimous
report that Laurence's picture far transcends any capability of
his; that whoever in America or elsewhere will have a likeness
of the said individual must apply to Laurence, not to
Gambardella,--which latter artist heroically throws down his
brush, and says, Be it far from me! The brave Gambardella! if I
can get him this night to dilate a little farther on his Visit to
the _Community of Shakers,_ and the things he saw and felt there,
it will be a most true benefit to me. Inextinguishable laughter
seemed to me to lie in Gambardella's vision of that Phenomenon,--
the sight and the seer, but we broke out