“Yours, &c.

     “P.S.  Will you say at once—­do you publish Werner and the Mystery
     or not?  You never once allude to them.

     “That curst advertisement of Mr. J. Hunt is out of the limits.  I
     did not lend him my name to be hawked about in this way.

“However, I believe—­at least, hope—­that after all you may be a good fellow at bottom, and it is on this presumption that I now write to you on the subject of a poor woman of the name of Yossy, who is, or was, an author of yours, as she says, and published a book on Switzerland in 1816, patronised by the ’Court and Colonel M’Mahon.’  But it seems that neither the Court nor the Colonel could get over the portentous price of three pounds, thirteen, and sixpence,’ which alarmed the too susceptible public; and, in short, ‘the book died away,’ and, what is worse, the poor soul’s husband died too, and she writes with the man a corpse before her; but instead of addressing the bishop or Mr. Wilberforce, she hath recourse to that proscribed, atheistical, syllogistical, phlogistical person, mysen, as they say in Notts.  It is strange enough, but the rascaille English who calumniate me in every direction and on every score, whenever they are in great distress recur to me for assistance.  If I have had one example of this, I have had letters from a thousand, and as far as is in my power have tried to repay good for evil, and purchase a shilling’s worth of salvation as long as my pocket can hold out.

“Now, I am willing to do what I can for this unfortunate person; but her situation and her wishes (not unreasonable, however,) require more than can be advanced by one individual like myself; for I have many claims of the same kind just at present, and also some remnants of debt to pay in England—­God, he knows, the latter how reluctantly!  Can the Literary Fund do nothing for her?  By your interest, which is great among the pious, I dare say that something might be collected.  Can you get any of her books published?  Suppose you took her as author in my place, now vacant among your ragamuffins; she is a moral and pious person, and will shine upon your shelves.  But seriously, do what you can for her.”

* * * * *

LETTER 505.  TO MR. MURRAY.

     “Genoa, 9bre 23. 1822.

“I have to thank you for a parcel of books, which are very welcome, especially Sir Walter’s gift of ‘Halidon Hill.’  You have sent me a copy of ‘Werner,’ but without the preface.  If you have published it without, you will have plunged me into a very disagreeable dilemma, because I shall be accused of plagiarism from Miss Lee’s German’s Tale, whereas I have fully and freely acknowledged that the drama is entirely taken from the story.

“I return you the Quarterly Review,