LETTERS FROM 1866 TO 1872. 93 



one's expectations. Still, although I have 

 lost hope entirely, I am more than ever 

 determined to succeed, and shall never cease 

 trying till I do. 



" It seems so singular to me that, although 

 publishers constantly decline my works, yet if 

 by any chance something that I have written 

 gets into print, everybody immediately ad- 

 mires it, so that it does not seem that there is 

 any want of ability. You remember those 

 letters in the Times ? They were declined by 

 one editor of a much less important paper. 

 The moment they were published everyone 

 admired them, and even the most adverse 

 critics allowed that the style and literary 

 execution was good. I could show you a 

 dozen clippings from adverse newspapers to 

 that effect. This is the reflection that sup- 

 ports me under so many disappointments, 

 because it seems to say that it is through no 

 fault of mine. Thinking over this very 

 deeply lately, and passing over in review 

 the facts and experience I have obtained 

 during the last eight years, I have come to 

 the conclusion that it is no use for me to 



