On second thought perhaps you had better _not_ tell Mr. Phillips
this story, at least not in this way. _His_ integrity I would
not even question by insinuation, nor need I, at the point where
we now are. I perceive he sees in extraordinary brilliancy of
illumination his own side of the bargain; and thinks me ignorant
of several things which I am well enough informed about. In
brief, make a perfect peace between us, O friend, and man of
peace; and let the wampums be all wrapped up, and especially the
tomahawks entirely buried, and the thing end forever! To you
also I owe apologies; but not to you do I pay them, knowing from
of old what you are to me. Enough, enough!

I got your Book by post in the Highlands; and had such a day
over it as falls rarely to my lot! Not for seven years and more
have I got hold of such a Book;--Book by a real man, with eyes in
his head; nobleness, wisdom, humor, and many other things, in
the heart of him. Such Books do not turn up often in the decade,
in the century. In fact I believe it to be worth all the Books
ever written by New England upon Old. Franklin might have
written such a thing (in his own way); no other since! We do
very well with it here, and the wise part of us _best._ That
Chapter on the Church is inimitable; "the Bishop asking a
troublesome gentleman to take wine,"--you should see the kind of
grin it awakens here on our best kind of faces. Excellent the
manner of that, and the matter too dreadfully _true_ in every
part. I do not much seize your idea in regard to "Literature,"
though I do details of it, and will try again. Glad of that too,
even in its half state; not "sorry" at _any_ part of it,--you
Sceptic! On the whole, write _again,_ and ever again at greater
length: there lies your only fault to me. And yet I know, that