The Open University | Study at the OU | About the OU | Research at the OU | Search the OU Listen to this page | Accessibility
'I was truly sorry and at the same time tickled to observe the abrupt conclusion of your letter. The thunder of Jack's snoring is not unknown to me; but poor fellow! you would pity his cold and rejoice that he could sleep at all.' [A large number of Carlyle's reading experiences were letters. We have not included them all, but this is included as a sample of the type of response].
'My dear Alick, No piece of news that I have heard for a long time has given me more satisfaction than the intelligence contained in your letter of yesterday. For several weeks I had lived in a total dearth of tidings from you; and both on account of your welfare, and of our mutual projects in the farming line, I had begun to get into the fidgets, and was ready to hasten homewards with many unpleasant imaginations to damp the expected joy of again beholding friends so dear to me.'