Both as Lady Harriet Baring and as Lady
Ashburton, she had been a friend to Carlyle
but a cause of much unhappiness to his wife.
Ashburton, she had been a friend to Carlyle
but a cause of much unhappiness to his wife.
Thomas Carlyle
handle.
net/2027/hvd.
32044090311788 Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www.
hathitrust.
org/access_use#pd-google
? 210 LETTERS OF CARLYLE
usefuller gift. However, they will eat no
bread and so you may give them dry lodging,
that is all they want.
I heard from the Dr. at Moffat the day
before yesterday. He reports our good old
Mother being in her usual way and now with
the better prospect of summer ahead. Poor
Mother, she is now very feeble, but her mind
is still all there and we should be thankful.
The rest are well. John is to quit Moffat in
July. Jane sends her kind regards.
The White mat on Jane's lap is her wretched
little messin-dog " Nero;" a very unsuccess-
ful part of the drawing, that!
XLIV. CARLTLE TO MRS. HANNING, CANADA.
Scotsbrig, Ecclefechan, 28 Dec. 1853.
My dear Sister, -- This letter brings very
sorrowful news to you, probably the sorrow-
fullest I may ever have to send from Scots-
brig. Our dear and good old Mother is no
more: she went from us, gently and calmly
at last, on the Sunday just gone (Christmas
Day the 25th) at four or ten minutes past
four in the afternoon: The Dr. , Jean, Isa-
bella, Jamie, and I standing in sorrowful rev-
erence at her bed-side; our poor suffering
Mother had lain in a heavy kind of sleep for
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? TO MBS. HANNING
211
about 16 hours before; and died at last,
rather unexpectedly to the watchers, so sud-
den was it, without struggle or seeming pain
of any kind. We had to think " Her suffer-
ings are over; and she has fought her fight
well and nobly; and as for us, -- we are left
here alone; and the soul that never ceased to
love us since we came into the world, is gone
to God, her Maker and ours. " This is the
heavy news I have to send you, dear Sister;
and nobody can spare you the sorrow and
tears it will occasion. For above a year-and-
a-half past, our dear Mother had been visibly
falling fast away; when I saw her in August
gone a year, her weakness and sufferings were
quite painful to me; and it seemed uncertain
whether we should ever meet again in this
scene of things. She had no disease at that
time nor afterwards, but the springs of life
were worn out, there was no strength left.
Within the last six months the decay pro-
ceeded faster and was constant: she could
not much rise from bed; she needed Mary
and Jean alternately to watch always over
her, -- latterly it was Jean alone (Mary not
being strong enough); and surely Jean has
earned the gratitude of us all, and done a
work that was blessed and beautiful, in so
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? 212 LETTERS OF CARLYLE
standing by her sacred task, and so perform-
ing it as she did. There has been no regular
sleep to her for months past, often of late
weeks and days not much sleep of any kind:
but her affectionate patience, I think, never
failed. I hope, though she is much worn out,
she will not permanently suffer: and surely
she will not want her reward. Our noble
Mother too behaved like herself in all stages
of her illness; never quailed into terror,
lamentation or any weak temper of mind;
had a wonderful clearness of intellect, clear-
ness of heart, affection, piety and simple
courage and beauty about her to the very
end. She passed much of her time in the
last weeks in a kind of sleep; used to awaken
"with a smile" (as John described it to me),
and has left a sacred remembrance with all of
us consolatory in our natural grief.
I have written to Alick this day, a good
many other details, and have bidden him send
you the letter (which is larger and fuller than
this), -- as you probably in asking for it will
send this to him. I am in great haste, to-
morrow (Thursday 29th Dec. ) being the fune-
ral day, and many things occupying us still.
I will therefore say no more here; your little
pieces of worldly business will, I hope, be
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? TO MRS. HANNING
213
satisfactorily and easily adjusted before I
return to Chelsea, and then it will be some-
body's task (John's or mine) to write to you
again. For the present I will only bid, God
bless you, dear sister, you and yours; -- and
teach you to bear this great sorrow and
bereavement (which is one chiefly to your
heart, but to her a blessed relief) in the way
that is fit, and worthy of the brave and noble
Mother we have had, but have not any longer.
Your affectionate Brother,
T. Caelyle.
With a few days excepted, the Carlyles
spent the whole of the year 1854 in London.
There was little but the Crimean war to dis-
tract Carlyle's attention from his long strug-
gle with Frederick.
Early in this year was completed the much
talked of " sound-proof room," of which the
best account is given by Mr. Reginald Blunt,
in his little-known book," The Carlyles' Chel-
sea Home. "
"The arrangement of this room, which was
built in 1853, occupied by Carlyle till 1865,
and afterwards used as a servant's bedroom,
is clearly indicated on the plan; whilst Mr.
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? 214 LETTERS OF CARLYLE
Tait's photographs (taken in 1857) give an
excellent record of its aspect. Indeed, it is
not often that so famous a literary workshop
has been so faithfully depicted for posterity.
The spacious skylight, which drove Carlyle to
despair by besmutting his books and papers,
gave his visitor the abundant light which in-
door photography so often lacks, and the
result is a series of pictures of wonderful
interest. Mr. Tait was good enough to in-
trust the negatives to me to make my own
prints; and it was, indeed, a fascinating em-
ployment to resuscitate, by a few minutes
of exposure to light, these speaking records
of the dead past of nearly forty years ago.
By their aid we have little difficulty in men-
tally reconstituting the 'soundless room' as
it was during Carlyle's 'thirteen years' war'
there. Entering by the door at the head of
the staircase (a second door opens into the
cupboard space, though for what reason, un-
less to provide a means of escape, is not obvi-
ous), one finds immediately to one's right
hand a third door into this same closet.
Beyond it, against the partition wall, stood a
half-round table with an oilcloth cover, carry-
ing books and papers; above it hung a small
portrait of Carlyle's mother, an engraving of
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? THE SOUND-PROOF ROOM 215
Frederick on horseback, and a map, pinned
on the wall, unframed. On the north wall,
to the right of the fireplace, shelved cup-
boards were fitted. Over the square white
marble mantelpiece, with its 'merely human'
fireplace and white-tiled sides, hung several
small sketches and engravings around the
wooden pulley-board, to which were attached
the lines for the sliding-shutter and the venti-
lators. On the left of the fire, above a circu-
lar silk-pleated screen, hung a paper rack and
some written notes on Friedrich, probably
chronological. On the mantel stood two
white china candlesticks and a small bronze
statuette of Napoleon. In the further corner,
to the left of the fireplace, was a high up-
right cabinet with drawers for manuscripts,
prints, etc. ; and on the western wall there
were bookshelves to right and left of the
door leading into the closet behind the par-
tition.
"Against the southern wall stood a low
couch with loose leather mattress; while the
eastern side, from the corner to the door, was
occupied by a long, dwarf, three-tiered book-
shelf, the upper half of which was filled with
the works of Voltaire, in over ninety vol-
umes. Maps, prints, and engravings, relating
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? 216 LETTERS OF CARLYLE
almost exclusively to the ' Life of Frederick
the Great,' covered the available wall space;
and in one corner stood the long hooked
pole by which the balanced frames of the
skylight could be opened and closed. Near
the fireplace, a little to the left, was the place
of the famous writing-table on which so
much of noble work had painful birth. The
photograph gives so exact an impression of
its sturdy frame, its broad folding flap, its
slightly boxed top, and back drawers, that no
further description is needed either of it or
the solid writing-chair. Hard by stood an-
other little table on castors, which carried the
books in immediate use (or such as were not
on the floor ! ), while behind was the fourfold
screen on which were pasted near a hundred
old portrait prints, to which the maker of
history always turned for insight and guid-
ance in depicting his characters.
"When Carlyle gave up the use of this
room, after the completion of his great his-
tory, the pictures, books, and furniture were
dispersed elsewhere about the house, and later
visitors will remember the writing-desk as
standing in the drawing-room, the cabinet of
drawers and little table in the dining-room,
and many of the prints in the hall, staircase,
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? MARGARET A. CARLYLE
CarlyWs Mother
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? TO MRS. HANNING
217
and elsewhere, as indicated in the Picture List
appended. "
The 30th of September is given by Pro-
fessor Norton as the date of Margaret Car-
lyle's birth, which was evidently unknown to
her children when the following letter was
written: --
XLV. CAELYLE TO MES. HANNING, HAMILTON, C. W.
Chelsea, 8 April, 1855. Dear Sister, -- I know not if you ever
saw our lamented Mother's portrait which
was done at Dumfries a good many years
ago. It hangs in my room ever since, and
has been very sad but precious company to
me, as you may fancy, ever since the Christ-
mas day of 1853! I have got seven copies
taken of it (done by the machine they call
photograph), and this is the one that falls
to your share. I can well believe it will
be very sad to you, dear little sister, but
sacred, too, and very precious. You can
easily get it framed in some modest cheap
way; it may lie in the cupboard secure from
dust till then. The birthday, " 30th Sept. ,"
was not quite certain; Roodfair in the year
1771 was held on the "25th of Sept. ," and
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? 218 LETTERS OF CARLYLE
whether it was the "Monday after," or the
"Monday before" (which would be 23rd
Sept. ), there was diversity of recollection. I
myself and, I think, Jane inclined to think
"after;" Jean thought rather the other way:
so no date was put upon the Tombstone,--
but perhaps you yourself have a better re-
membrance of what our Mother used to say
on that point? Alas, we cannot settle it
now, nor is that the important thing we have
lost hold of in the change that has happened
to us all! But let us not lament; it is far
from our part to lament; let us try rather to
bless God for having had such a Mother, and
to walk always while in this world as she
would have wished we might do. Amen,
Amen.
There has been nothing wrong since the
Doctor's sad loss. Jane and I, in particular,
have not been worse than usual, though I
think it was the severest winter I ever ex-
perienced (certainly far the worst I ever saw
here), and has lasted, indeed, almost up to
this time -- " real spring weather" being yet
hardly a week old with us. Sister Jean at
Dumfries got a bad whitlow in one of her
fingers; and the thrice unlucky blockhead
of a Doctor she got there, cut away three
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? TO MRS. HANNING
219
times over some white substance he saw,
which proved to be the sinew (sorrow on
the fool), so that she has now no use of
her (right hand) forefinger, though otherwise
quite recovered again. She has learned to
write with the next finger and makes no com-
plaint.
The Doctor is here for sometime back, and
I think may likely enough continue awhile,
and perhaps draw hither as his main place.
He lodges only about a mile off nearest the
town, so I see him very often -- almost every
day in fact. He is very quiet, patiently com-
posed, reads Books, writes letters, runs about;
is chiefly occupied hitherto about his late
wife's affairs, and the three boys (from 12
to 16) whom she left, who are all there stay-
ing with him (for a week or two) just now.
Jane is pretty well, for her, and sends her
kind remembrances to "little Jenny. " I am
very busy with work, but making hardly any
way in it. Give my best wishes to Robert
and the two little lassies whom I remember
so well. Send me your own address (without
"Gunn," etc. , in it) when you write next.
And fare right well, dear sister Jenny.
I am, your affectionate brother,
T. Carlyle.
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? 220 LETTERS OF CARLYLE
In May, 1857, Lady Ashburton died.
Both as Lady Harriet Baring and as Lady
Ashburton, she had been a friend to Carlyle
but a cause of much unhappiness to his wife.
Many years after her death Carlyle said of
her, "She was the greatest lady of rank I
ever saw, with the soul of a princess and cap-
tainess had there been any career possible to
her but that fashionable one. "
Carlyle made a second tour in Germany,
in August, 1857, for the purpose of visiting
Frederick's battle-fields. In September of
the next year the first volumes of the book
were published. In December Lord Ash-
burton married again, and the new Lady
Ashburton became a fast friend to both
Carlyles.
XLVI. CARLYLE TO MRS. HANNING, HAMILTON, C. W.
Chelsea, London, 7th January, 1859. Dear Jenny, -- I got your letter acknow-
ledging receipt of the Book; I have more
than once got news of you that were welcome
since I wrote last, though in general I tried
to make some other of our kinsfolk give you
notice. Indeed I have been inexpressibly
busy for months and for years -- with that
frightful Book, and other burdens that lay
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? TO MBS. BANNING
221
heavy on me. I have in general lived per-
fectly alone, working all day with what
strength remained to so grey a man, then
rushing out into the dusk to ride for a couple
of hours, then home again to Books, etc. It
was seldom that I had leisure to write the
smallest note. Indeed, I wrote none except
upon compulsion -- and never wrote so few
in the same length of time on any terms
before. I am again busy at the two remain-
ing volumes, almost as busy and miserable as
ever, but I cannot go on thinking of you (as
you need not doubt I have often enough
done) without sometime or other writing, and
here has the time at last come by an effort of
my own.
You must take this enclosed Paper to some
Bank (John says "Any Bank in Canada
will do," and "perhaps even give a pre-
mium "), the Bank will change it into Can-
ada money (with or without "premium"),
and my little Jenny is to accept it as a small
New Year's Gift from her Brother. That is
all the practical part of this present letter.
My blessings conveyed aloud with it, if they
could be of any avail, are known to you I
hope always without writing.
Your Messenger, a very honest looking
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? 222 LETTERS OF CARLYLE
young man, called with the photographs of
the two bairns whom I could hardly recog-
nize, such strapping Hizzies were they grown;
this is a long while since. I carried the
photographs into Annandale with me, where
also they were interesting. Mary at the Gill
now has them, I believe. Give my affection-
ate remembrances to the originals whom I
always remember as little bairns, though they
are now grown big. May a blessing be on
them, whatever size they grow to; and may
their lot be that of good and honourable
women, useful in their day and generation,
and a credit to those connected with them.
I am very glad to hear what you say of your
household, and judge that you are doing well,
tho' not so rich as some are. A little money
before one's hand is very useful, but much is
not needed. It is written "the hand of the
diligent" does find chances, and "maketh
rich," or rich enough. Give my best wishes
to your Husband -- my best encouragements
to persevere in well doing.
The Dr- was here a while ago; but he is
off to Annandale again. He has four step-
sons, (children of his late wife,) who form
his main employment in late years and give
him much writing and running about, with
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? TO MRS. HANNING
223
their schooling and affairs. The Austins, it
was settled lately, are to stay in the Gill
for another seven years, which we were very
glad of. Scotsbrig and the other farmers are
prosperous -- a good time for farmers owing
to new railways (I think), and Californian
gold, which are resources that will not last
for ever. Jean and hers are well. Her
eldest son Jamie is, since some months, a
clerk in a good mercantile house here and
does very well. The Doctor his uncle pro-
cured him the place. My Jane has been very
weakly for two winters past, but is a little
stauncher this winter; a great blessing to us.
I sent some books the other day to Alick's
Tom; to Alick's self there went a Frederick
at the same time as yours, but I have heard
yet nothing of it, tho' I persuade myself it,
too, is safe. My love to them by the first
opportunity. God bless you all.
T. Carlylb.
XLVII. CARLYLE TO MRS. HANNING, HAMILTON, C. W.
Chelsea, London, 30 April, 1860.
Dear Sister Jenny, -- I have twice had
a Newspaper from you lately, the last time
only two days ago; and I am always glad
to see such a mark of your remembrance,
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? 224 LETTERS OF CAELYLE
and understand by it that things are going
tolerably well with you, or at least not going
far out of course. I would write oftener,
and I hope to do so by and by; but at
present I am kept at such a press as you
have not the least idea of; and, for months
and indeed years past, I have had almost to
cease corresponding with everybody; and
have not, except upon compulsion, written the
smallest Note, -- every moment of my time
being so taken up with another dismal kind
of " writing" which I cannot shirk. It is of
no use afflicting you with complaints of what
you cannot help, or with pity for me which
could do no good, but the truth is I never
had in all my life such a frightfully undoable
disgusting piece of work as this which has
been reserved for the end of my strength, and
it has made and makes me now and for years
back miserable till I see it done. I stick to
it like death and it shall not beat me if I can
help it. No more of it here, -- nothing of it,
except to explain my silence; within a couple
of years, if I live so long, I hope to be much
more in case for correspondence with those
whom I merely think of with affection, as
times are.
To-day I have done a little thing which has
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? TO MBS. HANNING
225
been among my purposes for some time,
namely, got a small memorial ready for you
-- which so soon as you have read this note
you can go and ask for and so conclude. For
the paper of the Messrs. Coutts, Bankers, I
conclude, will go in the same steamer as this
Note and all will be ripe by the time you
have done reading. You are to go to the
"Bank of Upper Canada," Hamilton, to say
you are "Mrs. Janet Hanning" and that
there is ? 10 for you from "Mr. Thomas
Carlyle, London " -- upon which they will
hand it out and so end. It is a great plea-
sure to me, dear little Jenny, to think of
your getting this poor fairing from me, and
stitching up for yourself here and there a
loose tack with it -- as I know you well
understand how to do. Do not trouble your-
self writing; address me a newspaper in your
own hand and put one stroke on it, that will
abundantly tell me whatever is to be said.
Your kindred here and in Scotland are all
in their usual course. Nothing wrong with
any of them, or nothing to speak of. My
own poor Jane has by accident hurt her side
a little the other day, which annoys her for
the present, but we are promised a "perfect
cure in less than four weeks. "
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? 226 LETTERS OF CARLYLE
The new year took the Carlyles to the
Grange again. "Everybody," Carlyle wrote,
"as kind as possible, especially the lady.
This party small and insignificant; nobody
but ourselves and Venables, an honest old
dish, and Kingsley, a new, of higher preten-
sions, but inferior flavour. "
Visits in general, however, were rarer than
ever in these years of "Frederick," to which
every possible moment was devoted. Even
Carlyle's letters to his kindred had grown
fewer.
XLVIII. CARLYLE TO MRS. HANNING, HAMILTON, C. W.
Chelsea, London, 28 Feb'y, 1861.
Dear Jenny, -- The enclosed bit of paper
has lain here for some days back, in the hope
that I might find leisure to write you a couple
of words along with it. With or without
leisure, I had determined to send it to-day,
(Friday, which is our American post day),
but last night your pleasant little note from
Hamilton arrived and that naturally quick-
ened my determination. No man in all the
world has less time than I, for these many
months past and to come, and I write no
notes at all unless like this in strictly excep-
tional cases.
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? TO MRS. HANNING
227
Your account of your laying out the last
little New Year's gift is touching and beauti-
ful to me. I know you are a thrifty, gleg
creature and wise thrift is becoming much a
rarity in our time. The image of your tidy
household and of the valiant battle you are
fighting far away is worth many pounds to
me. If the pinch become sharp at any time,
fear not to apply to me. I know you are a
proud little soul and somewhat disdain not
to do your own turn yourself. All this is
right: -- nevertheless I expressly tell you
(and pray don't neglect it), "send me word
when the pinch threatens to be sharp" --
which I hope it will not be, only if it is at
any time observe what I say and mean here.
We are getting very feckless, Jane and I
-- partly by advancing years, partly, (in my
own case), by such an unutterable quagmire
of a job in which I have been labouring for
about 10 years -- and have still at least one
year of it ahead if I live. Want of sleep, I
believe, is the latest form of illness with me,
latest and most frightful: -- but I try to
dodge it and have still (in secret) a surpris-
ing toughness in me for my years. Hope is
rising too as the hideous months of a job
done at last visibly diminish.
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? 228 LETTERS OF CARLYLE
All the kindred in Scotland are well --
under date three or four days ago. The Dr.
is spending this winter in Edinburgh : -- has
still no hearth of his own but lives in lodg-
ings, shifting about. Jean and her affairs
are prosperous, thinking of " buying a house"
&c. Jamie, her oldest boy, is a very douce,
well-doing clerk in the City here for two
years past or more. Young Jamie of Scots-
brig, owing to health, had to give up that
and is now with his father thinking to be a
farmer. Times are good with them at Scots-
brig, though our poor brother Jamie is in
weak health and silently feels his "hervist
endit. " Poor fellow! still I send my good
wishes heartily to your good Robert. I am
always, dear little Jenny,
Your truly affectionate, T. Carlyle.
In April, 1861, Carlyle went to hear Rus-
kin's lecture on "Leaves;" and in August,
1862, highly praised to Erskine the same
writer's " Unto this Last. "
April 29, 1863, Carlyle wrote thus of one
of Dickens's readings: "I had to go yesterday
to Dickens's Reading, 8 p. m. Hanover Rooms,
to the complete upsetting of my evening habi-
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? TO MRS. HANNING
229
tudes and spiritual composure. Dickens does
do it capitally, such as it is; acts better than
any Macready in the world; a whole tragic,
comic, heroic theatre visible, performing under
one hat, and keeping us laughing--in a sorry
way, some of us thought -- the whole night.
He is a good creature, too, and makes fifty or
sixty pounds by each of these readings. "
Carlyle's unfortunate horse, mentioned in
the following letter, was Fritz. He was sold
for nine pounds. Lady Ashburton supplied
a successor, whom Carlyle called Noggs.
XLIX CARLYLE TO MRS. HANNING, HAMILTON, C. W.
Chelsea, London, 13 Aug. 1863.
Dear Sister Jenny, -- It is a long time
since I have had on hand to send you the
little bit of remembrance marked on the other
page, but I am held in such a ferment of per-
petual hurry and botheration here and have
grown so weak and weary of my sad work,
(till it do end), that I have seldom five minutes
to dispose of in my own way, and leave many
little jobs undone for a long time and many
little satisfactions unenjoyed for want of a bold
stroke at them. Finally I bethought me of
the Dr. in Edinburgh and he has now got me
your little paper into readiness for sending.
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? 230 LETTERS OF CABLYLE
I understand you have nothing to do but pre-
sent it at the Bank and at once get payment.
If, (till you have time to write a long letter of
news, which will be very welcome), you at once
address me a Canada newspaper with three
strokes, nothing more will be necessary in
regard to this little bit of business.
I expect to get done with my book in six
or eight months.
? 210 LETTERS OF CARLYLE
usefuller gift. However, they will eat no
bread and so you may give them dry lodging,
that is all they want.
I heard from the Dr. at Moffat the day
before yesterday. He reports our good old
Mother being in her usual way and now with
the better prospect of summer ahead. Poor
Mother, she is now very feeble, but her mind
is still all there and we should be thankful.
The rest are well. John is to quit Moffat in
July. Jane sends her kind regards.
The White mat on Jane's lap is her wretched
little messin-dog " Nero;" a very unsuccess-
ful part of the drawing, that!
XLIV. CARLTLE TO MRS. HANNING, CANADA.
Scotsbrig, Ecclefechan, 28 Dec. 1853.
My dear Sister, -- This letter brings very
sorrowful news to you, probably the sorrow-
fullest I may ever have to send from Scots-
brig. Our dear and good old Mother is no
more: she went from us, gently and calmly
at last, on the Sunday just gone (Christmas
Day the 25th) at four or ten minutes past
four in the afternoon: The Dr. , Jean, Isa-
bella, Jamie, and I standing in sorrowful rev-
erence at her bed-side; our poor suffering
Mother had lain in a heavy kind of sleep for
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? TO MBS. HANNING
211
about 16 hours before; and died at last,
rather unexpectedly to the watchers, so sud-
den was it, without struggle or seeming pain
of any kind. We had to think " Her suffer-
ings are over; and she has fought her fight
well and nobly; and as for us, -- we are left
here alone; and the soul that never ceased to
love us since we came into the world, is gone
to God, her Maker and ours. " This is the
heavy news I have to send you, dear Sister;
and nobody can spare you the sorrow and
tears it will occasion. For above a year-and-
a-half past, our dear Mother had been visibly
falling fast away; when I saw her in August
gone a year, her weakness and sufferings were
quite painful to me; and it seemed uncertain
whether we should ever meet again in this
scene of things. She had no disease at that
time nor afterwards, but the springs of life
were worn out, there was no strength left.
Within the last six months the decay pro-
ceeded faster and was constant: she could
not much rise from bed; she needed Mary
and Jean alternately to watch always over
her, -- latterly it was Jean alone (Mary not
being strong enough); and surely Jean has
earned the gratitude of us all, and done a
work that was blessed and beautiful, in so
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? 212 LETTERS OF CARLYLE
standing by her sacred task, and so perform-
ing it as she did. There has been no regular
sleep to her for months past, often of late
weeks and days not much sleep of any kind:
but her affectionate patience, I think, never
failed. I hope, though she is much worn out,
she will not permanently suffer: and surely
she will not want her reward. Our noble
Mother too behaved like herself in all stages
of her illness; never quailed into terror,
lamentation or any weak temper of mind;
had a wonderful clearness of intellect, clear-
ness of heart, affection, piety and simple
courage and beauty about her to the very
end. She passed much of her time in the
last weeks in a kind of sleep; used to awaken
"with a smile" (as John described it to me),
and has left a sacred remembrance with all of
us consolatory in our natural grief.
I have written to Alick this day, a good
many other details, and have bidden him send
you the letter (which is larger and fuller than
this), -- as you probably in asking for it will
send this to him. I am in great haste, to-
morrow (Thursday 29th Dec. ) being the fune-
ral day, and many things occupying us still.
I will therefore say no more here; your little
pieces of worldly business will, I hope, be
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? TO MRS. HANNING
213
satisfactorily and easily adjusted before I
return to Chelsea, and then it will be some-
body's task (John's or mine) to write to you
again. For the present I will only bid, God
bless you, dear sister, you and yours; -- and
teach you to bear this great sorrow and
bereavement (which is one chiefly to your
heart, but to her a blessed relief) in the way
that is fit, and worthy of the brave and noble
Mother we have had, but have not any longer.
Your affectionate Brother,
T. Caelyle.
With a few days excepted, the Carlyles
spent the whole of the year 1854 in London.
There was little but the Crimean war to dis-
tract Carlyle's attention from his long strug-
gle with Frederick.
Early in this year was completed the much
talked of " sound-proof room," of which the
best account is given by Mr. Reginald Blunt,
in his little-known book," The Carlyles' Chel-
sea Home. "
"The arrangement of this room, which was
built in 1853, occupied by Carlyle till 1865,
and afterwards used as a servant's bedroom,
is clearly indicated on the plan; whilst Mr.
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? 214 LETTERS OF CARLYLE
Tait's photographs (taken in 1857) give an
excellent record of its aspect. Indeed, it is
not often that so famous a literary workshop
has been so faithfully depicted for posterity.
The spacious skylight, which drove Carlyle to
despair by besmutting his books and papers,
gave his visitor the abundant light which in-
door photography so often lacks, and the
result is a series of pictures of wonderful
interest. Mr. Tait was good enough to in-
trust the negatives to me to make my own
prints; and it was, indeed, a fascinating em-
ployment to resuscitate, by a few minutes
of exposure to light, these speaking records
of the dead past of nearly forty years ago.
By their aid we have little difficulty in men-
tally reconstituting the 'soundless room' as
it was during Carlyle's 'thirteen years' war'
there. Entering by the door at the head of
the staircase (a second door opens into the
cupboard space, though for what reason, un-
less to provide a means of escape, is not obvi-
ous), one finds immediately to one's right
hand a third door into this same closet.
Beyond it, against the partition wall, stood a
half-round table with an oilcloth cover, carry-
ing books and papers; above it hung a small
portrait of Carlyle's mother, an engraving of
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? THE SOUND-PROOF ROOM 215
Frederick on horseback, and a map, pinned
on the wall, unframed. On the north wall,
to the right of the fireplace, shelved cup-
boards were fitted. Over the square white
marble mantelpiece, with its 'merely human'
fireplace and white-tiled sides, hung several
small sketches and engravings around the
wooden pulley-board, to which were attached
the lines for the sliding-shutter and the venti-
lators. On the left of the fire, above a circu-
lar silk-pleated screen, hung a paper rack and
some written notes on Friedrich, probably
chronological. On the mantel stood two
white china candlesticks and a small bronze
statuette of Napoleon. In the further corner,
to the left of the fireplace, was a high up-
right cabinet with drawers for manuscripts,
prints, etc. ; and on the western wall there
were bookshelves to right and left of the
door leading into the closet behind the par-
tition.
"Against the southern wall stood a low
couch with loose leather mattress; while the
eastern side, from the corner to the door, was
occupied by a long, dwarf, three-tiered book-
shelf, the upper half of which was filled with
the works of Voltaire, in over ninety vol-
umes. Maps, prints, and engravings, relating
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? 216 LETTERS OF CARLYLE
almost exclusively to the ' Life of Frederick
the Great,' covered the available wall space;
and in one corner stood the long hooked
pole by which the balanced frames of the
skylight could be opened and closed. Near
the fireplace, a little to the left, was the place
of the famous writing-table on which so
much of noble work had painful birth. The
photograph gives so exact an impression of
its sturdy frame, its broad folding flap, its
slightly boxed top, and back drawers, that no
further description is needed either of it or
the solid writing-chair. Hard by stood an-
other little table on castors, which carried the
books in immediate use (or such as were not
on the floor ! ), while behind was the fourfold
screen on which were pasted near a hundred
old portrait prints, to which the maker of
history always turned for insight and guid-
ance in depicting his characters.
"When Carlyle gave up the use of this
room, after the completion of his great his-
tory, the pictures, books, and furniture were
dispersed elsewhere about the house, and later
visitors will remember the writing-desk as
standing in the drawing-room, the cabinet of
drawers and little table in the dining-room,
and many of the prints in the hall, staircase,
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? MARGARET A. CARLYLE
CarlyWs Mother
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? TO MRS. HANNING
217
and elsewhere, as indicated in the Picture List
appended. "
The 30th of September is given by Pro-
fessor Norton as the date of Margaret Car-
lyle's birth, which was evidently unknown to
her children when the following letter was
written: --
XLV. CAELYLE TO MES. HANNING, HAMILTON, C. W.
Chelsea, 8 April, 1855. Dear Sister, -- I know not if you ever
saw our lamented Mother's portrait which
was done at Dumfries a good many years
ago. It hangs in my room ever since, and
has been very sad but precious company to
me, as you may fancy, ever since the Christ-
mas day of 1853! I have got seven copies
taken of it (done by the machine they call
photograph), and this is the one that falls
to your share. I can well believe it will
be very sad to you, dear little sister, but
sacred, too, and very precious. You can
easily get it framed in some modest cheap
way; it may lie in the cupboard secure from
dust till then. The birthday, " 30th Sept. ,"
was not quite certain; Roodfair in the year
1771 was held on the "25th of Sept. ," and
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? 218 LETTERS OF CARLYLE
whether it was the "Monday after," or the
"Monday before" (which would be 23rd
Sept. ), there was diversity of recollection. I
myself and, I think, Jane inclined to think
"after;" Jean thought rather the other way:
so no date was put upon the Tombstone,--
but perhaps you yourself have a better re-
membrance of what our Mother used to say
on that point? Alas, we cannot settle it
now, nor is that the important thing we have
lost hold of in the change that has happened
to us all! But let us not lament; it is far
from our part to lament; let us try rather to
bless God for having had such a Mother, and
to walk always while in this world as she
would have wished we might do. Amen,
Amen.
There has been nothing wrong since the
Doctor's sad loss. Jane and I, in particular,
have not been worse than usual, though I
think it was the severest winter I ever ex-
perienced (certainly far the worst I ever saw
here), and has lasted, indeed, almost up to
this time -- " real spring weather" being yet
hardly a week old with us. Sister Jean at
Dumfries got a bad whitlow in one of her
fingers; and the thrice unlucky blockhead
of a Doctor she got there, cut away three
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? TO MRS. HANNING
219
times over some white substance he saw,
which proved to be the sinew (sorrow on
the fool), so that she has now no use of
her (right hand) forefinger, though otherwise
quite recovered again. She has learned to
write with the next finger and makes no com-
plaint.
The Doctor is here for sometime back, and
I think may likely enough continue awhile,
and perhaps draw hither as his main place.
He lodges only about a mile off nearest the
town, so I see him very often -- almost every
day in fact. He is very quiet, patiently com-
posed, reads Books, writes letters, runs about;
is chiefly occupied hitherto about his late
wife's affairs, and the three boys (from 12
to 16) whom she left, who are all there stay-
ing with him (for a week or two) just now.
Jane is pretty well, for her, and sends her
kind remembrances to "little Jenny. " I am
very busy with work, but making hardly any
way in it. Give my best wishes to Robert
and the two little lassies whom I remember
so well. Send me your own address (without
"Gunn," etc. , in it) when you write next.
And fare right well, dear sister Jenny.
I am, your affectionate brother,
T. Carlyle.
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? 220 LETTERS OF CARLYLE
In May, 1857, Lady Ashburton died.
Both as Lady Harriet Baring and as Lady
Ashburton, she had been a friend to Carlyle
but a cause of much unhappiness to his wife.
Many years after her death Carlyle said of
her, "She was the greatest lady of rank I
ever saw, with the soul of a princess and cap-
tainess had there been any career possible to
her but that fashionable one. "
Carlyle made a second tour in Germany,
in August, 1857, for the purpose of visiting
Frederick's battle-fields. In September of
the next year the first volumes of the book
were published. In December Lord Ash-
burton married again, and the new Lady
Ashburton became a fast friend to both
Carlyles.
XLVI. CARLYLE TO MRS. HANNING, HAMILTON, C. W.
Chelsea, London, 7th January, 1859. Dear Jenny, -- I got your letter acknow-
ledging receipt of the Book; I have more
than once got news of you that were welcome
since I wrote last, though in general I tried
to make some other of our kinsfolk give you
notice. Indeed I have been inexpressibly
busy for months and for years -- with that
frightful Book, and other burdens that lay
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? TO MBS. BANNING
221
heavy on me. I have in general lived per-
fectly alone, working all day with what
strength remained to so grey a man, then
rushing out into the dusk to ride for a couple
of hours, then home again to Books, etc. It
was seldom that I had leisure to write the
smallest note. Indeed, I wrote none except
upon compulsion -- and never wrote so few
in the same length of time on any terms
before. I am again busy at the two remain-
ing volumes, almost as busy and miserable as
ever, but I cannot go on thinking of you (as
you need not doubt I have often enough
done) without sometime or other writing, and
here has the time at last come by an effort of
my own.
You must take this enclosed Paper to some
Bank (John says "Any Bank in Canada
will do," and "perhaps even give a pre-
mium "), the Bank will change it into Can-
ada money (with or without "premium"),
and my little Jenny is to accept it as a small
New Year's Gift from her Brother. That is
all the practical part of this present letter.
My blessings conveyed aloud with it, if they
could be of any avail, are known to you I
hope always without writing.
Your Messenger, a very honest looking
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? 222 LETTERS OF CARLYLE
young man, called with the photographs of
the two bairns whom I could hardly recog-
nize, such strapping Hizzies were they grown;
this is a long while since. I carried the
photographs into Annandale with me, where
also they were interesting. Mary at the Gill
now has them, I believe. Give my affection-
ate remembrances to the originals whom I
always remember as little bairns, though they
are now grown big. May a blessing be on
them, whatever size they grow to; and may
their lot be that of good and honourable
women, useful in their day and generation,
and a credit to those connected with them.
I am very glad to hear what you say of your
household, and judge that you are doing well,
tho' not so rich as some are. A little money
before one's hand is very useful, but much is
not needed. It is written "the hand of the
diligent" does find chances, and "maketh
rich," or rich enough. Give my best wishes
to your Husband -- my best encouragements
to persevere in well doing.
The Dr- was here a while ago; but he is
off to Annandale again. He has four step-
sons, (children of his late wife,) who form
his main employment in late years and give
him much writing and running about, with
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? TO MRS. HANNING
223
their schooling and affairs. The Austins, it
was settled lately, are to stay in the Gill
for another seven years, which we were very
glad of. Scotsbrig and the other farmers are
prosperous -- a good time for farmers owing
to new railways (I think), and Californian
gold, which are resources that will not last
for ever. Jean and hers are well. Her
eldest son Jamie is, since some months, a
clerk in a good mercantile house here and
does very well. The Doctor his uncle pro-
cured him the place. My Jane has been very
weakly for two winters past, but is a little
stauncher this winter; a great blessing to us.
I sent some books the other day to Alick's
Tom; to Alick's self there went a Frederick
at the same time as yours, but I have heard
yet nothing of it, tho' I persuade myself it,
too, is safe. My love to them by the first
opportunity. God bless you all.
T. Carlylb.
XLVII. CARLYLE TO MRS. HANNING, HAMILTON, C. W.
Chelsea, London, 30 April, 1860.
Dear Sister Jenny, -- I have twice had
a Newspaper from you lately, the last time
only two days ago; and I am always glad
to see such a mark of your remembrance,
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? 224 LETTERS OF CAELYLE
and understand by it that things are going
tolerably well with you, or at least not going
far out of course. I would write oftener,
and I hope to do so by and by; but at
present I am kept at such a press as you
have not the least idea of; and, for months
and indeed years past, I have had almost to
cease corresponding with everybody; and
have not, except upon compulsion, written the
smallest Note, -- every moment of my time
being so taken up with another dismal kind
of " writing" which I cannot shirk. It is of
no use afflicting you with complaints of what
you cannot help, or with pity for me which
could do no good, but the truth is I never
had in all my life such a frightfully undoable
disgusting piece of work as this which has
been reserved for the end of my strength, and
it has made and makes me now and for years
back miserable till I see it done. I stick to
it like death and it shall not beat me if I can
help it. No more of it here, -- nothing of it,
except to explain my silence; within a couple
of years, if I live so long, I hope to be much
more in case for correspondence with those
whom I merely think of with affection, as
times are.
To-day I have done a little thing which has
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? TO MBS. HANNING
225
been among my purposes for some time,
namely, got a small memorial ready for you
-- which so soon as you have read this note
you can go and ask for and so conclude. For
the paper of the Messrs. Coutts, Bankers, I
conclude, will go in the same steamer as this
Note and all will be ripe by the time you
have done reading. You are to go to the
"Bank of Upper Canada," Hamilton, to say
you are "Mrs. Janet Hanning" and that
there is ? 10 for you from "Mr. Thomas
Carlyle, London " -- upon which they will
hand it out and so end. It is a great plea-
sure to me, dear little Jenny, to think of
your getting this poor fairing from me, and
stitching up for yourself here and there a
loose tack with it -- as I know you well
understand how to do. Do not trouble your-
self writing; address me a newspaper in your
own hand and put one stroke on it, that will
abundantly tell me whatever is to be said.
Your kindred here and in Scotland are all
in their usual course. Nothing wrong with
any of them, or nothing to speak of. My
own poor Jane has by accident hurt her side
a little the other day, which annoys her for
the present, but we are promised a "perfect
cure in less than four weeks. "
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? 226 LETTERS OF CARLYLE
The new year took the Carlyles to the
Grange again. "Everybody," Carlyle wrote,
"as kind as possible, especially the lady.
This party small and insignificant; nobody
but ourselves and Venables, an honest old
dish, and Kingsley, a new, of higher preten-
sions, but inferior flavour. "
Visits in general, however, were rarer than
ever in these years of "Frederick," to which
every possible moment was devoted. Even
Carlyle's letters to his kindred had grown
fewer.
XLVIII. CARLYLE TO MRS. HANNING, HAMILTON, C. W.
Chelsea, London, 28 Feb'y, 1861.
Dear Jenny, -- The enclosed bit of paper
has lain here for some days back, in the hope
that I might find leisure to write you a couple
of words along with it. With or without
leisure, I had determined to send it to-day,
(Friday, which is our American post day),
but last night your pleasant little note from
Hamilton arrived and that naturally quick-
ened my determination. No man in all the
world has less time than I, for these many
months past and to come, and I write no
notes at all unless like this in strictly excep-
tional cases.
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? TO MRS. HANNING
227
Your account of your laying out the last
little New Year's gift is touching and beauti-
ful to me. I know you are a thrifty, gleg
creature and wise thrift is becoming much a
rarity in our time. The image of your tidy
household and of the valiant battle you are
fighting far away is worth many pounds to
me. If the pinch become sharp at any time,
fear not to apply to me. I know you are a
proud little soul and somewhat disdain not
to do your own turn yourself. All this is
right: -- nevertheless I expressly tell you
(and pray don't neglect it), "send me word
when the pinch threatens to be sharp" --
which I hope it will not be, only if it is at
any time observe what I say and mean here.
We are getting very feckless, Jane and I
-- partly by advancing years, partly, (in my
own case), by such an unutterable quagmire
of a job in which I have been labouring for
about 10 years -- and have still at least one
year of it ahead if I live. Want of sleep, I
believe, is the latest form of illness with me,
latest and most frightful: -- but I try to
dodge it and have still (in secret) a surpris-
ing toughness in me for my years. Hope is
rising too as the hideous months of a job
done at last visibly diminish.
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:18 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. 32044090311788 Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? 228 LETTERS OF CARLYLE
All the kindred in Scotland are well --
under date three or four days ago. The Dr.
is spending this winter in Edinburgh : -- has
still no hearth of his own but lives in lodg-
ings, shifting about. Jean and her affairs
are prosperous, thinking of " buying a house"
&c. Jamie, her oldest boy, is a very douce,
well-doing clerk in the City here for two
years past or more. Young Jamie of Scots-
brig, owing to health, had to give up that
and is now with his father thinking to be a
farmer. Times are good with them at Scots-
brig, though our poor brother Jamie is in
weak health and silently feels his "hervist
endit. " Poor fellow! still I send my good
wishes heartily to your good Robert. I am
always, dear little Jenny,
Your truly affectionate, T. Carlyle.
In April, 1861, Carlyle went to hear Rus-
kin's lecture on "Leaves;" and in August,
1862, highly praised to Erskine the same
writer's " Unto this Last. "
April 29, 1863, Carlyle wrote thus of one
of Dickens's readings: "I had to go yesterday
to Dickens's Reading, 8 p. m. Hanover Rooms,
to the complete upsetting of my evening habi-
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:18 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. 32044090311788 Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? TO MRS. HANNING
229
tudes and spiritual composure. Dickens does
do it capitally, such as it is; acts better than
any Macready in the world; a whole tragic,
comic, heroic theatre visible, performing under
one hat, and keeping us laughing--in a sorry
way, some of us thought -- the whole night.
He is a good creature, too, and makes fifty or
sixty pounds by each of these readings. "
Carlyle's unfortunate horse, mentioned in
the following letter, was Fritz. He was sold
for nine pounds. Lady Ashburton supplied
a successor, whom Carlyle called Noggs.
XLIX CARLYLE TO MRS. HANNING, HAMILTON, C. W.
Chelsea, London, 13 Aug. 1863.
Dear Sister Jenny, -- It is a long time
since I have had on hand to send you the
little bit of remembrance marked on the other
page, but I am held in such a ferment of per-
petual hurry and botheration here and have
grown so weak and weary of my sad work,
(till it do end), that I have seldom five minutes
to dispose of in my own way, and leave many
little jobs undone for a long time and many
little satisfactions unenjoyed for want of a bold
stroke at them. Finally I bethought me of
the Dr. in Edinburgh and he has now got me
your little paper into readiness for sending.
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:18 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. 32044090311788 Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? 230 LETTERS OF CABLYLE
I understand you have nothing to do but pre-
sent it at the Bank and at once get payment.
If, (till you have time to write a long letter of
news, which will be very welcome), you at once
address me a Canada newspaper with three
strokes, nothing more will be necessary in
regard to this little bit of business.
I expect to get done with my book in six
or eight months.
