present; mean to live in Paris henceforth for some time.  They had seen something both of Margaret and her d’Ossoli, and appeared to have a true and lively interest in them; Browning spoke a long while to me, with emphasis, on the subject:  I think it was I that had introduced poor Margaret to them.  I said he ought to send these reminiscences to America,—­that was the night before we left London, three weeks ago; his answer gave me the impression there had been some hindrance somewhere.  Accordingly, when your Letter and Mazzini’s reached me here, I wrote to Browning urgently on the subject:  but he informs me that they have sent all their reminiscences, at the request of Mr. Story; so that it is already all well.—­Dear Emerson, you see I am at the bottom of my paper.  I will write to you again before long; we cannot let you lie fallow in that manner altogether.  Have you got proper spectacles for your eyes?  I have adopted that beautiful symbol of old age, and feel myself very venerable:  take care of your eyes!

Yours ever,
       T. Carlyle

CXLVII.  Emerson to Carlyle

Concord, 14 April, 1852

My Dear Carlyle,—­I have not grown so callous by my sulky habit, but that I know where my friends are, and who can help me, in time of need.  And I have to crave your good offices today, and in a matter relating once more to Margaret Fuller....  You were so kind as to interest yourself, many months ago, to set Mazzini and Browning on writing their Reminiscences for us.  But we never heard from either of them.  Lately I have learned, by way of Sam Longfellow, in Paris, brother of our poet Longfellow, that Browning assured him that he did write and send a memoir to this country,—­to whom, I know not.  It never arrived at the hands of the Fullers, nor of Story, Channing, or me;—­though the book was delayed in the hope of such help.  I hate that his paper should be lost.

The little French Voyage, &c. of Bossu, I got safely, and compared its pictures with my own, at the Mississippi, the Illinois, and Chicago.  It is curious and true enough, no doubt, though its Indians are rather dim and vague, and “Messieurs Sauvages” Good Indians we have in Alexander Henry’s Travels in Canada, and in our modern Catlin, and the best Western America, perhaps, in F.A.  Michaux, Voyage a l’ouest des monts Alleghanis, and in Fremont.  But it was California I believe you asked about, and, after looking at Taylor, Parkman, and the rest, I saw that the only course is to read them all, and every private letter that gets into the newspapers.  So there was nothing to say.

I rejoiced with the rest of mankind in the Life of Sterling, and now peace will be to his Manes, down in this lower sphere.  Yet I see well that I should have held to his opinion, in all those conferences where you have so quietly assumed the palms.  It is said:  here, that you work upon Frederick the Great??  However that be, health, strength, love, joy, and victory to you.