Description:

Ralph Waldo Emerson
Concord, MA, May 26, 1858
Ralph Waldo Emerson Exceptional Literary Letter to a Female Friend & Transcendentalist
ALS

An autograph letter signed by Ralph Waldo Emerson to his friend and literary critic, Mary Russell Watson. 5pp, measuring 5" x 8", Concord, dated May 26, 1858. Signed "R.W. Emerson". A fantastic literary letter addressed to Mrs. Watson ("My dear friend"), offering his opinions on an article she has written in support of the transcendental poetry of William Ellery Channing, which she had planned to send to the Atlantic Monthly. Emerson awards high praise to the manuscript and advises her on further additions. A lengthy and detailed letter from the founder of transcendentalism on one of its major poets, to a respected woman of the movement. With flattened mail folds and minor toning. Boldly signed, very fine.

In full:

"It is a piece of character, & as every piece of character in writing is, a stroke of genius also, to praise Channing's poems in this cordial way, and I read the manuscript with thankful sympathy. But you will print it. It is by no means character & genius that are good to print, but something quite different, - namely, tact, talent, sparkle, wit, humor, select anecdote & Birmingham lacker. And I have kept the paper for many days meaning to read it later & find whether it had the glass buttons required. On looking in to it today I hesitate to send it to that sad Bench where two judges or three judges are believed to sit and read with red eyes every scrap of paper that is addressed to the "Atlantic Monthly." I know that they read 400 papers to admit ten, one time. I am not of their counsel, but some of their cruelties have transpired. Yet who would pity those red eyed men? I can easily believe that you have the materials of a good literary article. If I had the journal in which you have at any time jot down detached thoughts on these poems, it might easily furnish the needed details and variety of criticism. I am not even sure that this piece as it is, will not presently appear presentable to me. Nothing can be acuter criticism then what you say of the art to pay how little, not how much, belonging to this fatal poet. Think a moment, & tell me, if you can say another word as descriptive of his genius. Reflections, too, all have good reason. But I must have a few more good points. "So saith the grand Mufti"

Mary Russell Watson (1820-1906) first came into contact with the transcendentalists as governess for Emerson's young son, Waldo, in 1840. She served the family for two years until young Waldo's untimely death. Watson has also been boarding with the Emersons at the same time as Thoreau, who apparently was so taken with her that biographers attribute a "temporary lapse in Thoreau's august transcendentalism to meeting the pilgrim (Russell) on Emerson's doorstep." Although she ended up marrying his friend from Harvard rather than himself, Thoreau authored the closest piece he ever came to a love poem for Watson, titled "To the Maiden in the East".

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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  • Dimensions: 5" x 8"
  • Medium: ALS

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