Thoreau writes to Ralph Waldo Emerson:
I have time to write a few words about the Dial. I have just received the first 3 signatures—which do not yet complete Lane’s piece. He will place five hundred copies for sale at Munroe’s bookstore—Wheeler has sent you two full sheets—more about the German universities—and proper names which will have to be printed in alphabetical order for convenience.—what this one has done that one is doing—and the other intends to do—Hammer Purgstall (von Hammer) may be one for aught I know. However there are two or three things in it as well as names—One of the works of Herodotus is discovered to be out of place. He says something about having sent to [James Russell?] Lowell by the last steamer a budget of Literary news which he will have communicated to you ere this.
Mr Alcott has a letter from [John] Heraud and a book written by him—The Life of Savonarola—which he wishes to have republished here—Mr Lane will write a notice of it. The latter says that what is in the N. Y. post office may be directed to Mr. Alcott.
Miss [Elizabeth] Peabody has sent a “Notice to the readers of the Dial”—which is not good.
Mr [E. H.] Chapin lectured this evening—but so rhetorically—that I forgot my duty, and heard very little.
I find myself better than I have been—and am meditating some other method of paying debts than by lectures and writing which will only do to talk about—If anything of that “other” sort should come to your ears in N. Y. will you remember it for me?
Excuse this scrawl which I am writing over the embers in the dining room. I hope that you live on good terms with yourself and the gods
Yrs in haste
Henry.