TC TO JOHN A. CARLYLE ; 17 August 1858; DOI: 10.1215/lt-18580817-TC-JAC-01; CL 34: 138-140
TC TO JOHN A. CARLYLE
The Gill, 17 Augt, 1858—
Dear Brother,
Many thanks for your kind Gift of the Book this morning; whatever the worth of it as a Book be, I take it as a mark of your attentive affection, which is always valuable to me.
Will you write one other Note to Foxton; mentioning merely what Hotel; in Princes Street,1 I said, it was to be, and that you would appoint, and give me the name of it. Fn is to meet at the railway station (9:40 a.m from Ecclefn: pray name the Edinr hour to him, if you at once can, as I cannot): with a given Hôtel and a given Train, we are certainly secure of meeting! And you will have ended this bothering negociation I put you into. We are not to look for you at Hamburg, it seems; but I hope you will turn up somewhere with your friendly countenance to enliven the dreary scene for me.
I have lost my sleep, and gone all to nonsense, by these sudden revolutions in arrangt; and indeed all yesterday was not far from determining to give up the disagreeable enterprize and uncertain companionship
altogether: but today has arrived a very cheering new element: an invitation from the Usedoms (by the Gnädige Frau [gracious lady],2 Husband being absent at the moment) to come direct from Hamburg to their place in the Isle of Rügen3 for a few days first!
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Isle of Rügen Courtesy of the National Library of Scotland |
This is capital, this first renders the enterprise fairly double with effect (for Usedom will fit me out with counsels, with introductions &c); and the tone of the invitation was such that I at once accepted. At Hamburg, therefore, it seems likely I will part with Foxton for a while; send him off to Tom Wilson, to—where he likes: and in fact I shall be able to study during the voyage what are the best methods with such qualities as his are. To Neuberg I had already written; Ng is all-skilful in mechanical helps; and probably, as you say, Foxton and he may be got to “neutralise one another” in the troublesome particulars there may be!
Jean is here, since Saturday Evg; was glad of your Letter; is naturally, as all concerned are, greatly pleased with such a prospect for Jamie junr:4 may it realise itself, and go well in all ways!—
I remove to Scotsbrig probably on Thursday; have still all my packing &c to do here. If you care to call at Cheyne Row, the little Maid will let you “see the House, and take any book” you like along with you &c. You will find a Fraser5 (I believe), whh, after reading it so far as needful, you might send to Jean. Hardly worth your while perhaps?—
One thing I will ask you specially to do in the course of Wedy: go to Alsop the Chemist's in Sloane Square6 (Alsop is off now in person, but the Successor7 is aware); and bid him send me a dozen pills “Mrs Carlyle the common kind” (not the small mercury, but the oldest or common kind—both of your ordering: he may address “Scotsbrig,” and will be in time Friday morning, if Thursday be unhandy.
Return many thanks with my complts to the hospitable Mr Hostage;8 and say I should with pleasure make his acquaintance on the kind terms proposed if my road ever led thro' his quarter.9 Adieu dear Brother. Yours ever affecte
T. Carlyle
