26 OCTOBER 1889, Page 15

" DIANA."

[To THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR."] SIR,—Will you allow me to make a brief statement in reference to the kind critique on my book " Diana," which appeared in your last issue? It seems to have struck more than one of my reviewers that the story of this latest novel of mine has been suggested by that of " Little Lord Fauntleroy." In reply to this, I need only say that the whole story of " Diana," entirely as it now stands, was sketched out and written down by me nearly three years, and a large part of the book com- pleted, before I had ever seen or even heard of " Little Lord Fauntleroy;" and that, therefore, whatever likeness may exist between the two tales is wholly accidental.—I am, Sir, &c.,