Last words of Thomas Carlyle - Warburg Institute

;202 LETTERS WRITTEN BY THOMAS CARLYLE TOadmiration (that is the word) of the talent, skill,andfaculty of many sorts displayed in such a composition.That is what we call the art of writing—thesummary and outcome of many arts and gifts. Thegrand secret of it, I believe, is insight—^just estimationand understanding, by head, and especially by heart.Give a man a narration to make, you take in briefthe measure of whatsoever worth is in the man. Thething done lies round him, with length, width, depth,a distracted chaos ; he models it into order, sequence,and visibility ;justly, with whatever force of intelligenceis in him. So far could he see into the genesis,organisation, course and coherence of it ; so trulyand far, no trulier and farther : it is the measure ofhis capability, of his Taugend, and even, if you like, ofhis Tug end. I rejoice much in such a style of dehneation; I prefer it to almost all uses which a man canmake of the spiritual faculty entrusted him herebelow. Let us understand the thing done ; let us seeit, and preserve true memory of it : a man has understandinggiven him, and a pen and ink, chiefly forthat.In the name of the present and of future times,I bid you continue to write us Memoirs.''Your proposed visit to London did not take effectlast year. In another year perhaps you may executeit. You will find some persons here right wellaffectedtowards you ; much to see and considermany things, I may suppose, which at first, and somewhich to the last, will afflict and offend you. We are