Melville, Herman (1819-1891) to James Billson
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC05260 Author/Creator: Melville, Herman (1819-1891) Place Written: New York, New York Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 20 December 1885 Pagination: 4 p. ; 17.8 x 11.6 cm. Order a Copy
Thanks Billson, an English admirer, for two volumes of the English poet James Thomson, including "Essays & Phantasies," "Bumble," "Indolence," and "The Poet." Praises Thomson's writing, " ... each is so admirably honest and original and informed throughout with the spirit of the noblest natures ... " Laments that the works would have to be cut down to appeal to popular taste. Remarks on Thomson's lack of fame and dismisses literary fame as cheap. "And it must have occurred to you as it has to me, that the further our civilization advances upon its present lines so much the cheaper sort of thing does 'fame' become, especially of the literary sort." Sends his photograph and asks Billson to reciprocate with his own.
This letter was written shortly before Melville retired his post as Customs Inspector, which he held for 19 years. At this time, virtually all his books were out of print.
Dear Sir: Do not think me indifferent or ungrateful if your last friendly note and gift remain unacknowledged till now. There are natures that after receiving a certain impression as to another, that other need thereforth hardly even enter [struck: intrect] [inserted: into intricate] explanations, happen what may. This may perhaps be a little obscure to some, but you will understand.
For the two books I thank you much. It is long since I have been so interested [2] in a volume as in that of the "Essays & Phantasies" -- "Bumble" -- "Indolence'' -- "The Poet" &c, each is so admirably honest and original and informed throughout with the spirit of [t]he noblest natures, that it would have been wonderful indeed had they hit the popular taste. They would have to be painstakingly diluted for that -- diluted with that prudential worldly element, wherewith Mr. Arnold has conciliated the conventionalists while at the same time showing the absurdity of Bumble. [3] But for your admirable friend this would have been too much like trimming -- if trimming in fact it be. The motions of his mind in the best of [t]he Essays are utterly untrameled and independent, and yet falling naturally into grace and poetry. It is good for me to think of such a mind -- to know that such a brave intelligence has been -- and may yet be, for aught anyone can demonstrate to the contrary. As to his not achieving "fame" -- what of that? He is not the less, but so much the more. And it must have occurred to you as it has to me, that the further our civilization advances upon its present lines so much the cheaper sort of thing does "fame" become, especially of the literary sort. This species of "fame" a waggish [4] acquaintance says can be manufactured in order, and sometimes is so manufactured thro [t]he agency of a certain house that has a correspondent [struck: in] every one of the almost Innumerable journals that enlighten our millions from the Lakes to [t]he Gulf & from the Atlantic to the Pacific -- But this "vanity of vanities" has been inimitably touched upon by your friend in one of his Essays. -- "Satires & Profanities" are of course written for another plane than that to which the "Essays" are levelled. But many touches are diverting enough. "The Dead in the Church of England", for instance. But I must close. -- You [struck: have] asked me for my photograph, but I had none to send you. Now that I have, I forward it to you, conditional however upon your reciprocating with your own, and this, permit me to insist on.
Very Truly Yours,
H. Melville
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