A HITHERTO UNPUBLISHED LETTER BY CARLYLE.
[TO THE EDITOR OD THE " SPECTATOR."1
Sra,—The accompanying letter, which has never before been published, was addressed by Carlyle to Kitty Kirkpatrick, who is generally regarded as the original of Blumine in " Sarter Resartus." It is of particular interest as showing Carlyle's attitude towards France at a critical moment of her history. The letter is now published with the kind permission
of Mr. Alexander Carlyle.--I am, Sir, &c., X.
"5, C'heyne Row, Chelsea.
23rd April, 1871.
DEAR MRS. PinmArrs, It is long since we heard with any distinctness of you ; and this word that now arrives is very welcome. On my side too I have sent many a thought and enquiry after you ; not able to do more than guess vaguely as to your whereabout, still less as to what you might be doing or how it was faring with you and yours. Happily there seems to have nothing essential gone wrong and I am much obliged by the assurance to that effect.
To me also Dover, where I once was, and properly only once for a few hours some years ago, was a most mournful place; scattered irrecognisably hither and thither, full of noise and confusion, and populous only with pale shadows and recollections more or less ghostly of the things and persons that have made it human to me in the years long fled for ever. I, with great difficulty, found a Liverpool Street, which I tried to believe might be the old Liver- pool Terrace though no feature of it was recognisable to me as such. Edward Irving's lodging I could not even trace or guess at to the extent you have done ; in short all was jumbled into chaotic wreck for me and I left the place not wishing ever to behold it age•
Our poor little French tour, so pleasant and full of interest in those old days—alas, what it has grown to ! Surely no country I have read or heard of ever by its own delirium and ill luck fell into such an ignominious welter of anarchy and misery as poor France is now in. With you I altogether heartily and sorrowfully pity it, with the ardent wish which struggles to be the sure hope that it may recover its pristine beauty and brilliancy and be once more the ornament of Europe. But too evidently it has infinite delirium, vainglorious unveracity and open disregard of the laws of God and man to cast out of it, with sore travail enough, before any real prosperity or well doing can return to it. Few persons I believe, perhaps au fond not you yourself, have a deeper sense of the beautiful graceful and shining qualities Nature has lodged in the French, but except in conforming, in perpetually striving to conform to the Laws which Nature has eternally appointed, no Nation can prosper, or at length can exist at all in this world. Alas, my common idea, withal, is that England's turn must come next, and that in exact proportion to England's folly, wickedness and worldly baseness must England's disasters and disgraces like- wise be. And often it strikes me moreover that the hour cannot now be distant, and is fast hastening on. But let us quit these sad considerations -too dismal to be dwelt on here—or elsewhere if one could help it.
I can really hope you will soon see the Purchase System put an end to, though that England will thereupon get a real Army, as every nation ought to have, I can by no means believe. England, I sorrowfully calculate, will have to change its ways, Parliamentary and other, a good deal, and that to an extent she little thinks of, before that can arrive ! But at all events in September or October next we can hope your interest in it will substantially be set at rest. This is a little bit of blessing which we can thankfully appropriate. Yen are then to be free of Army matters and free to choose a residence where you please. Let us hope it may not be too far from London and the old scenes connected with your young history, and not too inaccessible to the old friends, especially to one old friend who still lingers in that region and cannot now calculate on lingering long ! I have been decidedly below par in point of health—got sensibly hurt by the puddles and rages of last winter (the first winter that ever did sensibly hurt me) have twice or thrice fancied I was recovering since Spring came, but have never yet been able quite to do it. However I still keep hoping, keep endeavouring.
My little niece* is still here, as you perceive, still helps me faithfully all she can. I am to send her kind regards to you. My own you are at all times assured of. Do you never come to London ? If so why do you neglect to call or warn us ?
Believe me ever, Dear Mrs. Philippe, Faithfully and affectionately yours,
T. CAELYIall."
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