joint-stock American plan prosper, it will answer rarely.
Fraser's first _French Revolution,_ for instance, will be done,
he calculates, about New-Year's-day; and a second edition
wanted; mine to do with what I like. If you in America
wanted more also--? I leave you to think of this.--And now
enough, enough!

My Brother went from us last Tuesday; ought to be in Paris
yesterday. I am yet writing nothing; feel forsaken, sad, sick,
--not unhappy. In general Death seems beautiful to me; sweet and
great. But Life also is beautiful, is great and divine, were it
never to be joyful any more. I read Books, my wife sewing by me,
with the light of a sinumbra, in a little apartment made snug
against the winter; and am happiest when all men leave me alone,
or nearly all,--though many men love me rather, ungrateful that I
am. My present book is _Horace Walpole;_ I get endless stuff
out of it; epic, tragic, lyrical, didactic: all inarticulate
indeed. An old blind Schoolmaster in Annan used to ask with
endless anxiety when a new scholar was offered him, "But are ye
sure _he's not a Dunce?_" It is really the one thing needful in
a man; for indeed (if we will candidly understand it) all else
is presupposed in that. Horace Walpole is no dunce, not a fibre
of him is duncish.

Your Friend Sumner was here yesterday, a good while, for the
first time: an ingenious, cultivated, courteous man; a little
sensitive or so, and with no other fault that I discerned. He
borrowed my copy of your Dartmouth business, and bound himself
over to return with it soon. Some approve of that here, some
condemn: my Wife and another lady call it better even than the
former, I not so good. And now the Heterodox, the Heterodox,
where is that? Adieu, my dear Friend. Commend me to the Concord
Household; to the little Boy, to his Grandmother, and Mother,
and Father; we must all meet some day,--or _some no-day_ then
(as it shall please God)! My Wife heartily greets you all.

Ever yours,
T. Carlyle

I sent your book, message, and address to Sterling; he is in
Florence or Rome. Read the article _Simonides_ by him in the
_London and Westminster_--brilliant prose, translations--wooden?
His signature is L (Pounds Sterling!).--_Now_ you are to write
_soon?_ I always forgot to tell you, there came long since two
packages evidently in your hand, marked "One printed sheet," and
"one Newspaper," for which the Postman demanded abo