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I must be very sparing in the distribution of this spiritual and intellectual food.
In respect to the Translation, I shall only say, that I undertook it because I could find no one else to perform the task. I have given the Author's meaning, which is the principal thing; although simplicity and ease of diction are also essential, and these belong in an especial manner to St. Simon's style.
I put the manuscript into the hands of Dr. Prati, the St. Simonian missionary, before I sent it to the press; and publish the following letter, which I received in return. But neither the Preface nor Notes were submitted to Dr. Prati, nor to any one else. Although I admire much of the St. Simonian doctrine, I certainly would not condescend to call myself by any individual name. No single individual can enlighten the world, or regenerate society; for an individual has only an individual's experience; but for the world we want the experience of a world, and the experience of ages. We must suck honey from every flower, and collect the scattered fragments of truth together. We could all teach each other, if we could merely be reconciled to the idea of "being taught."
London, Feb. 8, 1834.
