Isaac Thomas Hecker writes in his journal on 18 August:
Yesterday I rec’d an answer to my letter from H. Thoreau. He declines going. He says he retires from all external activity in disgust, and that his life is more Brahminical, Artesian well, Inner Temple like. Such a tour has been one of his own dreams he says etc. etc . . . I think it is yet possible that he may make up his mind to go. However it is most likely he will not, and then I am set upon my wits again what to do. It seems almost impossible that this should fall through, for what else to conceive of I am at a loss. Should I undertake to study the Greek and Latin again to what end should I do it, none other than that of self-education. Probably if I cannot see any other thing, I may attempt to do this. Thoreau may yet decide to go.
(Isaac T. Hecker: The Diary, 246)
Hecker also writes to Orestes Brownson:
The project is going to Europe seems rather to increase as yet I have not heard from H.T. (The Brownson-Hecker Correspondence, 112).
