SD2042. Thomas Carlyle to John A. Carlyle

As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 23, 267 (in part).

Chelsea

25 jany 1857–

My dear Brother,

I got your Aurora Leigh, and more lately your little Brown-Biography, all safe; a Note also whh nearly accompanied the Aurora Parcel. Jane has read that so-called “Poem,” too; but does not make very much of it:—indeed I apprehend it is doubtful whether there is any hit even of the purblind public fancy made; hit of the real mark to be aimed at there is clearly none, nor the dream of any. This Lady “hath a good utterance of speech”; but as to the thing said with it, one asks, Is it a thing at all? A sad pack of people these rhymesters of our time! …

You asked if Kenyon whom you know of was the Kn that died lately. Yes alas, he certainly is; the Brownings’ friend; of whom Bg was speaking at the door that day. Poor Kn died in a few weeks (month or two) after; left a great deal of money £180,000 they say: £10,000 of it to the Brownings, £6,000 to Procter; so much to Dr Southey, to the London University, to &c &c. It is reported he was heard to say the day before he died: “One is gratified to give so many people pleasure by one’s death!” Which is a[s] curious a saying (impossible in any epoch but this) as I have heard for some time. His £10,000 to the Browngs struck me as probably less than they expected, but yet as the right sum. Poor Kenyon, he was a very well-disposed, fat easy-going man; trying always to do rather good among his fellow creatures, if he did anything. …

Publication: Carlyle, 32, 79–82.

Manuscript: National Library of Scotland.

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