Mrs.Carlyle's letters should be published, not alone, but with the memoir composed by himself.
Carlyle had originally intended that this memoir, or sketch, as it rather is, should be preserved, but not printed.

Afterwards, however, he gave it to Froude, and added an express permission to do as he liked with it.

Froude was not content with his own opinion.

He consulted John Forster, the biographer of Goldsmith and of Dickens, a common friend of Carlyle and himself.

Forster read the documents, and promised that he would speak to Carlyle about them, giving no opinion to Froude, but intimating that he should impress upon Carlyle the need for making things clear in his will.