The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1851-07-23


contains a biography of Thomas Carlyle
The writer gives The folowin translation of
a letter from that eccentric author, in reply
TO one from the iIlustrious Goethe, inquring
after his occupations, &c. The letter ap
pears in the corrected edition OF Goeihe's
works, and is now for the first time iranslat.
ed:]
Thomas Carlyle 10 Goethe.
CRAiGENruTTocH 25,h Sept, 1928.
You inquire with such warm interest re-
spectiug our present abode and occupations,
that l am obliged 10 say few words about
both while there is still room left. Dumfries
is pleasant town, containing about $4,000
inhabitants and to be considered the centre
Of the trade and Judicial system OF district
which possesses some importance in the
sphere of Scottish activity. Our residence
is not in the town itself but fifteen miles to
the north west of it, among the granite hills
and the black morasses which stretch west.
ward through Galloway, almost to the Irish
sea. IL this wilderness Of heath and rock
our estate stqnds forth green oasis tract
of ploughed. partly inrlosed and planted
ground. where corn ripens and trees afford
IA shade. although surrounded by sca.mews
and rough.woolrd sheep Here, with no
small effort, have we built aud furnished q
reat, substantial mansion; here, in the ab.
scnce of a professional or other office, we
live TO cultivate literature with diligence,
and in our own peculiar way. We wish a
joyful growth TO the rose and flowers Of our
garden; we hope for health aud peaceful
thoughts to further our aims. The roses, in
deed, are still in part to be planted, but they
blossom already in anticipation. Two ponies,
which carry us everywhere, ard the noun.
tain air. are the best medicines for weak
, nerves. This daily exercise, 10 which am
much devoted, is my only dissipation, for
this nook of ours is the lone:iest in Britain
SIX miles removed from every one who in
any csse might visit me. Here Rousseau
would have been as happy as on his island Of
Saint Pierre. My town friends, indeed, as
cribe my sojourn here to n similar disposi-
ton, and forebode me no good result Blu,
! came hiiber solely with the design 10 sim.
plfy my way Of life, and TO secure the indie.
pendence through which ! could be enabled
to remain true to myself Thi. bit of earth
is our own here VIC can live, write, and
think, MS best pleases ourselves. even though
Zoilus himself were to be crowned The mon
arch Of literature. Nor is the solitude OF
such great importance; for stage coach
takes us speedily to Edinburgh, which we
look upon as our British Wcimar. And
have not, too, at this moment, piled upon
the table OF my little library, whole cart
load of French, German, American and
English Journals and periodicals " whatever
may be lher worth OF antiquarian stud
les, too, there is no lack From some Of our
heights, can descry, about days journey
10 the west, the hill where Agricola and bis
Romans left g camp behind them At the
foot Of it was born. and there both father
and mother still live to love me. And so
one must let time work. Yet whittier am !
tending? Let me confess 10 you, am un-
Ger ain about my future literary activity, and
would gladly learn your opinion respecting
it at least pray write TO me again, anil
speedily, that may ever feel myself united
to YOU. The only piece of any
importance that have written since lcame
here is an essay on Burns. Perhaps you
never heard Of him, and yet he is man of
The most decided genius; but born in the
lowest rank of peasant life, and through the
entanglemenis of his peculiar position, was
at length mournful, wrecked, so that what
he effected is comparatively unimportant.
lie died i'll the middle cf his career, in the
year 1896. We English, especially we
Scotch, loved Burns more than any that lived
for centuries. have often been struck by
the fact that be was born few months be-
fore Schiller, in the year 1853, and that
neither Of them ever beard the uher's name
They shone like stars in opposite hemis-
pheres, or, if yod will. the thick mist of earth
intercepted their reciprocal light.