They were sent to me at intervals without inventory or even a memorial list.

I was told that the more I burnt of them the better, and they were for several years in my possession before I was aware that they were not my own.

Happily I have destroyed none of them, and Mrs.Carlyle may have them all when she pleases." Froude can hardly have reflected upon the full significance of what he was saying.

He had at this time been long engaged upon the biography of Carlyle, and a considerable part of it was finished.

If he had then given back his materials, his labour would have been wasted, and Carlyle's own personal injunction would have been disobeyed.