TC-LH [JHLH], [mid-June]. Addr: 4. Upper Cheyne Row. MS: Brewer Collection, State University of Iowa. Pbd: Sanders, CH, XLV, 472–73. Dated with reference to the publication of Life of Kean, which was about 1 June, and Carlyle's reference to having just read the book in TC to JAC, 15 June. [To maintain the order established by the editors of the CL, this letter has been assigned a document date of 14 June 1835.]

1. Carlyle equates the author with his hero. John Sterling's parents were Hester and Edward Sterling (1773–1847), on the staff of the Times, known to Carlyle since May 1834 (Works, XI, 101). Both the Times and Edward Sterling were nicknamed “the Thunderer” for his vigorous editorials; Jane and Thomas also called him “Senior Hurricane” and the “Stimabile.” They were later to be irritated by his noisy attentions to Jane. For Hester Sterling, see TC to MAC, 4 June.

2. See 7:252. Mary Somerville's most recent work was On the Connexion of the Physical Sciences (London, 1834).

3. Bryan W. Procter, Life of Edmund Kean, 2 vols. (London, 1835). According to the DNB the opportunity of writing it had first been offered to Hunt, who refused.