. Charlotte Bronte was mercifully restrained by
a well-nigh empty purse from this ill-considered rashness. It was not
till the death of their aunt had added to their slender resources that
the Bronte girls conceived the idea of actually publishing a book at
their own expense. They communicated with the now extinct firm of Aylott
& Jones of Paternoster Row, and Charlotte appears to have written many
letters to the firm, {325} only two or three of which are printed by Mrs.
Gaskell. The correspondence is comparatively insignificant, but as the
practical beginning of Charlotte's literary career, the hitherto
unpublished letters which have been preserved are perhaps worth
reproducing here.

TO AYLOTT & JONES

'_January_ 28_th_, 1846.

'GENTLEMEN,--May I request to be informed whether you would undertake
the publication of a collection of short poems in one volume, 8vo.

'If you object to publishing the work at your own risk, would you
undertake it on the author's account?--I am, gentlemen, your obedient
humble servant,

'C. BRONTE.

'Address--Rev. P. Bronte, Haworth, Bradford, Yorkshire.'

TO AYLOTT & JONES

'_March_ 3_rd_, 1846.

'GENTLEMEN,--I send a draft for 31 pounds, 10s., being the amount of
your estimate.

'I suppose there is nothing now to prevent your immediately
commencing the printing of the work.

'When you acknowledge the receipt of the draft, will you state how
soon it will be completed?--I am, gentlemen, yours truly,

'C. BRONTE.'

TO AYLOTT & JONES

'_March_ 11_th_, 1846.

'GENTLEMEN,--I have received the proof-sheet, and return it
corrected. If there is any doubt at all about the printer's
competency to correct errors, I would prefer submitting each sheet to
the inspection of the authors, because such a mistake, for instance,
as _tumbling_ stars, instead of _trembling_, would suffice to throw
an air of absurdity over a whole poem; but if you know from
experience that he is to be relied on, I would trust to your
assurance on the subject, and leav