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olid mass。 Cautiously yet courageously； through the twopenny post； application to the famed redoubtable OLIVER YORKE was now made： an interview； interviews with that singular man have taken place； with more of assurance on our side； with less of satire （at least of open satire） on his； than we anticipated； for the rest； with such issue as is now visible。 As to those same 〃patriotic _Libraries_；〃 the Hofrath's counsel could only be viewed with silent amazement； but with his offer of Documents we joyfully and almost instantaneously closed。 Thus； too； in the sure expectation of these； we already see our task begun； and this our _Sartor Resartus_； which is properly a 〃Life and Opinions of Herr Teufelsdrockh；〃 hourly advancing。
Of our fitness for the Enterprise； to which we have such title and vocation； it were perhaps uninteresting to say more。 Let the British reader study and enjoy； in simplicity of heart； what is here presented him； and with whatever metaphysical acumen and talent for meditation he is possessed of。 Let him strive to keep a free； open sense； cleared from the mists of prejudice； above all from the paralysis of cant； and directed rather to the Book itself than to the Editor of the Book。 Who or what such Editor may be； must remain conjectural； and even insignificant：* it is a voice publishing tidings of the Philosophy of Clothes； undoubtedly a Spirit addressing Spirits： whoso hath ears； let him hear。
*With us even he still communicates in some sort of mask； or muffler； and； we have reason to think； under a feigned name！O。 Y。
On one other point the Editor thinks it needful to give warning： namely； that he is animated with a true though perhaps a feeble attachment to the Institutions of our Ancestors； and minded to defend these； according to ability； at all hazards； nay； it was partly with a view to such defence that he engaged in this undertaking。 To stem； or if that be impossible； profitably to divert the current of Innovation； such a Volume as Teufelsdrockh's； if cunningly planted down； were no despicable pile； or floodgate； in the logical wear。
For the rest； be it nowise apprehended； that any personal connection of ours with Teufelsdrockh； Heuschrecke or this Philosophy of Clothes； can pervert our judgment； or sway us to extenuate or exaggerate。 Powerless； we venture to promise； are those private Compliments themselves。 Grateful they may well be； as generous illusions of friendship； as fair mementos of bygone unions； of those nights and suppers of the gods； when； lapped in the symphonies and harmonies of Philosophic Eloquence； though with baser accompaniments； the present Editor revelled in that feast of reason； never since vouchsafed him in so full measure！ But what then？ _Amicus Plato； magis amica veritas_； Teufelsdrockh is our friend； Truth is our divinity。 In our historical and critical capacity； we hope we are strangers to all the world； have feud or favor with no one；save indeed the Devil； with whom； as with the Prince of Lies and Darkness； we do at all times wage internecine war。 This assurance； at an epoch when puffery and quackery have reached a height unexampled in the annals of mankind； and even English Editors； like Chinese Shopkeepers； must write on their door…lintels _No cheating here_；we thought it good to premise。
CHAPTER III。 REMINISCENCES。
To the Author's private circle the appearance of this singular Work on Clothes must have occasioned little less surprise than it has to the rest of the world。 For ourselves； at least； few things have been more unexpected。 Professor Teufelsdrockh； at the period of our acquaintance with him； seemed to lead a quite still and self…contained life： a man devoted to the higher Philosophies； indeed； yet more likely； if he published at all； to publish a refutation of Hegel and Bardili； both of whom； strangely enough； he included under a common ban； than to descend； as he has here done； into the angry noisy Forum； with an Argument that cannot but exasperate and divide。 Not； that we can remember； was the Philosophy of Clothes once touched upon between us。 If through the high； silent； meditative Transcendentalism of our Friend we detected any practical tendency whatever； it was at most Political； and towards a certain prospective； and for the present quite speculative； Radicalism； as indeed some correspondence； on his part； with Herr Oken of Jena was now and then suspected； though his special contributions to the _Isis_ could never be more than surmised at。 But； at all events； nothing Moral； still less anything Didactico…Religious； was looked for from him。
Well do we recollect the last words he spoke in our hearing； which indeed； with the Night they were uttered in； are to be forever remembered。 Lifting his huge tumbler of _Gukguk_；* and for a moment lowering his tobacco…pipe； he stood up in full Coffee…house （it was _Zur Grunen Gans_； the largest in Weissnichtwo； where all the Virtuosity； and nearly all the Intellect of the place assembled of an evening）； and there； with low； soul…stirring tone； and the look truly of an angel； though whether of a white or of a black one might be dubious； proposed this toast： _Die Sache der Armen in Gottes und Teufels Namen_ （The Cause of the Poor； in Heaven's name and 's）！ One full shout； breaking the leaden silence； then a gurgle of innumerable emptying bumpers； again followed by universal cheering； returned him loud acclaim。 It was the finale of the night： resuming their pipes； in the highest enthusiasm； amid volumes of tobacco…smoke； triumphant； cloud…capt without and within； the assembly broke up； each to his thoughtful pillow。 _Bleibt doch ein echter Spass_… _und Galgen…vogel_； said several； meaning thereby that； one day； he would probably be hanged for his democratic sentiments。 _Wo steckt doch der Schalk_？ added they； looking round： but Teufelsdrockh had retired by private alleys； and the Compiler of these pages beheld him no more。
*Gukguk is unhappily only an academical…beer。
In such scenes has it been our lot to live with this Philosopher； such estimate to form of his purposes and powers。 And yet； thou brave Teufelsdrockh； who could tell what lurked in thee？ Under those thick locks of thine； so long and lank； overlapping roof…wise the gravest face we ever in this world saw； there dwelt a most busy brain。 In thy eyes too； deep under their shaggy brows； and looking out so still and dreamy； have we not noticed gleams of an ethereal or else a diabolic fire； and half fancied that their stillness was but the rest of infinite motion； the _sleep_ of a spinning…top？ Thy little figure； there as； in loose ill…brushed threadbare habiliments； thou sattest； amid litter and lumber； whole days； to 〃think and smoke tobacco；〃 held in it a mighty heart。 The secrets of man's Life were laid open to thee； thou sawest into the mystery of the Universe； farther than another； thou hadst _in petto_ thy remarkable Volume on Clothes。 Nay； was there not in that clear logically founded Transcendentalism of thine； still more； in thy meek； silent； deep…seated Sansculottism； combined with a true princely Courtesy of inward nature； the visible rudiments of such speculation？ But great men are too often u