I for my part had the
good luck to purchase Schiller's sword, which formed a part
of my court costume, and still hangs in my study, and puts
me in mind of days of youth, the most kindly and de-
lightful.
good luck to purchase Schiller's sword, which formed a part
of my court costume, and still hangs in my study, and puts
me in mind of days of youth, the most kindly and de-
lightful.
Thomas Carlyle
B.
gegenwa?
rtig
Hr. Lawrence, von Zeit zu Zeit wiederkehren
und sich glu? cklich finden, den scho? nen Faden
fru? herer Verha? ltnisse ungesa? umt wieder aufzu-
fassen. Herr Parry hat einen vielja? hrigen
Aufenthalt mit einer ansta? ndigen Heyrath
geschlossen.
Fortwirkender Theilnahme sich selbst, freund-
licher Aufnahme die Sendung lebhaft empfelend,
GOETHE.
WEIMAR, d. 15 Jan. 1828.
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? 1828 GOETHE TO CARLYLE 53
INHALT
der gegenwa? rtigen Sendung.
1. Zweyte Lieferung von Goethes Schriften, 6-10 Band incl.
2. Kunst und Alterth. 5 Bande, des 6 Bdes 1 Heft.
3. Vorwort zu Alexand. Manzonis poetischen Schriften.
4. Der 28'- August 1827 [Dem Ko? nige die Muse].
5. Hermann und Dorothea, fur Madame Carlyle.
6. Ingl. Almanach des Dames.
7. Auch ein Ka? stchen fu? r dieselbe.
8. Ein Pa? ckchen fu? r Hn. Thomas Wolley, ein junger
Mann der vergnu? gte und nu? tzliche Tage bey uns
verlebte und in gutem Andenken steht, sich gegen-
wa? rtig in Edinburg befinden soll.
9. Sechs bronze Medaillen.
10. Fortsetzung des Schreibens vom 15"- nebst einigen
poetischen und sonstigen Beylagen im Couvert.
G.
WEIMAR, den 15 Januar 1828.
[Translation. ] Continuation of the Letter despatched by Post.
If you see Sir Walter Scott, pray offer
him my warmest thanks for his valued and
pleasant Letter, written frankly in the beautiful
conviction that man must be precious to man.
I have also received his Life of Napoleon; and
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? 54 GOETHE TO CARLYLE 1828
during these winter evenings and nights, I
have read it through attentively from beginning
to end. 1 It was extremely significant to me to
1 Eckermann, under date 25th July 1827, says, "Goethe,
the other day, received a Letter from Walter Scott, which gave
him great pleasure. He showed it to me to-day, and as this
English handwriting seemed to him somewhat difficult to de-
cipher, he requested me to translate the Letter for him. It
appears that Goethe had, in the first instance, written to the
renowned English Poet, and that this Letter is in answer to
his. " (These two Letters are printed in Lockharfs Life of
Scott, edition 1839, ix. 92-7. ) Eckermann, after quoting a
part of Scott's Letter, and after a few further remarks upon it,
proceeds: Goethe "took notice of the friendly and hearty
manner in which Walter Scott describes his domestic circle,
which, as an evidence of his brotherly trust in him, pleased
Goethe highly. --' I am now really eager,' he continued, 'to
see his Life of Napoleon, which he is sending me. I hear
so much said against it, and with such passion, that I feel
sure, at the outset, it will be striking at any rate. '--I asked
him about Lockhart, and if he still recollected him. 'Oh yes,
very well! ' replied Goethe. 'His personality made such a dis-
tinct impression that one would not forget it so soon. He must
be, as I gather from English travellers, and from my Daughter-
in-law, a young man of whom good things in literature are to
be expected. --For the rest, I am almost surprised that Walter
Scott says nothing about Carlyle, who has such a special know-
ledge of German that he surely must be known to him. --In
Carlyle it is admirable how he, in his criticisms on our German
Writers, keeps before him the spiritual and moral essence as
the chief factor. Carlyle is a moral force of great significance.
He has a great future before him, and indeed one can see no
end to all that he will do and effect by his influence. '"--
Gespriiche 1nit Goethe.
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? 1828 GOETHE TO CARLYLE 55
see the first narrator of the century taking
upon himself so unusual a task, and bringing
before us in quiet succession the momentous
events which we ourselves had been com-
pelled to witness. The division into chapters
of large homogeneous masses makes the in-
tricate course of affairs perfectly intelligible, and
the exposition of single incidents, of inestim-
able clearness and distinctness. I read it in
the original, and thus it produced its natural
effect. It is a patriotic Briton who speaks, who
cannot well view the acts of the enemy with
favourable eyes; who, as an upright citizen,
desires that even in political enterprises the
demands of morality should be satisfied, who
threatens his adversary in his audacious career
of good-luck with fatal consequences, and who
even in his most bitter downfall can scarcely
pity him.
The Work was further full of significance
to me, since, partly by recalling my own past
experiences, partly by bringing anew before
me many things I had overlooked, it placed
me on an unexpected standpoint, led me to
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? 56 GOETHE TO CARLYLE 1828
reconsider what I had taken as settled, and
especially, also, enabled me to be just to the
opponents, who cannot be wanting to so weighty
a work, and to estimate aright the objections
which from their side they may bring against it.
Thus you see, at the end of the year no more
precious gift could have reached me. To me
this Book has become a golden net, with which
I am busily hauling up, in an abundant draught,
out of the swelling Waters of Lethe, shadowy
images of my past life.
I think of saying something like this in the
next Part of Kunst und Alterthum, where also
you will find some pleasant things about Schiller
and German Romance. Let me know of the
arrival of the box; and tell me at the same time
of anything that may be desirable to you in
your work, for communication is now so rapid,
that I could not but smile to see in the Second
Number of the Foreign [Quarterly] Review the
notice of thirty German " Pocket-Annuals "* for
the year 1828.
1 "Pocket-books" Literary Almanacs, bearing analogy to
the "Annuals" then so popular in England.
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? 1828 GOETHE TO CARLYLE 57
While books and periodicals are at present,
as it were, uniting nations by the mail-post,
intelligent travellers contribute not a little to
the same end. Mr. Heavyside has visited
you, and has given us the pleasantest account
of yourself and your surroundings; he will no
doubt have given you a description of our mode
of life here in Weimar. As tutor of the young
Hopes he spent some profitable and pleasant
years in our, contracted indeed, but intrinsically
richly endowed and animated, circle. The Hope
family, as I hear, are satisfied with the education
which the young men have found an oppor-
tunity of acquiring in this place. There are
indeed many advantages for young men here,
especially for those of your country. The
Double-Court of the reigning Grand Duke and
the Hereditary Family, at which they are
always kindly and generously received, con-
strains them, by this mark of distinction, to a
refined demeanour at social entertainments of
various kinds. The rest of our good society
holds them, in like manner, under moderate and
pleasant restraint, so that anything rude or un-
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? 5? GOETHE TO CARLYLE 1828
seemly in their bearing is gradually eliminated.
In association with our beautiful and cultivated
women they find interest and employment for
heart, mind and imagination, and are thus with-
held from all those dissipations in which youth in-
dulges rather from ennui than from inclination.
This free bondage perhaps hardly exists any-
where else; and we have satisfaction in finding
that men such as I speak of, who have tried life
in Berlin and Dresden, soon return to us.
Moreover an active correspondence is main-
tained with England, by which our ladies clearly
prove that actual presence is not absolutely
necessary to keep a well-founded esteem per-
manently alive. Finally, I must not omit to men-
tion, that old friends, as, for instance, just now,
Mr. Lawrence, return from time to time, and are
happy in taking up at once the delightful threads
of earlier intercourse. Mr. Parry has concluded
a residence of many years with a good marriage.
Desiring for myself, a further communion
in thought and work, and for what I send, a
friendly reception, GOETHE.
WEIMAR, lt,th January 1^28.
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? 1828 GOETHE TO CARLYLE 59
CONTENTS OF THE PRESENT PARCEL.
1. Second Section of Goethe's Writings, 6th-1oth volumes.
2. Kunst und Alterthtim, five volumes, and first part of
the sixth.
3. Preface to the Poetical Works of Alessandro Manzoni.
4. The 28th August 182 7. *
5. For Mrs. Carlyle, Hermann and Dorothea,
6. Almanac des Dames,
7. And also a little box for her.
8. A little parcel for Mr. Thomas Wolley, a young man
who pleased us and spent profitable days with us,
and who is held in kind remembrance; he is
probably at present in Edinburgh.
9. Six bronze medals.
10. Sequel to the letter of the 15th, with some poetical
and other enclosures in the envelope.
G.
WEIMAR, lyh January 1828.
A well-known letter of Thackeray's describing
from the point of view of a young Englishman the
society of Weimar at this very period, affords enter-
taining and curiously close confirmation of Goethe's
account of it. Thackeray, writing in 1855, says:
"Five and twenty years ago, at least a score of young
English lads used to live at Weimar for study, or sport, or
society; all of which were to be had in the friendly little
1 A little pamphlet entitled, "The Muses to their King"
(see Kunst und Alterthum, 1827, vi. , 1st Heft, 217).
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? 60 GOETHE TO CARLYLE 1828
Saxon capital. The Grand Duke and Duchess received us
with the kindliest hospitality. The Court was splendid, but
yet most pleasant and homely. We were invited in our
turns to dinners, balls, and assemblies there. Such young
men as had a right, appeared in uniforms, diplomatic and
military. Some, I remember, invented gorgeous clothing:
the kind old Hof-Marschall of those days, M. de Spiegel
(who had two of the most lovely daughters eyes ever looked
on), being in nowise difficult as to the admission of these
young Englanders. Of the winter nights we used to charter
sedan chairs, in which we were carried through the snow to
those pleasant Court entertainments.
I for my part had the
good luck to purchase Schiller's sword, which formed a part
of my court costume, and still hangs in my study, and puts
me in mind of days of youth, the most kindly and de-
lightful.
"We knew the whole society of the little city, and but
that the young ladies, one and all, spoke admirable English,
we surely might have learned the very best German. The
society met constantly. The ladies of the Court had their
evenings. The theatre was open twice or thrice in the
week, where we assembled, a large family party. . . .
"In 1831, though he had retired from the world, Goethe
would nevertheless kindly receive strangers. His daughter-
in-law's tea-table was always spread for us. We passed
hours after hours there, and night after night with the
pleasantest talk and music. We read over endless novels
and poems in French, English, and German. My delight in
those days was to make caricatures for children. I was
touched to find that they were remembered, and some
even kept until the present time; and very proud to be
told, as a lad, that the great Goethe had looked at some
of them.
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? 1828 GOETHE TO CARLYLE 61
"He remained in his private apartments, where only a
very few privileged persons were admitted; but he liked to
know all that was happening, and interested himself about
all strangers. . . . Of course I remember very well the
perturbation of spirit with which, as a lad of nineteen,
I received the long-expected intimation that the Herr
Geheimrath would see me on such a morning. This
notable audience took place in a little antechamber of his
private apartments, covered all round with antique casts
and bas-reliefs. He was habited in a long grey or drab
redingot, with a white neckcloth and a red ribbon in his
buttonhole. He kept his hands behind his back, just as in
Rauch's statuette. His complexion was very bright, clear,
and rosy. His eyes extraordinarily dark, piercing, and
brilliant. I felt quite afraid before them, and recollect
comparing them to the eyes of the hero of a certain
romance called Melmoth the Wanderer, which used to alarm
us boys thirty years ago; eyes of an individual who had
made a bargain with a certain Person, and at an extreme
old age retained these eyes in all their awful splendour. I
fancied Goethe must have been still more handsome as an
old man than even in the days of his youth. His voice
was very rich and sweet. He asked me questions about
myself, which I answered as best I could. I recollect I
was at first astonished, and then somewhat relieved, when
I found he spoke French with not a good accent.
"Vidi tantum. I saw him but three times. Once walk-
ing in the garden of his house in the Frauenplan; once
going to step into his chariot on a sunshiny day, wearing a
cap and a cloak with a red collar. He was caressing at the
time a beautiful little golden-haired granddaughter, over
whose sweet fair face the earth has long since closed too.
"Any of us who had books or magazines from England
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? 62 GOETHE TO CARLYLE 1828
sent them to him, and he examined them eagerly. Fraser^s
Magazine had lately come out, and I remember he was
interested in those admirable outline portraits which ap-
peared in its pages. But there was one, a very ghastly
caricature of Mr. R[ogers], which, as Madame de Goethe
told me, he shut up and put away from him angrily. 'They
would make me look like that,' he said; though in truth I
can fancy nothing more serene, majestic, and healthy look-
ing than the grand old Goethe.
"Though his sun was setting, the sky round about was
calm and bright, and that little Weimar illumined by it.
In every one of those kind salons the talk was still of Art
and Letters. The theatre, though possessing no very extra-
ordinary actors, was still conducted with a noble intelligence
and order. The actors read books, and were men of letters
and gentlemen, holding a not unkindly relationship with the
Adel. At Court the conversation was exceedingly friendly,
simple, and polished. The Grand Duchess (the present
Grand Duchess Dowager), a lady of very remarkable en-
dowments, would kindly borrow our books from us, lend
us her own, and graciously talk to us young men about our
literary tastes and pursuits. In the respect paid by this
Court to the Patriarch of letters, there was something en-
nobling, I think, alike to the subject and sovereign. With
a five and twenty years' experience since those happy days
of which I write, and an acquaintance with an immense
variety of human kind, I think I have never seen a society
more simple, charitable, courteous, gentlemanlike than that
of the dear little Saxon city, where the good Schiller and
the great Goethe lived and lie buried. " *
1 Life and Works of Goethe, by G. H. Lewes (London,
1855), ii. pp. 442-446.
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? 1828 CARLYLE TO GOETHE 63
IX. --CARLYLE to GOETHE.
EDINBURGH, 21 COMLEY BANK,
11th January 1828.
RESPECTED SIR--In addition to the valued
marks of your regard already conferred on me, I
have now to solicit a favour of a more practical,
and as I may justly fear, of a more questionable
nature. If the liberty I take is too great, let me
hope that I shall find in your goodness an excuse.
I am at present a candidate for the Profes-
sorship of Moral Philosophy in our ancient
Scottish University of St. Andrews; a situation
of considerable emolument and respectability,
in which certain of my friends flatter me that I
might be useful to myself and others. The
Electors to the Office are the Principal and
actual Professors of the College; who promise
in this instance, contrary indeed to their too
frequent practice, to be guided solely by
grounds of a public sort; preferring that appli-
cant who shall, by reference perhaps to his
previous literary performances, or by Testi-
monials from men of established note, approve
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? 64 CARLYLE TO GOETHE 1828
himself the ablest. The qualifications required,
or at least expected, are not so much any pro-
found scientific acquaintance with Philosophy
properly so called, as a general character for
intelligence, integrity, and literary attainment;
all proofs of talent and spiritual worth of any
kind being more or less available. To the
Electors personally I am altogether a stranger.
Of my fitness for this, or any other office, it
is indeed little that I can expect you to know.
Nevertheless, if you have traced in me any sense
for what is True and Good, and any symptom,
however faint, that I may realise in my own
literary life some fraction of what I love and
reverence in that of my Instructors, you will
not hesitate to say so; and a word from you
may go further than many words from another.
There is also a second reason why I ask this
favour of you: the wish to feel myself connected
by still more and still kinder ties with a man
to whom I must reckon it among the pleasures
of my existence that I stand in any relation
whatever. For the rest, let me assure you that
good or ill success in this canvass is little likely
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? 1828 CARLYLE TO GOETHE 65
to affect my equanimity unduly; I have studied
and lived to little purpose, if I have not, at the
age of two-and-thirty, learned in some degree
"to seek for that consistency and sequence
within myself, which external events will for
ever refuse me. " I need only add, on this sub-
ject, that the form of such a document as I
solicit is altogether unimportant; that of a
general Certificate or Testimonial, not specially
addressed at all, being as common as any other.
The main purpose of my letter is thus
accomplished; but I cannot conclude without
expressing my satisfaction at the good news
we continue to hear from Weimar, and the
interest which all of us feel in your present so
important avocations. By returning travellers
and Friends resident in Germany we often get
some tidings of you. A younger Brother of
mine, at present studying Medicine and Philo-
sophy in Mu? nchen, has the honour of an
acquaintance with your correspondent, Dr.
Sulpiz Boisseree ;l through whose means I
1 Dr. John A. Carlyle sent to his Brother extracts which Bois-
serde had allowed him to make from Goethe's Letters. These
F
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? 66 CARLYLE TO GOETHE 1828
have just learned that you proceed with un-
abated diligence in the correction of your Works:
and what especially contents me, that we are
soon to expect some further improvement, per-
haps enlargement of the Wanderjahre; and at
all events a Second Part of Faust. In the
Wanderjahre, so choice a piece of composition
does it seem to me, I confess I see not well
what improvements are to be made: so beauti-
ful, so soft, and gracefully expressive an
embodiment of all that is finest in the Philo-
sophy of Art and Life, has almost assumed the
aspect of perfection in my thoughts; every
word has meaning to me; there are sentences
which I could write in letters of gold. Enlarge-
ment, indeed, I could desire without limit: and
yet the work, as it stands, has the singular
character of a completed fragment, so lightly yet
so cunningly is it joined together, and then the
concluding chapter, with its Bleibe nicht am
Boden haftcn? as it were, scatters us all into
contain high praise of Carlyle, especially of his Life of Schiller
and German Romance; as well as an account of Goethe's
labours on the Second Part of Faust.
1 Carlyle translates it:"Keep not standing fix'd and rooted. "
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? 18z8 CARLYLE TO GOETHE 67
infinite space; and leaves the work lying like
some fair landscape of an unknown wondrous
region, bounded on this side with bright clouds,
or melting on that into the vacant azure! May
I ask if there is any hope that these clouds
will roll away, and show us the undiscovered
country that lies beneath them? Of Faust I
am taught to expect with confidence, not only a
continuation but a completion, and share in the
general curiosity of Europe to see what it is.
Will you pardon me for speaking so freely
of what I know so slightly? I may well feel
an interest in your labours such as few do. My
wife unites with me, as in all honest things, so
in this, in warmest regards to you and yours.
Nay, your Ottilie1 is not unknown to her; with
the sharp sight of female criticism she had
already detected a lady's hand in the tasteful
arrangement of that Packet, not yet under-
standing to whom it might be due. Will Ottilie
von Goethe accept the friendly and respectful
compliments of Jane Welsh Carlyle, who hopes
1 Madame von Goethe, wife of Goethe's only surviving son,
August, who died in 1830. See infra, p. 247, n.
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? 68 GOETHE TO CARLYLE 1828
one day to know her better? For it is among our
settled wishes, I might almost say projects, some
time to see Germany, and its Art and Artists,
and the man who more than any other has made
it dear and honourable to us. We even paint
out to ourselves the too hollow day-dream of
spending next winter, or if this Election prosper,
the summer which will follow it, in Weimar!
Alas, that Space cannot be contracted nor Time
lengthened out, and so many must not meet,
whose meeting could have been desired! Mean-
while we will continue hoping; and pray that,
seen or unseen, all good may ever abide with you.
Trusting soon to have the honour of a letter,
I remain, Respected Sir, yours with affection-
ate reverence, ^ ~
THOMAS CARLYLE.
X. -- GOETHE to CARLYLE.
March 1828. ]
Wenn Beykommendes schon vor acht
Wochen Gewu? nschtes noch zu rechter Zeit
ankommt so soil es mich freuen. Das lange
Aussenbleiben zu entschuldigen mu? sste ich viel
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? 1828 GOETHE TO CARLYLE 69
von verketteten Arbeiten und Anforderungen,
berichten und beschreiben und ko? nnte Ihnen
doch keinen Begriff von allen den Obliegen-
heiten geben die sich durch so lange Jahre an
mir herangeha? uft und sich noch ta? glich eher
vermehren als vermindern.
Ein Ka? stchen mannigfaltigen Inhalts, abge-
gangen von hier den 20 Januar d. J. von
Hamburg durch Vermittlung der Hn. Parish
den 1 Febr. wird la? ngst in Ihren Ha? nden und
ich hoffe gut aufgenommen seyn.
Geben Sie mi einige Nachricht deshalb, wie
auch ob Gegenwa? rtiges einigermassen gefruchtet.
Gru? ssen Sie mir Ihre liebe Gattinn von
mir und den Meinigen und erhalten mir Ihre
treuen Gesinnungen wie ich sie auch lebens-
la? nglich zu hegen gewiss nicht unterlasse.
Theilnehmend u. mitwirkend,
f. W. v. GOETHE.
WEIMAR, d. 14 Ma? rz 1828.
[Translation. ]
I shall be glad if the enclosed [Testimonial],
which you asked for more than eight weeks
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Hr. Lawrence, von Zeit zu Zeit wiederkehren
und sich glu? cklich finden, den scho? nen Faden
fru? herer Verha? ltnisse ungesa? umt wieder aufzu-
fassen. Herr Parry hat einen vielja? hrigen
Aufenthalt mit einer ansta? ndigen Heyrath
geschlossen.
Fortwirkender Theilnahme sich selbst, freund-
licher Aufnahme die Sendung lebhaft empfelend,
GOETHE.
WEIMAR, d. 15 Jan. 1828.
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? 1828 GOETHE TO CARLYLE 53
INHALT
der gegenwa? rtigen Sendung.
1. Zweyte Lieferung von Goethes Schriften, 6-10 Band incl.
2. Kunst und Alterth. 5 Bande, des 6 Bdes 1 Heft.
3. Vorwort zu Alexand. Manzonis poetischen Schriften.
4. Der 28'- August 1827 [Dem Ko? nige die Muse].
5. Hermann und Dorothea, fur Madame Carlyle.
6. Ingl. Almanach des Dames.
7. Auch ein Ka? stchen fu? r dieselbe.
8. Ein Pa? ckchen fu? r Hn. Thomas Wolley, ein junger
Mann der vergnu? gte und nu? tzliche Tage bey uns
verlebte und in gutem Andenken steht, sich gegen-
wa? rtig in Edinburg befinden soll.
9. Sechs bronze Medaillen.
10. Fortsetzung des Schreibens vom 15"- nebst einigen
poetischen und sonstigen Beylagen im Couvert.
G.
WEIMAR, den 15 Januar 1828.
[Translation. ] Continuation of the Letter despatched by Post.
If you see Sir Walter Scott, pray offer
him my warmest thanks for his valued and
pleasant Letter, written frankly in the beautiful
conviction that man must be precious to man.
I have also received his Life of Napoleon; and
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? 54 GOETHE TO CARLYLE 1828
during these winter evenings and nights, I
have read it through attentively from beginning
to end. 1 It was extremely significant to me to
1 Eckermann, under date 25th July 1827, says, "Goethe,
the other day, received a Letter from Walter Scott, which gave
him great pleasure. He showed it to me to-day, and as this
English handwriting seemed to him somewhat difficult to de-
cipher, he requested me to translate the Letter for him. It
appears that Goethe had, in the first instance, written to the
renowned English Poet, and that this Letter is in answer to
his. " (These two Letters are printed in Lockharfs Life of
Scott, edition 1839, ix. 92-7. ) Eckermann, after quoting a
part of Scott's Letter, and after a few further remarks upon it,
proceeds: Goethe "took notice of the friendly and hearty
manner in which Walter Scott describes his domestic circle,
which, as an evidence of his brotherly trust in him, pleased
Goethe highly. --' I am now really eager,' he continued, 'to
see his Life of Napoleon, which he is sending me. I hear
so much said against it, and with such passion, that I feel
sure, at the outset, it will be striking at any rate. '--I asked
him about Lockhart, and if he still recollected him. 'Oh yes,
very well! ' replied Goethe. 'His personality made such a dis-
tinct impression that one would not forget it so soon. He must
be, as I gather from English travellers, and from my Daughter-
in-law, a young man of whom good things in literature are to
be expected. --For the rest, I am almost surprised that Walter
Scott says nothing about Carlyle, who has such a special know-
ledge of German that he surely must be known to him. --In
Carlyle it is admirable how he, in his criticisms on our German
Writers, keeps before him the spiritual and moral essence as
the chief factor. Carlyle is a moral force of great significance.
He has a great future before him, and indeed one can see no
end to all that he will do and effect by his influence. '"--
Gespriiche 1nit Goethe.
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? 1828 GOETHE TO CARLYLE 55
see the first narrator of the century taking
upon himself so unusual a task, and bringing
before us in quiet succession the momentous
events which we ourselves had been com-
pelled to witness. The division into chapters
of large homogeneous masses makes the in-
tricate course of affairs perfectly intelligible, and
the exposition of single incidents, of inestim-
able clearness and distinctness. I read it in
the original, and thus it produced its natural
effect. It is a patriotic Briton who speaks, who
cannot well view the acts of the enemy with
favourable eyes; who, as an upright citizen,
desires that even in political enterprises the
demands of morality should be satisfied, who
threatens his adversary in his audacious career
of good-luck with fatal consequences, and who
even in his most bitter downfall can scarcely
pity him.
The Work was further full of significance
to me, since, partly by recalling my own past
experiences, partly by bringing anew before
me many things I had overlooked, it placed
me on an unexpected standpoint, led me to
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? 56 GOETHE TO CARLYLE 1828
reconsider what I had taken as settled, and
especially, also, enabled me to be just to the
opponents, who cannot be wanting to so weighty
a work, and to estimate aright the objections
which from their side they may bring against it.
Thus you see, at the end of the year no more
precious gift could have reached me. To me
this Book has become a golden net, with which
I am busily hauling up, in an abundant draught,
out of the swelling Waters of Lethe, shadowy
images of my past life.
I think of saying something like this in the
next Part of Kunst und Alterthum, where also
you will find some pleasant things about Schiller
and German Romance. Let me know of the
arrival of the box; and tell me at the same time
of anything that may be desirable to you in
your work, for communication is now so rapid,
that I could not but smile to see in the Second
Number of the Foreign [Quarterly] Review the
notice of thirty German " Pocket-Annuals "* for
the year 1828.
1 "Pocket-books" Literary Almanacs, bearing analogy to
the "Annuals" then so popular in England.
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? 1828 GOETHE TO CARLYLE 57
While books and periodicals are at present,
as it were, uniting nations by the mail-post,
intelligent travellers contribute not a little to
the same end. Mr. Heavyside has visited
you, and has given us the pleasantest account
of yourself and your surroundings; he will no
doubt have given you a description of our mode
of life here in Weimar. As tutor of the young
Hopes he spent some profitable and pleasant
years in our, contracted indeed, but intrinsically
richly endowed and animated, circle. The Hope
family, as I hear, are satisfied with the education
which the young men have found an oppor-
tunity of acquiring in this place. There are
indeed many advantages for young men here,
especially for those of your country. The
Double-Court of the reigning Grand Duke and
the Hereditary Family, at which they are
always kindly and generously received, con-
strains them, by this mark of distinction, to a
refined demeanour at social entertainments of
various kinds. The rest of our good society
holds them, in like manner, under moderate and
pleasant restraint, so that anything rude or un-
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? 5? GOETHE TO CARLYLE 1828
seemly in their bearing is gradually eliminated.
In association with our beautiful and cultivated
women they find interest and employment for
heart, mind and imagination, and are thus with-
held from all those dissipations in which youth in-
dulges rather from ennui than from inclination.
This free bondage perhaps hardly exists any-
where else; and we have satisfaction in finding
that men such as I speak of, who have tried life
in Berlin and Dresden, soon return to us.
Moreover an active correspondence is main-
tained with England, by which our ladies clearly
prove that actual presence is not absolutely
necessary to keep a well-founded esteem per-
manently alive. Finally, I must not omit to men-
tion, that old friends, as, for instance, just now,
Mr. Lawrence, return from time to time, and are
happy in taking up at once the delightful threads
of earlier intercourse. Mr. Parry has concluded
a residence of many years with a good marriage.
Desiring for myself, a further communion
in thought and work, and for what I send, a
friendly reception, GOETHE.
WEIMAR, lt,th January 1^28.
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? 1828 GOETHE TO CARLYLE 59
CONTENTS OF THE PRESENT PARCEL.
1. Second Section of Goethe's Writings, 6th-1oth volumes.
2. Kunst und Alterthtim, five volumes, and first part of
the sixth.
3. Preface to the Poetical Works of Alessandro Manzoni.
4. The 28th August 182 7. *
5. For Mrs. Carlyle, Hermann and Dorothea,
6. Almanac des Dames,
7. And also a little box for her.
8. A little parcel for Mr. Thomas Wolley, a young man
who pleased us and spent profitable days with us,
and who is held in kind remembrance; he is
probably at present in Edinburgh.
9. Six bronze medals.
10. Sequel to the letter of the 15th, with some poetical
and other enclosures in the envelope.
G.
WEIMAR, lyh January 1828.
A well-known letter of Thackeray's describing
from the point of view of a young Englishman the
society of Weimar at this very period, affords enter-
taining and curiously close confirmation of Goethe's
account of it. Thackeray, writing in 1855, says:
"Five and twenty years ago, at least a score of young
English lads used to live at Weimar for study, or sport, or
society; all of which were to be had in the friendly little
1 A little pamphlet entitled, "The Muses to their King"
(see Kunst und Alterthum, 1827, vi. , 1st Heft, 217).
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? 60 GOETHE TO CARLYLE 1828
Saxon capital. The Grand Duke and Duchess received us
with the kindliest hospitality. The Court was splendid, but
yet most pleasant and homely. We were invited in our
turns to dinners, balls, and assemblies there. Such young
men as had a right, appeared in uniforms, diplomatic and
military. Some, I remember, invented gorgeous clothing:
the kind old Hof-Marschall of those days, M. de Spiegel
(who had two of the most lovely daughters eyes ever looked
on), being in nowise difficult as to the admission of these
young Englanders. Of the winter nights we used to charter
sedan chairs, in which we were carried through the snow to
those pleasant Court entertainments.
I for my part had the
good luck to purchase Schiller's sword, which formed a part
of my court costume, and still hangs in my study, and puts
me in mind of days of youth, the most kindly and de-
lightful.
"We knew the whole society of the little city, and but
that the young ladies, one and all, spoke admirable English,
we surely might have learned the very best German. The
society met constantly. The ladies of the Court had their
evenings. The theatre was open twice or thrice in the
week, where we assembled, a large family party. . . .
"In 1831, though he had retired from the world, Goethe
would nevertheless kindly receive strangers. His daughter-
in-law's tea-table was always spread for us. We passed
hours after hours there, and night after night with the
pleasantest talk and music. We read over endless novels
and poems in French, English, and German. My delight in
those days was to make caricatures for children. I was
touched to find that they were remembered, and some
even kept until the present time; and very proud to be
told, as a lad, that the great Goethe had looked at some
of them.
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? 1828 GOETHE TO CARLYLE 61
"He remained in his private apartments, where only a
very few privileged persons were admitted; but he liked to
know all that was happening, and interested himself about
all strangers. . . . Of course I remember very well the
perturbation of spirit with which, as a lad of nineteen,
I received the long-expected intimation that the Herr
Geheimrath would see me on such a morning. This
notable audience took place in a little antechamber of his
private apartments, covered all round with antique casts
and bas-reliefs. He was habited in a long grey or drab
redingot, with a white neckcloth and a red ribbon in his
buttonhole. He kept his hands behind his back, just as in
Rauch's statuette. His complexion was very bright, clear,
and rosy. His eyes extraordinarily dark, piercing, and
brilliant. I felt quite afraid before them, and recollect
comparing them to the eyes of the hero of a certain
romance called Melmoth the Wanderer, which used to alarm
us boys thirty years ago; eyes of an individual who had
made a bargain with a certain Person, and at an extreme
old age retained these eyes in all their awful splendour. I
fancied Goethe must have been still more handsome as an
old man than even in the days of his youth. His voice
was very rich and sweet. He asked me questions about
myself, which I answered as best I could. I recollect I
was at first astonished, and then somewhat relieved, when
I found he spoke French with not a good accent.
"Vidi tantum. I saw him but three times. Once walk-
ing in the garden of his house in the Frauenplan; once
going to step into his chariot on a sunshiny day, wearing a
cap and a cloak with a red collar. He was caressing at the
time a beautiful little golden-haired granddaughter, over
whose sweet fair face the earth has long since closed too.
"Any of us who had books or magazines from England
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? 62 GOETHE TO CARLYLE 1828
sent them to him, and he examined them eagerly. Fraser^s
Magazine had lately come out, and I remember he was
interested in those admirable outline portraits which ap-
peared in its pages. But there was one, a very ghastly
caricature of Mr. R[ogers], which, as Madame de Goethe
told me, he shut up and put away from him angrily. 'They
would make me look like that,' he said; though in truth I
can fancy nothing more serene, majestic, and healthy look-
ing than the grand old Goethe.
"Though his sun was setting, the sky round about was
calm and bright, and that little Weimar illumined by it.
In every one of those kind salons the talk was still of Art
and Letters. The theatre, though possessing no very extra-
ordinary actors, was still conducted with a noble intelligence
and order. The actors read books, and were men of letters
and gentlemen, holding a not unkindly relationship with the
Adel. At Court the conversation was exceedingly friendly,
simple, and polished. The Grand Duchess (the present
Grand Duchess Dowager), a lady of very remarkable en-
dowments, would kindly borrow our books from us, lend
us her own, and graciously talk to us young men about our
literary tastes and pursuits. In the respect paid by this
Court to the Patriarch of letters, there was something en-
nobling, I think, alike to the subject and sovereign. With
a five and twenty years' experience since those happy days
of which I write, and an acquaintance with an immense
variety of human kind, I think I have never seen a society
more simple, charitable, courteous, gentlemanlike than that
of the dear little Saxon city, where the good Schiller and
the great Goethe lived and lie buried. " *
1 Life and Works of Goethe, by G. H. Lewes (London,
1855), ii. pp. 442-446.
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? 1828 CARLYLE TO GOETHE 63
IX. --CARLYLE to GOETHE.
EDINBURGH, 21 COMLEY BANK,
11th January 1828.
RESPECTED SIR--In addition to the valued
marks of your regard already conferred on me, I
have now to solicit a favour of a more practical,
and as I may justly fear, of a more questionable
nature. If the liberty I take is too great, let me
hope that I shall find in your goodness an excuse.
I am at present a candidate for the Profes-
sorship of Moral Philosophy in our ancient
Scottish University of St. Andrews; a situation
of considerable emolument and respectability,
in which certain of my friends flatter me that I
might be useful to myself and others. The
Electors to the Office are the Principal and
actual Professors of the College; who promise
in this instance, contrary indeed to their too
frequent practice, to be guided solely by
grounds of a public sort; preferring that appli-
cant who shall, by reference perhaps to his
previous literary performances, or by Testi-
monials from men of established note, approve
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? 64 CARLYLE TO GOETHE 1828
himself the ablest. The qualifications required,
or at least expected, are not so much any pro-
found scientific acquaintance with Philosophy
properly so called, as a general character for
intelligence, integrity, and literary attainment;
all proofs of talent and spiritual worth of any
kind being more or less available. To the
Electors personally I am altogether a stranger.
Of my fitness for this, or any other office, it
is indeed little that I can expect you to know.
Nevertheless, if you have traced in me any sense
for what is True and Good, and any symptom,
however faint, that I may realise in my own
literary life some fraction of what I love and
reverence in that of my Instructors, you will
not hesitate to say so; and a word from you
may go further than many words from another.
There is also a second reason why I ask this
favour of you: the wish to feel myself connected
by still more and still kinder ties with a man
to whom I must reckon it among the pleasures
of my existence that I stand in any relation
whatever. For the rest, let me assure you that
good or ill success in this canvass is little likely
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? 1828 CARLYLE TO GOETHE 65
to affect my equanimity unduly; I have studied
and lived to little purpose, if I have not, at the
age of two-and-thirty, learned in some degree
"to seek for that consistency and sequence
within myself, which external events will for
ever refuse me. " I need only add, on this sub-
ject, that the form of such a document as I
solicit is altogether unimportant; that of a
general Certificate or Testimonial, not specially
addressed at all, being as common as any other.
The main purpose of my letter is thus
accomplished; but I cannot conclude without
expressing my satisfaction at the good news
we continue to hear from Weimar, and the
interest which all of us feel in your present so
important avocations. By returning travellers
and Friends resident in Germany we often get
some tidings of you. A younger Brother of
mine, at present studying Medicine and Philo-
sophy in Mu? nchen, has the honour of an
acquaintance with your correspondent, Dr.
Sulpiz Boisseree ;l through whose means I
1 Dr. John A. Carlyle sent to his Brother extracts which Bois-
serde had allowed him to make from Goethe's Letters. These
F
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? 66 CARLYLE TO GOETHE 1828
have just learned that you proceed with un-
abated diligence in the correction of your Works:
and what especially contents me, that we are
soon to expect some further improvement, per-
haps enlargement of the Wanderjahre; and at
all events a Second Part of Faust. In the
Wanderjahre, so choice a piece of composition
does it seem to me, I confess I see not well
what improvements are to be made: so beauti-
ful, so soft, and gracefully expressive an
embodiment of all that is finest in the Philo-
sophy of Art and Life, has almost assumed the
aspect of perfection in my thoughts; every
word has meaning to me; there are sentences
which I could write in letters of gold. Enlarge-
ment, indeed, I could desire without limit: and
yet the work, as it stands, has the singular
character of a completed fragment, so lightly yet
so cunningly is it joined together, and then the
concluding chapter, with its Bleibe nicht am
Boden haftcn? as it were, scatters us all into
contain high praise of Carlyle, especially of his Life of Schiller
and German Romance; as well as an account of Goethe's
labours on the Second Part of Faust.
1 Carlyle translates it:"Keep not standing fix'd and rooted. "
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? 18z8 CARLYLE TO GOETHE 67
infinite space; and leaves the work lying like
some fair landscape of an unknown wondrous
region, bounded on this side with bright clouds,
or melting on that into the vacant azure! May
I ask if there is any hope that these clouds
will roll away, and show us the undiscovered
country that lies beneath them? Of Faust I
am taught to expect with confidence, not only a
continuation but a completion, and share in the
general curiosity of Europe to see what it is.
Will you pardon me for speaking so freely
of what I know so slightly? I may well feel
an interest in your labours such as few do. My
wife unites with me, as in all honest things, so
in this, in warmest regards to you and yours.
Nay, your Ottilie1 is not unknown to her; with
the sharp sight of female criticism she had
already detected a lady's hand in the tasteful
arrangement of that Packet, not yet under-
standing to whom it might be due. Will Ottilie
von Goethe accept the friendly and respectful
compliments of Jane Welsh Carlyle, who hopes
1 Madame von Goethe, wife of Goethe's only surviving son,
August, who died in 1830. See infra, p. 247, n.
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? 68 GOETHE TO CARLYLE 1828
one day to know her better? For it is among our
settled wishes, I might almost say projects, some
time to see Germany, and its Art and Artists,
and the man who more than any other has made
it dear and honourable to us. We even paint
out to ourselves the too hollow day-dream of
spending next winter, or if this Election prosper,
the summer which will follow it, in Weimar!
Alas, that Space cannot be contracted nor Time
lengthened out, and so many must not meet,
whose meeting could have been desired! Mean-
while we will continue hoping; and pray that,
seen or unseen, all good may ever abide with you.
Trusting soon to have the honour of a letter,
I remain, Respected Sir, yours with affection-
ate reverence, ^ ~
THOMAS CARLYLE.
X. -- GOETHE to CARLYLE.
March 1828. ]
Wenn Beykommendes schon vor acht
Wochen Gewu? nschtes noch zu rechter Zeit
ankommt so soil es mich freuen. Das lange
Aussenbleiben zu entschuldigen mu? sste ich viel
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? 1828 GOETHE TO CARLYLE 69
von verketteten Arbeiten und Anforderungen,
berichten und beschreiben und ko? nnte Ihnen
doch keinen Begriff von allen den Obliegen-
heiten geben die sich durch so lange Jahre an
mir herangeha? uft und sich noch ta? glich eher
vermehren als vermindern.
Ein Ka? stchen mannigfaltigen Inhalts, abge-
gangen von hier den 20 Januar d. J. von
Hamburg durch Vermittlung der Hn. Parish
den 1 Febr. wird la? ngst in Ihren Ha? nden und
ich hoffe gut aufgenommen seyn.
Geben Sie mi einige Nachricht deshalb, wie
auch ob Gegenwa? rtiges einigermassen gefruchtet.
Gru? ssen Sie mir Ihre liebe Gattinn von
mir und den Meinigen und erhalten mir Ihre
treuen Gesinnungen wie ich sie auch lebens-
la? nglich zu hegen gewiss nicht unterlasse.
Theilnehmend u. mitwirkend,
f. W. v. GOETHE.
WEIMAR, d. 14 Ma? rz 1828.
[Translation. ]
I shall be glad if the enclosed [Testimonial],
which you asked for more than eight weeks
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