334 THE EULOGY OF RICHARD JEFFERIES. 



notice in England. I think you would like 

 the ideas expressed in it." 



At this time it was suggested that he should 

 make an application to the Eoyal Literary 

 Fund. He writes both to Mr. Longman and 

 to Mr. Scott in the strongest terms upon the 

 subject. I do not, for my own part, in the 

 least agree with Jefferies in his wholesale con- 

 demnation of that useful society, and therefore 

 have the less hesitation in printing what he 

 says of it : 



'August 18, 1885. 



" You have put before mo a very great 

 temptation. It is impossible for you to know 

 how great, for there can be no doubt that it 

 is the winter that is my enemy. Last winter 

 I was indoors six months in fact, it was eight 

 before I really got out of doors, most of this 

 time helpless, sitting in an easy- chair before 

 the fire, my feet on a pillow, and legs wrapped 

 up in a railway-rug, up and down stairs on 

 hands and knees, and unable even to dress 

 myself. Even now it tears me to pieces even 



