terature to be as good as dead and gone
in all parts of Europe at this moment, and nothing but hungry
Revolt and Radicalism appointed us for perhaps three generations;
I do not see how a man can honestly live by writing in another
dialect than that, in England at least; so that if you determine
on not living dishonestly, it will behove you to look several
things full in the face, and ascertain what is what with some
distinctness. I suffer also terribly from the solitary existence
I have all along had; it is becoming a kind of passion with me,
to feel myself among my brothers. And then, How? Alas! I
care not a doit for Radicalism, nay I feel it to be a wretched
necessity, unfit for me; Conservatism being not unfit only
but false for me: yet these two are the grand Categories
under which all English spiritual activity that so much as
thinks remuneration possible must range itself. I look
around accordingly on a most wonderful vortex of things; and
pray to God only, that as my day, is so my strength may be.
What will come out of it is wholly uncertain: for I have
possibilities too; the possibilities of London are far from
exhausted yet: I have a brave brother, who invites me to
come and be quiet with him in Rome; a brave friend (known to
you) who opens the door of a new Western world,--and so we will
stand considering and consulting, at least till the Book be over.
Are all these things interesting to you? I know they are.

As for America and Lecturing, it is a thing I do sometimes turn
over, but never yet with any seriousness. What your friend says
of the people being more persuadable, so far, as having no
Tithe-controversy, &c., &c. will go, I can most readily understand
it. But apart from that, I should rather fancy America mainly a
new Commercial England, with a fuller pantry,--little more or little
less. The same unquenchable, almost frightfully unresting spirit
of endeavor, directed (woe is me!) to the making of money, or
money's worth; namely, food finer and finer, and gigmanic
renown higher and higher: nay, must not your gigmanity be a
_purse_-gigmanity, some half-shade worse than a purse-and-pedigree
one? Or perhaps it is not a whit worse; only rougher, more
substantial; on the whole better? At all events ours is fast
becoming identical with it; for the pedigree ingredient is as
near as may be gone: _Gagnez de l'argent, et ne vous faites pas
pendre,_ this is very nearly the whole Law, f