18 JUNE 1910, Page 17

CARLYLE'S DICTUM ON GENIUS.

[To THE EDITOR OF THE "EPECTATOR."]

Sin,—Mr. Frederic S. Franklin in your issue of June 11th quotes Carlyle as saying that genius is "an infinite capacity for taking pains." What Carlyle did say was : " Genius, which means transcendent capacity of taking trouble, first of all." (See "History of Frederick the Great," -Vol. I., Book IV, chap. 3.) The words in italics qualify essentially Carlyle's dictum, as quoted by Mr. Franklin.—I am, Sir, he.,

FRANCIS ESPINASSE.