Bonhams 1793 : CARLYLE (THOMAS) Autograph letter signed, 1851

Autograph letter signed, to "Dear Julia", regretting that his wife Jane is ill and cannot see her: "Mrs Carlyle is unfortunately out of sorts this morning; taken with an ugly cold since last night, and for present confined to bed. She is extremely sorry that, after all the trouble and negotiation you have there is now no possibility of seeing you here tonight", one page, 8vo, creased and a few short tears at the head where tipped onto an album leaf, Chelsea, "Friday" (paper watermarked 1849), [?28 November 1851]

Estimate:

£300 - 400
€360 - 470
US$ 460 - 610

Footnotes

Possibly written to Julia Sterling, daughter of the Carlyles' friend John Sterling; and possibly dating from late November 1851, during the period of increasing difficulties in the Carlyle household (caused not least by the increasing fondness Thomas felt for Lady Ashburton's society). Jane wrote to Kate Sterling ("Dearest Kate") on 18 December, after having left Cheyne Row to stay with the Ashburtons: 'Here have I been living these ten days in the midst of "a terrestrial Paradise," ... I might as well have remained sitting before my own dead wall in Cheyne Row! Not once have I crossed the threshold my Dear! and am thankful to have had only one day in bed The cold I caught so suddenly that night became much worse on my arrival here'; writing that same day to Julia ("My dear Julia") she explained: 'I cannot write a reasonable letter under the present circumstances but here are two lines to bear witness that I am alive, and thinking of you all; grateful for your letters'. The latter is the only letter by either of the Carlyles to Julia that is published (see The Collected Letters, Volume 26, and the Duke University site The Carlyle Letters Online).

Category: Books / Books, Maps and Manuscripts

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