BY

Oliver Wendell Holmes.

1891

NOTE.

My thanks are due to the members of Mr. Emerson’s family, and the other friends who kindly assisted me by lending interesting letters and furnishing valuable information.

The Index, carefully made by Mr. J.H.  Wiggin, was revised and somewhat abridged by myself.

Oliver Wendell Holmes.

Boston, November 25, 1884.

CONTENTS.

INTRODUCTION

CHAPTER I.

1803-1823.  To aet. 20.

Birthplace.—­Boyhood.—­College Life.

CHAPTER II.

1823-1828.  Aet. 20-25.

Extract from a Letter to a Classmate.—­School-Teaching.—­Study of Divinity.—­“Approbated” to Preach.—­Visit to the South.—­Preaching in Various Places.

CHAPTER III.

1828-1833.  Aet. 25-30.

Settled as Colleague of Rev. Henry Ware.—­Married to Ellen Louisa Tucker.—­Sermon at the Ordination of Rev. H.B.  Goodwin.—­His Pastoral and Other Labors.—­Emerson and Father Taylor.—­Death of Mrs. Emerson.—­Difference of Opinion with some of his Parishioners.—­Sermon Explaining his Views.—­Resignation of his Pastorate.

CHAPTER IV.

1833-1838.  Aet. 30-35.

Section I. Visit to Europe.—­On his Return preaches in Different
Places.—­Emerson in the Pulpit.—­At Newton.—­Fixes his Residence at
Concord.—­The Old Manse.—­Lectures in Boston.—­Lectures on
Michael Angelo and on Milton published in the “North American
Review.”—­Beginning of the Correspondence with Carlyle.—­Letters to the
Rev. James Freeman Clarke.—­Republication of “Sartor Resartus.”

Section 2.  Emerson’s Second Marriage.—­His New Residence in Concord.—­Historical Address.—­Course of Ten Lectures on English Literature delivered in Boston.—­The Concord Battle Hymn.—­Preaching in Concord and East Lexington.—­Accounts of his Preaching by Several Hearers.—­A Course of Lectures on the Nature and Ends of History.—­Address on War.—­Death of Edward Bliss Emerson.—­Death of Charles Chauncy Emerson.

Section 3.  Publication of “Nature.”—­Outline of this Essay.—­Its Reception.—­Address before the Phi Beta Kappa Society

CHAPTER V.

1838-1843.  Aet. 35-40.

Section 1.  Divinity School Address.—­Correspondence.—­Lectures on Human
Life.—­Letters to James Freeman Clarke.—­Dartmouth College Address: 
Literary Ethics.—­Waterville College Address:  The Method of
Nature.—­Other Addresses:  Man the Reformer.—­Lecture on the Times.—­The
Conservative.—­The Transcendentalist.—­Boston “Transcendentalism.”—­“The
Dial.”—­Brook Farm.