We hear of you pretty often, and of your successes with the Northern populations.  We hope for you in London again before long.—­I am busy, if at all, altogether inarticulately in these days.  My respect for silence, my distrust of Speech, seem to grow upon me.  There is a time for both, says Solomon; but we, in our poor generation, have forgotten one of the “times.”

Here is a Mr. Forster* of Rawdon, or Bradford, in Yorkshire; our late host in the Autumn time; who expects and longs to be yours when you come into those parts.

I am busy with William Conqueror’s Domesday Book and with the commentaries of various blockheads on it:—­Ah me!

All good be with you, and happy news from those dear to you.

Yours ever,
       T. Carlyle

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* Now the Rt.  Hon. W E. Forster, M.P.
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CXXX.  Emerson to Carlyle

2 Fenny Street, Higher Broughton, Manchester 28 December, 1847

Dear Carlyle,—­I am concerned to discover that Margaret Fuller in the letter which you forwarded prays me to ask you and Mrs. Carlyle respecting the Count and Countess Pepoli, who are in Rome for the winter, whether they would be good for her to know?—­That is pretty nearly the form of her question.  As one third of the winter is gone, and one half will be, before her question can be answered, I fear, it will have lost some of its pertinence.  Well, it will serve as a token to pass between us, which will please me if it do not Margaret.—­I have had nothing to send you tidings of.  Yet I get the best accounts from home of wife and babes and friends.  I am seeing this England more thoroughly than I had thought was possible to me.  I find this lecturing a key which opens all doors.  I have received everywhere the kindest hospitality from a great variety of persons.  I see many intelligent and well-informed persons, and some fine geniuses.  I have every day a better opinion of the English, who are a very handsome and satisfactory race of men, and, in the point of material performance, altogether incomparable.  I have made some vain attempts to end my lectures, but must go on a little longer.  With kindest regards to the Lady Jane,

Your friend,
          R.W.E.

Margaret Fuller’s address, if anything is to be written, is, Care of Maquay, Pakenham & Co., Rome.

CXXXI.  Carlyle to Emerson

Chelsea, 30 December, 1847

My Dear Emerson,—­We are very glad to see your handwriting again, and learn that you are well, and doing well.  Our news of you hitherto, from the dim Lecture-element, had been satisfactory indeed, but vague.  Go on and prosper.