29 MAY 1909, Page 16

Bon Hill, Dorking, Juno 5th, 1879.

DEAR Darons,—Be assured that I have no other feeling than thankfulness to one who can take notice of my work without seizing me by the collar to shake me and then pitch me upon Covent Garden's cabbage-leaves. I have found it rare to be treated otherwise in the land of bulls and bull-dogs. But you spoke in the tone of criticism, and if not wholly, I could partly agree with you. When I think of what I say of others, I fully accord the right of the world to have its reply upon me; and all that I pretend to do is to write as well as I can.—Faithfully