“I venture to throw out this hint, and, if it be acted on, will, with great satisfaction, give my mite among other people; but must, for good reasons, say further, that this [is] all I can do in the matter (of which, indeed, I know nothing but what everybody knows, and a great deal less than every reader of the newspapers knows); and that, in particular, I cannot answer any letters on the subject, should such happen to be sent me.

“In haste, I remain, Sir, your obedient servant,

  “T.  CARLYLE.[A]

  “5, Cheyne-row, Chelsea, June 30.”

[Footnote A:  (Printed in The Times, Tuesday, July 2, 1861.)]

The “History of Frederick the Great” was completed early in 1865.  Later in the same year the students of Edinburgh University elected Carlyle as Lord Rector.  We cannot do better than describe the proceedings and the subsequent address in the words of the late Alexander Smith:—­

“Mr. Gladstone demitted office, and then it behoved the students of the University to cast about for a worthy successor.  Two candidates were proposed, Mr. Carlyle and Mr. Disraeli; and on the election day Mr. Carlyle was returned by a large and enthusiastic majority.  This was all very well, but a doubt lingered in the minds of many whether Mr. Carlyle would accept the office, or if accepting it, whether he would deliver an address—­said address being the sole apple which the Rectorial tree is capable of bearing.  The hare was indeed caught, but it was doubtful somewhat whether the hare would allow itself to be cooked after the approved academical fashion.  It was tolerably well known that Mr. Carlyle had emerged from his long spell of work on “Frederick,” in a condition of health the reverse of robust; that he had once or twice before declined similar honours from Scottish Universities—­from Glasgow some twelve or fourteen years ago, and from Aberdeen some seven or eight; and that he was constitutionally opposed to all varieties of popular displays, more especially those of the oratorical sort.

“But all dispute was ended when it was officially announced that Mr. Carlyle had accepted the office of Lord Rector, that he would conform to all its requirements, and that the Rectorial address would be delivered late in spring.  And so when the days began to lengthen in these northern latitudes, and crocuses to show their yellow and purple heads, people began to talk about the visit of the great writer, and to speculate on what manner and fashion of speech he would deliver.

“Edinburgh has no University Hall, and accordingly when speech-day approached, the largest public room in the city was chartered by the University authorities.  This public room—­the Music Hall in George Street—­will contain, under severe pressure, from eighteen hundred to nineteen hundred persons, and tickets to that extent were secured by the students and members of the General Council.  Curious stories are told of the eagerness on every side manifested to hear Mr. Carlyle.  Country clergymen from beyond Aberdeen came into Edinburgh for the sole purpose of hearing and seeing.  Gentlemen came down from London by train the night before, and returned to London by train the night after.