Charlotte and Eniily
Ssa,—There are a couple of points arising from the review by C. E. Vulliamy of The Four Bronzes, by Lawrence and E. M. Hanson, in the Spectator of October 21st, which it is difficult for a student of the Brontes to refrain from making. Your reviewer says, " He is right also in showing that it was not Charlotte alone who felt the impOlse of creative genius ; for there was genius . in all the Bronte children." Surely Mr. Hanson's point, and your reviewer's support of it, are somewhat super- fluous nowadays, when it is very generally agreed that Emily's genius, in Wuthering Heights and the poems, was of another and a greater, order than that of the rest of the children.
Your reviewer refers to the division of affinities among the children, shown in their childhood writings, but I have always understood these affinities to be the opposite, namely between Branwell and. Emily and Charlotte and Anne. Hence arose the theory that Wuzhering Heights was the result of collaboration between Branwell and Emily, and although this is not granted much acceptance, there are signs that Branwell saw the novel before publication, probably during composition. Charlotte and Emily do not appear to have understood each other very well at any time.
—Yours faithfully, J. F. NEWISH. 29 Palace Gardens Terrace, Kensington, W.8.
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