We were asked upstairs at once, and found Carlyle at breakfast. The
room was large, well-lighted, a bright fire was burning, and the window
was open in order to secure complete ventilation. Opposite the
fireplace was a picture of Frederick the Great and his sister. There
were also other pictures which I had not time to examine. One of them
Carlyle pointed out. It was a portrait of the Elector of Saxony who
assisted Luther. The letters V.D.M.I.AE. ("Verbum Dei Manet in
AEternum") were round it. Everything in the room was in exact order,
there was no dust or confusion, and the books on the shelves were
arranged in perfect EVENNESS. I noticed that when Carlyle replaced a
book he took pains to get it level with the others. The furniture was
solid, neat, and I should think expensive. I showed him the letter he
had written to me eighteen years ago. It has been published by Mr.
Froude, but it will bear reprinting. The circumstances under which it
was written, not stated by Mr. Froude, were these. In 1850, when the
Latter-day Pamphlets appeared--how well I remember the eager journey to
the bookseller for each successive number!--almost all the reviews
united in a howl of execration, criticism so called.
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