I have much to say, but of things not opportune at this moment, and in spite of my long contumacy dare believe that I shall quickly write again my proper letter to my friend, whose every word I watchfully read and remember.

CLXXIX.  Carlyle to Emerson

Melchet Court, Romsey, 14 February, 1870

Dear Emerson,—­Three days ago I at last received your Letter; with very great pleasure and thankfulness, as you may suppose.  Indeed, it is quite strangely interesting to see face to face my old Emerson again, not a feature of him changed, whom I have known all the best part of my life.

I am very glad, withal, to find that you agree completely with Norton and myself in regard to that small Harvard matter.

This is not Chelsea, as you perceive, this is a hospitable mansion in Hampshire; but I expect to be in Chelsea within about a week; once there, I shall immediately despatch to you one of the three Catalogues I have, with a more deliberate letter than I at present have the means of writing or dictating.

Yours ever truly,
            T. Carlyle

CLXXX.  Carlyle to Emerson

Chelsea, 24 February, 1870

Dear Emerson,—­At length I have got home from those sumptuous tumults ("Melchet Court” is the Dowager Lady Ashburton’s House, whose late Husband, an estimable friend of mine, and half American, you may remember here); and I devote to ending of our small Harvard Business, small enough, but true and kindly,—­the first quiet hour I have.

Your Copy of the Catalogue, which accompanies by Book-Post of today, is the correctest I could manage to get done; all the Books mentioned in it I believe to be now here (and indeed, except five or six tiny articles, have seen them all, in one or other of the three rooms where my Books now stand, and where I believe the insignificant trifle of “tinies” to be):  all these I can expect will be punctually attended to when the time comes, and proceeded with according to Norton’s scheme and yours;—­and if any more “tinies,” which I could not even remember, should turn up (which I hardly think there will), these also will class themselves (as Cromwelliana or Fredericana), and be faith fully sent on with the others.  For benefit of my Survivors and Representatives here, I retain an exact Copy of the Catalogue now put into your keeping; so that everything may fall out square between them and you when the Time shall arrive.

I mean to conform in every particular to the plan sketched out by Norton and you,—­unless, in your next Letter, you have something other or farther to advise:—­and so soon as I hear from you that Harvard accepts my poor widow’s mite of a Bequest, I will proceed to put it down in due form, and so finish this small matter, which for long years has hovered in my thoughts as a thing I should like to do.  And so enough for this time.