ff-ball, I know not. He
once came to my house, and, since that time, may have known
Margaret Fuller in New York; but probably never saw any letter
of Sterling's or heard the contents of any. I have not read
again Sterling's letters, which I keep as good Lares in a special
niche, but I have no recollection of anything that would be
valuable to you. For the American Public for the Book, I think
it important that you should take the precise step of sending
Phillips and Sampson the early copy, and at the earliest. I saw
them, and also E.P. Clark, and put them in communication, and
Clark is to write you at once.

Having got so far in my writing to you, I do not know but I shall
gain heart, and write more letters over sea. You will think my
sloth suicidal enough. So many men as I learned to value in your
country,--so many as offered me opportunities of intercourse,--
and I lose them all by silence. Arthur Helps is a chief
benefactor of mine. I wrote him a letter by Ward,--who brought
the letter back. I ought to thank John Carlyle, not only for me,
but for a multitude of good men and women here who read his
_Inferno_ duly. W.E. Forster sent me his Penn Pamphlet; I sent
it to Bancroft, who liked it well, only he thought Forster might
have made a still stronger case. Clough I prize at a high rate,
the man and his poetry, but write not. Wilkinson I thought a man
of prodigious talent, who somehow held it and so taught others to
hold it cheap, as we do one of those bushel-basket memories which
school-boys and school-girls often show,--and we stop their
mouths lest they be troublesome with their alarming profusion.
But there is no need of beginning to count the long catalogue.
Kindest, kindest remembrance to my benefactress, also in your
house, and health and strength and victory to you.

Your affectionate,
Waldo Emerson

CXLVI. Carlyle to Emerson

Great Malvern, Worcestershire, 25 August, 1851

Dear Emerson,--Many thanks for your Letter, which found me here
about a week ago, and gave a full solution to my bibliopolic
difficulties. However sore your eyes, or however taciturn your
mood, there is no delay of writing when any service is to be done
by it! In fact you are very good to me, and always were, in all
manner of ways; for which I do, as I ought, thank the Upper
Powers and you. That truly has been and is one of the
possessions of my life in this perverse epoch of the world....

I h