He was too transcendental for The Edinburgh Review, to which he had occasionally contributed, and the payment for Sartor in Fraser's Magazine was beggarly.* For some years after his marriage in 1826 Carlyle was within measurable distance of starvation.

Jeffrey had to explain to him, or did explain to him, that he was unfit for any public employment.

He could not dig.

To beg he was ashamed.

When his father died in 1832 he refused to touch a penny of what the old man left, lest there should not be enough for his brothers and sisters.
His personal dignity made it impossible for any stranger to assist him, except by giving him work.