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-VV A.D. 1830. jET. 35.
It appears from the journal that early in 1830 Carlyle had advanced so far with his History of German Literature that he was hoping soon to see it published and off his hands. A first sketch of ‘ Teufelsdrockh’?the egg out of which ‘ Sartor Resartus’ was to grow?had been offered without result to London magazine editors. Proposals were made to him for a Life of Goethe. But on Goethe he had said all that for the present he wished to say. Luther was hanging before him as the subject with which he wanted next to grapple, could he but find the means of doing it. But the preliminary reading necessary for such a work was wide and varied. The books required were not to be had at Craigenputtock; and if the literary history could once be finished, and any moderate sum of money realised upon it, he meditated spending six months in Germany, taking Mrs. Carlyle with him, to collect materials. He had great hopes of what he could do with Luther. An editor had offered to bring it out in parts in a magazine, but Carlyle would not hear of this. I rather believe (he said) that when I write that hook of the great German lion, it shall be the best book I have ever written, and go forth, I think, on its own legs. Do you know we are actually talking of spending the next winter in Weimar, and preparing all the raw material of a right Luther there at the fountain-head?that is, of course, if I can get the history done and have the cash. Jeffrey started at the idea of the winter at Weimar? at least -for Mrs. Carlyle?and suggested that if it was pameS out she should be left in his charge at Edinburgh. He was inclined, he said, to be jealous of the possible influence of Goethe, who had half bewitched her at a distance?unless indeed the spell was bro…