42 THE BANK ACCOUNTANT. 



now journeying beside the hanging hill, now plodding 

 through the low-lying grounds haunted by Apollyon ; 

 and what wonder that I should think often and much of 

 one who has passed over the same tract ? and who, un- 

 deterred by the dark valley or the enchanted grounds, 

 with all their giants and all their wild beasts, has at 

 length set him down amid the gardens of Beulah, in full 



view of the glorious city My booksellers in 



London are Smith and Elder, to whom, should you 

 succeed in procuring a few names for me, the list may 

 be transmitted/ 



Allan sent a few sensible and friendly words in reply. 

 ' 1 am glad that you think of publishing ; for there is so 

 much truth and nature and information in your writings, 

 that they cannot fail of doing your name a good turn. A 

 work of the kind set forth in your prospectus will be 

 welcome to all true-hearted Scotsmen, and, though 

 limited in its range, will influence many who live 

 besouth the Tweed. I have laid one of your printed 

 intimations on the table of my bookseller, and desired 

 him to mention it to his visitors. When the work appears 

 I will say a good word for it with all my heart. I men- 

 tioned it to some friends here; but you must understand 

 that the Londoners are not accustomed to put down their 

 names for works of a literary nature, whatever the merit 

 may be : but this must not discourage you ; almost all 

 authors sacrifice a work or two for the sake of hav- 

 ing their merits made widely known. I did this ; 

 and now I find purchasers, though I found few at first. 

 I desired our mutual friend Carruthers to place my 

 name among the subscribers long before you wrote to 

 me. Your bookseller must send copies to most of the 

 influential newspapers and reviews ; a kind word from 

 them saves an advertisement, and possibly helps the sale 



