In 1850 appeared the “Latter-Day Pamphlets,” essays suggested by the convulsions of 1848, in which, more than in any previous publication, the author spoke out in the character of a social and political censor of his own age.  “He seemed to be the worshipper of mere brute force, the advocate of all harsh, coercive measures.  Model prisons and schools for the reform of criminals, poor-laws, churches as at present constituted, the aristocracy, parliament, and other institutions, were assailed and ridiculed in unmeasured terms, and generally, the English public was set down as composed of sham heroes, and a valet or ‘flunkey’ world.”  From their very nature as stern denunciations of what the author considered contemporary fallacies, wrongs, and hypocrisies, these pamphlets produced a storm of critical indignation against him.

The life of John Sterling was published in the following year; and Carlyle then began that long spell of work—­the “History of Frederick the Great”—­which extended over thirteen years, the last, and perhaps the greatest, monument of his genius.

In 1856, when we may suppose his mind to be full of the details of battles, and overflowing with military tactics, he received from Sir W. Napier his “History of the Administration of Scinde,” and wrote the following letter to the author:—­

  “THOMAS CARLYLE TO SIR WILLIAM NAPIER.

  “Chelsea, May 12, 1856.

“DEAR SIR,

“I have read with attention, and with many feelings and reflections, your record of Sir C. Napier’s Administration of Scinde.  You must permit me to thank you, in the name of Britain at large, for writing such a book; and in my own poor name to acknowledge the great compliment and kindness implied in sending me a copy for myself.

“It is a book which every living Englishman would be the better for reading—­for studying diligently till he saw into it, till he recognised and believed the high and tragic phenomenon set forth there!  A book which may be called ‘profitable’ in the old Scripture sense; profitable for reproof, for correction and admonition, for great sorrow, yet for ‘building up in righteousness’ too—­in heroic, manful endeavour to do well, and not ill, in one’s time and place.  One feels it a kind of possession to know that one has had such a fellow-citizen and contemporary in these evil days.

“The fine and noble qualities of the man are very recognisable to me; his subtle, piercing intellect turned all to the practical, giving him just insight into men and into things; his inexhaustible adroit contrivances; his fiery valour; sharp promptitude to seize the good moment that will not return.  A lynx-eyed, fiery man, with the spirit of an old knight in him; more of a hero than any modern I have seen for a long time.

“A singular veracity one finds in him; not in his words alone—­which, however, I like much for their fine rough naivete—­but in his actions, judgments, aims; in all that he thinks, and does, and says—­which, indeed, I have observed is the root of all greatness or real worth in human creatures, and properly the first (and also the rarest) attribute of what we call genius among men.