city of the United States.  But I do not fear, if a good beginning can be made.  I am confident that twenty persons cannot be brought together from better motives than vanity or pedantry, to talk upon such subjects as we propose, without finding in themselves great deficiencies, which they will be very desirous to supply.

’Should the enterprise fail, it will be either from incompetence in me, or that sort of vanity in them which wears the garb of modesty.  On the first of these points, I need not speak.  I cannot be supposed to have felt so much the wants of others, without feeling my own still more deeply.  And, from the depth of this feeling, and the earnestness it gave, such power as I have yet exerted has come.  Of course, those who are inclined to meet me, feel a confidence in me, and should they be disappointed, I shall regret it not solely or most on my own account.  I have not given my gauge without measuring my capacity to sustain defeat.  For the other, I know it is very hard to lay aside the shelter of vague generalities, the art of coterie criticism, and the “delicate disdains” of good society, and fearlessly meet the light, even though it flow from the sun of truth.  Yet, as, without such generous courage, nothing of value can be learned or done, I hope to see many capable of it; willing that others should think their sayings crude, shallow, or tasteless, if, by such unpleasant means, they may attain real health and vigor, which need no aid from rouge or candle-light, to brave the light of the world.

’Since I saw you, I have been told of persons who are desirous to join the class, “if only they need not talk.”  I am so sure that the success of the whole depends on conversation being general, that I do not wish any one to come, who does not intend, if possible, to take an active part.  No one will be forced, but those who do not talk will not derive the same advantages with those who openly state their impressions, and can consent to have it known that they learn by blundering, as is the destiny of man here below.  And general silence, or side talks, would paralyze me.  I should feel coarse and misplaced, were I to harangue over-much.  In former instances, I have been able to make it easy and even pleasant, to twenty-five out of thirty, to bear their part, to question, to define, to state, and examine opinions.  If I could not do as much now, I should consider myself as unsuccessful, and should withdraw.  But I shall expect communication to be effected by degrees, and to do a great deal myself at the first meetings.  My method has been to open a subject,—­for instance, Poetry, as expressed in—­

        External Nature;
        The life of man;
        Literature;
        The fine arts;
      or, The history of a nation to be studied in—­
        Its religious and civil institutions;
        Its literature and arts;
        The characters of its great men;