about merit.
Sir, I always wish to encourage merit, especially when it comes so highly
recommended as in the present instance. Sir, my good friend and
correspondent speaks of you in the highest terms. Sir, I honour my good
friend, and have the highest respect for his opinion in all matters
connected with literature--rather eccentric though. Sir, my good friend
has done my periodical more good and more harm than all the rest of my
correspondents. Sir, I shall never forget the sensation caused by the
appearance of his article about a certain personage whom he proved--and I
think satisfactorily--to have been a legionary soldier--rather startling,
was it not? The S--- {187} of the world a common soldier, in a marching
regiment!--original, but startling; sir, I honour my good friend."

"So you have renounced publishing, sir," said I, "with the exception of
the Magazine?"

"Why, yes; except now and then, under the rose; the old coachman, you
know, likes to hear the whip. Indeed, at the present moment, I am
thinking of starting a Review on an entirely new and original principle;
and it just struck me that you might be of high utility in the
undertaking--what do you think of the matter?"

"I should be happy, sir, to render you any assistance, but I am afraid
the employment you propose requires other qualifications than I possess;
however, I can make the essay. My chief intention in coming to London
was to lay before the world what I had prepared; and I had hoped by your
assistance--"

"Ah! I see, ambition! Ambition is a very pretty thing; but, sir, we
must walk before we run, according to the old saying--what is that you
have got under your arm?"

"One of the works to which I was alluding; the one, indeed, which I am
most anxious to lay before the world, as I hope to derive from it both
profit and reputation."

"Indeed! what do you call it?"

"Ancient songs of Denmark, heroic and romantic, translated by myself,
with notes philological, critical and historical."

"Then, sir, I assure you that your time and labour have been entirely
flung away; nobody would read your ballads, if you were to give them to
the world to-morrow."

"I am sure, sir, that you would say otherwise if you would permit me to
read one to you;" and, without waiting for the answer of the big man, nor
indeed so much as looking at him, to see whether he was inclined or not
to hear me, I undid my manuscript, and with a voice trembling with
eag