e
household word, which is some compensation to you for the piracy
you suffer from the Typographic Letter-of-marque men here. I
found the Book a most finished clear and perfect set of
_Engravings in the line manner;_ portraitures full of
_likeness,_ and abounding in instruction and materials for
reflection to me: thanks always for such a Book; and Heaven
send us many more of them. _Plato,_ I think, though it is the
most admired by many, did least for me: little save Socrates
with his clogs and big ears remains alive with me from it.
_Swedenborg_ is excellent in _likeness;_ excellent in many
respects;--yet I said to myself, on reaching your general
conclusion about the man and his struggles: "_Missed_ the
consummate flower and divine ultimate elixir of Philosophy, say
you? By Heaven, in clutching at _it,_ and almost getting it, he
has tumbled into Bedlam,--which is a terrible _miss,_ if it were
never so _near!_ A miss fully as good as a mile, I should say!"
--In fact, I generally dissented a little about the _end_ of all
these Essays; which was notable, and not without instructive
interest to me, as I had so lustily shouted "Hear, hear!" all the
way from the beginning up to that stage.--On the whole, let us
have another Book with your earliest convenience: that is the
modest request one makes of you on shutting this.

I know not what I am now going to set about: the horrible
barking of the universal dog-kennel (awakened by these
_Pamphlets_) must still itself again; my poor nerves must
recover themselves a little:--I have much more to say; and
by Heaven's blessing must try to get it said in some way if
I live.--

Bostonian Prescott is here, infinitely _lionized_ by a mob of
gentlemen; I have seen him in two places or three (but forbore
speech): the Johnny-cake is good, the twopence worth of currants
in it too are good; but if you offer it as a bit of baked
Ambrosia, _Ach Gott!_--

Adieu, dear Emerson, forgive, and love me a little.

Yours ever,
T. Carlyle

CXLIII. Carlyle to Emerson

Chelsea, 14 November, 1850

Dear Emerson,--You are often enough present to my thoughts; but
yesterday there came a little incident which has brought you
rather vividly upon the scene for me. A certain "Mr. ---" from
Boston sends us, yesterday morning by post, a Note of yours
addressed to Mazzini, whom he cannot find; and indicates that he
retains a similar one addressed to myself, and (in the mo