Ralph Waldo Emerson (May 25, 1803 – April 27, 1882)
Concord,3 Sept. 22, 1835
My dear Sir,
In reply to your letter of the 19th I have to say that I am to be engaged after a few days in the preparation of some lectures for the “Diffusion etc.” Society in Boston next winter; but I fear they will be of a character unfit for your association, as they are to be on “topics connected with English literature.” Such as they are, they will take all the time I have to spare for lecture writing this fall. Meantime I have nine or ten lectures which I have already read at Boston elsewhere, two on Italy, three on Natural history, six on Biography, any of which I could bring to Lowell, but that I fear these topics may suit you as ill. If either of these would be of any service to your society, I would come to Lowell on any evenings of October or November, for $12. a lecture. I am sorry I can offer you nothing better as it would give me great pleasure if I had time to prepare some lectures for your Institution.
Yours respectfully
R.W. Emerson
1 Ralph Waldo Emerson born 25 May 1803, Boston, Massachusetts, died 27 Apr 1882, Concord, Massachusetts; author.