68 THE EULOGY OF RICHARD JEFFERIES. 



it a note of unreality. Again, he is speaking 

 of one of his aunt's friends, and says, as if he 

 was the author of " Evelina " : " How is 

 Mr. A. 1 I remember him as a pleasant gentle- 

 man, anxious not to give trouble, and the 

 result is . . ." and so forth. "When one under- 

 stands that these letters were written by the 

 immature writer, such little things, with which 

 they abound, are pleasing. 



In March, 1866, he describes the commence- 

 ment of his work on the North Wilts Herald ; 

 he speaks of the kindness of his chief and the 

 pleasant nature of his work. In December of 

 the same year he sends a story which he wants 

 his uncle to submit to a London magazine. 

 In June, 1867, he writes that he has completed 

 his " History of Swindon" and its neighbour- 

 hood. This probably appeared in the pages of 

 his newspaper. 



In the same year he says that he has 

 finished a story called " Malmesbury." 



"Here I have no books no old monkish 

 records to assist me everything must be 

 hunted out upon the spot. I visit every place 

 I have to refer to, copy inscriptions, listen to 



