urnalistic; if a book, or a little course of lectures, or any other
little thing comes out from under [211] my hands at the end of one, two,
or three years, let it; but I will do nothing upon compulsion, though
the things to do be as thick as blackberries. There's my profession
of--duty! I have worked hard, however imperfectly. I have worked in
weariness, in tribulation, and to the very edge of peril; and I believe
that the high Taskmaster, to whom I thus refer with humble and solemn
awe, will pardon me some repose, if circumstances beyond my control
assign it to me for my lot.

As to the "Inquirer," in times past, you should remember that in what
I said of it that was disparaging, I excepted your part in it. That
certainly has not lacked interest, whatever else it has lacked.
You have, I think, some remarkable qualifications for the proposed
enterprise; and if you could give your whole mind and life to it, I
should augur more favorably of such a monarchy than of the proposed
oligarchy. You are a live man; you have a quick apprehension of what is
going on about you; you have insight, generosity, breadth of view. And
yet, if I were fully to state what I mean by this last qualification, I
should say it is breadth rather than comprehension. You see a great way
on one side of a subject, rather than all round. This requires a great
deal of quiet, silent study, and where you are going to find space for
it, I do not see, look all round as I may, or may pretend to. What I
shall most fear about the "Inquirer" is, that it will give an uncertain
sound; and this danger will be increased by the number of minds brought
into it. Associate editors ought to live near to each other, and to
compare notes. How do you know that Mr. C. will not cross Mr.O.'s track,
or both of them Mr. Bellows, even if Mr. Bellows do not cross his own?
You say you will put your own stamp upon the paper, [212] of course. But
your stamp has been rather indefinite as yet. "Shaper and Leader," say
you? Suggester and Pioneer, rather, is my thought of your function. This
is pretty plain talk; but, confound you, you can bear it. And I can bear
to say it, because I love--because I like you, and because I think of
you as highly, I guess, as you ought to think of yourself. After all, I
do expect a strong, free, living journal from you, and the men of your
age, or thereabouts, who are united with you.

You say that I do not understand a "certain spirit of expectation an