New-York tribune., 1886-11-13
MIR. FROUDE'S DEfENCE.
THE MISTAKES IN THE CARLYLE LETTERS.
NJ krondes Lelter % hs london Tunes.


SIR: As An edition of Mr.. CaTlyles early
letters by Charles Norton attracting some aften
ton and as dr Norton has been pi"ased ID an
TO make reflections upon uly own con uot ven
tur- TO let me say few words or ny sen III
me Tunes You may be wiling TO grant ne
this opportunity II can nelr II, snail never return
to the SUBJECT again ,.. :, . - -. ,
the InpUrtan consideration that never wished I" write
Carylos life; that never sought 1t; That CONSULTED
oul, Carye's own urgent request undertook 1t at
the sacrifice OF all whicu mai male
for my work. at the sacrifice OF tine anu money
peace and comfort wnicn at NV age 1eco ne precious
Had tue subject for my self might oe supposed
10 aye private interest 10 further. some Wow 10
aefen aim otLer of Lmy own whicn ws"ed to
arrive al did not 'hoose II t was Gu chosen Tor me-
Wr Inced In my hands sucn letters jOurn us
etc AS no desired me TO lie lett win absolute
oIs creuoD 10 40 w"at pleased wlih them 1he only
Limitation whcD be made was at my own Instance,
wheu demonstrated with about certain Passages
watch lad himself prepared IOr pubiicatOh IL per
som Low proessug TO represent his wishes
duve ~ ioh6itious earlier time and Ueore
couin ssiOn myself, ana have authority TO neteud
Thai ihey were buung upon e, have treated with
u1iarDe,s 10 which it would be hard to fnd paIhcl
IL his WILL as IN his conversations with myself,
he lett freedom and desired all whom IL ught
concern W Regard my )uds ment as nis own
Uuder tnsse conditions accepted my commission.
hav respect Tor ideaLlns DiO-rdpheS considered
II my duty to draw faithful picture OF CarNle as
cOuld rou my own knowledge aud from the materials
wi when ne suppnsd NE nave cone tHl' 10 the
extent my aDty. there errors oi the press ia
my version Ieter-, did my best to avoid them
His handwriting was small aud often dlilcut 10 read
worked through bl> inahuscilpts Win mdshl}lh
A
Issued restored tue papers ~hich had done WIN 70 mr.
Crrylr, uiece. as he directed As cOuli 10 longer
refer them would have been courteous consider
IT, when discovered mistakes she had c1mmunicaicd
them To ue-wIth the "reminiscences especially
that casr was haste t. iei her have tue orslnas
that trusted 10 own transcripts. AMI did not allow
shed She was herself receiving the profits o ts oo"K
eiit from myself and had not heard "ceds nany
tnued bring out new editions Tor her benent without
q word OF ~afnDg.
/: tnere are mistakes in the letters and memorials OF
Mrs. Carly lie. they not due to me- These volumes
furpsliod ue been this publication that the
Chief Trl atiOn has arisen, and mere confess lhA
some blame attaches 10 Carl, lie bmse II. In remOise
for real or una faults Of his own thought rght
10 out togener tuese memorials he should have nusef
decded whether tney were to be prirtei OF not I4e
responsibility shoud not have been iei 70 irieh He
tod me That he ought 10 40 penance like Jorson;
but as ac be has iet Ell, me 70 stand In The pory iof
Tue greater part OF ais papers are now beyond my
reac Tnose WHO, like Mr.. Norton. pretend TO be most
Zeaous Carylns honor have dsregarded aDsO ueiy
the words VIII which we're intended Tor my pr"iec
ton. Originally he mean. theso Dapers to
remain III myself OF ns executors, for
left them inventory for IN my Keeping,
with Instructions to hurn freely, ana without WORD
theI future disposition IN tue last year Oi Ills NE
he desired give tbem ~ his niece. sue
tat they hal been hers ong before the Time wheh he
smoke 10 II Il ought 10 nave pren inOf med
OF IT, When was told that she WAS to have them. was
tod also that OF course SIZE woud mske no use oi te
will suhg me- II sue lad been Intended 10 Use
made aware Ct IL, that might have the option-w.lcn
unQuesti uaDy sn"uld nave tuosen-of re elnqulshlnS
~
~ ery saw these things tnA the world may understand
why or tie futue must remain entirely Silent uuder
any attacks .which be made upon me- ana taxi 10
part for future IN any controversy OF which carly 10
Is a. be the subject.
The volumes Of the biography revised care
fully before returning the originals The few faults
which found corrected and these volumes will be
repnblshrd If new ~dI ion is called for The manu-
script of the and memorials annotated ~ car yie
Is mine. and remains with me. rhe copy rRht OF mo
"Reminiscences" | have made TO tine ~eni
holder OF the Orgiual OF these and with my own
will shall neither write read another word upon
a
TOO large q portion Oi.my life.
Your Obedent servant, J. A. FKOUDE.