Though shattered and trampled down to an immense degree, I do not think any bones are broken yet,—­though age truly is here, and you may engage your berth in the steamer whenever you like.  In a few months I expect to be sensibly improved; but my poor Wife suffers sadly the last two winters; and I am much distressed by that item of our affairs.  Adieu, dear Emerson:  I have lost many things; let me not lose you till I must in some way!

Yours ever,
        T. Carlyle

P.S.  If you read the Newspapers (which I carefully abstain from doing) they will babble to you about Dickens’s “Separation from Wife,” &c., &c.; fact of Separation I believe is true; but all the rest is mere lies and nonsense.  No crime or misdemeanor specifiable on either side; unhappy together, these good many years past, and they at length end it.—­Sulzer said, “Men are by nature good.” “Ach, mein lieber Sulzer, Er kennt nicht diese verdammte Race,” ejaculated Fritz, at hearing such an axiom.

CLXIII.* Carlyle to Emerson

Chelsea, London, 9 April, 1859

Dear Emerson,—­Long months ago there was sent off for you a copy of Friedrich of Prussia, two big red volumes (for which Chapman the Publisher had found some “safe, swift” vehicle); and now I have reason to fear they are still loitering somewhere, or at least have long loitered sorrow on them!  This is to say:  If you have not yet got them, address a line to “Saml.  F. Flower, Esq, Librarian of Antiquarian Society, Worcester, Mass.” (forty miles from you, they say), and that will at once bring them.  In the Devil’s name!  I never in my life was so near choked; swimming in this mother of Dead Dogs, and a long spell of it still ahead!  I profoundly pity myself (if no one else does).  You shall hear of me again if I survive,—­but really that is getting beyond a joke with me, and I ought to hold my peace (even to you), and swim what I can.  Your little touch of Human Speech on Burns’* was charming; had got into the papers here (and been clipt out by me) before your copy came, and has gone far and wide since.  Newberg was to give it me in German, from the Allgemeine Zeitung, but lost the leaf.  Adieu, my Friend; very dear to me, tho’ dumb.

          —­T.  Carlyle (in such haste as seldom was).**

---------
* Emerson’s fine speech was made at the celebration of the Burns
Centenary, Boston, January 25, 1859.   See his Miscellanies
(Works, vol. xi.), p. 363.

** The preceding letter was discovered in 1893, in a little package of letters put aside by Mr. Emerson and marked “Autographs.” ---------

CLXIV.  Emerson to Carlyle*

Concord, 1 May, 1859