Second and Third Visits to England. 207 



And now I have something of a favour to ask. For the 

 success which has attended your reprints in this country we 

 are very largely indebted to the liberal and kindly feeling 

 of Mr. George Ripley, literary editor of the Tribune. At 

 first he was not easy to manage, but, being eminently candid 

 and liberal, he soon came into favourable relation with our 

 movement, and has allowed me the unrestricted use of the 

 Tribune, to act upon public sentiment. While in no sense 

 has he mastered your Philosophy, he is in thorough sympa- 

 thy with your philosophical aims. 



Mr. Ripley was educated for a Unitarian clergyman, and 

 when a young man had charge of the wealthiest congrega- 

 tion in Boston. But he could not endure the clerical rela- 

 tion, and threw up his position to join the socialistic com- 

 munity of Brook Farm. Quickly perceiving that this would 

 not answer, he took to literature systematically. He was 

 the senior and chief editor of the New American Cyclo- 

 paedia, of which I am told 375,000 volumes have been sold. 

 Well, all this means that Mr. Ripley sails on the 25th of 

 this month for England, and will spend two or three weeks 

 in London. He is desirous of meeting you, and I have given 

 him an introductory note. You will find him intelligent and 

 interesting, and if you can give him some attention while 

 he stays in London I shall appreciate it as a personal favour. 



I have told him that you are somewhat at liberty after- 

 noons and evenings, and I presumed would be glad to con- 

 tribute something to make his visit agreeable. His chief 

 interest is in people, but he is a gentleman, and no gossip. 

 He has letters to Mill, and I have given him notes to Morell 

 and Bain. I feel so much my indebtedness to Ripley, that 

 if I could be remotely instrumental in making his London 

 visit a pleasant one it would be a real gratification ; and if 

 you could bring about the opportunity of his seeing Lewes, 

 Tyndall, and Huxley though only barely to meet them 

 I should be much obliged. 



