LETTERS FROM CARLYLE.

53

one I never heard of before. "Kaiser Leopoldus" died 1705 (but the Portrait here resembles his son, Carl VI, rather); the Imperatrix given is Leopold's, however: on the other hand, the female Archidux "Maria Anna" is his grand-daughter come to maturity; and takes on to about 1740 or later. "Prince Eugenius" too (strangely walking a minuet, or walking the tight-rope as they mostly do!), takes us to about the same date,—not quite. Probably they were published at Wien, now and then, for a long series of years.

"That Prussian Picture is a very old acquaintance and a first-rate favourite of mine! I have seen an older Engraving, more elaborate, but not so like as this: the oil Picture is still in Charlottenburg as fresh as when new; and Lord Ashburton here has an unsurpassable copy of it, done, I believe, for my sake, tho' I get but little good of it. We are both of us, my wife and I, in love with the Picture;-must have this Engraving framed, if you will give it leave to hang here tillyou become our neighbour, and one can step in to look at it and other things!

"I read Carr thro', with great interest: a really curious old talk he keeps up, and is an authentic man. . . Not another moment is left: Breakfast ready, sir!' (for I have been up too early), and so good-bye till we return. I send many regards to Mrs. Gilchrist, and hope I may be in good case to enjoy a little of her music, against my getting back into these parts.

"With many good wishes and thanks,

Yours always truly,

T. CARLYLE."

Surely the letters which we have been reading, throw a pleasant light upon the great biographer, at work in his "garret"? They also remind us of the special skill that the collector must possess; a skill amounting to talent; the fruits of which, historians and artists feed upon. That this, though a recognized opinion, is one which is not acted upon in some quarters, was shown some eighteen years ago, when Sir Samuel Meyrick's unique collection of armour was first offered the nation for as little as £40,000, which offer was refused. "By far the finest collection in Europe," said Sir Coutts Lindsay, who tried to make Robert Lowe, then Chancellor of the Exchequer, understand this; but the statesman declined to "give £40,000 for a lot of old iron." What happened? The "old iron" was sold really to Sir R. Wallace, to dealers in France and Germany, and a certain amount to Sir Coutts Lindsay; realizing between £60,000 and £70,000. Doubtless, it was very generally believed, that the superb collection could easily be brought together again! Perhaps we do not realize, that fine judgment, unerring instinct and patience are necessary qualifications for the sport of collecting.

་

A secluded life of four years at Guildford was soon to end for Anne and Alexander Gilchrist:-"Allan Cunningham's sketch in Lives of the Painters' and the wellknown illustrations to Blair's Grave' were, up to this time, all the acquaintance my husband had with Blake. But, in a visit to London, he now came upon some designs, and upon the Illustrations of the Book of Job,' which filled him with enthusiasm, and his mind was quickly made up to the task of gathering together

REMOVAL TO LONDON.

55

as complete a record of Blake's life and works as was yet possible. This and other literary plans made removal to London desirable, and in the course of a visit to Mr. Carlyle the idea was mooted of our taking a house next door to him. Soon afterwards Mr. Carlyle wrote, 'I dare not advise anybody into a house (almost as dangerous as advising him to a wife, except that divorce is easier); but if Heaven should please to 'rain you, accidentally, into that house, I should esteem it a kindness.' And Heaven did rain us down there, much to our satisfaction, in the autumn of 1856."

"W

E had been settled at Chelsea only a few months when a domestic sorrow, the accidental drowning of a much-loved elder brother,-came upon him [Alexander Gilchrist]. The two succeeding years had to be wholly devoted to the harassing task of winding up large and complicated business affairs, left in disorder by this sudden death. That done, Alexander turned with renewed delight back to literary work, carrying on the 'Blake' towards completion."

Intercourse with Samuel Palmer, William Linnell (Sen.) and James Smeltham over the biography, contributed to make life pleasant at Chelsea. Especially delightful was talk and correspondence with the genial, scholarly artist, Samuel Palmer: the last of the long line of English painters to possess and to cherish poeticlandscape art. We give one of his letters-in which acknowledgment is made of a copy of Ovid. We need not remind the reader, that the artist was a friend and disciple of Blake's :