[168] containing two numbers of a journal called the ‘Dial,’1 which has been started by Mr. Emerson,—the same who was reviewed by Milnes. The first article in both numbers is by Emerson. People have laughed at it here very much. I am curious to know if it finds a more kindly reception with you. Emerson and his followers are called ‘Transcendentalists.’ I am at a loss to know what they believe. Brownson has recently avowed some strange doctrines, for which he has been sadly badgered, both by politicians and philosophers. Have you received all his journal, or as much as you wish? If I can send you any thing that will interest you, pray let me know. I read in the journals of your great book, and the extracts given tantalize me, as it will be so long before I may get the whole. Let me congratulate you on your distinguished success, and believe me, Ever very sincerely yours,
To his brother George, Florence, Italy.
Boston, Friday Evening, Oct. 30, 1840.dear George,—Politics are raging; newspapers teem with stump speeches, election reports, and inflammatory editorials. Banners are waving in our streets; the front of the ‘Atlas’ office is surrounded by earnest crowds. The Whig Republican Reading-room, in Scollay's Building, Pemberton Hill, is wreathed with flags and pennons. This very day the Presidential election takes place in Pennsylvania and Ohio; on Monday in Maine; in one fortnight we shall know who is to rule over us for the next four years. Without lending myself to the exulting anticipations of the Whigs, I can no longer hesitate to believe that Van Buren will lose his election, and by a very large majority. I fear the coming six months will be a perfect Saturnalia in our poor country: the Whigs, elated with success, hungry by abstinence from office for twelve years, and goaded by the recollection of ancient wrongs, will push their victory to the utmost. Of course, the example set by Jackson will be followed, and perhaps improved upon; there will be a general turn-out of all present office-holders at home and abroad; the war of parties will have new venom. . . . There is so much passion, and so little principle; so much devotion to party,and so little to country in both parties, that I think we have occasion for deep anxiety. . . . The Whigs have met with their present surprising and most unexpected success by means of their low appeals to hard cider, log-cabins, and the like. They have fairly beaten the Locos at their own game. This course has been deliberately adopted as the effectual way to meet them. The high-minded portion of the party regret it very much; and there are some (among whom I am willing to be counted) who think success obtained by such vulgar means of very doubtful value. But the greater part think nothing of these things, and are now in
This text is part of:
1 A magazine, the organ of the ‘Transcendentalists,’ of which Margaret Fuller, assisted by R. W. Emerson and George Ripley, was the editor. Its first number was issued in April, 1840, and its last in July, 1844.
Cambridge, MA. Press of John Wilson and Son. 1877.
Tufts University provided support for entering this text.
This work is licensed under a
Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 United States License.
An XML version of this text is available for download, with the additional restriction that you offer Perseus any modifications you make. Perseus provides credit for all accepted changes, storing new additions in a versioning system.