597 CARLYLE and institutions, but implied also the necessity of a recon- the Latter day Pamphlets, containing “ sulphurous ” denunstructive process. Chartism begins with a fierce attack ciations of the do-nothing principle. They gave general upon the laissez faire theory, which showed blindness offence, and the disapproval, according to Froude, stopped to this necessity. The prevalent political economy, in the sale for years. The Life of Sterling (died 1844), which which that theory was embodied, made a principle of appeared in 1851, was intended to correct the life by neglecting the very evils which it should be the great Julius Hare, which had given too much prominence to function of government to remedy. Carlyle’s doctrines, theological questions. The subject roused Carlyle’s entirely opposed to the ordinary opinions of Whigs and tenderest mood, and the Life is one of the most perfect Radicals, found afterwards an expositor in his ardent disciple in the language. Ruskin, and have obvious affinities with more recent socialCarlyle meanwhile was suffering domestic troubles, unforism. At the time he was as one crying in the wilderness tunately not exceptional in their nature, though the excepto little practical purpose. Liberals were scandalized by tional intellect and characters of the persons concerned have his apparent identification of “ right ” with “ might,” im- given them unusual prominence. Carlyle’s constitutional plied in the demand for a strong government; and though irritability made him intensely sensitive to petty annoyances. he often declared the true interpretation to be that the He suffered the torments of dyspepsia j he was often sleepright would ultimately become might, his desire for strong less, and the crowing of “ demon-fowls” in neighbours’ yards government seemed too often to sanction the inverse view. drove him wild. Composition meant for him intense He came into collision with philanthropists, and was absorption in his work; solitude and quiet were essential; supposed to approve of despotism for its own sake. and he resented interruptions by grotesque explosions of His religious position was equally unintelligible to the humorously exaggerated wrath. Mrs Carlyle had to pass average mind. While unequivocally rejecting the accepted many hours alone, and the management of the household creeds, and so scandalizing even liberal theologians, he was and of devices intended to shield him from annoyances still more hostile to simply sceptical and materialist tend- was left entirely to her. House-cleanings and struggles encies. He was, as he called himself, a “ mystic ”; and with builders during the construction of a “sound-proof his creed was too vague to be put into any formula be- room ” taxed her energy, while Carlyle was hiding himself yond a condemnation of atheism. One corollary was the with his family in Scotland or staying at English country famous doctrine of “hero worship” first expounded in his houses. Nothing could be more affectionate than his lectures. Any philosophy of history which emphasized behaviour to his wife on serious occasions, such as the the importance of general causes seemed to him to imply death of her mother, and he could be considerate when a simply mechanical doctrine, and to deny the efficacy of the his attention was called to the facts. But he was often great spiritual forces. He met it by making biography the oblivious of the strain upon her energies, and had little essence of history, or attributing all great events to the command of his temper. An unfortunate aggravation of “heroes,” who are the successive embodiments of divine the difficulty arose from his intimacy with the Ashburtons. revelations. This belief was implied in his next great Lady Ashburton, a woman of singular social charm and work, the Life and Letters of Oliver Cromivell, published great ability, appreciated the author, but apparently in 1845. The great Puritan hero was a man after his accepted the company of the author’s wife rather as a own heart, and the portrait drawn by so sympathetic a necessity than as an additional charm. Mrs Carlyle was writer is not only intensely vivid, but a very effective re- hurt by the fine lady’s condescension and her husband’s habilitation of misrepresented character. The “ biographi- accessibility to aristocratic blandishments. Carlyle, as cal ” view of history, however, implies the weakness, not a wise man, should have yielded to his wife’s wishes; only of unqualified approval of all Cromwell’s actions, but unluckily, he was content to point out that her jealousy of omitting any attempt to estimate the Protector’s real was unreasonable and, upon that very insufficient ground, relation to the social and political development of the to disregard it and to continue his intimacy with the Ashtime. The question, what was Cromwell’s real and per- burtons on the old terms. Mrs Carlyle bitterly resented manent achievement, is not answered nor distinctly con- his conduct. She had been willing to renounce any sidered. The effect may be partly due to the peculiar aspirations of her own and to sink herself in his glory, form of the book as a detached series of documents and but she naturally expected him to recognize her devotion comments. The composition introduced Carlyle to the and to value her society beyond all others. She had just “Dryasdust” rubbish heaps of which he here and ever cause of complaint, and a remarkable power, as her letters afterwards bitterly complained. A conscientious desire to prove, of seeing things plainly and despising sentimental unearth the facts, and the effort of extracting from the dullest consolations. She was childless, and had time to brood records the materials for graphic pictures, made the process over her wrongs. She formed a little circle of friends, of production excessively painful. For some years after attached to her rather than to her husband; and to one of Cromwell Carlyle wrote little. His growing acceptance by them, Mazzini, she confided her troubles in 1846. He publishers, and the inheritance of her property by Mrs gave her admirable advice; and the alienation from her Carlyle on her mother’s death in 1842, finally removed husband, though it continued still to smoulder, led to no the stimulus of money pressure. He visited Ireland in further results. A journal written at the same time gives 1846 and again in 1849, when he made a long tour in a painful record of her sufferings, and after her death made company with Sir C. Gavan Duffy, then a young member Carlyle conscious for the first time of their full extent. of the Nationalist party (see Sir C. G. Duffy’s Conversations The death of Lady Ashburton in 1857 removed this cause with Carlyle, 1892, for an interesting narrative). Carlyle’s of jealousy; and Lord Ashburton married a second wife strong convictions as to the misery and misgovernment of in 1858, who became a warm friend of both Carlyles. Ireland recommended him to men who had taken part in The cloud which had separated them was thus at last disthe rising of 1848. Although the remedies acceptable to persed. Meanwhile Carlyle had become absorbed in his a eulogist of Cromwell could not be to their taste, they best and most laborious work. Soon after the completion admired his moral teaching; and he received their atten- of the Cromwell he had thought of Frederick for his tions, as Sir C. G. Duffy testifies, with conspicuous courtesy. next hero, and had in 1845 contemplated a visit to His aversion from the ordinary Radicalism led to an article Germany to collect materials. He did not, however, settle upon slavery in 1849, to which Mill replied, and which down finally to the work till 1851. He shut himself up caused their final alienation. It was followed in 1850 by in his study to wrestle with the Prussian Dryasdusts, whom
