ABSTRACT
TC NLS 529.14 College St, Edinburgh
[29 Dec.1821]
... You say there is no harm in our correspondence and I believe it: But assuredly there is harm in disobedience and deceit, the only means through which it can at present be maintained.And is it for you who profess to be my friend to teach me these? Is it for you who talk of generosity so well to require of me the sacrifice of my own esteem to your selfish gratification? What have you done for me to merit such a sacrifice? What proofs of regard have you given me, greater than I can command from every fool who comes in my way? My friend, before you draw so largely on my gratitude do something for my sake. Render your friendship as honourable in the eyes of the world to my Father's child as it is already honourable in her own eyes to] ane Welsh and then you may exact as your due favours you have as yet no claim to ask. Oh Mr Carlyle if you wish me to admire-to love you (admiration and love is with me that same feeling) use as you ought your precious time, and the noble powers that god has given you, and waste no hours or thoughts on me-And do not laugh at fame-It is indeed a name-perhaps an empty name-but yet it is the object of no low ambition, and ambition is the crime of no low soul-
I will not write again-Do not urge me least you wear out my patience and with it my esteem.You may think it unlikely that should ever happen-As you have sometimes found me weak and thoughtless you may expect to find me always so-But there are moments when the weak are strong, and when the thoughtless think, and such moments are more frequent with me than you suppose. When you have finished your review of Faustus send it to me with such a letter as my Mother may read without anger-and when you have written four and twenty pages of your book bring them-I have nothing more to say and you will not be satisfied with this-but I cannot help it-I dare write no longer. I am nervous as if I were committing a murder, and my ideas, like my pen, are dancing at such a rate I cannot stay them-God bless you-Do your duty-Let me do mine-and leave the rest to destiny /Your sincere Friend]ane Baillie Welsh ....
