for what of liberal and calm thought might be originated among
us, by the wants of individual minds.' * *

* * * * *

'_April 19, 1840._--Things go on pretty well, but doubtless
people will be disappointed, for they seem to be looking for
the Gospel of Transcendentalism. It may prove as Jouffroy
says it was with the successive French ministries: "The public
wants something positive, and, seeing that such and such
persons are excellent at fault-finding, it raises them to be
rulers, when, lo! they have no noble and full Yea, to match
their shrill and bold Nay, and so are pulled down again." Mr.
Emerson knows best what he wants; but he has already said it
in various ways. Yet, this experiment is well worth trying;
hearts beat so high, they must be full of something, and here
is a way to breathe it out quite freely. It is for dear New
England that I want this review. For myself, if I had wished
to write a few pages now and then, there were ways and means
enough of disposing of them. But in truth I have not much to
say; for since I have had leisure to look at myself, I find
that, so far from being an original genius, I have not yet
learned to think to any depth, and that the utmost I have
done in life has been to form my character to a certain
consistency, cultivate my tastes, and learn to tell the truth
with a little better grace than I did at first. For this the
world will not care much, so I shall hazard a few critical
remarks only, or an unpretending chalk sketch now and then,
till I have learned to do something. There will be beautiful
poesies; about prose we know not yet so well. We shall be the