CARLYLE'S REMINISCENCES.
(TO THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR.") Sm.,—When a man of feeling and insight, acting deliberately, is found to have disregarded considerations patent and obvious to all mankind, the safer supposition is not that he has failed to see what is visible to every one,but that he has also seen (or, it may be, has felt rather) something beside. Coleridge's "golden rule "—Until you understand a man's ignorance, pre- sume yourself ignorant of his understanding—is one applicable to the "Reminiscences," surely, on behalf of both author and editor. That the objectiOns which have been urged to the pnblication are patent and obvious ones is manifest. That the author had not failed to see them, has been put prominently by the objectors themselves. The full authority, notwithstanding, ;left to the editor, and the full use, after lapse of years, made of that authority, suggest, surely, that there may be an answer to the objectors even overwhelmingly sufficient. Towards that answer my offering (wore it suitable for me to offer anything) would be from "Barter Resartus," the single sentence following, suggestive as much of an autobiographer who would be made to appear what he is, as of an allobiographer who would make others appear what he believes them to be :— "What the Hofrath shall think of this [outline of his own char- acter] when he sees it, readers may wonder ; we, safe in the stronghold of Historical Fidelity, are careless." As to the Carlyle Testimonial,— Airkuct p."Ep TAAas Eircto.' EtporlEou.
Such a man's monument is the whole world,—words said less suitably of the Greek, perhaps, than of the Englishman.—I am, Sir, &c.,
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