Saturday night –
My dear Friend
Business first. Mr.
Mott's paper struck me as extrememly good: nor do I inidividually
see any reason why it should not do for Magz – tis not near so
theological as
Revivals – But that is the affair of the other
DMM – Only being that, I supposed you wanted me to say
my say –
"Chatterton" has
much poetry in it – the real sort, I think – but the man is
not a poet
yet. If he were printed, I think
he might be sorry afterward – because supposing he's young there's stuff in him
to make something fine. His ideas are good & he can think them out but he
can't shape them in to poetical form – he wants art – is obscure & diffuse.
– He has yet to learn that – granted as poetic idea (of which he has lots &
to spare) the next thing is to put it as briefly, tersely, carefully &
elegantly as the English language allows. Until that's done – he isn't a poet –
& only poets ought to be printed. But bits of him are, as fragments,
extremely beautiful. The long nameless tale about
Captain Hungerford I have
read it a little way – but don't see much hope of. – It seems like that
blameless commonplace that
Newby deals so much in. However I'll go on & see a bit more.
Mr. Dobellcame today
and we talked over the book thoroughly. – I have got from his sisters exactly
the material I wanted & shall get more. – I propose to call it "The Children's Year" –
(even in spite of eleven years can find no better title). –
have for each month two or three pages headed
"Our Year" – or
"Our Year's Doings" – (communicated
by a child) – it's charming the way the lassie has done it. So exquisitely
natural. – with natural letter & tail-piece – than a page of illustration, a
short poem, & a long ballad. – then
"Our Year" again to end. – This will make a good long book. – But I
can't possibly finish it for
Easter – will not midsummer do? – Done with care & pains, I have
great hope in this plan – how do you like it? In my country but I have yet
plenty of materials. –
Mr. Marston has
brought me the end of his novel tonight. You shall have it on Thursday. – Could
you that day send someone to Wildwoodto pack up
the books & take them back, & the
M.S.S.
manuscripts
shall come too – including Mr. Marston's – I should
like you to read that too – as soon as you conviniently can – for he wants it settled. –
Will you write to me your decision? as he leaves it in my hands to settle with
you. Of course he does not know I'm reader – so you must write entirely a letter
I then send on to him.
I will leave for Bath on
Friday afternoon – so anything coming in the forenoon I can take with me. – Send
the next budget to my Aunts – (Miss Dinah
Mulock direct) 15 Norfolk Buildings
Bath – where I shall be the
week following i.e. about February 18th – for another week – I can manage work
in both places easily. I don't want you to be bothered with my
M.S.S.
manuscripts
now – There now, so much for business. –
Harriet Allen came –
what a sweet face she has! I wish Mrs. Alleck would try & persuade her
to come to Wildwoodfor
the month instead of only a few days as she suggests. I'm sure it would do her
good. - I'm waiting anxiously for my Brazil letter tonight. – M. John Nicholcomes to tea
tomorrow. – I was so glad to see M. Stirling is sending
prize-man. Are Mrs.
Macmillan & Mrs
Aleck better? – I'm all right now. My dear friends
all – goodnight – Love to the children –
Ever yours,
DMulock