Of course, it made me a prisoner, took away all rights of
friendship, honor, and justice, and held me to such frantic
devotion to my work as must spoil that also.

Well, it is now ended, and has no shining side but this one, that
materials are collected and a possibility shown me how a
repetition of the course next year--which is appointed--will
enable me partly out of these materials, and partly by large
rejection of these, and by large addition to them, to construct a
fair report of what I have read and thought on the subject. I
doubt the experts in Philosophy will not praise my discourses;--
but the topics give me room for my guesses, criticism,
admirations and experiences with the accepted masters, and also
the lessons I have learned from the hidden great. I have the
fancy that a realist is a good corrector of formalism, no matter
how incapable of syllogism or continuous linked statement. To
great results of thought and morals the steps are not many, and
it is not the masters who spin the ostentatious continuity.

I am glad to hear that the last sent book from me arrived safely.
You were too tender and generous in your first notice of it, I
fear. But with whatever deductions for your partiality, I know
well the unique value of Carlyle's praise. Many things crowd to
be said on this little paper. Though I could see no harm in the
making known the bequest of books to Cambridge,--no harm, but
sincere pleasure, and honor of the donor from all good men,--yet
on receipt of your letter touching that, I went back to President
Eliot, and told him your opinion on newspapers. He said it was
necessarily communicated to the seven persons composing the
Corporation, but otherwise he had been very cautious, and it