March 1848 (?)
Lexington, Massachusetts; Robbins Building (?)
"Economy" (?)

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        In his article "Thoreau and the Lexington Lyceum," Walter Harding transcribes a letter dated 1 March 1848 from Abigail Alcott to Mrs. Eli Robbins of East Lexington, Massachusetts, in which Alcott wrote:

I mentioned to Mr. Thoreau the possibility of our application from the "Lexington Lyceum" for his lecture— He said he should have no objection to reading it if it could be generally understood that the subject matter was local and personal in its character— His experience has been a peculiar and interesting one— He may truly be called the "Diogenes" of the 19th century—so humble—true and wise— His hut being literally a Tub with a roof—but so comfortable—rural and classic. (Thoreau Society Bulletin, no. 161 [Fall 1982]: 2)

Walter Harding speculates that "Since Thoreau gave his lecture on civil disobedience at the Concord Lyceum on February 16, 1848, it seems quite likely that that was the lecture he was asked to give in Lexington" (2). But the letter suggests Thoreau would have been asked to lecture on his Walden experience—which Thoreau had delivered the preceding winter in Concord and, perhaps, in neighboring Lincoln, and which the Lexington Lyceum audience likely would have been curious to hear. Harding also points out that in 1833-34 Mrs. Robbins’ husband had built "a public building where lectures, preaching and other meetings could be held, and where freedom of speech could be allowed" (2). The building, which Thoreau once "came from Concord to get a lease of," is now the East Lexington Branch Library (2). The records of the Lincoln Lyceum are not extant, and other proof that Thoreau delivered the requested lecture has not been found. However, Thoreau rarely turned down an opportunity to lecture, especially so conveniently close to home; the odds that he gave this lecture, therefore, seem quite good.