and sewing-machines are surfeited therewith. My poor
Prussian medal looks small in comparison. And then, as for knighthood,
that ancient honour has been lately so abused that vanity itself could
scarcely desire it, and even modesty now might hesitate in its
acceptance.

Albeit I have thus spoken only incidentally and with seeming
carelessness about my Prussian medal, I am reminded that it will
interest readers if I here extract the Chevalier Buensen's letter to me
on the occasion. It runs thus in its integrity:--

"4 Carlton Terrace, _26th September 1844_.

"My Dear Sir,--I owe you many apologies for not having
answered earlier your letter of the 2d of August. The fact is that
since that time I have been travelling all over England with the
Prince of Prussia. As to your work, I laid it myself before the
King, who perused it with great pleasure, when I was at Berlin. I
am now charged by His Majesty not only to express to you his thanks
for having thought of him in sending him a book replete with so
much Christian wisdom and experience, but also to present to you,
in his Royal name, the _gold medal_ for science and literature, as
a particular sign of regard. The medal will be delivered to you, or
a person authorised by you, at the office of the Prussian Legation,
any morning from 11 to 1 o'clock, Sunday of course excepted.

"Allow me to avail myself of this opportunity to renew to you my
own thanks and the expression of my high regard, and believe me,
yours sincerely,

"Buensen.

"M.F. Tupper, Esq."

Accordingly, I called myself and received the medal from the Chevalier,
with whom afterwards I had half-an-hour's talk, chiefly about German
history, in which by good fortune I was fairly posted, perhaps with a
prescience that the ambassador might allude to it.

* * * * *

An author, if he be a good man and a clever, worthy of his high
vocation, already walks self-ennobled, circled by an aureola of
spiritual glory such as no king can give, nor even all-devouring time,
"_edax rerum_," can take away. He really gains nothing by a title--no,
not even Tennyson; as in the next world, so in this, "his works do
follow him," and the "Well done, good and faithful" from this lower
world which he has served is but the prelude of his welcome