to which so many minds are prone,--if finding that most men
praise, as well as blame, too readily, and that overpraise
desecrates the lips and makes the breath unworthy to blow the
coal of devotion,--if rejection of the ----s and ----s, from
a sense that the priestess must reserve her pæans for
Apollo,--if untiring effort to form my mind to justice and
revere only the superlatively good, that my praise might be
praise; if this be to offend, then have I offended.'




V.

THE DIAL.

* * * * *


Several talks among the Transcendentalists, during the autumn of 1839,
turned upon the propriety of establishing an organ for the expression
of freer views than the conservative journals were ready to welcome.
The result was the publication of the "Dial," the first number of
which appeared early in the summer of 1840, under the editorship of
Margaret, aided by R.W. Emerson and George Ripley. How moderate were
her own hopes, in regard to this enterprise, is clearly enough shown
by passages from her correspondence.

'_Jamaica Plain, 22d March, 1840._ * * * I have a great deal
written, but, as I read it over, scarce a word seems pertinent