XCIII.  Emerson to Carlyle

Boston, 1 September, 1844

My Dear Carlyle,—­I have just learned that in an hour Mr. Wilmer’s mail-bag for London, by the “Acadia,” closes, and I will not lose the occasion of sending you a hasty line:  though I had designed to write you from home on sundry matters, which now must wait.  I send by this steamer some sheets, to the bookseller John Chapman,—­proofsheets of my new book of Essays.  Chapman wrote to me by the last steamer, urging me to send him some manuscript that had not yet been published in America, and he thought he could make an advantage from printing it, and even, in some conditions, procure a copyright, and he would publish for me on the plan of half-profits.  The request was so timely, since I was not only printing a book, but also a pamphlet (an Address to citizens of some thirteen towns who celebrated in Concord the negro Emancipation on 1st August last), that I came to town yesterday, and hastened the printers, and have now sent him proofs of all the Address, and of more than half the book.  If you can give Chapman any counsel, or save me from any nonsense by enjoining on him careful correction, you shall.

I looked eagerly for a letter from you by the last steamer, to give me exact tidings of Sterling.  None came; but I received a short note from Sterling himself, which intimated that he had but a few more days to live.  It is gloomy news.  I beg you will write me everything you can relate of him, by the next mail.  If you can learn from his friends whether the packet of his Manuscripts and printed papers, returned by Russell and sent by me through Harnden’s Express to Ventnor, arrived safely, it would be a satisfaction.

Yours affectionately,
               R.W.  Emerson

XCIV.  Carlyle to Emerson

Chelsea, 29 September, 1844

Dear Emerson,—­There should a Letter have come for you by that Steamer; for I wrote one duly, and posted it in good time myself:  I will hope therefore it was but some delay of some subaltern official, such as I am told occasionally chances, and that you got the Letter after all in a day or two.  It would give you notice, more or less, up to its date, of all the points you had inquired about there is now little to be added; except concerning the main point, That the catastrophe has arrived there as we foresaw, and all is ended.

John Sterling died at his house in Ventnor on the night of Wednesday, 18th September, about eleven o’clock; unexpectedly at last, and to appearance without pain.  His Sister-in-law, Mrs. Maurice; had gone down to him from this place about a week before; other friends were waiting as it were in view of him; but he wished generally to be alone, to continue to the last setting his house and his heart more and more in order for the Great Journey.  For about a fortnight back