Fifteen English Friends-Goethe, [17? July]. Text: the anonymous article on Tieck in Fraser's Magazine, IV (Nov. 1831), 448; with corrections by L. L. Mackall who had access to the original letter in 1902–3. Pbd: Norton, GC, pp. 292–94. Norton implies that his text is taken from Fraser's, but it is based on a footnote in Carlyle's “Goethe's Works” in Works, XXVII, 432–33—which is based on Fraser's but with changes. Carlyle drafted the letter on or before 17 July (see TC to JAC, 17 July). That it was sent off by John on 5 Aug. is evident from TC to G, 13 Aug. Goethe recorded its arrival in his journal of 18 Aug., well before his birthday, 28 Aug., and wrote his thanks on 19 Aug.; his friend Karl Zelter had heard about the gift earlier from a correspondent in London. For previous references which bear upon this gift, see TC to JAC, 19 [18] April, TC and others: Proposal for a Tribute to Göthe TCAO to G, [early April], and TC to JAC, 6 June.

Both Carlyle's footnote and the article in Fraser's describe the seal, but there is a more detailed description still in the Athenaeum, 6 Aug. 1831, p. 508. It was made by Messrs. Salter, Widowson and Tate of the Strand; it had a device of a star encircled with a serpent of eternity, and the motto from Goethe OHNE HAST ABER OHNE RAST; there was an elaborate setting of “red and white roses … emblematic of England—above an owl's head peeping from out the ivy—a fine and boldly-carved satyr's head—and the whole surmounted by a rich bouquet representing the flowers of literature.” Intertwined with the ivy branches was a “gold belt” with the inscription “To the German Master: From Friends in England: 28th August: 1831.” The impression of the seal is illustrated in Ritchie, opp. p. 192. According to G. H. Lewes's biography of Goethe, it was Jane, not Carlyle, who had sketched its design. It was on display in Goethe's house in Weimar in 1902–3.

According to an anonymous London correspondent of Karl Zelter (Goethe's Letters to Zelter, 1887), the fifteen friends were: Carlyle, John Carlyle, William Fraser, William Maginn, John Abraham Heraud (1799–1887, assistant on Fraser's), George Moir, James Churchill (translator of Wallenstein's Camp, published in Fraser's, II [Jan. 1831], 633–65), William Jerdan (1782–1869, contributor to Fraser's and editor of the Literary Gazette), John Wilson, Sir Walter Scott, John Gibson Lockhart, Lord Francis Leveson-Gower, Robert Southey, William Wordsworth and Bryan Procter. The Athenaeum adds a Mr. [Samuel?] Rodgers [sic]; Carlyle in his letter to his brother John of 17 July notes that John has withdrawn. We may wonder why S. T. Coleridge was not one of those who signed the letter. Perhaps he could not make his contribution to the cost of the seal. John Wilson, one who did contribute and a man who impressed Carlyle immensely, spoke as “Christopher North” ironically of the seal and Carlyle in the “Noctes Ambrosianae” of Blackwood's Magazine, XXXI (April 1832), 693–97:

Tickler: But oh! sir, the impudent stupidity of some of the subscribers to that Signet-Seal!

North: Hopeless of achieving mediocrity in any of the humbler walks of their native literature, the creatures expect to acquire character by acquaintance with the drivel of German dotage; and going at once to the fountain-head, gabble about Goethe. “The Master!” Yes—and I beseech you, Hal, look at the flunkies. … Thomas Carlisle [sic], my lads, has a soul that sees all that is good and great, beautiful and sublime, in the works of inspiration. And old Humbug, as you rightly call him, Tickler,—Goethe,—is, you know, a man of extraordinary genius. …

Tickler: Now, why, pray, should any “British man,” with the devotion of a disciple, prefer making mental pilgrimages to Weimar, rather than to Stratford-upon-Avon?

North: With Thomas Carlisle obvious is the reason. Shakspeare has been long enthroned in instellation. The glory of Goethe is yet—— (p. 694)

Norton quotes from Goethe's letter to Zelter of 20 Aug. telling of his pleasure in the gift: “It reminds one of the descriptions in which Cellini is wont to extol his own achievements, and it is obvious that they have worked after the model of the sixteenth century. The English seem to think the saying, ‘Ohne Rast, doch ohne Hast’ [sic] of considerable significance, and essentially it very well expresses their own mode of procedure. These words are engraved round a star, the well-known serpent encircling all, unfortunately in Old German Capitals, which do not bring out the sense quite clearly. It is a gift in every sense worthy of thanks, and I have written some friendly rhymes to them in return” (GC, pp. 294–95). The German original of this passage is in Goethes Briefe (Weimar, 1909), XLIX, 46–47. The “friendly rhymes” were first published by Ottilie in Chaos II (1831), vol. 6, p. 24, with the heading “nineteen,” and throughout the nineteenth century most German books on Goethe erroneously retained this number; the poem is published correctly in Goethes Werke (Weimar, 1891), IV, 303. It is given in German in Carlyle's footnote to his essay “Goethe's Works”; Norton translates it and gives, in addition, a translation of Goethe's reply of 19 Aug.:

To the Fifteen English Friends

The words the Poet speaks, swiftly and surely work within the compass of his land and home; yet knows he not if they do work afar. Britons, ye have understood! “The active mind, the deed restrained: steadfast striving, without haste.” And thus ye will that it be sealed.

The verses were written in Goethe's own hand. A short letter to Carlyle concerning them and other matters is translated by Norton (pp. 297–98) as follows:

The above I sent through Mr. Fraser of London, for the associated friends immediately after receiving their most charming gift. To you, my dearest Sir, I send this duplicate [of the verses], which will perhaps reach you before that missive comes thence to you.

I now merely add that I have already read here and there in the books and pamphlets which accompanied the gift, and that I find in them much that is delightful. Of this more next time, as well as of the silhouettes and the inconceivable way in which they bring the absent before one.

The box, sent from Hamburg, through Messrs. Parish, at the end of June, is ere now, or will soon be, in your hands; let me have a word from you concerning it.

I now repeat here, but in the fewest words: the gift of the associated friends has afforded me a pleasure as unusual as unexpected; and not me alone, but likewise friends and acquaintances, who know how to appreciate so artistic a piece of work.

To the dear Pair, happy hours!

GOETHE

WEIMAR, 19th August 1831.