In San Francisco he visited with us the dens of the opium smokers, in damp cellars, with rows of shelves around, on which were deposited the stupefied Mongolians; perhaps the lowest haunts of humanity to be found in the world.  The contrast between them and the serene eye and undisturbed brow of the sage was a sight for all beholders.

When we reached Salt Lake City on our way home he made a point of calling on Brigham Young, then at the summit of his power.  The Prophet, or whatever he was called, was a burly, bull-necked man of hard sense, really leading a great industrial army.  He did not seem to appreciate who his visitor was, at any rate gave no sign of so doing, and the chief interest of the scene was the wide contrast between these leaders of spiritual and of material forces.

I regret not having kept any notes of what was said on this and other occasions, but if by chance you could get hold of Professor J.B.  Thayer, who was one of our party, he could no doubt give you some notes that would be valuable.

Perhaps the latest picture that remains in my mind of our friend is his wandering along the beaches and under the trees at Naushon, no doubt carrying home large stealings from my domain there, which lost none of their value from being transferred to his pages.  Next to his private readings which he gave us there, the most notable recollection is that of his intense amusement at some comical songs which our young people used to sing, developing a sense of humor which a superficial observer would hardly have discovered, but which you and I know he possessed in a marked degree.

    Yours always,

    J.M.  FORBES.

Professor James B. Thayer’s little book, “A Western Journey with Mr. Emerson,” is a very entertaining account of the same trip concerning which Mr. Forbes wrote the letter just given.  Professor Thayer kindly read many of his notes to me before his account was published, and allows me to make such use of the book as I see fit.  Such liberty must not be abused, and I will content myself with a few passages in which Emerson has a part.  No extract will interest the reader more than the following:—­

“‘How can Mr. Emerson,’ said one of the younger members of the party to me that day, ’be so agreeable, all the time, without getting tired!’ It was the naive expression of what we all had felt.  There was never a more agreeable travelling companion; he was always accessible, cheerful, sympathetic, considerate, tolerant; and there was always that same respectful interest in those with whom he talked, even the humblest, which raised them in their own estimation.  One thing particularly impressed me,—­the sense that he seemed to have of a certain great amplitude of time and leisure.  It was the behavior of one who really believed