Volume I Part 10 (1/2)

'I have long had a suspicion that no e, and carry on the concentrating processes, without some fixed opinion on the subject of metaphysics But that indisposition, or even dread of the study, which youwith it, till lately, in et some idea of the history of philosophical opinion in Gere of the influence it exercised upon his mind I think I can comprehend him every other way, and probably interpret hiet the proper ot Fichte and Jacobi; I was ht I devoted Fichte I could not understand at all; though the treatise which I read was one intended to be popular, and which he says en_) to conviction Jacobi I could understand in details, but not in system It seemed to me that his mind ht to be acquainted, in order to know him well,--perhaps Spinoza's Since I ca Buhle's and Tenne into Brown, Stewart, and that class of books'

'After I had cast the burden of my cares upon you, I rested, and read Petrarch for a day or two But that could not last

I had begun to ”take an account of stock,” as Coleridge calls it, and was forced to proceed He says few persons ever did this faithfully, without being dissatisfied with the result, and lowering their estimate of their supposed riches Withsense of poverty; and only just enough pride is left to keep your poor friend off the parish As it is, I have already asked iteiven what they had, it has by no ifts aside, with ht, and are now, in the hour of trial, turned into mere slate-stones I am not sure that even if I do find the philosopher's stone, I shall be able to transold they looked so like forive a distinct, and at the same tireat era I a, I believe; certainly it seems as if I had never done so before If it does not killwill come of it Never was my mind so active; and the subjects are God, the universe, i till I have absolutely re-educated myself?

Am I, can I make myself, fit to write an account of half a century of the existence of one of the master-spirits of this world? It seeant to dare to think it; yet will I not shrink back from what I have undertaken,--even by failure I shall learn _ the life of Goethe No, indeed! I shall need a great deal of preparation before I shall have it clear in in to write it, till it all lies mapped out before me I have no materials for ten years of his life, from the time he went to Weimar, up to the Italian journey Besides, I wish to see the books that have been written about him in Germany, by friend or foe I wish to look at theon me; and I think it possible I shall come out from the Carlyle view, and perhaps from yours, and distaste you, which will trouble et the inforo to Europe? To whoht of Mr Carlyle, but still more of Goethe's friend, Von Muller I dare say he would be pleased at the idea of a life of G written in this he to tell me, you will, and not mince matters Of course, my impressions of Goethe's works cannot be influenced by inforet about his _life_; but, as to this latter, I suspect I must have been hasty in my inferences I apply to you without scruple There are subjects on which reat deal, but apart from one another You, however, are well aware that I am very destitute of what is coard to this, how fine the ree and modesty are virtues which every sort of society reveres, because they are virtues which cannot be counterfeited; also, they are known by the _same hue_” When that blush does not come naturally to my face, I do not drop a veil to make people think it is there All this may be very unlovely, but it is _I_'

CHANNING ON SLAVERY

'This is a noble work So refreshi+ng its calales of the day It comes like a breath borne over sohteousness How valuable is it to have a apart from the conflicts of the herd, watches the principles that are at work, with a truly paternal love for what is huive his casting-vote to the cause of Right! The author has aht seem superfluous, if the question had not become so utterly bemazed and bedarkened of late After all, it is probable that, in addressing the public at large, it is _not_ best to express a thought in as feords as possible; there is much classic authority for diffuseness'

RICHTER

_Groton_--'Ritcher says, the childish heart vies in the height of its surges with thethehly am I converted to the love of Jean Paul, and wonder at the indolence or shallowness which could resist so long, and call his profuse riches want of system! What a mistake! System, plan, there is, but on so broad a basis that I did not at first coe I am forced to pencil I will make es, and wear it onrance I must have improved, to love him as I do'

IV

CHARACTER--AIMS AND IDEAS OF LIFE

”O friend, how flat and tasteless such a life!

Iives birth to i step by step, Into an unknown realm of dark blue clouds

What crowns the ascent? Speak, or I go no further

I need a goal, an aim I cannot toil, _Because the steps are here_ in their ascent Tell me THE END, or I sit still and weep”

”NATURLICHE TOCHTER,”

_Translated by Margaret_