r four weary years of the most
unreadable reading, the painfulest poking and delving, I have
come at last to the conclusion--that I must write a Book on
Cromwell; that there is no rest for me till I do it. This point
fixed, another is not less fixed hitherto, That a Book on
Cromwell is _impossible._ Literally so: you would weep for me
if you saw how, between these two adamantine certainties, I am
whirled and tumbled. God only knows what will become of me in
the business. Patience, Patience!

By the bye, do you know a "Massachusetts Historical Society," and
a James Bowdoin, seemingly of Boston? In "Vol. II. third series"
of their _Collections,_ lately I met with a disappointment almost
ludicrous. Bowdoin, in a kind of dancing, embarrassed style,
gives long-winded, painfully minute account of certain precious
volumes, containing "Notes of the Long Parliament," which now
stand in the New York Library; poises them in his assaying
balance, speculates, prophesies, inquires concerning them: to me
it was like news of the lost Decades of Livy. Good Heavens, it
soon became manifest that these precious Volumes are nothing
whatever but a wretched broken old dead manuscript copy of part
of our printed _Commons Journals!_ printed since 1745, and known
to all barbers! If the Historical Society desired it, any Member
of Parliament could procure them the whole stock, _Lords and
Commons,_ a wheelbarrowful or more, with no cost but the
carriage. Every Member has the right to demand a copy, and few
do it, few will let such a mass cross their door-threshold! This
of Bowdoin's is a platitude of some magnitude.--Adieu, dear
Emerson. Rest not, haste not; you have work to do.

--T. Carlyle

LXXXVII. Carlyle to Emerson

Chelsea, London, 17 November, 1843

Dear Emerson,--About this time probably you will be reading a
Letter I hurried off for you by Dr. Russell in the last steamer;
and your friendly anxieties will partly be set at rest. Had I
kept silence so very long? I knew it was a long while; but my
vague remorse had kept no date! It behoves me now to write again
without delay; to certify with all distinctness that I have
safely received your Letter of the 30th October, safely the Bill
for L25 it contained;--that you are a brave, friendly man, of
most serene, beneficient way of life; and that I--God help me!--

By all means appoint this Mr. Clark to the honorary offi