to his parents in Dumfriesshire. His health, which had
suffered from too close application to study, was at times "most
miserable;" he was in a low fever for two weeks, "was harassed by
sleeplessness," and began to be tortured by his life-long foe,
dyspepsia. At the same time his mind was perplexed with doubt on
religious matters, regarding which he seems to have unburdened himself
solely to Irving, who was then assistant to Dr. Chalmers, in Glasgow.
For a period he was "totally irreligious." This struggle terminated in
June, 1821, "all at once," and when he was walking along Leith Walk
(the Rue St. Thomas de l'Enfer of "Sartor Resartus"), in what he
regarded as his "spiritual new birth." He was now absorbed in German
literature, especially the writings of Schiller and Goethe. The
latter, indeed, had a more abiding influence on him than any other
author.

In June, 1821, also, occurred his introduction, through Irving, to
Miss Jane Baillie Welsh (1801-66), only daughter of Dr. John Welsh,
medical practitioner in Haddington, who had died two years before,
leaving his daughter sole heiress of the small estate of
Craigenputtock, sixteen miles from the town of Dumfries. Miss Welsh,
who was descended through her father from John Knox, was then living
in Haddington with her mother, who claimed kindred with the patriot
Wallace, and, according to Carlyle, "narrowly missed being a woman of
genius." Miss Welsh had been the private pupil of Irving when he was a
teacher in Haddington, and the result of the acquaintance thus brought
about was a passionate attachment. They would, indeed, have been
married, but for Irving's engagement to Miss Martin. The introduction
of Carlyle to Miss Welsh, then twenty years of age, led to a
correspondence between them on literary matters. After a time, Carlyle
attempted to adopt the tone of a lover. This, however, she
peremptorily forbade, although she refused other suitors.

Early in 1822, Irving, who was on the point of entering on the
pastorate of the Caledonian Chapel, in Hatton Garden, London,
recommended Carlyle as tutor to the three sons of Mr. Buller, a
retired Anglo-Indian. The salary offered was L200 a year. Carlyle, who
had previously declined the editorship of a Dundee newspaper, accepted
the offer; and two of the three, Charles Duller and Arthur, came to
Edinburgh in the spring, to be under his care while attending classes
at the university. Carlyle found his duties pleasant, and was